Fence, Lancashire
Encyclopedia
Fence is a village in Pendle
, Lancashire
close to the towns of Nelson
and Burnley
. It lies alongside the A6068 road, known locally as the Padiham
bypass. It has a population of 1,586.
Fence is a small village along 'Wheatley Lane Road' and abuts the sister village of Wheatley Lane
- because of this Fence and Wheatley Lane are often referred to together as 'Fence' (but not by the older villagers!). The present village now terminates to the west past St Anne's church, where the new bypass cuts the line of the old road.
Fence lies in the civil parish
of Old Laund Booth, which was in the Hundred of Blackburn. Up until Late medieval times it lay in the Forest of Pendle, i.e. in the hunting preserve of the King. The name of the village is derived from the fact that an enclosure was erected in the area within which the King's deer were kept. This became known as the "Fence" and the community that built up around it over time took the name. In 1507 Henry VII "surrendered [the parcel called the Fence] to the use of the tenants of Higham, West Close and Goldshaw Booth, to be held by them and their heirs for ever". First mention of Fence is in a document of 1402 as 'Fens in Penhill'.
Being near Pendle Hill, Fence has a long shared history with other Pendleside villages and the Pendle Witches - some old local surnames are shared with the historical witches; for example, the Nutter family name. The local milkman who lives in Wheatley Lane is "Arthur Nutter" and the local garage is run by "Chris Nutter" (they say that they're not related).
Cuckstool Lane, which runs south from the War Memorial was the original site of the village 'ducking stool' where (the story has it) suspected witches were immersed in a pond - or more likely 'cuckolds' - those suspected of adultery.
Hoarstones, which lies inside Fence, was the site of an ancient stone circle, and also the starting point for the 1633 witchcraft trials (see the entry under Wheatley Lane).
The older properties on the village consist largely of small stone built cottages, with later housing developments from the 1960s onwards. There is unbroken countryside with fine walking country to the North to Pendle Hill
and surrounding areas.
Sports are catered for by Pendle Forest Sports Club.
Fence, with Wheatley Lane, hosts several public houses and restaurants including The Bay Horse, The Foresters Inn (now an Italian Restaurant called Baroccos), The Fence Gate Inn, The White Swan, The Harpers Inn(now a Pakistani/Indian restaurant called the Ashoka) and Ye Olde Sparrowhawk. There is also a small art shop/gallery, which was once a bakery. The villages are served by St Annes church (CoE) 2 Methodist chapels and a primary school. Shops include a family-run Post Office and a village store/Off Licence.
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Pendle
Pendle is a local government district and borough of Lancashire, England. It adjoins the Lancashire boroughs of Burnley and Ribble Valley, the North Yorkshire district of Craven and the West Yorkshire districts of Calderdale and the City of Bradford...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
close to the towns of Nelson
Nelson, Lancashire
Nelson is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, England, with a population of 28,998 in 2001. It lies 4 miles north of Burnley on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal....
and Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
. It lies alongside the A6068 road, known locally as the Padiham
Padiham
Padiham is a small town and civil parish on the River Calder, about west of Burnley and south of Pendle Hill, in Lancashire, England. It is part of the Borough of Burnley but also has its own town council with varied powers.-History:...
bypass. It has a population of 1,586.
Fence is a small village along 'Wheatley Lane Road' and abuts the sister village of Wheatley Lane
Wheatley Lane, Lancashire
Wheatley Lane is a village in Pendle, Lancashire. It is close to Nelson, Barrowford and Burnley. It lies to the north of the A6068 road, known locally as the Padiham bypass, or 'The New Road'....
- because of this Fence and Wheatley Lane are often referred to together as 'Fence' (but not by the older villagers!). The present village now terminates to the west past St Anne's church, where the new bypass cuts the line of the old road.
Fence lies in the civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Old Laund Booth, which was in the Hundred of Blackburn. Up until Late medieval times it lay in the Forest of Pendle, i.e. in the hunting preserve of the King. The name of the village is derived from the fact that an enclosure was erected in the area within which the King's deer were kept. This became known as the "Fence" and the community that built up around it over time took the name. In 1507 Henry VII "surrendered [the parcel called the Fence] to the use of the tenants of Higham, West Close and Goldshaw Booth, to be held by them and their heirs for ever". First mention of Fence is in a document of 1402 as 'Fens in Penhill'.
Being near Pendle Hill, Fence has a long shared history with other Pendleside villages and the Pendle Witches - some old local surnames are shared with the historical witches; for example, the Nutter family name. The local milkman who lives in Wheatley Lane is "Arthur Nutter" and the local garage is run by "Chris Nutter" (they say that they're not related).
Cuckstool Lane, which runs south from the War Memorial was the original site of the village 'ducking stool' where (the story has it) suspected witches were immersed in a pond - or more likely 'cuckolds' - those suspected of adultery.
Hoarstones, which lies inside Fence, was the site of an ancient stone circle, and also the starting point for the 1633 witchcraft trials (see the entry under Wheatley Lane).
The older properties on the village consist largely of small stone built cottages, with later housing developments from the 1960s onwards. There is unbroken countryside with fine walking country to the North to Pendle Hill
Pendle Hill
Pendle Hill is located in the north-east of Lancashire, England, near the towns of Burnley, Nelson, Colne, Clitheroe and Padiham, an area known as Pendleside. Its summit is above mean sea level. It gives its name to the Borough of Pendle. It is an isolated hill, separated from the Pennines to the...
and surrounding areas.
Sports are catered for by Pendle Forest Sports Club.
Fence, with Wheatley Lane, hosts several public houses and restaurants including The Bay Horse, The Foresters Inn (now an Italian Restaurant called Baroccos), The Fence Gate Inn, The White Swan, The Harpers Inn(now a Pakistani/Indian restaurant called the Ashoka) and Ye Olde Sparrowhawk. There is also a small art shop/gallery, which was once a bakery. The villages are served by St Annes church (CoE) 2 Methodist chapels and a primary school. Shops include a family-run Post Office and a village store/Off Licence.
External links
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