THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME LOCAL TALES OF LEGENDS AND BOGGARTS

The legends of Barcroft Hall
Barcroft Hall, possibly a corruption of 'Bare Croft' is an ancient farmstead which still survives off Park road at Cliviger. The hall is approached by a farm track, also a public footpath just before Cliviger Mill Bridge on Park road. A datestone above the inner entrance doorway to this fine gritstone building tells us that it was erected in 1614. A further datestone on the remarkable stone archway which leads into the small courtyard, has the date 1636. The Rev. S. J. Allen in his 'History of Whalley' tells us "Barcroft Hall occupies three sides of a small court, the forth being formed by a screen, in which, beneath a pediment broken into six gresses, and formerly ornamented with pinnacles, is the gateway. A semi-circular arch with an indented moulding resembling at first sight a Norman ornament. Above is the date 1636. Over the inner doorway which enters a projecting porch, is the name William Barcroft. All the chambers are panelled with oak. The hall has huge transverse beams and a music gallery of the same, and a comfortable parlour, has been formed out of the ancient fireplace".


Sadly, the oak panelling and the music gallery was removed from the hall by Lady O'Hagan and taken to the Hollins, off Red Lees road in 1901. Barcroft, as already stated was the homestead of the Barcroft Family, and has a number of legends attached to it. The Barcroft family occupied a position of grandeur among the local gentry, during the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The first of these legends became known locally as 'The Idiots Curse'. William Barcroft who built the hall, who died in 1620 leaving a daughter and three sons. One of these, William was said to be a lunatic. Tradition tells that the unfortunate man was imprisoned in the cellar of the hall by the younger brother, Thomas. The younger man spread the news that his brother was insane in order to gain possession of the property. The inhuman brother was one night entertaining guests at the hall, when the supposed idiot burst forth and pronounced a curse on the Barcroft estate and family.


The "Idiot's Curse" prophesied the end of the race Barcroft, and that the estate would pass in to strangers hands. Within thirty years the 'Idiot's Curse' came true, and the ancient name of Barcroft ceased to exist in the neighbourhood. William, the supposed lunatic died in 1641, and rough scribings on the cellar walls, and an iron ring, also in the cellar add foundation the legend. The Barcroft estate, did for a time flourish and Thomas Barcroft married and had three daughters, but only one son. When the later died in 1842, just a year after William 'the lunatic' the male line of the family ceased, and the 'Idiots Curse' was thus fulfilled.

The second of the Barcroft Hall legends relates to the 'Barcroft Boggart' a helpful little fellow by all accounts, until he donned a pair of clogs!. The Barcroft boggart was extremely friendly, and assisted in all the chores attached to the general farm work and labours of the household. Legend tells us that the farmer's wife would find the washing, ironing and other chores around the farm done with great efficiency, albeit by unseen hands. One dark and bitter winters evening snow began to fall, and the farmer shouted out to his sons to bring in the sheep to the barn for shelter. The words had no sooner left his lips, when he heard a squeaking little voice call out "I'll do it, I'll do it". A short time latter, the little voice was heard to say "I've done, I've done, but I had some trouble with that small brown 'un".


On rising the next day, the farmer found that the "small brown 'un" was in fact a large hare. Everyone was aware of the good work the boggart performed around the house, the boggart did no harm and the family, although they had never seen him just excepted him. However, curiosity got the better of one of the farmers sons, and late one night he bored a hole in the ceiling of the room where the boggart performed his good deeds. Peering through the hole he saw a wrinkled, withered old man, bare-footed, happily engaged in sweeping the floor of the room.

The son got an inclination to reward the old man, and to this end made him a tiny pair of clogs, which he placed besides the fireplace. Next morning the son rose early to see how his well intended gift had been received. The boggart walked in to the room, and picking up the clogs he cried out "New clogs, new wood, T'hob Thurs will ne'er again do any good". Well, after that day nothing went right, pandemonium and mischief was the order of the day. Pots were broken, pans were broken, the farm animals became sick and lame. To cap it all, the farmer awoke one morning to find that his prize bull was walking on the roof of the farmhouse. At this last act of mischief, the farmer's patience gave way and he was determined to leave the luckless farm to its resident mischief maker. He and his sons loaded the cart with family belongings, and began to make his way down to the small bridge that takes Dick Clough stream under the farm track. When he arrived there, he heard a wee small voice cry out "Stop theer, while I tee mi' clogs, an' I'll go with thi'". The farmer was evidently not going to get rid of the boggart so easily, and his son should have remembered that no boggart could do any harm until he had received a present.



Extwistle Hall, and a goblin funeral.

This once fine and ancient mansion house at Extwistle now lies in sad decay, and unless steps are taken soon will crumble to the ground. This antiquated manor house lies in a pastoral setting in the fields above Swinden Reservoir at Roggerham to the west of Burnley. The hall can be approached via the path around the reservoir, and the dam at the far end. A stile here gives way to a field path, and a route onto the lane (a public footpath) running past the old hall. Extwistle Hall dates from around 1580, with a rear wing built in 1637, and was the home of the Parker family of Extwistle. This area of Briercliffe and Extwistle are steeped in tradition and folklore, one of which relates to Captain Robert Parker of Extwistle.


Captain Robert it is said, had been attending a Jacobite meeting one night in the early 17th century. The evening was moonlit as the captain left the meeting to return to his home at Extwistle. He crossed a small bridge near Extwistle Hall, and was amazed to hear the incantations of a goblin funeral. Curiosity got the better of Captain Parker, intrigued he sought hiding in some nearby bushes. The recitals became louder as the procession drew ever nearer. In the moonlight the cortege approached where Captain Robert was hid, and the glow of the moon lit up the brass nameplate on the coffin. To his terror it revealed his own name, 'Captain Robert Parker'. The captain took this to be a warning against taking involvement with the Jacobites, he withdrew his support for them and refused to take any part in the failed uprising of 1715.

Foulridge, and the haunting at Hob Stones Farm

Hob Stones Farm, lies off the minor road that runs past Langroyd Hall down to the Barnoldswick and Barrowford roads, and on the southern banks of Foulridge lower reservoir. Hob., is a shortening of Hobgoblin, another name for Puck or Robin Goodfellow, a mischievous sprite or goblin that haunted the English countryside, especially during the 16th. and 17th. century. "The neighbourhood of Hobstones, and especially the adjoining rocks was said to haunted by fairies" according to 'Carr's Annals of Colne'. A datestone on the present structure tells us it was erected in 1700, probably on the site of an even older edifice, and a strange ornamental arch to one side is dated 1704. It's little wonder then, that a farmstead of such antiquity and connections with the fairy and goblin lore should be subject to the supernatural. One record is a story of a troubled spectre monk seen by the then occupants of Hob Stones in 1959 while sat on the outside privy.


The apparition showed a friar wearing a hideous expression, nursing an amputated hand. This led to speculation that at one time there may have been a monastery close by, especially since part of the A56 was known as 'Kirk Rise' and 'Kirk Bridge' even before the building of St. Michael's at Foulridge, but then this was only built in 1905. Colne 'Kirk' is of much greater antiquity, and this particular road was no doubt used by the residents of the Foulridge district to go to this church. Certainly there appears to be no evidence of monistic settlement hereabouts, though it could be possible that the monks of Whalley grazed their deer and foals, so 'Foulridge' could be a corruption of 'Foalridge'. A poltergeist phenomenon occurred at the farm more recently that was of fearful proportions in 1974. The farm at this time had been sub-divided into four apartments, alterations and modifications to buildings appear to bring out the worst in the spirit world. The manifestations began with extreme and violent knocking on the outer walls of the farm, walls that are over three feet thick.


This was to last for several weeks, before the actions became more elaborate, bottles were thrown across rooms, windows broken and furniture moved around. One particular piece, a heavy antique, required three people to replace back in its original place. The haunting reached a climax on the night of the twenty ninth of September, 1974 when the house was besieged by the spirit world. So severely were the walls and ceilings shaken, the resident feared the building might collapse. Ornaments and furniture were hurled around inside, and a number of windows were smashed. Inside, was heard a fearful ripping sound tearing through the stonework from one side of the building to the other. Amid fear and hysteria the residents were obliged to call for the vicar of Colne who arrived a dawn. On seeing the commotion, he left and returned with an exorcist, and with powerful prayer....Hob was outcast. Phil Smith in 'Ghost Hunt in Pendle' relates that a spiritualist who attended the exorcist made contact with one of the spirits, who identified herself as Mary Hargreaves. Interestingly, the principal landowners around here were the Parkers of the Alkincoates estates, and the Hargreaves family.




Marsden Hall, Nelson

Dating from 1560, Marsden Hall at Nelson along with its park land containing 44 acres was bought by Nelson Corporation in 1912 for a mere £6,000. Richard Thomas Roe Walton, who died in 1848, was responsible from the year 1801 for all the fine and ornate stone carvings there, many of which still exist.

Oakes Hotel, Reedley

The Oakes Hotel at Reedley, formerly 'Oakleigh' was built in 1883 by Abraham Altham the founder of a tea shop chain and later 'Altham's Travel's' a firm that still exists. In more recent times it became the headquarters of the Burnley Rural District Council, until local government reform in 1974. In 1984, permission was given to convert the premises into a conference hall and hotel, which is when ghostly apparitions started. The ghost is said to be that of a young woman dressed in long white rustling dress, thought to be a maid in connection with the Altham household. She has been spotted by a number of the hotel staff, and so popular is she that she is mentioned in the A.A Hotel Guide. The apparition is said to 'float' around the hotel, and becomes particularly active when modifications are done at the hotel, as if expressing her disapproval. None of the staff seem unduly alarmed by the presence, and take the apparition as being 'friendly'.


Rowley Hall and a Lady Boggart

Near Rowley Lake off Brunshaw road, Burnley is the ancient homestead of Rowley Hall, for many years the residence of the Halstead family. In true tradition with many old halls and mansions, Rowley Hall is said to be haunted. In this particular case, the ghost in question appears to be a lady boggart, who would make her presence known by an appearance dressed in a ball costume. Boggarts, although un-nerving to have around, tend to be mischievous in their acts rather than frightening. Legend tells that the Rowley boggart would stop people going about their business around the hall by a very definite but invisible force. Doors would unaccountably be impossible to open, yet at other times would slam open and shut for no apparent reason. It is said that William Chaffer, a Worsthorne joiner was at work late one night at Rowley Hall, when he received a silent but very determined visit from the lady ghost. The Rowley boggart was 'layed' at the confluence of the two streams just below Rowley Hall, at the water meetings at Netherwood Bridge. A treaty was agreed that the boggart would never again appear from the spirit world. The agreement was ratified by placing a headstone in the ground there as a seal. Just down the road from Rowley Hall at Brunshaw Bottom might be seen the 'Bee Hole Boggart' who was reported to have carried off 'Old Bet' leaving only her skin on a thorn bush to show what had happened to her.

Towneley Hall and the Towneley Family


East Lancashire is privileged to have a number of ancient halls and manor-houses, and arguably the 'jewel in the crown' of all these is Towneley Hall at Burnley. Towneley Hall, possibly dating from the fourteenth century was the family seat of the Towneley's. Lady O'Hagan whose maiden name was Towneley was the last member to reside at the ancestral home. It was she, Lady Alice Mary O'Hagan who sold the hall and sixty two acres of surrounding park-land to the Corporation of Burnley for £17,500 in 1901. There are a number of legends relating to Towneley Hall, its grounds and the family. In the woodland surrounding the hall might be seen 'Trash' or 'Shriker' that resembled a huge dog with saucer sized eyes. It also had matted shaggy hair and large broad feet that made a splashing sound as he went along. 'Trash' had no substance and could not be touched, only seen.


If followed, 'Trash' would retreat backwards with an unblinking gaze attached to its pursuer, and when attention wandered for even a second, vanished. Other sighting of 'Trash' have been recorded at Godly lane, the old name for Ormerod road, and in the vicinity of the parish church of St. Peter's. Towneley Hall itself is said to be haunted by a spectre figure of a lady often floating above the hall on the battlements, with occasional sightings in the woods to the rear of the hall. Perhaps the most famous of the Towneley lore relates, with some factual evidence to Sir John Towneley (1482-1541) and his enclosure of 194 acres of common land at Horelaw (Wholaw) and Hollin Hey Clough.


Wholaw lies beyond the Waggoners Inn on Manchester road, Burnley above Clowbridge reservoir. There was natural outrage at the act from Burnley tenants who previous to this had right to pasture their beasts there, and efforts were made to get the land restored as common. However, Sir John, and later Richard Towneley held on to the enclosures, and there were many evictions. The enclosure of Wholaw raised natural resentment from the Burnley farmers, and over the years the legend grew that for his greed the soul of Sir John was not allowed to rest. Tradition says that the ghost of Sir John would appear every seventh year to wander in restlessness crying out the following---

"Be warned! Lay out! Be warned! Lay out!

Around Horelaw and Hollin Hey Clough

To her children give back the widow's cot

For you and yours there is still enough"


To "Lay out" is the reverse of "Take in" ---i.e. To throw open the land previously enclosed. As if to add further torment, it is also said that the appearance of the ghost would result in the death of one of the residents of the hall, and sudden demise of any of the Towneley family was often attributed to the curse. Following an enquiry in 1556 the enclosures made by the Towneley's were deemed illegal, and the Crown seized Wholaw but refused to restore it as common land. It was James I who leased to land to the Earl of Devon, who in 1612 sold it to Richard Towneley at 2/- an acre. The appearance of Sir John Towneley every seventh year led to a popular 'quip' in common use in the area up to several years ago. Anyone who had been absent for a length time, and made a sudden appearance was said to "Turn up like Towneley's Boggart".


A junior member of the Towneley family occupied Hapton Tower, whose existence is recalled today in 'Tower Clough' behind the Hapton Inn, Hapton. Lord William had an affection for Lady Sybill whose residence was at Bearnshaw Tower in the Cliviger gorge. Lady Sybill however showed no interest in the besotted gentleman, she preferred the outdoors and wildlife in this beautiful area of Lancashire. Often she would go wandering and studying the wild flowers and fauna around Eagle Cragg. The Craggs had a strange effect on her. and she longed for supernatural powers. Legend tells us that in the end she sold her soul to the devil, sealing the bond with her own blood. A condition of the deal was that she might join in the nightly doings of the famous Lancashire witches, and that her dreams would all come true. In desperation, Lord William to try and gain the hand of Lady Sybill, sought out the help of Mother Helston, a well known local witch. After many spells, Lord William was told that he would gain the hand of the fair maiden on the Feast of All Hallows. The following Halloween, the Lord and his men were out hunting and on nearing the Eagle Cragg startled a milk white doe. They gave chase, and after many hours both men and beasts were nearing exhaustion. They gave up the pursuit, and began to make their way back by Eagle Crag, at which point they were joined by a strange black dog. Legend says that the dog was the familiar of Mother Helston, and had been sent by her to capture Lady Sybill, who was in the guise of the white doe. Just as the doe was making for the edge of the cragg, the hound grabbed her by the neck. Here he held here by the feet, until Lord William was able to secure the doe by an enchanted silk cord. She was taken back to Hapton Tower, during the night a terrible storm broke and almost shook the tower to the ground. In the morning, the doe had changed back into the fair Lady Sybill. With the aid of Mother Helston's counter spells, Lady Sybill's pact with the devil was quashed. The tale ends in typical fashion, for Lord William and Lady Sybill were married and lived happily ever after.

The Bay Horse at Worsthorne.

There is a long standing tradition pertaining to the Bay Horse at Worsthorne (not the present day building) that goes back over three centuries. The tenant of the inn at this time also had the lease of Extwistle Mill. The remains of this old mill can still be traced below Swinden Reservoir. The landlords wife, often helped out at the mill, besides giving help in running the inn. Over the years the wife managed to save quite a 'little nest egg' for a rainy day she said. This money she hid away from her husband in the inn. One wild and rainy winters night, the wife was making her way back to the inn, and her path took her over the stream at Heckenhurst, now swollen by the heavy rain. While crossing the stepping stones there, she slipped, fell into the river and was drowned. Time passed by, and soon strange noises could be heard coming from a disused room at the tavern.


Rumour spread around the village that the miller's wife had returned to claim her concealed hoard. In time her visits became quite frequent, and in desperation the door of the room was sealed, thus confining the 'spirit' to her own apartment. After this was done, the noises and the haunting ceased, and over the years the whole thing was forgotten about. At the beginning of the last century, 'Old Johnny' became landlord of the inn, being a non-believer he reopened the doorway and once again the room was put to use by the family. But 'Old Johnny' had reckoned without his host, and once again rumour spread around he village that 'Old Thrutch' had started her nightly visits. It was said that she appeared wearing a rustic silk dress. On occasions the bedclothes from the children's bed would mysteriously disappear, and the youngsters would hear the sound of footsteps softly going down the stairs. One night, a group of quarrymen, for there were a number of quarries around Worsthorne, were sat enjoying a drink during the small hours at the inn. One of the group went outside to the toilets, and when he returned the door to the inn was held fast as if something was placed behind it.


"Push, push" cried a murmuring voice from the far side of the door. "Push the devil, you pull and I'll push" replied the quarryman. With that the door suddenly flew open. Nothing was seen, but the noise of rustling clothing was heard which faded away towards the haunted room. After this the room was again sealed, and 'Old Thrutch' confined to her quarters.


Still in the Worsthorne area is the legend of 'The Halstead Changeling'. A woman living at High Halstead, a farm that still exists near the Roggerham Gate Inn went to bring some water from the well. In doing so, she was obliged to leave her child asleep in the cot. When she returned her offspring had been replaced by a weazened old thing that looked as "false as a boggart". The poor woman tried everything she could think of to try and regain her child. In desperation she sought out the advice of a wise old man, who told her that the thing she was holding in her hands, was in fact a fairy. In order to test it, she was told she would have to do some strange and unusual acts to try and get its attention. Eager to regain her child she went home. Here she took an empty eggshell which she placed in the fire and poured in some cold water. The weazened changeling looked on all the while with apparent interest.


The water came to the boil and the creature said "what are you going to do with that". She replied "I'm going to make a brew". The changeling cried out in a shrill little voice saying "Well, I'm three score and ten, and I've never seen that done before". With that the mother snatched up the creature saying "if you're three score and ten, then you leave this house at once". She then took the changeling out of the house down the meadow to the stream with the cries of the creature resounding through the valley. Suddenly she heard another sound of the crying, which as a mother recognised as that of her own child. Tracing where the sound was coming from, she found her youngster in the hands of a very old woman who was holding it with all her might. On meeting, they exchanged their children, no words were spoken, each overjoyed at having regained their own child.


Brownside, below Worsthorne is said to be a favoured spot for fairies, and the name Brownside is reputed to come from this fact and its association with the brownies. Brownies, elves and fairies all find this one of their favourite haunts. One local lady told, in 1829 of the time she had to go down to Burnley to bring a doctor for her sickening husband. She set off just after midnight to make her journey, and near the hedge by the ford crossing the stream she saw a brownie sat down smoking a pipe. Further down the stream, nearer to a meadow by Rowley Hall was another favourite spot for the brownies and fairies. Here it is said, shreds of fairy clothing have been found. The Calf Hey Well Fairies on the other hand preferred to gambol around the well at Roggerham Gate. The Calf Hey Well is a strong spring raising from the ground there. In 1819 a company was formed to take this water to a reservoir near Heasandford. This was to be used by the inhabitants of Burnley. Often the fairies at Calf Hey Well could be seen dancing around on moonlit nights. Following the intrusion on their beloved place, they upped and left and were never seen dancing there again. The fairies at Jam Hole Well at Worsthorne, used little milk cans and made little pats of butter. The last sighting of a boggart at Worsthorne was in May 1883. Here the spirit of a recently deceased shady man of ill character made a reappearance, taking his earthly form which was seen by a number of residents. The witnesses also stated that in an instant the figure would change to that of a large dog, and seconds later into a calf.

The Sweet Clough 'Boggart'

Sweet Clough is the little brook that runs down from Kiddrow lane to Scott street in the Lowerhouse district of Burnley. There were a number of little cottages here named 'Sweet Clough Cottages' until they were demolished for improvements to Kiddrow lane in 1924. A 'boggart' was reported to having been captured here in the Burnley Advertiser in July 1862, the report went on to say--- "A dozen years previous a man living at Sweet Clough met with a sad and premature death, and his apparition was often seen at his former home. This week, when all was still, a little after midnight there was a tremendous clattering at the window. The new residents, a man and his wife, fully aware of the mystery surrounding the house were almost paralysed with terror. Again the boisterous clattering was heard, and presently the apparition was heard to pace ominously across the floor. Coming to the stair, it began to ascend, and to the horror of the occupants began to climb the five steps. In trembling tone, the mistress cried out "What is it!" but failed to receive an answer. By this time it had arrived at the top, and walked across the room with slow measured steps. The man at last summoned up courage and struck a match with the intention of frightening the apparition, and at the sound it quickly disappeared under the bed. With intense excitement, he struck another match and looking down under the bed he caught the fierce gaze of an enormous...... tom cat!. With the aid of a knobstick which was near at hand, he was able to get rid of the untimely visitor. The affair caused much amusement in the village".


Burnley Cross, and the demon pigs

Godly lane cross, more correctly 'Paulinus Cross' now stands in the little triangle of land at the corner of Bank Parade and Colne road, Burnley. It was removed from its former position at the bottom of the present day Ormerod road to here in 1881, for the reconstruction of what was then Godly lane. Crosses have long been associated with markets due to the belief that fair trading would be carried on, near or besides a sacred symbol, and in fact the Burnley market was carried on here for many years. Tradition says that an attempt was made to build the first parish church on this spot, the attempts however were thwarted by supernatural agents in the form of pigs. On the efforts to erect the church on this site, the materials were nightly removed by the pigs to the spot where the church stands today. For this reason legend says, a rough carving of a pig in stone was placed on the south side of the church tower.


JACK NADIN