65 



the east of Eock Glen where Sheddon water forms a confinence 

 with the water from Black Hamhledon, he received the inspiration 

 which produced " The Shepherd's Calendar." 



Hurstwood Hall. This fine rehc of the 16th century stands on 

 the north side of a deep gorge through which runs a stream from 

 Thursdeu to the Brun. The Hall is of the common type, but has 

 two fi-ontages. That to the garden is approached from the upper 

 side crossing the stream by a solid block of masonry, and con- 

 tains the Porch with a Tudor arched doorcase, and a long narrow 

 range of light to the centre Hall. The other being the front 

 towards the village contains the best doorcase, with Tudor arch, 

 full moulding and label and the inscription in a sunken moulded 

 panel with the date 1579. The windows are chcular headed under 

 square tops on the garden side, and square headed on the other. 

 The gables are finished with moulded projecting watertabling 

 with wattled terminals. In the Hall the large dining table still 

 remains, which is about 3 ft. high, somewhat inconvenient for use 

 in modern times. The Hall was built by Barnard Towneley, a 

 branch of the Towneleys of Towneley, who married Agnes 

 Ormerod of Ormerod. He died in 1602. From documents in 

 the County Court of Chancery, in which the said Bernard 

 Towneley is the defendant and Thomas de Hoghton was the 

 plaintiff, it appears that Bernard was an architect, that he had 

 agreed to erect Hoghton Tower, but had refused to do so. An 

 injunction was taken out against him and he was found at Has- 

 lingden, and from there went and finished his work. I have no 

 doubt whatever that this same Bernard designed many of the 

 other works in progress at this time, and that his influence con- 

 tributed to keep the work done in this district dming the following 

 years in the old style — strong, good in outline and general detail 

 and adapted to the requirements of the district. A number of 

 the stones on both fronts are marked with the Masonic Emblems, 

 the compass, square and gavel. Perhaps some of the Masonic 

 fraternity may be able to explain their meaning. 



WOKSTHOENE. 



Wallstreams, now called the old Parsonage, was erected by John 

 Towneley a branch of the Towneleys of Towneley in tJie year 

 1593. It is of the usual type, differing only in the fact that the 

 porch is three storeys high, being the only one I know of in this 

 district. The doorcase has a curious arrangement of label mould 

 and bears a somewhat pecuhar inscription over — beginning fi-om 

 left to right in the lower line and returning in the upper line 

 fi-om right to left, thus : — 



VDIH 1593 WYFE 



lOHN TWoNE: AND ALIS HIS 



The date is not discernable, having weathered away, but Mr. 

 Tattersall Wilkinson remembers it well. 



* Barnardus Townley et Agnes vsor eius 1579. 



