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has its root, a root which may be traced among diflferent coun- 

 tries, and though the accidents of the story may vary, yet the 

 substance remains unaltered. It has been said that the common 

 people never invent new story-radicals, any more than we invent 

 new word-roots, and this is perfectly true. The same story root 

 remains, but it is varied according to the temperament of the 

 narrator or the exigencies of localization." 



Lancashire is rich in its traditions, and the purpose of this 

 paper, in relating a few of them, is to show that they are no 

 exception to the general rule stated above. It is also hoped that, 

 in come cases, the probable origin of the legend may be success- 

 fully indicated. 



Local stories have chiefly been chosen to be dealt with. Most 

 of them are to be found narrated in the works of Koby, Harland, 

 and Wilkinson, and Hardwicke, but one or two of them appear 

 in print, it is beheved, for the first time. 



Legend of Buenley Church. 



Tradition asserts that the site originally chosen for St. Peter's 

 Church at Burnley, was the one lately occupied by the Cross in 

 Godly Lane, and that some progress had been made in laying 

 the foundations. But whatever was done by the workmen during 

 the day was removed, to the present site, during the following 

 night, by supernatural agents in the form of pigs. At last tired 

 of contending with these mysterious agents, the builders gave up 

 their own choice, and erected the church on the spot indicated 

 by the demon pigs. 



A similar story, which is told to account for the Parish Church 

 of Eochdale being built on the top of a hill, on the opposite 

 side of the river to the town, has furnished Mr. Roby with 

 material for his narrative of The Goblin Builders. 



The erection of Colne Church is said to have been commenced 

 at Church Clough, about half a mile from the town, but to the 

 surprise of the masons eveiy stone put on by day at Church 

 Clough disappeared during the night, and was carried by unseen 

 hands to the present site and there skilfully laid together. Hence 

 'it came to pass that Colne Church stands, as it now does, a 

 prominent object for miles round. 



The Church of St. Mary-le-Gill, near Barnoldswick, according 

 to local legend, should have been built at Salterforth, but invis- 

 ible beings nightly removed the foundations to where the Church 

 now is. 



The same legend attaches to Winwick Church, where pigs not 

 only decided the site, but gave the name to the village by squeal- 

 ing "We-ee-wick" as they ran backwards and forwards; to 

 Breedon Church in Leicestershire, where the agents were doves ; 

 to Wendover Church, Bucks, where witches or fairies were 



