BLATCHINWORTH AND CALDERBROOK
In this part of Hundersfield there were a number
of ancient estates, some of which, as Sladen (fn. 53) and
Lightollers, (fn. 54) gave surnames to the proprietors; but
the most prominent is a comparatively recent one,
that of PIKE HOUSE, near Littleborough, the possession of the Halliwells and their successors from the
latter part of the 16th century. (fn. 55) The present owner
is Captain Clement Robert
Nuttall Beswicke-Royds. Pike
House stands on high ground
on the lower slope of Blackstone Edge, about half a mile
north-east of Littleborough,
facing south-west. It is a
stone-built house of two stories,
with attics, erected about
1608–9 in the place of an
older building, but greatly altered and modernized a hundred years later, when the
present ashlar front with large sash windows was
added, and many alterations made in the interior.
The original 17th-century house had three gables on
each front facing north and south, the roofs running
through from front to back, and these still show on
the north side, where the elevation is not much
changed. The old roofs, which are covered with
stone slates, still remain behind the high 18th-century
parapet on the principal front. The north side preserves also many of the original 17th-century mullioned
and transomed windows and a large projecting chimney, though the east gable has been replaced and
other changes have taken place. Over one of the later
windows is the date 1704, probably the year when
the alterations were carried out and the new front
added. The refacing of the front elevation, which is
65ft. in length, appears to have been done at two
different times, the centre portion and east end being
recased first and the west gable at a later date, the
stonework being plainer and the windows less in
height. The three upper middle windows have thin
pilaster strips on either side, breaking round the stringcourse above, and the door is flanked by columns and
has a panel with a blank shield and cornice above, but
apart from this the elevation is quite plain and without architectural distinction. The height of the
parapet, determined by the gables behind, is excessive,
and viewed from the ends, where it shows as a screen
wall above the roof, is very ugly. The windows
retain their original wood bars. Internally the house
preserves traces of its 17th-century plan, though
most of the arrangements and fittings belong to the
18th-century remodelling. The light oak panelling
of the dining-room is exceedingly good, and of simple
and dignified detail. The staircase, which has carved
oak balusters and square newels, and the breakfast-room
fireplace are also good examples of 18th-century work.
In the kitchen is a wide open fireplace under a low
arch, and another fireplace, the great chimney of
which is such a noticeable feature of the north elevation, seem to have originally belonged to the entrance
hall, which occupies the middle portion of the ground
floor. The windows on each side of the front door
contain modern heraldic glass, and the large staircase
window is also filled with heraldic and pictorial glass
illustrating the history of the families connected with
the house. The principal rooms on the first floor
open from a corridor running the whole length of
the building, and there is a low single-story addition
at the west end. Originally the road ran much
nearer the east end of the building, and two stone
piers in front of the house mark the entrance to a
former flower garden.
Halliwell of Pike House. Argent on a bend gules three antelopes of the field attired or.
SHORE was anciently in part a possession of the
Hospitallers; it gave a name to some of the tenants. (fn. 56)
The house now called Handle Hall was the home of the
Dearden family, now lords of the manor of Rochdale. (fn. 57)
Windy Bank (fn. 58) and Town House (fn. 59) are other old estates.
Pike House, Littlelorough
The house known as Windy Bank stands in a fine
position above the road near to the ancient packhorse
track leading over Blackstone Edge. It is a picturesque
two-story stone-built house [capital letter L]-shaped in plan, the
long front facing south and the short arm running
north at the east end. The principal elevation has
three flush gables with long low mullioned windows
with hood-moulds over. At the east end is a large
projecting chimney, and at the south-east angle a large
roughly-carved gargoyle in the form of a man holding
open his mouth with both hands. Over the door are
the initials I.B. (John Butterworth) and the date
1635, and there was formerly a sundial in the middle
gable, traces of which still remain. The house is now
let in tenements, and the interior has been remodelled
and is without interest. (fn. 60)
Lower Town House was rebuilt in 1604, and an
illustration of it in the 18th century shows a picturesquely grouped two-story gabled structure with farm
buildings adjoining. This building was pulled down
in 1798 when the present house—a plain 18th-century stone building with sash windows—took its place.
Over a door in the servants' hall is a carved stone from
the old house with the initials ' R.N. W.N. 1604,' and
in more modern characters 'W.N.B. rebuilt 1798.'
In the wall of one of the outbuildings is a stone bearing the Newall arms and the initials and date, ' L.N.S.
1752.' (fn. 61)
Robert Holt of Stubley and John Belfield of Littleborough were among the landowners in 1626. (fn. 62) At
that time there were 1,134 acres of copyhold land.
The chief landowners in 1797 were Mr. Dearden,
Mr. Newall, Colonel Chadwick, and Mr. Beswicke. (fn. 63)
On the west side of the high road at Steanor Bottom, near Calderbrook, is a three-story stone house with
mullioned windows, along the front of which is a long
ornamental panel (fn. 64) with carved border and quaint
inscriptions:
NO MAN ON
EARTH CAN TE
LL THE TORMENT
THATS IN EL
A S E 1700
BY MANY
STROKES THE
WORK IS DONE
THAT COVLD
NOT BE PER
FORMD BY ONE
The initials refer to one of the Eastwood family.
Apart from the inscriptions the house is architecturally
without interest.