|
Preston Guardian
Saturday 21 February 1852
The Rise of the River Brun.
During the late rainy and stormy weather, it has been frequently remarked that the river "Brun," on the banks of which the town of Burnley, or "Brunley," stands, and from which it derives its name, was never known to be so high in the memory of the "oldest inhabitant." That is has been higher will appear from the following memorandum, which we extract from an old book which is kept in the archives of the Parochial Church of St. Peter, Burnly:- "Mem.-That upon the 3rd of September, 1704, about ten at night, we had such a prodigious and dreadful flood at Burnley, that the water was a considerable depth in the church, and washed away earth and several flags. It was exactly the height of the church wall at the east end of the church (the west end, or steeple, being nearest the river). It threw down Fennel-street caul (weir) and the corn-mill caul (weir), and took away part of a house in the Studies. It came up to the Sparrow Hawk door [an old public house about fifty yards from the river, but situated much higher], and, according to a modest calculation, did £300 damage between Rowley and Royle." Rowley, which is situated in the township of Worsthorne, was for many generations the residence of the ancient family of the Halsteds, of Hood House; and Royle, the seat of the Protestant branch of the Towneley family, the maternal ancestors of Robert Towneley Parker, Esq., of Cuerden Hall, in this county.
_________________
Mel
Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!
|
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
