General Chat

Dont live there now unfortunately but do visit family quite regularly and would be more than happy to check anything out for you. Nutter is quite a common surname in the area. Dave retires bowing from waist and touching forelock in defference to OC (wow fancy owning the Forest of Bowland--superb)

OC, Were the 'none conformists' Quakers? There were alot of them around at the time. I think it was also against the law to be Catholic then. LL

Dave Sadly, my line parted company from the landowners round about 1700, lol. The Holdens owned at least 20,000 acres of Lancashire in the Middle Ages - and probably a lot more which was in concealed ownership. The Manor of Holden was so well known that no-one ever said exactly where it was and I have spent a life time trying to find it! All I know is that it was in an area somewhere betwen Clitheroe and the Forest of Boland. The Holdens were Stewards and Greaves of Boland. A later Holden, the non-conformist Ralph Holden, regularly visited Pendle Hill to worship at a secret non conformist chapel - no, not witchcraft! OC

Thanks Dave, Much appreciated, would love to know exact location of farms. Just found this whilst googling:- The Pendle Witch Camp - Summer Solstice 2007 the For pagans, witches and other heathens amongst us, the forthcoming festival will be of interest: ADULT TICKETS (18 and over) - £25 each YOUTH TICKET (11 to 17 years old) - £17.50 each CHILD TICKET (10 and under) - No Charge for 1st two, then £10.00 each DAY TICKETS AVAILABLE @ £15.00 per day

Hi OC, Small world?.....went to school with a David Holden of Humphrey Street, Brierfield....one of yours? And as for Darwen.....last time was there was to see 'Showaddywaddy' in concert at 'Uncle Toms Cabin' I know.......sad ! Dave

LL No, they weren't Quakers. Ralph's grandson became a leading light in Darwen, teaching an early form of Methodism. But - you have given me an idea I had never thought of - Catholics! And I don't know why I didnt think of that before, because the Manor owning lot split in half in the early 1600s, one lot going Protestant and the others Catholic. I never considered that old Ralphie might have been from the RC side...THANKYOU! Guess what I'll be doing tomorrow! OC

LL, The Townley family who owned Townley Hall in Burnley were persecuted for their catholic beliefs (but managed to find favour in later years and hang on to their estate) The hall itself,now a museum,has a Priests Hole to which the priest could hide if necessary Nelson used to bear the nickname 'Quaker City' due to the numbers in the area.............all this is making me homesick. Dave

OC, Glad I could help...even if it was unintentionally lol. LL

Dave, To say I have only been the once, you can see I have done a bit of research already lol. If you know the locations of the farms, could you pm me with details? thanks. LL

Dave I haven't followed the Holdens into the 20th century mostly, as it seems a bit, well, rude, for some reason, lol. The Holdens intermarried with the Townleys, way back. When the Holden family rift happened, the Catholic side went off and built a new Manor House, which they called (spitefully) The Old Hall. This got corrupted to Toad, or Todd Hall. The old lot retaliated by building a new Manor House which they called, pmsl, the New Hall, which became Newhall. I am sure they are laughing at me as I wrestle with it all. The two houses were more than 1000 yards apart, but they built an underground tunnel between the two houses, and the Protestant lot had.....a Priest's bolt hole in it........all very odd, for a family who werent speaking to each other over religion. OC

Just watching most haunted and its all about Pendle Hill!!

I live in burnley and regularly visit newchurch in pendle, and barley, my mums side of the family were born in the 2 small villages, the church of st marys in newchurch pendle is really beautifull, and well worth a visit. did anyone see hidden treasures on tv last night at 7? or was it only on in the granada region if so it was a pity that other folks didnt get the chance it was great. it featured pendle and talked about the pendle witches and also towneley hall including the well tavelled head of richard towneley who lost it in the jacobite rebellion! Sharmala.

My board name says it all. The village where I was brought up had descendants of the Nutters and the Nowells. Old Mother Demdyke frightened the horses that pulled the barges on the Leeds/Liverpool Canal near Shuttleworth Hall. LW

Worth a nudge? People seem interested in this subject, so if you are interested please keep nudged. Thanks LW for your input..Maybe you could add more? Thanks LLxx

Hi everyone, I don't live in Pendle but I drive up the A59 in the shadow of Pendle to work. Early in the morning, with the sun and shadows from the clouds it is a beautiful velvet whale. There I go romancing again. Wonderful area to drive, stop and rest and soak in the history, Joan

Hi Found this written by Elizabethan poet Michael Drayton that was in the local paper on saturday..... From Penigents proud foot as from my source i slide That mountain my proud sire, in height of all its pride Takes pleasure in my course as in his first born flood, And ingleborough, too,of that Olympian brood With pendle, of the north the highest hills that be Do wisely me behold, and are behold of me. Sharmala.

Thank you Sharmala, That was lovely.x LL

Well, Me and hubby went there again this weekend,and I managed to get a couple of photo's before battery went flat (grrr). Hubby went up Pendle Hill with dogs whilst I stayed in car and read a couple of chapters of book I had bought in 'Witches Galore'. Found The old Nutter Hall, and the Church, oh but Roughlee is soo beautiful. I'm smitten. LLx

Its gorgeous LL isnt it, I must go again soon, Caz xxx

Hello again LL, Can I recommend two places for lunch............ 'The Swan with Two Necks' at Pendleton (lovely village) 'The Ashetton Arms' at Downham (another lovely village)..........Enjoy, Dave