In 1862 Thomas Fermor-Hesketh 5th Baronet (age 36) was elected MP Preston. He held the seat until his death.

In 1868 Thomas Fermor-Hesketh 5th Baronet (age 42) adopted the additional name Fermor.

St Mary The Virgin Church, Rufford [Map]. Various monuments, mostly from previous chapel and church on this site, including: a small brass of a knight, Sir Robert Hesketh (d.1541) (on north wall of chapel); a large monumental slab of alabaster portraying Thomas Hesketh of Rufford (d.1463) and Margaret his wife, with their children and Hesketh coat of arms at their feet, and lettering round the margin including names; a large table monument with effigy of Sir Thomas Fermor-Hesketh 5th Baronet by Matthew Noble; at east end of south aisle a wall monument to Lady Sophia Hesketh (d.1817), by Flaxman, copiously lettered, and on north wall a tablet to Sir Thomas Hesketh (d.1778), with a verse by the poet Cowper.