Information

The original Wycoller Hall was built in the 16th Century and enlarged by Henry Cunliffe in the 18th Century.  However in 1818 the estate was broken up in order to cover the family debts.  The Hall was derelict by the time the Bronte sisters visited. It is thought that Wycoller Hall was the inspiration for Ferndean Manor in Jane Eyre.

Wycoller used to be an agricultural hamlet and was an important cattle rearing area.  The fields here are bounded not by hedges, fences or dry stone walls but by large heavy slabs of stone.  These are known as vaccary walls and enclosed the cattle farms or vaccaries.

Wycoller also has a number of small bridges and fords.  The double arched pack horse bridge is thought to be about 8 hundred years old and built by the Cistercian monks.  The bridge has low parapets so that they wouldn’t get in the way of the panniers carried by the pack horses.  This bridge is also called Sally’s Bridge after Sally Owen, the mother of the last Squire Henry Owen Cunliffe.

The remains of Wycoller Hall Pack horse bridge Clapper Bridge

The Clapper Bridge is thought to be at least 200 hundred years old. It is made up of three gritstone slabs resting on two supports.  It is also called ‘Hall Bridge’ as it leads to Wycoller Hall, the ‘Weavers’ Bridge’ as it carried the weavers across the beck on their way to the tenter fields behind the Hall and the ‘Druid’s Bridge’  as legend has it that the bridge led to an amphitheatre where druids held human sacrifices.

The Clam Bridge is a unique single span bridge.  It is made from a single slab of gritstone laid across the beck.  It is thought that his bridge is more than 1,000 years old and is listed as an Ancient Monument.  The ford in front of the Clam Bridge is laid with thick causey stones from the old pack horse trail.

Until the passing of the CROW Act in 2000 there was no official right of way onto Boulsworth Hill.  North West Water had a concessionary footpath on the Lancashire side but there wasn’t any access from the Yorkshire side. At 1669 feet, this is the highest ground in the main Pennine Chain between the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales.  Pendle Hill is higher but it stands out on  limb by itself.  On good days it is possible to see Blackpool Tower from not to mention Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent.  However visibility wasn’t that good when I was there.  I have seen Blackpool tower on a previous visit.

Clam Bridge and Ford Clam Bridge Lad Law

 

Recommended Walk
Wycoller & Lad Law

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