Oldest part of Accrington.

Retlaw · 10-03-2005, 22:17

Oldest part of Accrington.

The oldest residential buildings in Accrington are the High Riley Cottages. The next oldest is Higher Hey Farm and its Cottages. Spire Farm could rate as one of the oldest sites in Acc, but it has been rebuilt several times in the past. It has not always been known as Spire Farm the stone of that Spire used to be a tower behind High Riley Cottages, it was taken down and reused to enlarge the farm, it was them rerated in 1835./

Retlaw.

WillowTheWhisp · 10-03-2005, 23:38

I've always thought "Spire Farm" was an odd name considering it has a tower and not a spire. What did the tower belong to do you know?

Any idea how old High Riley cottages are?

THOTH · 11-03-2005, 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

I've always thought "Spire Farm" was an odd name considering it has a tower and not a spire. What did the tower belong to do you know?

Any idea how old High Riley cottages are?

My Aunt was born in one of the High Riley Cottages and lived there until married. The date 1628 is over the door of what was No 5 in those days. Probably still is. It was the second from the left when looking at the frontages.

Acrylic-bob · 11-03-2005, 20:39

It sort of depends on the date of other farm/halls in the area, like Higher Antley Hall which may be earlier. I can't think that any of the town's pubs pre-date High Riley Cottages, the council decided to knock down the oldest one at Bull Bridge to build the carpark. There's nothing left in Grange Lane, is there? What about Green Haworth, or is that all 18th century?

WillowTheWhisp · 11-03-2005, 23:29

The Red Lion up there is no longer the Red Lion but a private residence. How old was that? It was originally "Picks Brewery" - anybody know anything about them?

Retlaw · 11-03-2005, 23:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by THOTH

My Aunt was born in one of the High Riley Cottages and lived there until married. The date 1628 is over the door of what was No 5 in those days. Probably still is. It was the second from the left when looking at the frontages.

The Tower stood on land behind the High Riley Cottages, was supposed to be a watch tower to warn of the invading Scots. Quite a number of places in Accrington were known as Folds. They were a range of buildings aranged in a square, with no window openings on the out side and provision for a strong gate which would seal of the fold from attackers. The last one to be demolished was Broad Oak Fold, up Sandy Lane.

Retlaw.

WillowTheWhisp · 11-03-2005, 23:31

Presumably that accounts for the name "Miller Fold" as in Miller Fold Avenue.

Retlaw · 11-03-2005, 23:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acrylic-bob

It sort of depends on the date of other farm/halls in the area, like Higher Antley Hall which may be earlier. I can't think that any of the town's pubs pre-date High Riley Cottages, the council decided to knock down the oldest one at Bull Bridge to build the carpark. There's nothing left in Grange Lane, is there? What about Green Haworth, or is that all 18th century?

The oldest known site which has been inhabited since 1190 is where Spire Farm stands.
When the monks of Kirkstall left Accrington. De Lacey appointed a steward to oversee his lands, the steward took the name of the place as his surname and called himself Robert De Riley. Back in those days very few commoners had surnames, not till the King decreed in 1600 that every one should be known and have a surname. The reason being his stewards were having trouble collecting taxes, (nowts changed) because the didnt know who was who.

Retlaw

Gobsmacked · 14-03-2005, 00:51

If the oldest known inhabited site dates from 1190 which is close to the date when the "Oak Ring Town" name was fisrt mentioned where do you get your Saxon Lord Inga from?

The first explanation sounds far more plausible to me, especially in view of your comments here.

Retlaw · 14-03-2005, 21:56

To Gobsmacked.

I said the oldest known site from 1190. There are even older documents than that, which actualy names sites, boundaries, rivers and names of the then Saxon Lords who were living here at the time.

Read your history, visit the Public Record office at Kew in London, they've got hundreds of old documents, take you a life time to read, thats if you can read Latin and Old English. I've been at some fifty years.

Retlaw

KAYJAY · 27-09-2005, 13:17

I used to visit a friend who lived in High Riley Cottages in the fifties - the last cottage going up the lane - used to think even then how wonderful and full of character they were- they looked Tudor to me. Spire Farm and the cottages seemed so far out of town in those days. but not far atall. I suppose even less now with encroaching build.
My friend's name was Aileen Rodgers - lost track donkeys years ago - anyone know of her atall? Saint Anne's and Saint Oswald's school