A Stone with a Hole in it—Tied to the Key of the Stable Door—Preserves a Horse from Being Ridden by a Witch—During the Night.
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In part, by way of an introduction to a reproduction of Roger Frost’s 2014 piece for the Burnley Express, regarding Tattersall Wilkinson. In part, by way of a somewhat abstracted consideration of Memories of Hurstwood, published in 1889 by J & A Lupton (Burnley) and printed by J. S. Virtue & Co., Limited (London). I cannot quite recall as to when I first became aware of Tattersall Wilkinson. I suspect that it was one of those occasions when, whilst looking for one thing, I happened upon another.
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The relationship between folklore and folklorist can often be a complicated and even contentious one and Wilkinson’s relationship with folklore typifies this. Indeed, the story of how, in later life, he came to be referred to as the Sage of Roggerham, is less than straightforward and not without an aspect of humour in its application. However, please do not misunderstand, Wilkinson’s life-long interest in the folklore of Hurstwood and surrounding areas, was in no way insincere, but it was, to some degree, self-serving.
Regardless of his motivations, through his lively oration and occasional written works, most notably Memories of Hurstwood, the book he co-authored with J. F. Tattersall, Wilkinson’s endeavours were not without significance.
The hamlet of Hurstwood lies approximately three miles Southeast of Burnley. It forms part of the civil parish of Worsthorne-with-Hurstwood, with Worsthorne just over a mile north of Hurstwood. Estimated population, as of 2011, 2,963. To the south, the parish borders the River Brun, and includes two reservoirs, Hurstwood and Cant Clough.
Take the 589 from Burnley Bus Station (stand 3), heading out on Croft Street, Red Lion Street, Centenary Way (A682), Yorkshire Street and Harry Potts Way. Once Brunshaw turns to Red Lees and you have passed the turning for Hill Crest Avenue, ring the bell and prepare to alight. The name of your designated stop is Salterford Lane. It may well be advisable to inform the driver, at the outset of your journey, that you intend to alight here. A short walk along the lane and you will eventually come to an intersecting line of trees, hidden beneath which is the River Brun. Just as the tree-line dissipates, as you cross the Brun, almost unseen, take the footpath to the east and follow the river into Hurstwood.
By today’s standards, Hurstwood seems insignificant. A handful of properties run up to and line Hurstwood Brook, on its short journey from river to reservoir. Hurstwood Hall (list entry number: 1205736), the Great Barn (list entry number: 1072638), Rose Cottage and Brookside (list entry number: 1072640), are among the handful of buildings designated as Grade II and II* by the National Heritage List for England. And, of course, Tattersalls Farmhouse, Tattersalls House and Wood Nook Cottage (list entry number: 1205773) – the birthplace of Richard Tattersall.
Some believe that the poet Edmund Spenser had relations in Hurstwood and whilst staying there became infatuated with Rose Dyneley, a relative of the Towneleys. Some believe that his unrequited love inspired The Faerie Queene, his never-to-be-completed poem, the first part of which was published in 1590 and dedicated to Elizabeth I.
East of the parish, towards West Yorkshire, is the Widdop Valley. Widdop reservoir, Gorple Upper reservoir, Gorple Lower reservoir, Walshaw Dean Middle reservoir, Leeshaw reservoir, Upper Dean Head reservoir, Warley Moor reservoir, Haigh Cote dam, Leadbeater dam, Thornton Moor reservoir, Studden reservoir, Ogden reservoir, Mixenden reservoir. If you were to continue east, crossing Hebden Beck, Black Clough and Luddenden Brook, eventually you come to the City of Bradford.
What of Roggerham? Approximately two miles north of Hurstwood, with Lee Green reservoir to the North. Further, approximately three and a half miles north, on the outskirts of Burnley, is Briercliffe (or Briercliffe-with-Extwistle). Built in the sixteenth century, the unknowable Extwistle Hall is almost equidistant between Briercliffe and Worsthorne.
I am lucky enough to own a copy of Memories of Hurstwood. Or, to give it its full title Memories of Hurstwood, Burnley, Lancashire. With Tales and Traditions of the Neighbourhood. I finally ran a copy to ground at Delph Books, situated between Bolton and Bury, on the helpfully named Bury & Bolton Road. And, if not own, at least I am lucky enough to be this particular copy’s temporary custodian.
Bound in blue cloth with gilt lettering, fraying at the edges and falling away at the spine, Memories of Hurstwood represents a significant outpouring of accumulated knowledge. Embellished with many illustrations and poetic passages, an intriguing collection of interrelated, yet diverse subject matter, fill its now yellowing pages.
Memories of Hurstwood begins with a dedication ‘To Edmund, John, and Henry Tattersall, great-grandsons of Richard Tattersall, the last Tattersall of Hurstwood’ and concludes with an appendix that is rather more singular than is usual, concerning itself primarily with a list of all the Prince of Wales’ studs sold at Tattersall’s on Monday and Tuesday, the 24th and 25th days of July, 1786. Between the dedication and the appendix lie 12 chapters: 1, Introduction; 2, Pre-Historic Times; 3, Celtic Footprints; 4, Roman Footprints; 5, Saxon Footprints; 6, Hurstwood; 7, Hurstwood Hall; 8, Tattersalls’ Homestead; 9, Rock Cottage and Glen; 10, Witchcraft and Boggart Tales and Old Customs; 11, Legends and Tales of the Past; 12, Memories of the Tattersalls.
According to a slip pasted into one of the endpapers, the look of which suggests that is was designed and placed there sometime in the 1980s, possibly early 90s, this particular copy was previously available from the Bury Reference & Information Service. Visible beneath is another slip, similar in wording, but with an antiquated design, suggesting that the book had been in their collection for quite some time. In addition, a rubber-stamp makes reference to the book having been held, for a time, at Ramsbottom Library. Further in, small pencil markings, top right, allude to the fact that, at some time or another, the book had passed through the hands of one Alex Taylor, also of Bury.
Whether or not you have an interest in Lancashire Folklore, Memories of Hurstwood offers much to occupy even the most casual of readers. I am particularly taken with chapter 10, Witchcraft and Boggart Tales and Old Customs (though the following chapter, 11, Legends and Tales of the Past, is equally absorbing): Old Johnny o’ th’ Pasture, The Legend of “Old Thrutch”, The Spectre Horses of Ridge, The Bee-Hole Boggart, The Towneley Boggart, Old Sally Walton of Cloughfoot Bridge, Extwistle Boggart, Holden Boggart, The Halsted Changeling, The Barcroft Boggart, A Poacher catches a Boggart, Gret Dick’s Encounter with the Devil and a Dun Cow, The Fairies of Calf Het Well, Old Jam Well and Holed Stones as a Protection against Witches.
I was not being entirely accurate when I said that Memories of Hurstwood concluded with the appendix. At the rear of the book, attached just before the final endpaper, is an illustrative fold-out, entitled “A division of the seats within the Chappell of Burneley assigned and allotted unto severall inhabitants within … by Richard Towneley, Esq, Nicholas Towneley, Esq, Richard Shuttleworth, Esq, etc. … made and divyded the eighteenth day of July, Anno Dni. 1634”. An unusual conclusion, to an unusual book.
“That which prevailled most with me to follow this designe in collecting the memories of my predecessors, was the apprehensione and hopes I have, that nothing prevaills more with generous soules to perswad them to glory and virtue, then to know that they aither represent ancient families themselves, or are descended from worthie parents” — James, Eleventh Lord Somerville, A.D. 1679
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The above text appears as part of Folklore Tapes’ Lancashire Folklore Tapes Vol. IV — Memories of Hurstwood. It is reproduced here, as it appears there, edited by Ian Humberstone. What follows is additional content, additional research. Fragments.
It is clear that Memories of Hurstwood not only represents an opportunity to commit to print this interrelated, yet disparate subject-matter, these Tales and Traditions of the Neighbourhood, but it also represents an opportunity to reconnect to and to feel a part of history. Albeit in a slightly unconventional manner.
tat•ter•sall. (tæt ərˌsɔl, -səl) n. 1. a pattern of squares formed by colored crossbars on a solid-color background. 2. a fabric with this pattern. adj. 3. having this pattern. [1890–95; after Tattersall's, London horse market; such patterns were common on horse blankets].
Established in 1766 by Richard Tattersall, Tattersalls’ Horse Sale Yard began life trading out of premises close to Hyde Park Corner. In 1865 Tattersalls’ relocates to Knightsbridge, before eventually settling in Newmarket, Suffolk, in 1965. Today, Tattersalls claims to be the oldest bloodstock auctioneers in the world and the largest in Europe.
How it is that this copy of Memories of Hurstwood came to be on the open market, is unclear. The ominous WITHDRAWN, that is brutally stamped into the endpapers of so many of the books that line my shelves, cover my floors and fill my storage boxes, is conspicuous by its absence. In its place, where the word would have most likely been-had it been there, a small rectangular stamp, containing the words ‘Bury Public Library Reference Department’.
Alternatively, take the 1 or 1A (stand 6) from Burnley Bus Station to the village of Worsthorne. The route concludes at the junction of Brownside Road, Extwistle Road, Raven Oak Lane & Ormerod Street, at what is commonly referred to as Church Square. However, St John the Evangelist’s Church is in fact about 20 meters further along Raven Oak Lane, to the East. Take to your feet and leave the village, making your way South, along Ormerod Street. Houses end where farmland begins and after 10 or so minutes, you will come to a t-junction. Take the left hand turning onto Hurstwood Lane, then follow the lane, into Hurstwood.