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arriving at Cockden Water, a few soldiers remained straggling 
behind, and the pursuers taking a short eut by Ormerod Bridge, 
overtook them in the hollow opposite to the barn belonging to 
Miss Halstead. Here a fierce struggle took place, in which the 
troops had the advantage, leaving two farmers and several 
soldiers dead. The names of the farmers were Peter Hitchon, of 
Worsthorne, and Barnard Smith, of Hurstwood. Their names 
are recorded in the register of the Parish Church at Burnley. 
WINDLE HOUSE. 
This old house stands on an eminence to the east of Black 
House Lane, in the Township of Briercliffe. The family from 
whom the name is derived is of ancient date, but none of its 
members seem to have taken any important part in the history 
of the district. I find in a copy of the Towneley manuscripts 
kindly placed at my disposal by Mr. W. Waddington, that John, 
the son of Wm. Winhall, conveyed to John, son of Gilbert de 
la Leigh, all the lands he held in Worsthorne for the sum of one 
penny. This deed is dated 13811. The descendants of the 
Winhalls, under the name of Windle, still exist, some of them in 
humble circumstances, in Burnley and the neighbourhood. 
THE SPENSER FAMILY. 
It is not my intention to deal fully with the history of this 
East Lancashire family. I hope to have a special paper at some 
future time on that subject. I may say that I coincide with the 
opinion of Dr. Grossart with reference to the connections of the 
great poet with this part of the north. 
THE SITE OF MONK HALL. 
This ancient house, together with the land adjoining, 
amounting to a caracute (100 acres) was in the possession of the 
Abbot and monks of Newbo, near Lincoln, temp. Henry III, 
and it was afterwards granted to the monks of St. Mary’s, at 
Kirkstall Abbey, near Leeds, by Henry, Duke of Lancaster 
(Birch’s MSS.) from whom the name of ‘‘ Monk Hall”’ is derived. 
In a croft abutting upon the road adjoiming the modern Monk 
Hall, remains of the original foundations may still be traced. 
The main structure seems to have been in the form of a square, 
with outbuildings attached. An old building in the immediate 
vicinity, with antique mullioned windows and capacious fireplace, 
has in all probability been an appurtenance to the old hall. In 
those days the land to the west would be an open moor. An old 
road commences here, passing by Nogworth Cross over Extwistle 
Hill, and by way of Ronclehurst to another cross of a similar 
description near Hebrew Hall Bar, Burnley Road. It stood built 
into the fence wall on the spot where a modern shop was erected 
by Mr. Holt, of Lee Green. The. plinth was broken, and all 
traces are now lost. 
