Amazing Accrington - Spring 2019

Neighbours and kinsfolk were arrayed against one another in the most terrible of all wars in the year 1642 between the country's own people. And they had the horrors of it at their own door, for Huncoat was in the zone of war during the bale ofWhinney Hill, and its inhabitants suffered, especially those on the losing side. It was an important, stirring event, and marked an epoch in local history, as it meant the invasion of North East Lancashire by a hostile force, and memorable as being the first occasion on which the district felt the effects of bale during the Civil War. Fear and apprehension as to what would happen if the invading force should be victorious is evidenced by the fact that the sturdy churls of Pendle and Rossendale resolved to fight it out rather than have their beef and fat bacon eaten by the invaders. Sir Gilbert Hoghton had set his beacon alight on the top of Hoghton Tower, the signal to the country around for the men to join up on the Royalist side, whereon great numbers mustered at Preston. The beacon would likewise be observed from the Hameldon hills and Colonels Shuleworth and Starkie were promptly informed. They sent out messengers in all directions, and collected the men fromClitheroe, Burnley, Colne, and the two Forests of Rossendale and Pendle, as well as those in the immediate neighbourhood. They assembled a strange army, with all sorts of weapons, onWhinney Hill (Henfield or EnfieldMoor). Thomas Jesland, the writer of a special edition of "War News," then described as aWar Tract, gives an account of the bale stating that the number of Colonel Shuleworth's force was 8,000 men. This estimate has been doubted, but as this was the first occasion for a military muster the full strength of the local Parliamentarians would be available. Whinney Hill was chosen as the gathering ground of the force by reason of its central position, and on account of its strategic importance, being an eminence fromwhich movements of troops could be observed. It commanded the main highway that crossed East Lancashire, which then came nearer the crest of the hill than the present road between Blackburn and Burnley. Thus, troops passing along this road could be intercepted by an opposing force posted on the higher ground of the moor, then more open and unenclosed, and afforded every facility for a mobile force to move down on the invading enemy, or take up a strong defensive position. It commanded the roads fromAccrington andWhalley, which came almost to the crest of the hill fromDyke Nook on one side, and Sparth on the other, as well as the presentWhinney Hill road from Huncoat and Church Lane. The laer road would, no doubt, be used by the Royalists as well as the Clayton road fromRishton. The Altham and Huncoat roads would be good means of communication for the Parliamentarians, with Huncoat village as a base of operations, and the old Hard Farm (which dates back to 1611) as headquarters for Colonel Shuleworth. Huncoat, then, would be thronged with soldiery from over the Rossendale hills and surrounding district. "Lancashire's Valley of Achor" is the title of another Civil War Tract, which refers toWhinney Hill as the place of muster for the Parliament troops. On this occasion Sir Gilbert Hoghton is stated to have surprised Blackburn and occupied it with 300 armed men, besides clubmen, armed with whatever they could get hold of, and sent a party toWhalley. Colonels Shuleworth and Starkie assembled their forces onWhinney Hill, and immediately marched, or rather ran, to Blackburn, shouting and singing. They met with stout resistance, but eventually dislodged the Royalists. There is a tradition respecting the bale onWhinney Hill. When Colonel Shuleworth was riding fromHuncoat to the muster along the still existing highway he was accosted by a well-known youth of Huncoat namedMat, who cried out "A penny for luck." The Colonel reined up his horse, put his hand in his pocket and drew out a coin. Mat went to the

One of the earliest skirmishes took place in East Lancashire …

THE  BATTLE OF  WHINNEY  HILL Huncoat witnessed the passing of armed forces through the village and men were called upon to take part in the great struggles.

side of the Colonel's horse to receive it when a couple of shots came whistling past his ear in quick succession, taking away a portion of the Colonel's fore-finger and the coin, and the other striking his spur and breaking it. Mat saw a lile cloud of smoke rising from behind a hedge and drew the Colonel's aention to it. The laer galloped to the spot, but no one was to be seen. Aer the Colonel and his force from Huncoat had passed on, Mat saw his own father creep out of a drain with a gun. The father, to silence his son, contrived his death. Aer theWhinney Hill bale had been won the Colonel made enquiries about Mat, and was informed that he had died suddenly. The Colonel went to the house of the poor lad and his suspicions were aroused. Further enquiries made it clear that the boy's father had fired the shots, having been bribed to do so by a personal enemy of the Colonel's, and that he had caused his son's death. The father paid the penalty in a summary manner, being shot. The Lords and Commons proceeding jointly, appointed on April 1st, 1643, a commiee for sequestrating notorious delinquents' estates in Lancashire. Lile was done to give effect to the orders of sequestration during the two years

following the appointment of the commiee, because the issue of the war in Lancashire remained doubtful, its fortunes fluctuating month by month until in 1645 the Royalist interest was completely defeated or suppressed.

Opposite: A map showing Royalist territory in August 1642 just before the outbreak of the civil war . Above: King Charles 1 raised his standard in 1642, the signal for hostilities all over the country, which led to the battle of Whinney Hill.

Source: R. Ainsworth

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