No history of Rishton would be complete without mentioning Tottleworth. A
hamlet it would seem since time began!!!
The ancient hamlet of Tottleworth in the township of Rishton is an
interesting place. It still maintains its old world appearance and consists
of a small group of dwellings. The back of one house opens onto the front of
another and where you expect to find an outlet, there is a cul-de-sac. The
gardens and backyards are closely intermingled and some of the dwellings are
independent of any road levels.
The name itself can be traced to Saxon times, WORTH, the second half of
the name comes from the Saxon era of English settlement, and means Fenced
Land. We know that the Saxons were in this Country from 350 AD to 1000 AD, so
it is possible that Tottleworth came into being about this time.
The Old English words 'Tottla' & 'worth' meaning 'Tottla's enclosure' and
the first recorded use of the name was in 1204. This part of the name derived
from the Saxons, said to describe a "homestead". The second, meaning an
enclosure of land. So in effect Tottleworth is an enclosure of homes.
A charter of Maud de Praers granted Tottleworth to Uctred, who was the son
of Roger de Rishton in about 1220.
The decipherment of Manor deeds affords many curious examples of the way
place names were spelt according to their sound by the men responsible for
writing these documents. Lack of education was responsible for this, and this
phonetic spelling has caused many curious changes within a few years as can
be seen from the following:-
The hidden hamlet of Tottleworth which is now designated a conservation
area, dates back to Saxon times and still reserves its ancient Layout. The
most important building is the 17th century Manor House Farm once owned by
the Hesketh family of Rufford. The Hesketh family were large landowners of
Great Harwood.
The road throughout Tottleworth Village was nothing more than a dirt
track, but during the 1990's the road leading into the village was tarmaced,
and a 20 miles per hour speed restriction put in place.
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| Tottleworth Village in the snow January 2002 |
The narrow land from Holt, through Tottleworth was the great road to
and from Great Harwood in the old days. This road was the salt road to
Whalley and Clitheroe, from Manchester and the outside world. Hundreds of
pack horses carrying salt, coal, iron, and cloth to and from Clitheroe
market or fair helped to wear the paved track.
The road never really went through Harwood, instead when reaching the
brooks, the track would turn slightly to the left and head towards
Tottleworth Lee, and Close Brow.
The history of Tottleworth stretches far into medieval days. It was
settled quite early, as it is mentioned in a document in the 13th
century. Another interesting document dealing with Tottleworth in 1348
reveals that sea-coal was found and worked there. This coal was probably
an outcrop found where Norden brook joins the Hyndburn River, known then
as Broadridingwood.
The same document deals with the division of land between William de
Hesketh of Harwood, and Adam de Rishton de Tottleworth. William gave his
land in the west of Tottleworth to Adam and Adams father, Richard, and in
return the Heskeths obtained Broadridingwoods from them.
Both parties were to share the sea-coal, William having 3/4 and Adam
and Richard the other. Both parties were to also have roads for pack
animals in the open season, and William and his heirs were retain
responsibilities for any damage done to Adams land.
In the same document, the doles of land which belong to Henry de
Rishton are:
- On the croft of 6 selions (or beds), 4 lie together.
- On Wallandes 3 selions, 2 lie together.
- On berrybuttes 6 selions, 3 lie together.
This suggests that land in both Tottleworth and Rishton was enclosed
and had been dating from before this document in 1348. The name
Tottleworth meaning an enclosure of land anyway!
The doles or strips, belonging to the de Rishton are given as lying
together, this tells us that perhaps strips of land were being exchanged
so that their strips all lied at the side of each other, this would have
formed a small field or enclosure. This was called "making a close" and
was unusual in this period of time. It became more common in the 16th
Century, mainly because of its many advantages.
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| Picture of Village with the now Demolished
17. |
Richard, Henry de Rishtons oldest son, married Margaret Holt (the name
was purely coincidental!), who was the daughter of William, the son of
Peter Holt of Stodlegh, or Studley in Warwickshire, some time during or
before 1414. This was how the de Rishtons of Dunkenhalgh acquired their
estates in Warwickshire. In that year, Richard and Margaret received the
de Rishton estate of Tottleworth from Henry, presumably as a dowry, at the
same time receiving more lands in Tottleworth from one Richard Catlowe,
who was a chaplain.
All the land around this area has changed dramatically with new trees
having grown and parts of the gardens refurbished, but the buildings still
remain to this day, as can be seen in the photo's around these pages.
The first weaving shop where weavers appropriated looms was also built
there, the cotton coming from the West Indies. The Rishton
cotton mills
were the outcome of this early loom shop at Tottleworth.
The roads for pack animals from Tottleworth are, in the main still in
existence today. For many years the ancient paving stones were visible
along the length of the road, particularly round the bottom of the hill
where the road joins Moor Lane, and at the summit to the hill, by Manor
House Farm, there still exists the pack animal paving on the elbow.
The other track from Spring Street is narrow, and it is obvious that
travellers on foot, or horse, and packhorses made this road, and it was
never intended for carts. In some places the trees meet overhead, and high
banks are covered with Hawthorn bushes, branches or rough grass.
Harry Allen, reputed to be the last hangman in the Country also lived
in Tottleworth.
The village green was slightly down the hill with a well on it for
clear water. This has gone with the building of two driveways to the
houses.
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| Owd Ellens house, and the bottom of Moor
Lane. |
On the 20th August 1925, Mr. A. Haworth, the estate agent, attended and
interviewed the council with regards to the water supply at Tottleworth,
and the condition of various farms in the district. The sanitary inspector
was to deal. The Spring supplying Tottleworth Hamlet with water for
domestic purposes was upon analysis proved to be seriously polluted, and
immediate steps were taken. As a consequence the well was cleansed and
permanently sealed as also was the source of supply to Holt Farm, the
quality of the water has greatly improved since this work was carried out.
It was twice reported during the year that this area ought certainly to be
supplied with Town’s water.
The Council Chairman reported that an estimate had been received from
the Accrington District Gas & Water Board, on the 13th August 1936, 11
years after it was found that the water was polluted, as to the cost of
providing town water to Tottleworth, and the same had been forwarded to
the County Council and also Mr. Scurrah, and a meeting had been arranged
between Mr. Scurrah, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Broughton, Mr. Eginton, and the
Chairman and Officials of the Sanitary Department.
A deputation, consisting of Messrs. Mallett, Birtwistle and Riding, was
received from the inhabitants at Tottleworth on the 10th October 1936,
with regard to the Water Supply at Tottleworth. They were informed that
the same was receiving the attention of the Council. The Chairman read a
letter on the 12th November 1936, from the Lancashire Agricultural
Committee with reference to the water supply at Tottleworth and asking the
Council if they were willing to bear their share of the annual cost of the
proposed water main. The Council were not prepared to go on with the
present scheme but that the first scheme should be gone on with.
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| Tottleworth with number 13 and the Croft. Owd Helens
which can be seen in a picture higher up this page, now appears to
have been demolished, as it is no longer visible between the two
buildings at the bottom of the hill. |
A letter was read from Mr. Harrison, General Manager of the Accrington
District Gas and Water Board, on the 3rd December 1936, that the cost of
Water Supply to Tottleworth from Lee Lane was approximately £260, then
there would also be a further fixed charge of £2 per house for the stop
tap and service pipe, payable by the owner or tenant and that he estimated
the revenue from the gross rental would be £14 per annum and the Board
would require a rental of not less than 10% on the actual cost and asking
if the Council would be responsible for the difference between the
assessed revenue income and the 10% revenue required on the actual cost.
Resolved that the Scheme be accepted subject to the Dunkenhalgh Estate and
the County Council contributing towards the revenue required by the Board.
A letter was read from the Dunkenhalgh Estate on the 14th January 1937,
that they were prepared to assist in the proposed scheme for a main water
supply from the Harwood end of Lee Lane to the Tottleworth Cottages via
Lidgett Bridge, by making ten annual payments of one-third of the annual
rental, which would be equal to 10% of the ascertained actual cost of the
proposed scheme, which must not exceed £27 and that the actual cost
referred to includes the several stop taps to be fixed at suitable points.
The Accrington District Gas & Water Board to be liable for any claims for
surface damage or compensation. A letter was also read from the County
Council with regard to the Tottleworth Water Supply, that they only
contributed towards Capital Expenditure in connection with the provision
of Public Water Supplies in the Administrative County. Resolved that
application be made.
The owners of 9 and 10 Tottleworth, and Fairholmes cottages were
reported to be in a dangerous condition and were to be inspected on the
15th April 1937. On the 1st June 1937, Demolition orders were served on
numbers 9, 10, and 15 Tottleworth, also on Higher Cutt cottages and Far
Holmes cottages.
In May 1937 A water scheme to provide Tottleworth with water was
approved by the council. The Accrington and District Gas and Water Board
were requested to commence work as soon as possible.
The question of providing seats on Holt Street recreation ground and
the footpath to Tottleworth was raised and discussed by the council
committee on the 5th July 1938. Gifts of seats were offered by Councillor
Worsley (on behalf of the Regnal Circle No. 2) and Councillor Tattersall
for use on Holt Street Recreation ground, and by Councillor Sanderson for
use on Tottleworth footpath. It was resolved by the council that the
offers be accepted, and best thanks offered to the donors for their
generosity, and that the surveyor should obtain and fix the seats in the
positions referred to.
A petition was read from the residents of Tottleworth, to the District
Council, on the 20th February 1941, concerning the provision of Air Raid
Shelters and instruction in Incendiary Bomb Control. Arrangements were
made to give a fire fighting demonstration.
It was reported that a lamp had been damaged at Tottleworth by a motor
vehicle, on the 14th January 1943, the property of the Ministry of Home
Security. The matter has been taken up with the Councils Insurers. The
Clerk reported on the 21st January 1943, that the Co-operative Insurance
Society, Ltd. had paid the claim for damage in respect of the lamp post at
Tottleworth in full.
The Council Clerk reported upon the position with regard to liability
for repairs to the footpaths to Tottleworth on the 9th September 1943. The
Council resolved that the necessary repairs should be carried out and the
cost should be borne by the Local Authority.
The Surveyor submitted plans showing a proposed lay-out of temporary
housing at Tottleworth and at Butler Street on the 5th April 1945. An
application was made for fifty temporary houses, using the former balloon
site in Tottleworth itself. The Surveyor was also to submit an alternative
lay-out for temporary housing on Holt Recreation Ground. The Tottleworth
site was selected for temporary housing.
On the 24th May 1951, Gas Lamps were removed and the spigots cleaned
off and painted which were found to be in not bad condition, and the
manufacturers were instructed to proceed with the making of the brackets
and switch-boxes for new electricity lighting. The Gas Board and the
Electricity Board were instructed to deal with the old and new services.
The old lanterns and time clocks were offered for sale to the Great
Harwood U.D.C., and they were asked if they would undertake the
maintenance of the gas lamps which remained on Lee Lane and Tottleworth on
a time and material basis. Similarly, the Clayton-le-Moors U.D.C. were
asked to carry out the maintenance of the four lamps in Hermitage Street.
On the 31st May 1951, The question was raised of the necessity for a
telephone to be installed in the Tottleworth area particularly in cases of
emergency, and it was resolved That a communication be forwarded to the
Post Office telephone Manager putting forward a strong case for early
consideration.
On the 12th July 1951, The Council Clerk reported that the Great
Harwood U. D. C, were prepared to maintain the gas street lamps on Lee
Lane and Tottleworth on a labour and materials basis plus 20 per cent.
establishment charge. A letter of thanks was forwarded to the Great
Harwood U. D. C, for their offer.
Lamp Columnsâ€"Bridge Street to Tottleworth. It was decided on the 11th
October 1951, to leave six columns in position for the time being.
On the 10th January 1952, The Surveyor was instructed to arrange for
the all-night lighting of two of the lamps.
The Council Clerk submitted a letter from the N. W. Electricity Board
on the 12th March 1953, stating that as they were unable to obtain the
minimum annual guaranteed revenue from the occupiers of the property at
Tottleworth, the Board were unable to agree to a supply being given to
this area, and that the matter was now left in abeyance.