Malkin Tower. 12/01/05

[Stanley]

Malkin Tower. 12/01/05

I have searched the Clitheroe Court Rolls (Farrer vols 1 2 3) thoroughly and noted anything of relevance to Malkin and the Pendle Witch story. I would be interested to see what you think

Black Dyke Mill
I have no reference whatsoever in the CCRs for any kind of tower, or any Mill in Blacko. In 1558 most of the Blacko and Barrowofrd tenants withdrew their soke from the King’s Mill at Colne - they must have been taking it somewhere. I am not sure if the mill at Admergill was a corn mill or a fulling mill, a 19thc Hartley there was a “cotton manufacturer”, there are rack stoned in the walls but this could indicate a malt kiln. Roughlee mill was not built until 1598 and I don’t know what Park Hill Mill was employed as in 1558. The bottom line is WHY on earth did the cartographer mark Black Dyke Mill on the 1581 map?????

Star Hall Area
1537 “James Hartley snr of Blacko sues James Hartley jnr for trespass in obstructing a certain way in “Le Bryghill up the Starbank”. The jury declared the defendant shall have right of passage in each year from St.Martin until March for the carrying of dung and likewise between the feast of the Initiation of the Holy Cross until St. Michaels the Archangel he shall drive his beasts to and from to Bryghill and not at other times.” I take the Brighill to be Sandyford at Star Hall. This indicates that James Hartley, who “owned the house near to the thorn* at Blakey Hill“, had use of a wide area of land.

*The stuff I sent you last time showed that a deposition given in 1883 by a Hargreaves mentioned the dyke on Blacko Hill and The Thorn near James Hartley's house. I had another look at the dyke near to Pasture Head farm and the only extant thorn tree, other than the one with an enclosing wall, is in the bottom of Haynslack. I now think that this mature tree is the thorn referred to.

1540 “John Hartley and Bernard Hartley complain against Robert Blakey in a plea of trespass for open fences between Juddefield and the Long Rodes upon a dyke called “Le Blacke Dyke”. Jury award damages. It would be interesting to know the meaning of these field names. I have it at the back of my mind that Judde meant George?

1557 William Lister of Widdop, York, allowed Lawrence Blackey to use water from the field used by John Watson.


Malkin
A very interesting fact has arisen here. At least as far back as 1500 there was a chantry house for Colne Parish Church at Blacko (see below). A Sir John Higgin was the priest incumbent at Colne to 1520

1508/9 To this halmote came Christopher Diconson and surrendered 1 garden called Malkenyerd with the appurtenances in Colne to the use of John Hegyn, chantry priest. Granted.

1551 John Hyggyn occupied a cottage attached to Marsden Chapel. The Annals of Colne states that: " 'Sir' according to Fuller, was the distinctive appellation of a clergyman who had not taken a degree". This was therefore likely to be a 'chantry house'.

Whittaker, in his history of Whalley, states that:
"In the 8th of Edward 111 (1335) I find (from Towneley MSS.G.26) that John de Haslingden and Adam de Swyne, chaplains, as I conjecture, of Colne, for chaplains of the place were the usual trustees upon these occasions, granted certain lands and tenements in Blakey in conformity to the will of Richard de Merclesden, deceased, to one John de Merclesden for the term of his life, and after his decease, to find one chaplain who should celebrate, for the soul of the said Richard and Avice his wife, their children, ancestors, and all the faithful, deceased in the church of Colne or Broughton, or in the chapel of the manor house of Richard de Broughton, or at Swynden. Whether this foundation actually took effect, or where, I have not learned"

1524 John Robinson, Greave of Pendle, surrenders 1 messuage and appurtenances called Blacko at 10s 11d pa rent which William Emmott, Thomas Driver, Richard Mitchell and James Hargreaves delivered to him, to the use of John Kippax, Roger Hartley, Henry Walton, John Hargreaves, Henry Shaw and Nicholas Marsden jnr. William Hird, Chaplain (by his attorney John Wallis) forbids fine for certain covenants between them. William Hird was a Chantry Priest at Colne, no doubt he was retained by the Bannisters as they owned the North Chapel at St. Bartholomew's. In this chapel is a prayer on oak boards for the soul of William Hyrd.


1551 Richard Greenacres, gent and deputy Steward of Blackburn, took a messuage & other buildings, land, meadow, pasture and feeding ground lying in Pendle Forest in occupation of Christopher and Lawrence Blakey at 10s pa, which late belonged to the finding and maintenance of a priest within the church of Colne, to the use of Robert Blakey, late incumbent of the said service, ('Sir' Robert Blakey incumbent at Colne 1535 - 1551) for the term of his life, and after his death to the use of him and the said Richard Greenacres and his heirs forever. Granted upon fine of £0:10s:11d.



1564 John Foulds surrenders part of a garden called Mawkynyarde lying in the north end of Colne to Christopher Dyconson for a yearly rent.

I am reasonably shure that the Mawkinyerde records above refer to Malkin. This raises the possibility that the 15/16th century priest's house could have been fortified to an extent whereby it could later be called a 'tower'. As far as the name Mawkinyerde is concerened I have an idea that the yerde referred to a fence or boundary. Numerous references are made in the CCRs to Rengyereds which seemed to have been temporary fences erected to keep stock from crop areas. The yerde being long/straight. This could fit with the nearby Haynslack where Hay/Hey means hedge/fence. Possibly because the Malkin was at the extreme limit of Pendle Forest the fences and hedges (boundaries) there were very important.

this, of course, raises the question of when did Malkin begin to be referred to as Malkin Tower?

I have recently come across a place called Bearnshaw Tower near Cliviger. This was a farmhouse with a tower added on to the end (the tower fell down in 1860). The date of the tower here is given as mid 17th c which doesn't fit with the Malkin dates but it does give a local precedent for that type of structure. Furthermore, Bearnshaw has a witch legend as a Sybil was supposed to have lived there, was allied to the Towneleys of Hapton Tower, and was known as the Witch of Eagle Crag. I can find no more information on Bearnshaw other than the farm house is still occupied. Why were towers linked to witch legends I wonder?

When Andrew and Rachel, at Malkin, had the building dated they were told that there would probably have been a structure tagged on to the north end of the house, where the garden is now. I wonder if a dig in this area would provide any clues?

My research has shown that there was a strong connection between the landed families in Pendle Forest. Having recently read a few papers published by Lancaster University on the socio/religious/political aspect of the 1612 Witch Trials, I am now convinced that families such as the Listers, Towneleys, Nowells etc, were instrumental in bringing about the witchcraft prosecutions. Furthermore there is the fact that the Gunpowder Plotters were connected, this explains why Potts reported that the Demdikes admitted to plotting to blow up Lancaster Gaol - by purporting to have foiled this he, and the magistrates, would gain the King's favour.

If the Malkin Tower location could be tied down accurately I am sure that there could be a book in this, showing the local perspective.

John A Clayton

[Stanley]

More Malkin Tower raw material!

[Stanley]

Good stuff from John!

[Gloria]

Very interesting.

[Stanley]

Thanks for responding Gloria....

[Wendyf]

I've been reading John's latest book which is another look at the Pendle Witches and the siting of Malkin Tower. I'm afraid I got a bit overwhelmed by all the information and gave up!

[Stanley]

He's thorough isn't he.
I remember him lect5uring me about a possible boundary marker stone on one of our rambles and in the end I had to stop him and tell him it was only a stone, not the Dead Sea Scrolls!! Even he had to smile, he recognised he was going on a bit......