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Abridgement:
Land and farm at Hill inherited by Elizabeth Cowgill from her father William Smith of Hill End, Lane Bottom. William, along with John Smith, who was a warehouseman (owned Hill end factory) inherited the Hill, probably from their uncle, John Smith, gentleman, of Pighole, on 10th April 1845. William was an ironmonger and his daughter Elizabeth married George Cowgill who was partner in the firm of Cowgill & Smith cotton manufacturers in Nelson with William.
John Smiths will of 1845 shows that the 7 acre copyhold land on Walverden Road, held 3 cottages which were owned by Jonathan Stanworth, Hartley Taylor and Alice Greenwood. These cottages are at the top of Walverden Road, at its junction with Halifax Road. John left 2 messuages or dwelling houses (the present Hill farm and cottage) 1 barn (opposite the farm house), several cottages (taken to be Bank Street and/ or Hill Lane Mill which was a hand loom factory where the Police House now stands) and other buildings and all enclosures of arable land, parcels of land and pasture land containing 28 acres except Lower Meadow, Pasture and Rushy Field as these had been divided in the will of Johns father, James Smith (who had inherited from his father, John Smith). The undivided land was an individual part of a close of land called Mistress Hill in the limestone scarrs (now the bottom clough of the Chapel Meadow shown as White Hill and King Cliffe Clough on 1843 tithe map) This land had a copyhold rent to the Lord of the Manor of 5s 11p. It is possible that this part of the land, being in the limestone hushings, produced an income as the rent for this small area was quite a bit higher than the whole 7 acres.
William Smiths will of 17/4/1875 gives his estate, personal and real, to his brother-in-law George Cowgill and James Hitchon ,Surveyor of Burnley � the property consisted of the Farm, Farm House, Farm Buildings and premises at Hill � also those 2 allotments called Mistress Hill and Jem Hole then in the occupation of Jonathan Watson and Joseph Robinson. The estate was left in trust to Williams sister, Elizabeth Cowgill who had married his business partner, George Cowgill. Elizabeth claimed the estate after all expenses were paid and she was settled with �the houses called Hill, 1 barn, several cottages (Halifax Road and /or Banks Street) and other buildings (Hill Lane Mill ?) and all the 6 enclosures and dwellinghouses and arable meadow and pasture land of 28 acres and all the divided and undevided parts of the 7 acres.
Elizabeth Cowgill appoints her 2 daughters Mary Elizabeth Robinson and Edith Smith Waddington as executors of her will � Elizabeth Cowgill dies 13/11/1901. All of Hill Farm left to Edith Smith Waddington. Elizabeth Smith Waddington was married to James Charles Waddington, of Waddingtons Solicitors, Burnley. James C Waddington dealt with the legalities of the family wills and signs the following abstract to say that he has seen the originals.
Hill Farm, in the 19th century, consisted of copyhold land to the North of Halifax Road (then Hill Lane) and freehold land to the South. The copyhold amounted to 7 acres in 1880 in 3 closes called Lower Meadow (now the Chapel Meadow) Pasture and Rushy Field (now the Bluebell Wood at the bottom of the Chapel Meadow), in 1845 rent to the Manor of ightenhill amounted to 3s 6p for this area. Arable and pasture land to 28 acres situated on South of Hill Lane (now the Big Field and closes behind barn) Tithe mapof 1843 names these as eight lands and the big field as Dodge Field.
The seven-acre copyhold had grown to 11 acres 1 rood and 7 perches by 1907 because 4 acres had been added from the Great Meadow (now Sterling Court estate). The yearly copyhold was 3s 6p.
1907 � building of second (bottom) row of terraced houses on Walverden Road:
29/5/1907 Agreement between William Stevenson Smith, owner in fee simple of Hill End and the occupation road called Walverden Road, and Edith Smith Waddington, owner in fee simple of Hill Farm, abutting to Walverden Road. Edith intended to let forthwith part of Hill farm for building purposes and agreed with William that:
1) Each party agreed that the 36 feet wide area of Walverden Road, shown as the building line on the plan, was never to be built upon between the two lines shown.
2) Owners of Hill Farm and Hill End had equal rights over that part of Walverden Road.
3) Hill Farm was resposible for fencing the building plot and pays in full for sewering etc, which part can then be claimed back from Hill End.
4) William Smith contributed 1131 sq yards on Walverden road whilst Edith Waddington contributed 574 sq yards of the field alongside Walverden Road. To make up for this Edith gave William a triangle of land to 568 sq yards at the bottom of the field and William gave her 11 sq yards in the corner of the field (see plan a).
5) Each party shall, at their own expense, supply deeds to the other party as required for any building work.
17th Aug 1907
Indenture, stated by James Charles Waddington, to have seen the original, between Edith Smith Waddington (the lessor) and John Gray of 109 Halifax Road, Nelson , Joiner � John Clegg of Scawfield (Scoefield) Hill, Nelson, Joiner � John Sutcliffe of 39 Burnley Road, Harle-Syke, Joiner and Frank Higgin of 14 Arthur Street, Brierfield, Stonemason (the lessees). The lesser demised to the lessees, for an annual rent of �6:15s:6p, a lease of 999 years � beginning May 1908 - all that plot of land on Walverden Road at 66 feet width and 126 feet length with a back street of 4 yards and a street 12 yards wide at the bottom.
The row of houses on Walverden Road (number 9 to 17) already existed and were owned by Joseph Nuttall.
7th June 1907.
Indenture between the Clitheroe estate Company and Edith Smith Waddington. The Company, of 166 Piccadilly, London, had begun to privatise in 1898. On a payment of �15 Edith Smith Waddington secured the tenure of the farm whereby it became freehold although the Clitheroe estate still owned the mineral rights.
It is this Elizabeth that Hartley Proctor buys Hill Farm from (45 acres) for �700 in 1924. Hartley was father to George Proctor who was the last person to farm Hill. He married Sarah Edmondson, aunt to Vera Edmondson (married to Henry Huddart Dinsdale) who inherited Hill on death of George in early 1960s. The land was rented out to the Head family of Lower Cockden. Vera sold the farm buildings but retained the land which her daughter, Sylvia Clayton inherited.
The Smiths of Hill:
John Smith Alderman of Hill died 1646 married Jane born 1588
John Smith 1610 �1696 md Mary Bancroft b 1611
William Smith of Briercliffe 1645-1681 md Susan Nutter b 1646
Stephen Smith of Monkhall 1673 � 1735 md Isabell Wilkinson
William Smith of Hill 1707 � 1779 md Betty wade 1718 � 1771
Stephen Smith of Hill End 1748-1802 md Mary Shackleton 1754-1848
Richard Smith 1750-1825 md Mary Pickles
James Smith of Hill 1781- md Betty..
John Smith 1744 � 1829 md Grace Hindle 1749 � 1829
Betty
William
Susan
Sarah
John Smith of Pighole b 1783 Leaves Hill to nephews William and John in 1845
James Smith of Hill 1791 � 1852 md Elizabeth b 1802
Mary Smith 1823 �
William Smith 1825 � 1874/5 inherited Hill from Uncle John
John Smith 1828 � 1879
Elizabeth 1830 - 1901 Married George Cowgill, partner in Firm of Cowgill and Smith, Burnley, with Elizabeths brother William from who she inherits Hill Farm in 1875
Mary Elizabeth Smith married a Robinson
Edith Smith Smith married James Charles Waddington of Waddingtons Solicitors, Burnley. Edith inherits Hill farm from her mother, Elizabeth Cowgill in 1901. Sells Hill Harm to Hartley Proctor in the 1920s for �700.
Tabitha b 1806
Mary b 1808
Sally b 1810
William b 1813
Betty b 1815
In 1802 Banks Street was called New Row, built as cottages for the Hill Lane Mill workers (mill built 1740s by Smiths).
In 1792 Mary Smith of Hill has her will proved at Chester.
Quaker Burials at Hill farm:
1656 James Wilkinson of Monk Hall
1658 John Wilkinson of Briercliffe
1660Alice Smithson wife of John Smithson
1661 John Oxnard son of Christopher Oxnard
1663 Ann Oxnard daughter of Christopher Oxnard
1663 Mary Oxnard
1665 James Hartley of Trawden
1667 Richard Hargreaves of Edge End
William Smith of The Hill was a shallon Maker and had connections in Scotland. He was the Baptist leader in the area in 1760 at Burwains and 1767 at Haggate.
1873 Land tax:
Executors of Robert Barker (Banks farm?) pay �51.11s rental for 13acres-2roods-3perches land at Briercliffe
John Smith pays �60.19s for 32acres-1rood-13perches at Briercliffe
Thomas Smith pays �22.8s for 18acres-4roods-o perches at Briercliffe
Thomas T Smith pays �218.5s for 56acres-22roods-0 perches at Briercliffe
Executors of William Smith of Hill End pay �97.13s rental for 46acres-20roods at Briercliffe
Family of George Proctor, of Hill Farm 1920s to 1960s:
Samuel Proctor born 1799 at Salterforth married Mary Small born 1803: they had George Proctor born 1825 at Colne died 1903 at Thornton he married Ann Hopkinson born Green Bank (mother Ann Hartley).
1881 census:
Pasture farm, Black Lane ends, Colne:
George Proctor h 54 Farmer158 + acres Born Colne
Ann (Hopkinson) " wf 55 GreenBank
James " son 24 Stone mason Thornton
Hartley " " 17 Farmer " ****
Peter " " 15 " "
Margaret " dtr 14 Servant "
Allison " " 11 Scholar
1884 St. Johns Records (Marsden):
Nov13th Hartley Proctor*** (father of George of Hill Farm) 21 farmer, of Accrington, married Grace Lambert 21 a weaver of Great Marsden (father John Lambert a Farmer of Lee Farm, Gt Marsden).
1891 census:
10 Grove Street, Nelson
Hartley Proctor h 27 carter born Thornton, Yorks
Grace " wf 27 weaver Gt Marsden
George " son 5 Accrington
Annie dtr 4 Nelson
Bertha " 2 "
Annie Roberts 25 servant N.Wales
Hartley Proctor farmed Hillock Farm, Accrington where his son George was born. He later moved to Finnymore Foot, Walverden Road, Lane Bottom and bought Hill Farm from Mrs Waddingtom. George farmed Hill and bought the farm from Hartley and the rest of the family.
Clitheroe Court Rolls:
1530 To this Halmote comes John Smith of Briercliffe upon Hill and surrenders 1 messuage and 10 acres of land called Dodgefield and 6 acres in Le Townfield and 1 acre called Marlecroft lying between Dodgefield and Holthill and 1 acre called Battiehole to the use of Stephen Smith chaplain, John Kippax, John Woodruffsnr and John Ridehalgh of Stone delph. Lawrence Briercliffe forbade fine for the dower of Agnes, wife of the said John Smith for the term of her life, Lawrence Briercliffe was found surety and surrenderees admitted on King's fine of 6s.
1532 John Smith of Hill (son of John Smith of Hill) claimed a messuage of 19 acres with appurtenances in Briercliffe as he said it was his inheritance. Henry shuttleworth surrendered the land.
1532 William Smith of De Hill paying 6s rent.
1558 John Parker gent surrendered, at the request of William Smith, 2 acres of land in Briercliffe called Pighole to the use of William Smith and his heirs. granted at fine of 8d. at the request
1558 1 messuage and other buildings and 19 acres revert to the Queen upon the death of George Smith of Hollin Grove and George Smith, son of John Smith ,son of the said George is his next of kin. After George Smith of Hollin Grove surrenders Hollingrove, late in the tenure of James Clayton, to the use of Robert Sharp for 15 years at 23s 6d and to Giles Smith for 8 years at 23s 6d and to the executors of James Clayton for 7 years. After George Smith surrenders other moiety of Hollin Grove, in the tenure of Isobell Eiwode widow and her son John to said Isobell and John - the remainder to go to George Smith and Oliver Halstead.
1559 John Ridehalgh of Delves, at the request of William Smith jnr, surrenders a messuage and other buildings and 10 acres called Dodgefield, 6 acres called Townfield, 1 acre called Marle Earth and 1 acre at Battiehole. Richard Tattersall on surety shall occupy a parcel of the said premises adjoining his land and farm for 60 years. Covenant made between William Smith jnr and Alice Smith widow of John Smith.
1559 Christopher Smithh attains Stoney Rakes from Lawrence Haberham.
1560 John and Mary Towneley surrender a close of land called Shore Hei and Hollyn Greyve at 68 acres, now in the occupation of John Towneley, to the use of Mary his wife at 22s 8d pa.
1565 Nicholas Hargher and Richard Woodruff, Queen's tenants, surrender 1 house, 1 parcel of a barn with garden now in the tenure of Alice Smith of Hill widow: and a close of land called Dodgefield, another field valled Headlands adjacent to Dodgefield and also 8 ridges (seliones)* of land abutting upon said headland, which ridges, called "landes", be in Le Townefield of Burnley containing 5 acres of land: which the said Alice Smith delivered to Nicholas and Richard, to the use of William Halstead of ridehalgh and his assigns during her life, in consideration of a marriage to be solomised between the said William Halstead and Margaret Smith duaghter of of the said Alice Smith. Admittance granted at 20d.
1566 Christopher Smith of Stoneyrakes surrenders 1 messuage, 1 garden and 1 acre called Busshopehouse in Burnley and 1 messuage and 1 croft to the use of John Smith (son of Christopher) and Thomas Smith (son of Stephen) to the use of the said Christopher Smith for life.
1575 John Smith pays for his copyholding of 6 acres �2:3s:0d - and 19 acres at �6:4s:0d - no enclosed improvements.
Stephen Smith has 18 acres at �6:0s:0d
John Smith de Pighole has 2 acres at �0:8s:0d
1617 John Smith has a house "of 3 baise"
Stephen Smith has 18acres at �9:2s:0d
1621 John Smith son of John Smith of Pighole pays �2:3s:16d for his encroachment (improvements) of his proportion of 25 acres of mosse.
John Smith son of Stephen Smith of Briercliffe pays �24:3s:4d and for his encroachment pays �0:0s:6d
1624 John Smith of Pighole held 8 furlongs:4yards:5feet of the Limestone Scarrs.
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