2 28 Histoty of the 



The annual rental as represented by the County Rate Valuation 

 of 1892, shows an increase of 152,195 per cent, on the "advanced 

 rents," amounting in the aggregate to ^^131 3s. 8d., confirmed by 

 King James I. On the valuation of 1815, the increase to the 

 present time (or within a period of seventy-seven years) is 560 per 

 cent. 



The increase in the amount and value of property in any 

 district is in a great measure dependent on the growth of the 

 population therein. This fact receives striking confirmation in 

 the population statistics of the Forest of Rossendale. 



At the time of the building of the New Church in .a.d. 15 i i, the 

 population probably did not exceed 200 souls ; about nine years 

 before, they numbered only 20. In 1551, or 40 years afterwards, 

 they had grown to 1000, young and old. While one hundred years 

 later, during the Commonwealth, they had increased to about 

 3000 or 3500 souls. 



The next table which has been carefully compiled from the 

 different census returns from 1801 to 1S91, is as interesting as the 

 one given above, and may be accepted as an exact statement of the 

 population of Rossendale : — 



