Foresl of Rossendale. 19 



defensive works in connection with the great battle strife,' that it is 

 not at all unlikely that some other memorials of the time may yet 

 be discovered in the locality. 



But we are not entirely without evidence of even this direct 

 confirmatory nature ; for Dr. Whitaker {h) states that, " In the Red 

 Moss, a part of the two hundred and forty acres once within the 

 Forest, (/) iron arrow-heads have often been found. These, it is 

 probable, had been aimed against the deer, rather than used in 

 battle. In a field belonging to the author was found a Torques of 

 the purest gold. It was lying upon the surface, having been turned 

 up by the plough or harrow, and picked up by a reaper. The 

 weight is above one ounce and a half It was originally a complete 

 circle, then bent back upon itself, and twisted round, excepting at 

 the ends, which are looped, as if intended to be fastened about the 

 neck by a cord. It is now in my possession." 



It is not unlikely that the learned historian, liad he lived under 

 the light of recent investigations, might have formed a different 

 opinion with respect to the original use of the arrow-heads, and 

 would rather have attributed their presence to purposes of a warlike 

 character. 



The beacon-remains on the neighbouring hills which Mr. Wilkin- 

 son conjectures may have been successively used by Britons, 

 Romans, Saxons, and Danes, are highly interesting monuments of 

 antiquity. The one on Thieveley Pike is quite distinct, and is a 

 complete circle in the form of a basin, the circumference round the 

 centre of the embankment being about eighty feet ; many of the 

 stones within the ring, 'and in the immediate vicinity, bear evident 

 marks of having been charred or scorched by fire. 



In earlier times, when the means of intercommunication were 

 slow and uncertain, these beacons played a most important part in 

 the defences of the country, being kept in readiness, and used by 

 the authorities on occasions of civil broil and commotion, or 



(A) Hist. Whalley, third uditiuii, p. j66. 

 {ij Now in ClivigtT. 



