Re: Oldest Building in Accy
 

Right at the top near where sandy lane meets the by-pass. I think a tower of some sorts has been built onto the cottages...you can see it from the by-pass.

Phil

Re: Oldest Building in Accy
 

Errr... isn't that what is familiarly known as Spire Farm? In other words, High Riley.

Re: Oldest Building in Accy
 

Probably, we have been trying to understand what is the oldest habited building in Accy and I think it has been agreed that it is High Riley cottages 1628 ish.

So High Riley cottages is now named Spire Farm is it?????

Phil

Re: Oldest Building in Accy
 

High Riley cottages, and Spire Farm are not the same, although they are close to each other. You could well be right about the cottages being the oldest habited buildings in Accrington. I'm not sure. I walked past them this afternoon in the rain and the mist.

Re: Oldest Building in Accy
 

No - Spire Farm is just what we always called it - because of the tower I guess. Surprised you don't know the name. Officially it's High Riley.

Re: Oldest Building in Accy
 

So wheres Higher Hey in Accrington then?

Phil

Re: Oldest Building in Accy
 

Just looked on Google maps and you are correct, the cottages are a hundred yards or so further up the lane from the farm..my mistake

Phil

Re: Oldest Building in Accy
 

Spire Farms correct name is High Riley, the original site was farmed by the Monks of Kirkstall back in the 1200's, when they left Accrington the lands were taken back by the de Lacey family, they appointed a stewrad to oversee their holdings he was called Robert, he took up residence on the site of Riley & on all the accounts he submitted to de Lacey, he signed his name Robert de Ryley. I was re-reading some of those accounts a couple of days ago. The tower or Spire as its called was actually a building on a site to the rear of the High Riley Cottages, the tower was taken down and the stone used in the rebuilding of the barn, that event is dated between 1828 & 1835 in the valuation records. It then became known as New High Riley.
There were several farms in the area with the name Riley attached.
Retlaw.

Re: Oldest Building in Accy
 

High riley cottages are the oldest Listed buildings in accrington that is true and are indeed lived in, one by a relative of mine, his is actually the newest of the three cottages built onto the end in about 1800. The row was made up of what is number 3 and 5 , 7 . Number 5 and 7 are now one cottage along with number 3 the one with the date stone and the "new" cottage number 1.

Re: Oldest Building in Accy
 

about half a mile from the roundabout by St Anne's school

Re: Oldest Building in Accy
 

This may help

Attachment 18944

Re: Oldest Building in Accy
 

Lovely photos Jeff -takes me back.
It was a favourite Sunday walk of ours to go up Sandy Lane and walk through Spire's Farm (still a working farm 30-0dd yrs ago and then past the cottages and up to Hambledon Hill. I have been inside one of the cottages as my dad was friends with a work colleague who lived there and we used to stop off and play with his children sometimes.
Haven't been back up that way for about 30 years I think...

Re: Oldest Building in Accy
 

Anyone point out the location of higher hey?

Phil

Re: Oldest Building in Accy
 

how old are the cottages whalley road next to ribblesdale avenue heard they were listed:confused: oakleigh area could be something to with the glorious revolution as you have pilot street, orange street, whittaker street, pilot street if you know your history you will get the connections with the wee free church;)

Re: Oldest Building in Accy
 

Anyone?