Forest of Ros sen dale. 33 



throughout this portion of the county of Lancaster in those remote 

 times, from a consideration of the significant and interesting fact 

 that the broad and far-extending woodlands, so branched or dove- 

 tailed one into the other, as to justify the title which inchided them 

 all in one vast, wide-reaching forest. The area of the whole was 

 about 76)^ square miles, or 48,945 statute acres ; the superficial 

 extent of Rossendale— which is the largest of the four— being about 

 TfiYi square miles, or 19,505 statute acres. 



The forests at that time were not comprised within the limits of 

 any township or other subdivision of property or estate, and being 

 without paramount owner, were naturally claimed by the great 

 Norman barons or other dignitaries, the favourites and followers of 

 the Conqueror, who would readily endorse their title thereto in 

 consideration of fealty and distinguished services. Neither in the 

 latter years of William's reign, at the time of the Domesday survey, 

 were they embraced within the measurement of the Hundred of 

 Blackburn, as given in that authentic and valuable record. 



" William brought in his train a large body of military adven- 

 turers, and the Roll of Battle Abbey, given by Ralph Holinshed, 

 contains the names of six hundred and twenty-nine Normans, who 

 all became claimants upon the fair territory of Britain. To satisfy 

 the cravings of this rapacious host was a task of some difficulty ; 

 but the new monarch did not hesitate to seize the possessions of the 

 Anglo-Saxon proprietors in every direction, and to confer them 

 with no parsimonious hand, upon his companions in arms." {b) 



The vast possessions which included the Honors of Lancaster 

 and Clitheroe were given to Roger de Poictou, alias Roger Picta- 

 vensis, the third son of Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel 

 and Shrewsbury. This Roger de Poictou, then, was the first Lord 

 of the Honor of which the Forest of Rossendale forms a not 

 unimportant part. He was the founder of the Castles of Lancaster 

 and Liverpool. Owing, however, to his taking part in certain 

 rebellions, his inheritance was forfeited. The Honor of Lancaster 



(i) Baines. 



