Hollinshead Hall
Encyclopedia
Hollinshead Hall was a manor house
close to the village of Tockholes
, Lancashire
. It is unclear as to whether the hall was originally the manor house of Tockholes
or if Hollinshead was indeed a manor in its own right alongside Tockholes
and Livesey
. The ruins of the hall are situated approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the village.
The main features of the site consist of the ruins of the late 18th century hall and Gardens, and the associated barn and stables. To the south of here are the remains of the farmhouse and farm buildings, and at the south-east side of the enclosed garden is a Well house, The only structure on the site which remains standing today.
One theory suggests that the name Hollinshead hall does not come from a family name at all but rather from a corruption of "Holy Head", an early name given to the manor in the 14th century, which in turn is derived from an earlier unknown Saxon place name given due to the topography and the presence of the noted Spring fed Holy well
(A term itself derived from the Anglo-Saxon toponym haeligewielle). The name Tockholes itself is also of Saxon/Viking origin and there is strong archaeological evidence of early settlement.
The earliest record as to the origins of Hollinshead hall appear in a 14th Century document, It records that in 1311 a John de Radcliffe a member of the noted Lancashire de Radcliffe family, was owner of “100 Acres in the place called Holinhead, In Tokholes…”.
In 1380 the manor of “le Holyhead In Tokholes” consisted of one messuage
, 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) of arable land, 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) of meadow and 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) of pasture.
In 1498 the manor was held by Sir Alexander de Hoghton a member of the Noble Lancashire Hoghton Family of Hoghton Tower
.
By 1641 it had technically become the property of Charles I of England
before then being rented to an Edward Warren in 1662, who is recorded as paying 2 shillings yearly rent for "The Hollinhead". The hall is presumed to have remained with the Warren's until 1761.
It would appear that the name of the new owner was purely coincidental to it also being the name of the hall itself. According to the 19th century author Edward Twycross
, It was John Hollinshead who in 1776 almost entirely pulled down the original hall and remodelled it, The ruins of which we see today.
After his death in 1802 John Hollinshead bequeathed his property and title to his Cousin William Brock Esq who became William Brock Hollinshead who was to pass the estate to his nephew Laurence Brock Hollinshead of Chorley
. The Hall at this time was not occupied by the Brock Hollinsheads but was rented out, in 1803 an Edmund Charnley was tenent at the hall.
The hall and title remained the property of Laurence Brock Hollinshead until 1845. The surrounding estate was however sold to a Mr Eccles Shorrock a noted Darwen
mill owner in 1838 before the hall itself was then sold to him in 1845.
While the property itself was sold, It appears the name and title continued to be passed along the Brock Hollinshead line. Laurence was to marry three times leaving connections with the Edwards family of Plas Fran near Wrexham, the potts of Serjeant's Inn, London and the Hampsons (Rev) of Bolton
.
Today the site is somewhat protected from wild winds sweeping across the open expanses of the Anglezarke and Darwen Moors by the large Tockholes plantations which now form a part of a United Utilities
Water catchment area.
The Hall was originally very extensive but in 1776 John Hollinshead had a large part of the building demolished and proceeded to rebuild on a less grand scale. During the first half of the 19th century, the Hall was owned by the Brock-Hollinsheads, a very old Lancashire family.
In 1845 the Hall was sold to Darwen
mill owner Eccles Sharrock, but by the end of the century the buildings had fallen into a state of disrepair and were eventually demolished when the Liverpool Corporation Waterworks acquired the surrounding land for water catchment. Much of the stonework from the hall was used to build walls in the area and also some cottages in Belmont
village, two miles (3 km) to the south.
Little now remains, with the exception of The Well House - housing a spring feeding two stone troughs
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
close to the village of Tockholes
Tockholes
Tockholes is a village and civil parish which forms part of the Blackburn with Darwen unitary authority in the North west of England. Tockholes consists of the village of Tockholes itself and the Hamlet of Ryal Fold, and has a population of 454...
, 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...
. It is unclear as to whether the hall was originally the manor house of Tockholes
Tockholes
Tockholes is a village and civil parish which forms part of the Blackburn with Darwen unitary authority in the North west of England. Tockholes consists of the village of Tockholes itself and the Hamlet of Ryal Fold, and has a population of 454...
or if Hollinshead was indeed a manor in its own right alongside Tockholes
Tockholes
Tockholes is a village and civil parish which forms part of the Blackburn with Darwen unitary authority in the North west of England. Tockholes consists of the village of Tockholes itself and the Hamlet of Ryal Fold, and has a population of 454...
and Livesey
Livesey
Livesey is a civil parish in the unitary borough of Blackburn with Darwen, in the ceremonial county of Lancashire, England.Lying to the south west of Blackburn, Livesey contains most of the suburb of Cherry Tree, including its railway station and the majority of the village of Feniscowles...
. The ruins of the hall are situated approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the village.
The main features of the site consist of the ruins of the late 18th century hall and Gardens, and the associated barn and stables. To the south of here are the remains of the farmhouse and farm buildings, and at the south-east side of the enclosed garden is a Well house, The only structure on the site which remains standing today.
Etymology
The name "Hollinshead hall" is presumed to come from the Hollinshead family who are said to have built the hall at some point before the 14th century and from the Manor of Hollinshead itself, however sources to verify this are being awaited. To date the earliest record of Hollinshead hall seems to appear in 1311, Although it is probable the hall did indeed exist before then.One theory suggests that the name Hollinshead hall does not come from a family name at all but rather from a corruption of "Holy Head", an early name given to the manor in the 14th century, which in turn is derived from an earlier unknown Saxon place name given due to the topography and the presence of the noted Spring fed Holy well
Holy well
A holy well, or sacred spring, is a small body of water emerging from underground and revered either in a Pagan or Christian context, often both. Holy wells were frequently pagan sacred sites that later became Christianized. The term 'holy well' is commonly employed to refer to any water source of...
(A term itself derived from the Anglo-Saxon toponym haeligewielle). The name Tockholes itself is also of Saxon/Viking origin and there is strong archaeological evidence of early settlement.
Early History
The manor has been in the possession of a number of noted Lancashire families.The earliest record as to the origins of Hollinshead hall appear in a 14th Century document, It records that in 1311 a John de Radcliffe a member of the noted Lancashire de Radcliffe family, was owner of “100 Acres in the place called Holinhead, In Tokholes…”.
In 1380 the manor of “le Holyhead In Tokholes” consisted of one messuage
Messuage
In law, the term messuage equates to a dwelling-house and includes outbuildings, orchard, curtilage or court-yard and garden. At one time messuage supposedly had a more extensive meaning than that conveyed by the words house or site, but such distinction no longer survives.A capital messuage is the...
, 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) of arable land, 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) of meadow and 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) of pasture.
In 1498 the manor was held by Sir Alexander de Hoghton a member of the Noble Lancashire Hoghton Family of Hoghton Tower
Hoghton Tower
Hoghton Tower is fortified manor house near the village of Hoghton in the Borough of Chorley to the east of Preston in Lancashire, England. It has been the ancestral home of the De Hoghton family since the time of William the Conqueror. It features a mile long driveway to the main gates...
.
By 1641 it had technically become the property of Charles I of England
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
before then being rented to an Edward Warren in 1662, who is recorded as paying 2 shillings yearly rent for "The Hollinhead". The hall is presumed to have remained with the Warren's until 1761.
18th & 19th Century
In 1761 the hall was passed by George Warren to trustees who then sold the hall to a John Hollinshead. While his family was indeed of an old lineage, being traceable to the reign of Henry IIIHenry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
It would appear that the name of the new owner was purely coincidental to it also being the name of the hall itself. According to the 19th century author Edward Twycross
Edward Twycross
Edward Twycross was a Dublin silversmith, solicitor, and author who published a book, "The Mansions of England and Wales" in 1847. This book is used as a historical reference for the stately homes of England and in tracing genealogies of members of the British Aristocracy.This rare book was ...
, It was John Hollinshead who in 1776 almost entirely pulled down the original hall and remodelled it, The ruins of which we see today.
After his death in 1802 John Hollinshead bequeathed his property and title to his Cousin William Brock Esq who became William Brock Hollinshead who was to pass the estate to his nephew Laurence Brock Hollinshead of Chorley
Chorley
Chorley is a market town in Lancashire, in North West England. It is the largest settlement in the Borough of Chorley. The town's wealth came principally from the cotton industry...
. The Hall at this time was not occupied by the Brock Hollinsheads but was rented out, in 1803 an Edmund Charnley was tenent at the hall.
The hall and title remained the property of Laurence Brock Hollinshead until 1845. The surrounding estate was however sold to a Mr Eccles Shorrock a noted Darwen
Darwen
Darwen is a market town and civil parish located within Lancashire, England. Along with its northerly neighbour, Blackburn, it forms the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen — a unitary authority area...
mill owner in 1838 before the hall itself was then sold to him in 1845.
While the property itself was sold, It appears the name and title continued to be passed along the Brock Hollinshead line. Laurence was to marry three times leaving connections with the Edwards family of Plas Fran near Wrexham, the potts of Serjeant's Inn, London and the Hampsons (Rev) of Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
.
Topography
Lying 900 ft (274.3 m) above sea level The hall sits on the eastern slopes of a moorland pass which runs from the Lancashire plains around Bolton North towards Preston. The site occupies a relatively sheltered position in a Westward facing Hollow.Today the site is somewhat protected from wild winds sweeping across the open expanses of the Anglezarke and Darwen Moors by the large Tockholes plantations which now form a part of a United Utilities
United Utilities
United Utilities Group PLC is the UK's largest listed water business. The Group owns and manages the regulated water and waste water network in the north west England, through it subsidiary United Utilities Water PLC , which is responsible for the vast majority of the group's assets and...
Water catchment area.
The Hall was originally very extensive but in 1776 John Hollinshead had a large part of the building demolished and proceeded to rebuild on a less grand scale. During the first half of the 19th century, the Hall was owned by the Brock-Hollinsheads, a very old Lancashire family.
In 1845 the Hall was sold to Darwen
Darwen
Darwen is a market town and civil parish located within Lancashire, England. Along with its northerly neighbour, Blackburn, it forms the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen — a unitary authority area...
mill owner Eccles Sharrock, but by the end of the century the buildings had fallen into a state of disrepair and were eventually demolished when the Liverpool Corporation Waterworks acquired the surrounding land for water catchment. Much of the stonework from the hall was used to build walls in the area and also some cottages in Belmont
Belmont, Lancashire
Belmont is a village in Lancashire, England. It is close to Winter Hill between the towns of Bolton and Darwen. It has around 500 inhabitants and lies within the civil parish of North Turton in the unitary authority area of Blackburn with Darwen.-History:...
village, two miles (3 km) to the south.
Little now remains, with the exception of The Well House - housing a spring feeding two stone troughs