The old Douglas Chapel had an interesting history. There is a tradition that it was originally built to commemorate a victory or victories, of the Saxons over the Danes, and there is probability in its Saxon origin, for local tradition is quite clear and distinct as to the fact that the Danes and Saxon met in conflict on the banks of the Douglas.
The chapel was rebuilt in 1821, and was finally demolished when the new church was consecrated in 1875.
Mr. William Frederick Price, the son of Rev. W. Price, the vicar of Douglas chapel in the 1870's, carried out considerable research work into the history and origin of the Chapel. He discovered that the history of the Lathom family, of Lathom and Parbold, is interwoven, with that of the Chapel for frequent entries occur in the Douglas Chapel registers of Lathoms of Parbold from I700 to 1800. In the course of some historical notes on the Chapel, Mr. Price said: " It had externally a mean and somewhat barn-like appearance, being blocked on the north side by an Inn known as the ' Chapel House' which judging from its title may possibly occupy the site of the residence of the chantry priests."
WHERE PARLIAMENTRY FORCES STABLED THEIR HORSES.
Like most other old churches in Lancashire, Douglas Chapel is said to have received ill usage at the hands of the Parliamentarian forces who are said to have used it for stabling their horses during the seige of Lathom in February, 1643, and since it lay on their route from Wigan via Standish to Lathom and within easy distance of the latter the story may possibly be true.
Mr Price noted that
"The Chapel was absolutely devoid of any coats of arms, tablets,
brasses or monuments relating to the founders or any local families and
the inference is that at the time of the reformation anything of this
sort which may have existed was destroyed and ruthlessly swept away.
The edifice as it stood at the time of its demolition consisted of a plain
rectangular nave without any chancel. It served as a place of worship
for the inhabitants of the village of Newburgh, the hamlet of Parbold
and other more distant outlying districts."
