People of town were all to the manor born

BURNLEY in medieval times consisted of just 50 or 60 families, and might have remained as such but for the intervention of the twelfth Lord of Clitheroe, Henry de Lacy, 1258-1311.

It was Henry de Lacy who obtained the grant for a market and fair at Burnley in 1294. Henry de Lacy looked after Burnley, which included Ightenhill, in the King's name.

His banner was of yellow silk with a purple lion rampart, and the de Lacy lion can still be seen as a supporter of the Borough Coat of Arms.

The large areas of woodland, moors, marshlands and lowlands around east Lancashire were obviously difficult to manage from the castle.

As a consequence, around the 12th century, the Honor of Clitheroe was divided up into seven manors, four of which had their own manor house. The manors were: Ightenhill, Colne, Accrington, Tottington, Chatburn, Worston and Pendleton.

It is the Manor of Ightenhill, with which we are concerned, which was sub-divided into vils consisting of Burnley, Habergham, Padiham, Briercliffe with Extwistle, Little Marsden and Cliviger and Worsthorne.

The Manor House at Ightenhill was built in the 12th or 13th Century. The "Park" at Ightenhill consisted of a number of outlying farms or enclosures tenanted, but still attached to the Manor House.

The boundaries between Ightenhill and its neighbouring manors of Colne and Accrington were marked by stones, especially those of a peculiar shape and ditches and dykes. What of Ightenhill Manor House itself?

The site today is marked by a noticeable mound to the left and rear of 'Manor House' more correctly Smith's Cottages or the Hill Farm.

The place is reached by a footpath on the left of this cottage, which then bears around further to the left. The pathway passes besides the housing estate on the left and open fields on the right.

Through the young trees on the right is a stile immediately over which is a standing stone, or gatepost and the beginnings of the footpath that skirts the site of the ancient Ightenhill manor house.

The site for the manor was chosen well, from here we have extensive views of Pendle Hill, and Hambledon Hill to the left and Barden and beyond to the right. Below meanders the River Calder, and Pendle Hall can be seen on the opposite bank.

Pendle Hall originates from 1519, when William Hancock erected the structure, since rebuilt. The farm was the home of Andrew Crook during 1641 and 1660 who was a clothier.

Above the doorway of the old hall was a carved escutcheon with a lion rampant, the Arms of the De Lacys.

It was speculated that this carving was taken from the old Ightenhill manor-house when it fell into ruin. The manor house appears to have been surrounded by outer walls, of which fortunately some still survive. The main building at the Manor House was structurally well built, having carved door jambs and window mullions, the inside walls being plastered and daubed. However, it was never intended as a stronghold in the sense that Clitheroe Castle was, but simply a place of retreat from the marauding bands of Border raiders.

It has been stated that stones from the original building were used in the construction of many of the field walls, but open cast mining has removed much evidence of this.

During the rebellion of Earl Thomas, a great part of the stock at Ightenhill and the forests of Blackburnshire were driven away to Skipton.

"As a consequence there were no mares here in 1324". This disturbance at Ightenhill is recorded, when the jury reported "That Nicholas Maulleverer then constable of Skipton Castle, with many others from Craven and Airedale, did take from the Equitium or Haras (the horse breeding establishment) of Ightenhill and the Instaurators (chief cow keepers) of Pendle and Trawden various animals, and did waste the King's wine at Ightenhill to his loss, as they understand, of £232. 6d".

Following the raid by the Skipton raiders, or possibly because of the visit by King Edward II, a number of improvements were undertaken to the manor house in 1323. This included "Felling oak trees, cutting and dressing timber for posts and 'wevre' under the Kings chamber, bakehouse and other outbuildings cost £44 Repair of stable and barns cost £72 8d. and wages for Robert the Mason for making a new chimney cost £5. 14. 4d. Further repairs were carried out in 1440, when "The roof boards, floors, doors, steps and windows were all renewed. For carrying the water to cool the lime, William Ingham was paid 1s. 4d.

Locks were mended, and a new one purchased, most of the workmen earned 6d. per day".

The Manor House at Ightenhill played host to Royalty, and Edward II spent a number of days at the manor during October 1323 dealing with pleas and other matters that had arisen from the rebellion of Thomas, the Earl of Lancaster, the year before. According to tradition, the Manor-house was abandoned by the De Lacy's, Earls of Lincoln, in consequence of the last male heir being killed by a fall from a window there.

By 1522, the manor house at Ightenhill, although standing, was in a ruinous condition. In 1524, the Crown granted a lease to Sir John Towneley for the park at a rent of £30 together with the mills of Burnley and Clitheroe.

Sir John Towneley wished to know the state of the Ightenhill manor house, and on July 16 1522, 12 copyholders there made the report that "At the day of making this inquest the great hall and timbers of the manor-house at Ightenhill are in ruins and fallen to the ground, a great part carried away and not to be found there.

"The great chamber at the western end of the hall is in a like state; the kitchen, butler's house, and pantry destroyed and no part to be found, nor are any timbers or slate stones now left.

"The oven house and the great barn are in a like state. The long chamber at the western end of the hall has fallen down, and no part of it remains. Only the park-keeper's house remains standing, with timbers and slate stone, but the doors and windows have been taken away, and it is like to fall for lack of repair: the chapel there and the stable all remain in a like state. John Towneley has not been found guilty of the removal or destruction of any timber or stone of the said house."

Ightenhill Park continued to be held by the Towneleys until around 1580, when Richard Shuttleworth, of Gawthorpe Hall, was granted a lease of land therein.

The park keeper at Ightenhill Park, was Richard the Skinner, who received 4d per day as well as 10s. for a robe. In 1327 he was succeeded by John de Hemingburgh who was followed by Richard de Norton, one of the king's archers in 1333.

Before the year 1400, John the Parker held the office of parker (the origin of this common surname) at Ightenhill, and in 1416 was succeeded by his son, also named John, and who was called the younger parker.

The manor house also served as the manorial law courts where disputes were settled and wrong doers punished. These courts appear to have been held at Ightenhill manor until the reign of Henry VIII when the court house at Higham village was adopted. According to tradition, criminals tried by John O'Gaunt at Ightenhill were executed at Higham.

The Higham village occupied an important position during the feudal age, and a handsome building named the court house used to exist and bore the arms of John O'Gaunt on its western elevation.

Sadly this historic building has been demolished.