 |
 Map of Huncoat (1848)
Image produced from the www.old-maps.co.uk
service with permission of
Landmark Information
Group Ltd. and Ordnance
Survey
The above map shows the extent of Huncoat in 1848,
together with Huncoat Hall at the bottom of the map. Further exploration
of the map oustide of the map area, and at different magnifications
can be made by visiting the link to www.old-maps.co.uk.
Huncoat was mentioned in the Domesday book as 'Hunnicot'.
The original village centred around Town Gate where the village stocks,
dating from 1722, can still be seen. The cotton carding machine was
invented by John and Ellen Hacking in Huncoat in 1772.
Huncoat Hall of late medieval origin, was the home
of the Birtwistle family from 1275 and later Henry Sudall lived there.
Spout House Farm appears to be the home of the Cleg family. Hillhouse
Farm near Lowergate was the main residence of the Sudall family. The
Griffin Head Inn is also relevant to the Rawcliffe family as well as
the Sudall/Ridge family.
(From records held, John (born 1758) and Sally Rawcliffe
(nee Ryley born 1767) had children that mirrored the names recorded
from parish records for Lawrence Rawcliffe's children. John and Sally
were both born in Huncoat around the same time. The connection has not
yet been made between the two families, but the suspicion that they
are related, perhaps brothers is very strong. Lawrence Rawcliffe's grave
can be seen in the graveyard at Altham Church. The details for Lawrence
Rawcliffe have not been included within 'The Tree' at this moment.)
White Lion Inn - Huncoat
From History and Associations of Altham and Huncoat.
By R.Ainsworth 1932.
Within the tavern fronting down the lane
The rustic savants of their wisdom vain,
Would congregate - their news to tell,
or some outlandish tale
Which turned their hearers sometimes deadly pale.
(H. NUTTALL).
The old inns of Huncoat were the earliest public
places of resort in the village, long preceding any places of worship.
They were the only public institutions to which the villagers could
resort for social intercourse, to discuss affairs, and learn the news
of the day before newspapers were known. All festivities were held in
the two old inns of the village, the Black Bull and the White Lion.
The former has already been referred to in connection with the old corn
market, which adjoined it.
The White Lion, Huncoat's leading hostelry from the 18th, century, presents
the appearance of an inn of that date, with an imposing frontage of
three storeys, facing Town Gate, and represents the former "hub"
of the village between Higher Gate and Lower Gate. The windows have
been modernised but the original doorway is retained, and is a fine
example of an English inn of the days when George III. was king. The
inn was built about 1780 by Lawrence Rawcliffe, who was host in 1783
when the sale of Huncoat Hall took place. He was also the owner of property
in the village, including the two cottages adjoining the inn, in one
of which the early Baptists met. Lawrence Rawcliffe had a wonderful
memory and related tales without end about occurrences in which he was
interested. He would search into the particulars of everything that
he undertook and if lie failed it certainly would not be for want of
enquiry. So widely was this trait of his character known that years
after his death if anyone happened to show undue interest he was described
as "another Lawrence Rawcliffe.
He erected a place of worship for the Baptists, 32 ft. by 27 ft. wide
inside - the present old chapel, at the end of the cottages. This he
sold, with the consent of his wife, Ellen, who "of her own freewill''
gave up the property to certain parties by an indenture bearing date
1st of May, 1810, taking care however that provision was made in the
deed that the property should be put under trusts conforming to the
views of the Particular Calvinistic Baptists of the day.
Lawrence Rawcliffe has been described as a friend
in the village, one of the old type of innkeepers and the chief personage
in Huncoat at that time, as his house was the principal public place
where the business of the township was transacted and where the Fishermen's
Club, and the once famous Women's Club were held.
The members of the Fishermen's Club met as a friendly society or sick
club. They held an annual procession on Midsummer Day, and made a great
display. Two men rode on horseback, each bearing a miniature ship, the
other members following on foot wearing silk aprons and beautifully-figured
blue sashes. They carried staves on the top of which were representations
of various kinds of fish (probably Fish Lane received its name from
this club). The procession was headed by the Huncoat Reed Band, acknowledged
by the villagers as the best of its kind in this part of Lancashire.
"Nickie" (Nicholas) Bentley was the leader with his clarionette.
He afterwards went to Clayton-le-Moors and founded the famous prize
band there.
The procession started from the White Lion, passed along Fish Lane,
Scatchen Lane, over Whinney Hill to Enfield, then along Whalley Road
to Accrington, up Burnley Road back to the White Lion, after that road
had been opened for traffic. Festivities and feasting were the order
of the day. This club afterwards merged into the Foresters.
The Women's Club, a still more famous club, met at the White Lion. The
annual "dinnering day" was the second Tuesday in July - a
great day in Huncoat and the ladies made the most of the occasion. After
dinner there was dancing, prizes being given for the best dancers in
the "country" and "step" dances, then in vogue,
as well as prizes for the best caps or head-dress, as then worn. The
village fiddler, a famous violinist of the district named Matthew Hindle,
played at these gatherings for many years. In later years John Smith
was a player for the Women's Club. Members of this Club married men
prominent in Accrington and district. The six daughters and their mother,
of the Lingard family of Lower Hill House, were members, including the
writer's own grandmother, Susannah, who married Richard Bond, mother
of Richard, Thomas, and John, and Margaret and Mary Lingard.
The Huncoat town's meetings were held at the White Lion during Lawrence
Rawcliffe's period and later when Richard Edmundson was host in 1820.
Mr. Marshall was the assistant overseer at that time, and only farmers
and those of estate were allowed to attend business meetings of the
township. On these occasions £5 was allowed out of the rates to
entertain those present. It is not surprising that the proceedings were
invariably lively. Later, these meetings were held in the Baptist School
and were open to all ratepayers.
Lawrence Rawcliffe removed from the White Lion to the Walton Arms, Altham.
He had a family of five sons and two daughters - Peter, George, Hindle,
Lawrence, Thomas, Ann and Ellen. Perhaps the most remarkable of the
sons was Lawrence, born at the White Lion in 1805. He became a pupil
of the Rev. William Perkins, of the Huncoat Baptist Chapel, afterwards
attending the Rev. William Wood's Academy at Highbrake Hall. Commencing
employment at Dugdale's Lowerhouse Printworks, he rose to be manager,
holding that position for forty years and, on retiring, built a residence
in Burnley Road, Huncoat, and was well respected as "a fine old
English gentleman." Lawrence Rawcliffe died on the 23rd of August,
1891, in his eighty-sixth year. He was of a retiring nature, never seeking
public office, a staunch Churchman, Liberal, Free Trader of the Cobden
and Bright type. He was churchwarden at Habergham Eaves Church and later
attended Altham, St. John's, Accrington, and St. Augustine's, Huncoat.
He was a man of integrity, straight in all his dealings, and kindly
with all. He was succeeded as manager at Lowerhouse by his son Hindle
Rawcliffe, who also was followed by his son as manager. A fact worthy
of note that the post of manager of a successful concern should be held
by three generations of the same family. It would be difficult to find
another such record, which speaks highly of the ability and character
of these Huncoat worthies.
|
