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Tucked away among
the hills surrounding Halifax are many fine examples of domestic
architecture of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Barkisland, directly south of Halifax and a short distance from
West Vale, is particularly rich in them, and boasts at least two
stately mansions, in addition to several sturdy farm houses of interesting
design.
Barkisland is about six miles from Halifax, and the Halifax trams
run to West Vale, within about two miles of it; while the nearest
station, about a mile away, is Ripponden.
The place may be said to have local associations, for one of the
mansions already mentioned was built by a member of the Horton family,
of Great and Little Horton. This is Howroyde Hall.
Over the north doorway of this hall are the initials and date: "W.H.
1642 E.H." and these initials relate to William Horton and his family.
In an ancient record of the family, written on vellum, and at one
time preserved at Howroyde Hall, it sets out that their original
settlement seems to have been at Horton in Bradford-dale, in Yorkshire.
It goes back to one Robert de Horton, who had his manor at Horton
long before the days of Henry Lacy, the particulars having been
taken from a deed that is "very antient and of a Saxon character."
The record continues:- "This lordship of Horton, which thus clearly
belonged to a family who took their name from it, is divided into
two hamlets, viz, Horton Magna and Horton Parva; the first containing
twenty-seven oxgangs and a half, the latter about eighteen oxgangs.
It continued in the name of Horton till the lands belonging to that
family came to the Leventhorpes by marriage; from the Leventhorpes
it also went by marriage with Alice, sister and heir of one Oswald
Leventhorpe, to John Lacy Esq., a descendant of whom called also
John Lacy, sold it to Joshua Horton, of Sowerby, Esq., a younger
branch of the above family of Horton, whose great great grandson
Sir Watts Horton, of Chadderton, in Lancashire, baronet, now enjoys
it."
Thus from Barkisland we get many interesting details of Great and
Little Horton; but what a pity that the names have been changed
from Horton Magna and Horton Parva!
Further on we are given details of how Howroyde Hall came into possession
of the Horton family.
"This estate, in 1419, which is the date of the oldest deed we have
seen relating to it, was the property of one William Woodhead, of
Barsland (another spelling of Barkisland), after which it came to
the several names of Gledhill, Birtenshall, Hanson, Firth, and Mouldson,
till the year 1639 . . . . when William Horton, of Firth House,
gentleman, son and heir apparent of William Horton, of Barkisland,
gentleman, bought it of Thomas Mouldson, who then lived at it, and
in this name it has continued ever since."
The Hortons are mentioned as having settled at Barkisland, by Cudworth,
in his "Rambles Round Horton."
It will be seen that there was a hall here before William Horton
built the present one in 1642, and it has been suggested that Horton
simply encased the old hall with the present outer walls, and probably
at the same time enlarged it, for there are portions of the interior
which are of greater age than 1642.
Howroyde Hall, which is now the residence of Mrs. Marchetti, though
still, I believer, in the possession of the Horton family, is approached
by a long and well-wooded drive, and occupies a commanding position
some distance removed from the village of Barkisland, which it overlooks
across a valley.
It faces south, and overlooks a centuries-old lawn on which is an
ancient sundial, beneath which we noticed an old quern which has
probably been unearthed in the district.
Barkisland Hall (photo 57k), the other ancient mansion, stands at
the foot of the village, which practically consists of one steep
and narrow street. This is, indeed, a stately building, entered
by a "three decker" porch surmounted by a rose window.
Over the doorway of this is the date 1638, with the initials J.G.-S.G.,
relating to John Gledhill and his wife, Sarah. William Horton, who
built Howroyde Hall, married an Elizabeth Gledhill, and thus the
two estates eventually came into the one family.
Barkisland Hall is now used as a farm, but in the days of the Gledhills
it would be an important centre of social life, for opposite the
entrance gates are some cottages which were once the kennels of
Barkisland, in the days when the Gledhills hunted the surrounding
country.
Unlike Howroyde Hall, Barkisland Hall is close to the roadside,
and can be seen by all who pass through the village.
Richard Gledhill served on the side of the Royalists during the
Civil Wars, and was knighted for gallantry, but was killed in action
near York in 1644. It was his sister Elizabeth whom William Horton
had married some time previously.
The Gledhills took a great interest in the affairs of Barkisland
even after they removed from the place, for I find that by the will
of Sarah Gledhill, of London, "late of Barkisland," dated 13 October
1657, that she did "give and bequeath the sum of two hundred pounds
current English money unto the use of a school master, for teaching
such poor children of the township of Barkisland, whose parents
are, or shall not be able, to bring them up in learning."
One of the executors of that will was Elizabeth Horton. The Hortons,
too, were benefactors, and left sums to be distributed among certain
people. The school house stood at the head of the village, but has
since been converted into houses.
On passing down the main street on the way to Barkisland Hall there
are the remains of a market cross on the left of the street, while
a little lower down and on the right of the road are the village
stocks.
Two fine old homesteads are passed on the way which, were they not
overshadowed by the large halls, would make a visit to the village
worthwhile.
Barkisland has not altered much through the ages, but had the scheme
been carried through of making the broadcasting station here instead
of at Slaithwaite, it might have had an important bearing on the
future of the place.
J. C. H.
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