This is a text only page, but I shall shortly include links to photographs
of the area.
This article has been created to give people around the world,
a glimpse into the history of my home town Colne in Lancashire.
Colne is an old market town of around 19000 people. Colne is currently part of the borough of Pendle which was created in 1974. From 1895 until 1974 Colne had Borough status and last year celebrated its centenary even though it was incorporated into Pendle 21 years previously.
The Borough of Pendle consists of four main towns : Colne, Nelson,
Barnoldswick and Brierfield. There are several smaller towns and villages
scattered around the borough : Earby, Foulridge, Trawden, Reedley, Kelbrook,
Winewall, Wycollar, Barrowford and more.
Links | Pendle | Colne | Nelson | Other towns in Pendle | Villages in Pendle |Religion |Bibliography
Early History of Colne|Mediaeval Colne|16th Century Colne|17th Century Colne
Colne is the second largest town in the Borough of Pendle, Nelson being
larger but much younger as a town. The history of Colne goes back much further
than becoming a borough in 1895. In fact the history goes back to pre-Roman
times.
There are traces of Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) man in the area from up to
12000 years ago. Amongst the finds in the area are stone axe heads, pygmy
flints, a flint workshop and a Mesolithic camp site. Most of these finds were
found around Boulsworth Hill at Trawden.
About four thousand years ago, the Bronze Age arrived in the area. Colne was
situated on a ridgeway trade route between the west coast and the east coast,
where Irish bronzes were transported. Near Trawden a bronze age single burial
round barrow from around 1500 BC has been excavated by Stanley Cookson at Brink
Ends. Finds from this period in the area include an axe head and a flat
spearhead.
Much later than in the rest of Britain, the Iron Age arrived here around 750
BC. There is an iron age fort at Castercliffe dating back to the 6th century BC.
Colne itself was probably established during the last few centuries BC. The area
was controlled by a warlike people called the Brigantes. Having a good water
supply and being on a main trade route along the trans-Pennine ridgeway, it was
an ideal place to start a settlement. The names Colne and Pendle are both of
Celtic origin.
When the Romans arrived in Britain, Julius Agricola marched his
forces northwards and through Lancashire via Chester. Roman forts were
established in areas around Colne. A Roman road from Ribchester via Ilkley to
York was built. This road passes very close to Colne and partially within the
boundaries of Pendle. There is no firm evidence that the Romans had any
permanent presence in the area, although that is still being debated by
historians in the area. Castercliffe is the site where those believing the
Romans stayed in Colne had their outpost.
Roman artifacts have been found
in the area, including coins, but this is no evidence to Romans actually being
here. The area would certainly not have been to their liking, being hilly, and
damp.
The area was never truly subdued by the Romans and they finally left
Britain in 410 AD.
After the Romans left, Britain was invaded by various Germanic peoples. The
Celts mainly retreated to Wales and Scotland, some stayed. Evidence of the
Angles is reflected in local placenames such as Trawden and Marsden. Earby is
derived from Norse origins, as are the many smaller places which include 'gill'
and 'slack'.
After the Vikings established themselves in Northumbria, the area came
under their rule.
There are strong arguements that the Battle of
Brunanburgh was fought in the area, more specifically near Trawden. In this
battle, Alfred of Wessex's grandson Athelstan defeated an army of Picts, Scots,
Welsh and Danes and became the first King of all England.
After the Norman conquest, the area was controlled by Roger of Poitou and
then around 1090 AD control of the area passed to Robert de Lacy. The de Lacy's
maintained control of Colne until 1311 AD. They were based at Pontefract and
built Clitheroe Castle as their local stronghold. Clitheroe Castle, just outside
Pendle is still with us today. Colne was one of seven manors under the
jurisdiction of the Honor of Clitheroe. At this time Colne included Great
Marsden and Foulridge.
In this period the Forest of Trawden and the Forest
of Pendle were created, enabling the nobles to hunt deer.
Colne itself comprised of two small settlements, Colne town and Waterside. The two settlements were joined by Colne Lane.
Colne town at the top of the hill, grew around the church. The church is known to have been built before 1122 AD. The churchyard held the market, probably on a Sunday. Colne was never given a charter, unlike other towns, either because the market had already grown through custom, or it was a royal gift dating back to the time when the king himself was lord of the manor. An annual fair developed. This was held on St Bartholomews Day - 24 August. The fair brought in merchants from afar and would have been one of the highlights of the year.
Waterside at the bottom of Colne Lane grew around the river and the bridge
over it. The bridge at Waterside was certainly in existence in 1323 AD and
probably much earlier. This bridge was at the start of the main highways to both
Burnley and Halifax. These two ancient roads are still in existence today, as is
the bridge, albeit rebuilt several times. The present bridge dates back to
around 1790 AD.
There was a fulling mill at Waterside by 1300, being one of
the earliest fulling mills in England. There was also a corn mill by this time.
There were several commons around Colne. The main one called The Common or Lob Common was situated to the north. The lee gate (Lidgett as it is known today) was at the bottom of the road to this common. A small area at the top of Lidgett, still called The Pinfold, was where stray animals were confined. There were other commons at Grindlestonehurst, Tum Hill and at Brown Hill. In the middle ages Colne was a thriving market town, being a centre for the woolen trade. Towards the end of the 18th century cotton manufacturing started to become the main industry in Colne. For the next 150 years cotton was an integral part of the life of everyone living in Colne.
Apart from serious crimes such as murder and theft, most crimes were dealt with by the Halmote whose earliest surving records date back to 1425. The Halmote was the local manorial court. Civil matters such as land transactions were dealt with by the Halmote. It granted licences for trades such as brewing and tanning leather. Byelaws were made by the Halote and officails such as constable and aletaster were elected. Crimes which have been recorded at the Halmote include trespass, straying animals, selling sour beer, and drunkenness. Punishments could be a fine, a spell in the stocks or at the whipping post.
Besides the corn mill and fulling mill at Waterside, coal was being mined in hillside south of Waterside. The trades of wainwright, mercer, butcher, tanner and brewer were all in Colne by 1425. By the 15th century Colne had a thriving woolen industry.
By 1500 Colne's population was around 1500. Most people were occupied in the woolen industry, based in their cottages. The main product in Colne was the lightwight kersey. The kersey was a piece of cloth 18 yards long by 1 yard wide and weighed 20 pounds. The process of manufacture was divided with people specialising in various stages. Some men greased and carded the raw woolready for spinning. Many women and children spun the yarn. The weavers wove the yarn into kerseys. The fuller at the fulling mill cleansed and felted the cloth by treating it with soap and fuller's earth. This was to remove the oil and size. The cloth was then beaten to close the gaps between fibres. Colne's fulling mill was built in 1296. After fulling, the cloth was put on tenter frames (tenterhooks) to dry and be straightened. Cloth from Colne was regularly sold in Halifax, Burnley and Clitheroe.
Bibliography
The History of Colne - Edited
by Dorothy Harrison - Published by Pendle Heritage Centre Ltd - Copyright 1988