LANCASHIRE FAMILY HISTORY AND HERALDRY SOCIETY

Rossendale Branch Newsletter December 2012

Research and Advice Sessions at Haslingden Library every Monday 5.30 – 8.30 pm
Note: the doors to Haslingden Library close at 7.30 pm.

and at Rawtenstall Library every Tuesday 1.30 – 3.30 pm

We may be able to do simple look-ups for distant members. When contacting us with an enquiry, please include your membership number

The LFHHS Resource Centre.

The Society’s Resource and Research Centre at 2 Straits, Oswaldtwistle, BB5 3LU is open every Thursday from 1.00pm – 5.00pm and 1st Saturday of each month 1.00pm..

New Subscription Rates

Don't Forget! Your Subscription Renewal is Due
For the past 9 years there has been no increase in the membership fees. However, due to increase running costs of the Society the membership fees will increase from January as follows:
Ordinary (UK): £14.00
Family (UK): £15.00
Pensioners and Students (UK): £12.00
Overseas: £16.00
All current members will have received a renewal form in their November “Lancashire” journal.

Standing Order Payments
If you have been paying by Standing Order you will have received a form to amend your banking details in the August journal.

Additions to LancashireBMD

During November 2012 the following Marriages were added for the Rossendale area of the Hyndburn and Rossendale Registration District.

Cloughfold, Sion Chapel (1968-1986);
Rawtenstall, Kay Street Baptist (1956-1961);
Bacup, Baptist Chapel, Irwell Terrace (1969-1974);
Stubbins, Stubbins United Reform (1947-1990);
Edenfield, Primitive Methodist Chapel (1938-1987);
Whitworth, Hallfold United Reform Church (1945-1993);
Edenfield, Wesleyan Methodist Chapel (1938-1950);
Haslingden, Congregational Church (1932-1964)
Added 4,425 Deaths for Hyndburn RD comprising:
Haslingden (1938-1974)
Also Added 255 Marriages for Hyndburn RD comprising:
Hyndburn Register Office or Registrar Attended (1950-1954)

Rossendale News, Notes and Queries

At our last meeting we had a very interesting talk from Harold Heys about Darwen Tower and the fight for the freedom of the moors. He told us how the historic footpaths across the moors had been blocked by an absentee landlord and how the local people had fought to have them restored. They finally succeeded in 1896. The tower was built to celebrate this achievement and the jubilee of Queen Victoria. The talk was well illustrated by photographs of the tower and quirky stories. In conclusion Mr. Heys told us the history of India Mill and its impressive chimney, which stand 300 feet high. It is a grade II listed building.

Book Review

The Slaidburn Angel by M. Sheelagh Whittaker

Several years ago Sheelagh Whittaker contacted me about her Whittaker ancestors in Haslingden.
Her grandfather William Whittaker had married Margaret Isherwood in 1899. They had left Haslingden and emigrated to British Columbia.

Sheelagh could never have imagined that her researches would lead her to Slaidburn in 1885 and the suspected murder of a child by Margaret's stepmother. Margaret, then aged nine, being a prosecution witness at a trial held at the Leed's assizes.

In her introduction to the book Sheelagh says “This book is about mothers and stepmothers, doomed children and children who feel lost. It is about the power of love and the fear of the loss of love, and the crazy things that love and fear can make people do. This book is about untimely death and the possibility of murder. And it is about devotion between sisters”

Margaret Isherwood's father John Green Isherwood was a farmer at Ash Knott Farm in the Forest of Bowland. His first wife was Jane Bleazard. His second wife was Grace Gardner, from Dalton. After the trial John fled with his family to Haslingden, where no one would know who they were.

The child who died, was two year old Thomas Gardner, Grace's illegitimate son. Whenever I visit Slaidburn, I think of little Thomas who was found face down in the brook which runs under Langcliffe Cross bridge.

This book combines family history research with a gripping family story. It covers different countries, and different time periods. With Sheelagh linking it all together.

 It is published by Dundurn www.dundurn.co.uk
ISBN 1459703636
$24.99/ £16.99

Lancaster Gazetteer
1st December 1804

TO CALICO PRINTERS, TO BE SOLD OR LET,
BY PRIVATE CONTRACT A VALUABLE COPYHOLD ESTATE situate at Crawshaw Booth in Rossendale in the County of Lancaster; consisting of the under mentioned premises.

A FARM in the occupation of James Duckworth, containing three cottages, a barn, and about 14 acres of land, held on a lease for ten years, unexpired at the annual rent of £27.

A FARM in the occupation of John Lord, consisting of a house, barn and about 6 Cheshire Acres land, held for a life, aged 90 years at the rent of £13 per annum.

A FARM now in the owner’s hands; consisting of a house, barn and 12 Acres of Land, let at £80 per annum.

PART of a valuable PRINTING WORKS of the late firm of Prince, Taylor and Co. consisting of a Bowking House with a powerful FALL OF WATER, and capital SPRING LODGES, Printing Shops for fifty tables, Colour Shop, Warehouse, Counting House, Stable, Garden, and 14 Cheshire Acres of Land, and sixteen cottages, ten of which are entirely new, the others with the rest of the buildings in excellent repair.

ALSO, the LEASE for the REMAINING PART of nineteen years unexpired, at a rent of £175 per annum; containing a capital FALL of WATER, Four cottages and about 15 Acres of Land, upon which have lately been erected a large Dry-House and Stove, two stories high, fifty yards long and nine and a half yards long; a mill three stories high, nineteen yards by fourteen, containing Calendar-house, Press-room, Padding-room, Stoves etc. etc. A spacious Dye-house, nineteen yards by twelve, a good wash-house for two dash wheels, a Blue Dye House and Carpenter’s Shop, large river and Spring Water lodges etc. etc. The Valuable STOCK and UTENSILS consisting of every requisite for an extensive concern, to be disposed of at a fair valuation…..

Further particulars may be known by applying to Messrs DUCKWORTH and CHIPPENDALE, Manchester or Mr. Robert Prince on the ground who will shew the premises.

Lancaster Gazetteer
3rd May 1806

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION At the house of Richard Barnes, the sign of the Black-Dog within Haslingden, in the Co. of Lancaster on Tuesday the 27th day of May 1806 at 6 o'clock in the evening.

Lot 1. All that commodious substantial and modern built MESSUAGE or MANSION HOUSE, called “CARTER PLACE” with the out buildings, Courts, Yards, Summer House, and Gardens, thereunto belonging, situate in the Township of Haslingden, within the Parish of Whalley; now in the possession of John Taylor, Esq. The owner. And also all those several MESSUAGES or DWELLING HOUSES now occupied by John Coupe, George Walmsley and John Brooks; together with Fifteen Acres of rich meadow and Pasture Land, now in the possession of the said John Taylor, and Jonathan Howarth and Hugh Hurst. Also of all those TWO ACRES of COMMON, situate, lying and being upon the High Moor; near Carter Place and within the Manor of Accrington.

Lot. 2. All those TWO CLOSES or PARCELS of LAND situate within the said Township of Haslingden, and near to Carter Place containing four acres of land, now in the possession of John Coupe, as tenant thereof together with ONE ACRE of Common near Fryer Hill.

Lot 3. All that MESSUAGE DWELLING HOUSE and BARN together with two closes of land, situated at Carter Place aforesaid, consisting of three acres of land or thereabouts, now in the possession of Thomas Barnes, as tenant thereof together with ONE other ACRE OF COMMON, near Fryer Hill.

There are excellent Springs, and two valuable streams of water running through these premises; which with its adjacent situation to the towns of Bolton Blackburn and Burnley, and also in a populous neighbourhood, make it very desirable for printers, bleachers or manufacturers.....