Forest of Rossendale. 7 



prayer to the blessed Mary for deliverance from the sepulchral 

 quicksands." 



Dr. March in his East Lancashire Nomenclature, referring to 

 local names that show traces of historical persons, has "Holen 

 weold Wrosnum," Holen ruled the Wrosns, two names that are 

 still found together in Hollin and Rossendale." The same authority 

 suggests that "Hrotan" may be traced in Rawtenstall, and " Ded- 

 win" in Deadwen Clough. (/) 



The orthography of proper names in ancient times is proverbial 

 for its irregularity, and in no word is this quality more marked 

 than in the spelling of Bacup, which occurs in the following dif- 

 ferent forms : — Bacap, Bacop, Bacope, Bacoppe, Baccope, Baccop, 

 Baccup, Baycop, Backop, Backup, Bakup, Bakcop, Baicup, and 

 Bacup. With regard to the derivation of the name, Mr. James 

 Hargreaves in his interesting life of John Hirst, remarks, " The 

 deer in their excursions for pasture or play, would run down the 

 valley from Deer-play hill as far as where the village of Bacup 

 now stands, and then return, or back up again. From this circum- 

 stance, it is said, the place derived its name, ' Backup.' But 

 modern times have dropped the k, and so changed both the 

 spelling and the pronunciation into 'Bacup."' This explanation 

 of the etymology of the word does not appear to me to be the best. 

 The idea is rather too far-fetched to merit acceptance. There is, 

 to say the least of it, a want of dignity about it, which leads us to 

 inquire if no better account of the origin of the name can be given; 

 and, indeed, the same writer, as though he had experienced a 

 similar feeling, adds further — "Since the above was written, the 

 writer has been informed that a certain learned gentleman of the 

 law, in pleading a cause before the court at Lancaster, contended 

 that the village derived its name from Bay, red, and Cops, earth — 

 viz.. Red-earth -and that it should be spelled Baycop. This 

 etymology does not appear very probable, as the soil in the vicinity 

 is in general not red, but black." 



(f) East Lancashire Nomenclature, by H. C. March, M.D. pp. 47,48. 



