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Not sure if this has been posted before but it is taken from British History On Line Website.
EXTWISTLE HALL, now a farm-house, stands on a high ridge of land between the valleys of the Don and Swinden Water in a bleak and commanding situation, and is a lofty three-story building with end gables and mullioned windows, said to have been erected by John Parker in the latter half of the 16th century. The principal front faces north, and the fall of the ground southwards allowing of a basement makes the house one of four stories on that side, where the chief feature is the massive chimney of the hall, which projects 5 ft. and has a width of 15 ft. The house, which is built of local gritstone with stoneslated roofs, consists of a rectangular block 34 ft. by 27 ft. 6 in. externally, and a north-west wing 19 ft. by 14 ft. 6 in., with a lower two-story building with plain gabled roofs on the east end. A former wing on the west side, however, fell down some time during the first half of the 19th century, destroying what is said to have been one of the best apartments and others known as the ladies' rooms. (fn. 66) In front of the house is a small flagged courtyard 43 ft. long by 33 ft. in width, partly inclosed on the west side by the north-west wing, and on the east by the lower buildings. The north side has a high fence wall with moulded coping and balled gate-piers fronting the road. The great hall, which is about 24 ft. by 21 ft., occupies the eastern end of the first floor of the main block and is approached from the forecourt by a wide flight of stone steps forming a very picturesque feature. The entrance in the north-west corner through a four-centred doorway with label and square panel over is now built up, but the north wall still retains unimpaired its lofty ten-light mullioned window with double transoms and hood mould. The floor of the hall is 7 ft. above the general level of the courtyard, to which there is a descent of five steps from the main gateway. The south wall of the hall is occupied almost entirely by the fireplace, the Tudor arched opening of which, however, is now built up, and the room is in a more or less dilapidated state. Portions of an ornamental plaster ceiling and of a carved oak beam are still to be seen, and above the fireplace is a fragment of ornamental plaster work with the words 'nescio cujus' remaining. The staircase, which is of stone, is in the west side of the house, and above the hall is a large room open to the roof and lit by two low mullioned windows of five lights each below the eaves on the north side. The north-west wing, which may be a 17th-century addition, is less severe in appearance than the main block, but is of equal height and of four stories, two of its floors ranging with the height of the great hall. The walls are finished with a plain parapet and balled gables which together with its many mullioned and transomed windows afford some relief to the otherwise rather bare west gable end of the main block. At the back is a small three-light window with round-headed lights under a square head, the only one of this type in the building.
By an explosion of gunpowder in the house in March 1717 much damage was done, and shortly afterwards the family finally quitted the hall, which has since been occupied intermittently by tenant farmers, who chiefly use, however, the basement or ground floor rooms and those in the lower east wing. The appearance of the building in its lonely and commanding position and its present state of semidesolation and abandonment is very striking.
In 1561 the 'byrelaw of Extwistle' was confirmed by John Towneley of Towneley, John Parker of Extwistle and others. (fn. 67) An agreement as to the inclosure of commons, moor, &c., was made in 1594. (fn. 68
There was a family taking a name from the township, but no connected account can be given of it. (fn. 69) Lands in Extwistle were given for a chantry in Burnley Church by Peter Tattersall before 1388. (fn. 70) Some minor transactions are on record. (fn. 71)
In 1524 the following contributed to the subsidy for their lands: Lawrence Briercliffe, Edmund and John Parker. (fn. 72) In 1564 John Parker, Lawrence Briercliffe and William Halsted. (fn. 73) In 1597 John Parker and Robert Briercliffe. (fn. 74) In 1626 John Parker and Lawrence Briercliffe; John and Bernard Towneley and others paid as non-communicants. (fn. 75)
In this township in 1666 there were 122 hearths liable to the tax. John Parker's house had eleven; the next in size were those of Lawrence Briercliffe, John Vipan and Richard Wilkinson with five each. (fn.76
For the Church of England St. James's, Briercliffe, was built in 1840, and had a district assigned to it in 1843. (fn. 77) The Hulme Trustees are patrons.
A Primitive Methodist chapel existed at Thursden before 1850. The Independent Methodists are now represented at Haggate.
The Baptist chapel at Haggate dates from 1763; in 1798 its 'faith and order differed somewhat from the other Baptist churches in England.' (fn. 78 Another was built at Hill Lane, to the east, in 1840; it is called Ebenezer, and is joined to the Baptist Union.
The Quakers, as above stated, anciently had a burial-ground at Folds House in Briercliffe. (fn. 79)
Footnotes .
66 Note by T. T. Wilkinson in Whitaker's Whalley (ed. 4), ii, 225.
67 Whitaker, op. cit. ii, 227. Four byrelaw men were to be appointed. No townsman was to take a beast, &c., to the common except a poor man who had kine to give him milk or a horse to lead his 'elding' (fuel). A serving man might have ten sheep on the common. No one was to 'stawve' (stub) or cut any thorns in Swinden, or to sell any slate out of the township. No grass was to be cut between 25 Dec. and 30 Sept. 'Ring yards' were to be made before 15 Mar., on which day all cattle were to be sent out of the fields.
68 Ducatus Lanc. iii, 210; between Robert Parker (who held with John Towneley, John Parker, John Robinson and John Woodroffe) and Bernard Towneley and other inhabitants. Robert Parker was the tenant of Holden House, from whom at the same time John Parker claimed a rent of 4s. 4d.; ibid.
For a decree as to the wastes, delfs, &c., see Lancs. and Ches. Rec. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), ii, 274.
69 In 1259–60 Sabina, Avice and Mabel daughters of Alexander de Extwistle gave ½ mark for an assize; Originalia, 44 Hen. III, m. 8.
Matthew de Extwistle granted to Richard son of Henry his nephew (nepoti) 3 acres in Extwistle for a rent of 12d. yearly; Add. MS. 32104, no. 450.
Matthew son of Nicholas de Extwistle and William son of Matthew de Extwistle granted a rent of 2s. to Robert at Bridge of Burnley; C 8, 13, E 31, 21. The second charter states that the 2s. came from the lands of Henry de Holrenhead and Adam de Monachis. Henry son of Richard de Holrenhead (or Ollerhead) acquired for 26s. the lands of Adam son of Gilbert de Ruelay (or Rowley); he was to render yearly 12d. and a pair of white gloves; ibid. R 66. The same Henry in 1317 gave them to Thomas son of Hugh de Holrenhead; ibid. H 248. Agnes de Holrenhead in 1393–4 granted to William her son the lands she had had of the gift of Robert de Holrenhead her father; ibid. H 273.
70 Lancs. Inq. p.m. (Chet. Soc.), i, 32. The tenure of the lands is not stated.
71 The Parkers of Holden have been mentioned in previous notes. In 1581 Robert Parker of Holden Clough, stating that he in conjunction with John Towneley of Towneley and Robert Parker of Extwistle had divided land called Deeplache Croft, agreed that Edmund (son of John) Robinson of Old Laund should have the right to carry (over the portion assigned to him) between Stubbing and Holrenhead (Ollernhead); C 8, 13, P 56. Charles Towneley of Towneley in 1636 acquired the messuages formerly belonging to John Robinson and Edmund his son; ibid. T 168.
John Folds in 1455–6 granted the lands in Extwistle which he had inherited from William his father to John Clayton; Towneley MS. C 8, 13, F 43.
72 Subs. R. Lancs. bdle. 130, no. 82.
73 Ibid. bdle. 131, no. 212.
74 Ibid. no. 274.
75 Ibid. no. 317.
76 Ibid. bdle. 250, no. 9.
77 Lond. Gaz. 3 Jan. 1843.
78 Rippon, Bapt. Reg. iii, 20. It is now called a 'Scotch Baptist' chapel.
79 In 1665 Richard Wilkinson of Briercliffe was presented to the Bishop of Chester for allowing one Elizabeth Hartley to be 'buried contrary to the laws of the Church,' by the Quakers, but showed that he did not consent; Visit. Returns at Ches. Dioc. Reg.
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David
Genealogists do it in the library.
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