THE source we consider today dates from the mid eighteenth century. It is the record of a visit to Burnley made by Dr Richard Pococke (b. 1704) who was, when he made the visit, Archdeacon of Dublin. Later he was made Bishop of Ossary, also in Ireland.

Dr Pococke arrived in Burnley by way of Whalley which he describes as "a village chiefly supported by farming and spinning woollen yarn". He then climbs Pendle and describes the views from a number of vantage points. After mentioning Pendle Water he adds: "We also had a view of a vale in which the Calder runs and saw Padiam (sic) very plain...". By this he meant Padiham could be clearly seen.

It was into the Valley of the Calder that Dr Pococke decided to make his way. He had sent his horses to Newchurch, a local lad having obliged. Having arrived there, Dr Pococke sought out the youngster who was a boy of about 13. "He was a pretty handy youth, and giving him of the provisions I had brought, he came and sate down close by me on a settle. He told me oat-cake and butter-milk was their common food, that on a festival day they had a piece of meat and a pye-pudding; that his father and he wove both for their clothing and to sell; and on asking him if he would go along with me, if his father would give him leave, he expressed his readiness to accompany me, which I mention as an instance of their simplicity, and of their manner of living in these remote mountainous parts.

"From Newchurch...I went three miles in very rough bad roads, part of it pleasant and romantick, near a rivulet with high banks on each side, cover'd with trees, that falls into the Calder. Coln is prettily situated on a hill, is no great thoroughfare, but chiefly subsists by its markets and fairs and by a manufacture of shaloons, serges and tamies. Roman coins have been found at Wheatley Lane near, and at, Emmot. In the church is a monument of one of the Emmots, of Emmot, merchant in London.

"I went four miles to Burnley, on the Calder, a small market town with some share of the woollen trade. The Townley's of Townley bury in this church, and there is a monument to one of them, Richard, who died in the Battle of Marstone Moore, near York, on the part of the king, and his body was not found, on which their estate was confiscated, but on the Restoration their taxes were reduced. There is an old font here, as at Coln, the chief reliefs are the instruments of our Saviours passion. In the church-yard is a cross with this inscription: 'Orate pro ana Johs Foldes Capelani qui lanc crucem fieri fecit ano.di.1528'

"The Townley's have made a fine Gothic screen on three sides of the chancel. It is said several Roman coins have been found here, one of Q. Cassius and some of Rome. It seems one John Sagar lived here to 112 years old. Soon after we left Burnley we passed Townley, the seat of the Townleys, Roman Catholics; there is another branch in the neighbourhood who are Protestants. The ground of the park is well water'd, uneven, and very beautiful.

"We soon after pass'd in sight of some part of the hamlet call'd Holm, famous for giving birth of the celebrated Dr Whitacre, Master of St John's College, Cambridge; he dyed attending the controversy against the Arminians at Lambeth in 1596. There is a small estate in the family, the owner of which is called Lord of Holm, and they have a chapel at this place.