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Taken from "A Lancashire Township. The History of Briercliffe-with-Extwistle". Roger Frost

The date stone at Holt Hill Farm proudly states that the building was erected in 1693. However, research revealed that this piece of suspect masonry originated in nearby Wycollar. At first sight the building we know as Fern Valley, on the banks of Walverden Brook, looks like many other eighteenth century domestic buildings, but in earlier days it had the less romantic name of Pighole Mill (sometimes Peglar Mill). It has been used, in turn, as a corn mill, a bobbin works, it housed several families of handloom weavers, and later became two large cottages. At present it is undergoing a conversion which will extend its usefulness into the foreseeable future.
The names of buildings (and even fields for all of these have names) are often clues to former use or some feature now difficult or impossible to detect. Pighole is one of these. To the relief of residents of that part of Briercliffe, who don’t know how their particular area of the township got its name, it has nothing to do with swine! The word comes from the Middle English ‘Peightley’ or ‘Pightel’ which means ‘small enclosure’.

Also in same book

A building now exists on the site of the original Pighole Mill. It is now a luxury house beautifully situated among the trees which grow along the steep banks of the stream. Nothing remains which could indicate that this structure was once put to industrial use. It was powered by water but the water was not taken from the main stream but from a much smaller one which rises in a field above the building. This drove machinery which was set up in the cellar and it is probable that the present cellars are much older than the rest of the structure.

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Mel

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There is a picture of Pighole Farm on the main site http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Photo%20Archive/Briercliffe%20Buildings/Pig%20Hole%20Farm2.htm

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Mel

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I have found Pig Hole Farm for sale on tinternet. Anyone interested should look at
http://www.brodenlloyd.co.uk/property_details/Pig%20Hole%20Farm6.pdf
Unfortunately, I can't guarantee that the above link will work if and when the house is sold.

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Mel

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My family (the Shackletons) resided at Pighole.
Could that possibly be them in the pic of Pighole Farm on the Photographs page?
Are there any dates available for this photograph?

Glenys

Welcome to the site Glenys.
I don't have any dates for the photograph but I can ask Roger if he knows. I'm due to gve him a call, possibly tomorrow as I have a full-on day today.

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Mel

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Thanks Mel,, that would be awesome. Thankyou for the welcome. I feel like I'm home!!! my maternal Grandparents were both from Burnley and came to New Zealand separately but married here ...she a DEAN, he a SHACKLETON. I have Gloria to thank for posting this site on cemsearch....THANKS GLORIA!!!

Thanks again
Glenys

The pictures of Pighole were taken about the turn of the century. The black and white one was probably taken between 1895 and 1905.

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Mel

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Thanks for the info Mel.
Annie

Does it answer your query though Annie?

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Mel

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