Langcliffe

Langcliffe is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, in England. It lies to the north of Settle and east of Giggleswick. The River Ribble runs along the west of the village.

Langcliffe

Langcliffe Village Institute
Langcliffe
Location within North Yorkshire
Population333 (2011 census)[1]
OS grid referenceSD822650
Civil parish
  • Langcliffe
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSettle
Postcode districtBD24
Dialling code01729
PoliceNorth Yorkshire
FireNorth Yorkshire
AmbulanceYorkshire
UK Parliament

Langcliffe lies within one of eight regions covered by the Yorkshire Dales National Park, established in 1954. This covers an area of 680 square miles (1,762 km2) in the counties of North Yorkshire and Cumbria and straddles the central Pennines in the north of England.[2]

A bridleway junction, Langcliffe

History

Pre-historic

Langcliffe Scar is marked by numerous ancient circular-banked enclosures, cairns and quarries.[3][4] The early settlement was nearer to the foot of the scar than it is now, in a field called Pesbers by the lane to Winskill.

The Manor

In 1086 the Domesday Book, in folio 331V, records that the lord of the manor was named Fech. In Langcliffe he paid taxes on three carucates of ploughland.[5] By 1068 William the Conqueror had put Craven under the overlordship of Roger de Poitou but after 1102, when de Poitou rebelled, King Henry I confiscated his lands and gave those in the Ribble Valley to the House of Percy.

The manors of Giggleswick and Langcliffe were subsequently held by the de Giggleswicke family for five generations.

In about 1200 the monks of Furness Abbey built a corn mill on the Langcliffe side of the Ribble which caused a protracted controversy. In 1221 Pandulf, the Papal legate, gave judgment that the mill must belong to Langcliffe but that the mill pond would remain with the Abbey of Furness. This judgment still stands, as the Ribble forms the western boundary of Langcliffe, but the mill pond and its fields now pay their rates to Giggleswick. In around 1250, Elias De Giggleswicke granted his property and manorial rights in Langcliffe to Sawley Abbey and in 1524 it was recorded that the 18 tenants still held their houses from the Abbot of Sawley.

At the Dissolution of the Monasteries Henry VIII sold the land to the speculator Sir Arthur Darcy (1505–1561), younger son of the 1st Lord Darcy.[6] In 1584, Nicholas Darcy - Arthur's fifth son - sold the high land to the sitting tenants. Some were not able to purchase immediately and for a time paid quit-rents.

At that time Henry Somerscales bought the manorial rights and in 1602 rebuilt Langcliffe Hall in the Elizabethan style.[7]

Wars

In 1314, Scottish raiders destroyed Langcliffe's houses, after the Battle of Bannockburn. The village was then rebuilt, half a mile to the south.[8][9]:114

The muster rolls of 1513 show that nine men from the village fought the Scots army at the Battle of Flodden.

Cotton Mills

A view of the mills: Langcliffe High Mill on the right,[10][11] Watershed Mill on the left.[12]

Cotton spinning was industrialised by the mid-18th century, but weaving remained a domestic activity based on the putting-out system. Many families had hand looms in their houses but some set up small weaving shops with a few looms and hired others. In the 1820s, weavers expected to produce three pieces of cloth per week for 2 shillings each. Work was irregular as yarn was not always available and it was customary to close the shops for haymaking and harvest to assist the farmers. Plain-cotton weaving could be done by a child of twelve and many parents preferred to have their children earning money rather than going to school.[7]

Langcliffe High Mill: this was a spinning-mill, built in 1783–84 by George and William Clayton and their brother-in-law, R. Walshman. They had previously built a successful spinning-mill at Keighley, and brought with them experienced operators of early Arkwright spinning frames, many of them children, for whom they provided lodgings, clothing and basic education.[7] This was one of Yorkshire's earliest and largest cotton-spinning mills: 14 bays, 5 storeys high, housing 14,032 spindles.[7] In the early 1800s the mill was enlarged to accommodate a steam engine to supplement its water power.[13]

Watershed Mill: this was a weaving-mill, dating from 1785, and is also known simply as 'the Shed'. It is a single-storey building, less than half a mile downstream from Langcliffe High Mill. It was built by friends of Richard Arkwright to house his new spinning machines, but in the 1820s it was converted into a weaving-mill housing 300 looms.[7] Financial difficulties forced the mill-owners to close it in 1855,[14] but Langcliffe High Mill then took it over.

Langcliffe High Mill and Watershed Mill continued to operate for another century, before both closed in the 1950s. Langcliffe High Mill then became a paper-mill but now it houses a packaging company.[11] It was made a grade II listed-building on 7 April 1977.[15] Watershed Mill now houses a shopping centre.[12]

An 1870s description of Langcliffe described:

... a village, a township, and a chapelry in Giggleswick parish, W. R. Yorkshire. The village stands near the river Ribble, ¾ of a mile N of Settle, and 2 NNE of Settle r. station; and has a post-office under Settle.—The township contains also the hamlet of Winskill, and comprises 2,550 acres. Real property, £3,319. Pop. in 1851,601; in 1861,376. Houses, 78. The decrease of pop. was caused by the stoppage of cotton mills and the dispersion of the workers.[16]

Hoffman Lime-Kiln

Hoffman Lime Kiln

The building of the Settle-Carlisle Railway made heavy industry possible in Langcliffe and in 1873 a Hoffman Continuous Kiln was built for the Craven Lime Company. The continuous-kiln had been patented by German inventor Friedrich Hoffman in 1858 and the kiln at Langcliffe had 22 chambers, in which limestone was burned continuously in a circuit that took around six weeks to complete.[17] Lime burning became a key local industry: [17] the operation was labour-intensive and provided significant local employment;[18] however, the working conditions were unhealthy and could be dangerous.

The lime industry is now part of the Craven industrial heritage. The quarry and lime-kiln closed in 1931 as a result of falling sales due to outside competition; the kiln was fired-up again in 1937 but closed permanently in 1939. In 1951, arrangements to demolish the chimney were thwarted when it fell down of its own accord on the day before the planned date.[19]

Village War Memorial


Landmarks

Langcliffe War Memorial

In the village centre is a war memorial commemorating the men who lost their lives during the two World Wars. There are 15 names on the fountain memorial: 11 from the First World War, and four from the Second World War.[20] Relatives of those who died chose the design of the fountain memorial, which was unveiled on Saturday 17 July 1920.[21]

Samson's Toe

Around one mile to the east of Langcliffe is Samson's Toe, a large glacial erratic boulder which is approximately 8 feet high and rests on small limestone stilts at the edge of a limestone ridge. The shape of the rock, like a huge toe, gave rise to tales about a giant named Samson: "according to legend, he lost his footing when jumping across from Langcliffe Scar or Ribblesdale, breaking off his toe whilst attempting this." More prosaically, the boulder was deposited during the last Ice-Age – 12,000–13,000 years ago or more – by retreating glacial flows moving from north to south, the boulder being picked up by a glacier somewhere to the north."[22]

Religion

St John the Evangelist Church

Langcliffe formed part of the ancient Parish of Giggleswick, but was detached to become a separate ecclesiastical parish in 1851.[7]

The new parish required its own church and St John the Evangelist Church was therefore built in 1851, by architects Mallinson and Healey of Bradford. The church site, and the funds for the construction, were given by John Green Paley (1774–1860), a son of Langcliffe who had prospered with the Industrial Revolution, as a director of Bradford's Bowling Iron Works and of two local railway companies.

"The tiny chapel with slender bell-turret and steeply-pitched roof overlooks one of the finest village greens in the north and an unspoilt village of enormous architectural interest. Its tranquil and homely interior contains memorials to the distinguished Dawson family of Langcliffe Hall."[23]

"There is some beautiful stenciling in the chancel. Our green altar-frontal has an interesting story – it was made from a dressing gown belonging to Lord Halifax, the former Viceroy of India."[24]


Population

  • 1377: The Hilary Parliament's Poll Tax counted: 23 men over the age of sixteen.[7]
  • 1672: The Stuart Restoration Hearth Tax counted: 49 hearths, amounting to c.30 houses.[25]
  • 1881: The population, c.680, declined significantly when the Langcliffe High Mill closed down, causing former workers and their families to move away: "the decrease of pop. was caused by the stoppage of cotton mills and the dispersion of the workers."[26] Almost every other house was empty and a great number of people went to find work in Lancashire. So many people went to Accrington that a district of the town was known as "Little Langcliffe".[7]
  • 2011: The population of Langcliffe now stands at c.333, according to the 2011 census.
Langcliffe Population Decline, 1881–2011
Notable residents

Residents or former residents of this village include the authors: Leah Fleming and Marina Fiorato.

The Paley family, benefactors of the St.John the Evangelist, were among the oldest families in the village: they are recorded as being in Langcliffe, and nearby Giggleswick, since at least the 16th century. Thomas Paley (1540–1592) of Giggleswick is recorded as having married Elizabeth Preston in 1561 in St. Alkeda's church, but their son Johannes (1572–1597) in time moved out to Langcliffe. The descendants of Johannes then lived quietly in the village for a century before achieving any great form of prominence: Thomas (1597–1669), John (1632–1717) and Thomas (1675–1740). George (1708–1765), the eldest son of this Thomas, also remained in the village, but his descendants became – after various setbacks – the branch of the wealthy industrialists, which developed parts of Leeds and Bradford, whilst remaining loyal to their rural roots. A part of this family became established as gentry in Suffolk and Maj.-Gen. Sir Victor Paley, KBE, CB, DSO, DL achieved distinction as a soldier. The Rev. William (1711–1799), was the second son of Thomas: a graduate of Christ's College, Cambridge University, who moved back to Giggleswick to become headmaster at the Free Grammar School (Giggleswick School) for more than half a century. His son, the Ven. William Paley, DD (1743–1805), was the well-known writer, theologian and Archdeacon of Carlisle. The descendants of this branch include the respected and eponymous firm of Lancashire architects. Both main branches include clergymen in almost every generation, with medical practitioners also prominent. Paley Road and Paley Terrace in Bradford are named after the Paleys of Langcliffe and Giggleswick.

References

  1. UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Langcliffe Parish (1170216766)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  2. "About the Yorkshire Dales National Park". yorkshiredales.org. Archived from the original on 3 March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  3. "Survey of Langcliffe Scar 2006–07". Upper Wharfedale Heritage Group. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  4. "Langcliffe Scar is a limestone outcrop overlooking the village of Langcliffe in Ribblesdale". Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  5. "Map and details". Open Domesday. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  6. Mosley, editor-in-chief Charles (2003). Burke's peerage, baronetage & knightage, clan chiefs, Scottish feudal barons (107th ed.). Wilmington: Burke's Peerage & Gentry. ISBN 978-0-9711966-2-9.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  7. Brayshaw, Thomas; Robinson, Ralph M (1932). The Ancient Parish of Giggleswick. London: Halton and Co.OCR copy by North Craven Historical Research Archived 9 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 30 September 2012
  8. Whitaker, Thomas Dunham (1805). The History and Antiquities of the Deanery of Craven, in the county of York. Nichols, Payne etc. ISBN 978-1-241-34269-2. Whitaker’s History of Craven: Parish of Giggleswick, Page 21 Skipton Castle Co UK. Retrieved 12 June 2013
  9. Speight, Harry (1892). The Craven and North-west Yorkshire Highlands, Being a complete account of the history, scenery, and antiquities of that romantic district. London: Elliot Stock. ISBN 1130622584. The Craven and North-west Yorkshire Highlands.pdf Google Books. Retrieved 12 June 2013
  10. Langliffe High Mill, Out Of Oblivion Org. Retrieved 28 September 2013
  11. Langliffe Mills, North Craven Heritage Trust. Retrieved 28 September 2013
  12. Watershed Mill and Visitors Centre. Retrieved 28 September 2013
  13. "Langcliffe High Mill". outofoblivion.org.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  14. "A brief history of watershed mill". watershed mill and visitor centre. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  15. "Langcliffe High Mill". british listed buildings. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  16. Wilson, John (1870–72). "Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales" (1st ed.). Edinburgh: A.Fullerton and Co. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  17. Johnson, David. "The Hoffman Lime Kiln". Craven Museum. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  18. White, Robert (2005) [1997]. The Yorkshire Dales, A landscape Through Time (new ed.). Ilkley, Yorkshire: Great Northern Books. ISBN 1-905080-05-0.
  19. "Hoffmann kiln, Craven Lime Works". out of oblivion – a landscape through time. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  20. de Vries, Fedor. "Langcliffe war memorial". Traces of War. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  21. Croll, Katherine (2003). "Langcliffe, Yorkshire, Village memorial". Roll of Honour. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  22. "Samson's Toe, Langcliffe, North Yorkshire". the journal of antiques. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  23. Rhodes, Kate. "Langcliffe, st john the evangelist". daelnet. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  24. "St John the Evangelist, Langcliffe". a church near you. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  25. "The Hearth Tax of the West Riding of Yorkshire 1672" (PDF). Hearthtax Org. UK: Roehampton University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  26. Wilson, John (1870–72). "Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales" (1st ed.). Edinburgh: A.Fullerton and Co. Retrieved 25 March 2013.

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