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 Highbrake Hall
(Situated north of Huncoat close to the railway line)
Highbrake Hall, built by Richard Fort about 1790,
is finely situated, overlooking the Calder Valley. It is a plain classic
structure of the Georgian type, substantially built without any ornamentation,
large windows and pointed doorway, a good example of the period. Approached
by a carriage drive from Altham road, surrounded by stately trees, with
its gardens and orchards, it was a beautiful place, but when the railway
was out through the grounds were despoiled of its original seclusion.
After the Forts ceased to reside there it was occupied for many years
by the Rev. William Wood, for forty-four years incumbent of Altham Church.
In addition to his ministerial duties, Mr. Wood conducted an academy,
or high-class school for boys of well-to-do families in the district.
These included the Rawcliffes and Yates of Huncoat, Dugdales of Lowerhouse,
and Simpsons of Oswaldtwistle. An interesting memorial of this old boarding
school is an exercise book used there by Robert Yates in 1815, now in
the possession of one of his descendants, Mr. Robert Firth, of Accrington.
The Rev. William Wood was a well built man fully six feet high. He had
three sons: Mr. William Wood, J.P., of Barrowford; Rev. Joseph Wood,
Vicar of All Saints, Clayton-le-Moors; Rev. John Wood, a former curate
of St. James' Church, AccrIngton. The Rev. William Wood died in 1848.
There is an oil painting of him in Altharn Church Vestry.
Highbrake Hall in more recent times was the
residence of Mr. H. H. Bolton, J.P., three of whose sons fell in battle
at Gallipoli, another son being Colonel G. G. H. Bolton, M.C.
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