Whitewell
Encyclopedia
Whitewell is a hamlet within the Ribble Valley
borough of Lancashire
, England
, in the Forest of Bowland
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
. Historically
, it lay on the border of the former West Riding of Yorkshire
. It stands above a picturesque bend in the River Hodder
.
The hamlet comprises Upper and Lower Whitewell. Lower Whitewell is the site of St Michael's, a Chapel of Ease
built in the late medieval period, certainly no later than 1400, which comes under the Lancashire
parish of Whalley
. The restaurant and hotel, The Inn at Whitewell, is also situated in Lower Whitewell..
and provided lodgings for the Master Forester. There is evidence of Master Foresters in Bowland dating back as early as the late twelfth century.
It is thought that the ancient administrative centre of the Forest was at Hall Hill, north-north-east of the current hamlet. It is conjectured that this motte - now merely an earthwork mound surmounted by trees overlooking the old keeper's cottage at Seed Hill Farm - formed the centre of an early medieval hunting laund (enclosure) known as Radholme which is mentioned as a vill in Domesday.
Sir Walter Urswyk was Master Forester to John of Gaunt, 11th Lord of Bowland and it is Urswyk who seems to have been responsible for the shift to Lower Whitewell sometime between 1372-1403. Bowland appears to undergone wholesale manorial reorganisation in the second half of the fourteenth century, a process that may have been driven by a fall in population resulting from the Black Death
(1348-50) and the absorption of Bowland into the Duchy of Lancaster
after 1360.
After 1660, the office of Master Forester fell into abeyance. The Forest courts at Whitewell - a swainmote and a woodmote - were presided over by a Chief Steward or more often his deputy, one of whose duties was to appoint a Bowbearer (or more often two Bowbearers) on behalf of the Lord of Bowland. The responsibilities of the Bowbearer were akin to those of a chief verderer
– an unpaid official appointed to protect vert and venison and responsible for supervising and assisting in the enforcement of forest laws.
The Parkers of Browsholme Hall
have traditionally claimed the office of Bowbearer as an hereditary right but this claim was an early nineteenth fabrication and has now been discredited. The family were certainly Bowbearers for successive generations between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries but the right of appointment was always a prerogative of their local lord, the Lord of Bowland, the so-called Lord of the Fells
.
Although the Forest courts at Whitewell fell into disuse in the first half of the nineteenth century, the 16th Lord of Bowland chose in April 2010 to appoint Robert Parker of Browsholme Hall his Bowbearer of the Forest of Bowland, the first Parker to be so appointed in more than 150 years.. On an official visit by the Lord of Bowland to the Forest in April 2011, his Bowbearer was in attendance.
Whitewell Estate, as black plaques throughout the area serve to remind. The surrounding forest has been the hunting ground of kings since the time of William Rufus. The present monarch is said to be fond of the area, visiting the Inn at Whitewell for lunch in 2006. Nearby settlements include Dunsop Bridge
which claims to be the centre of the United Kingdom
, and Clitheroe
, the administrative centre of the borough.
had been thought lost or in the possession of the Crown having disappeared from the historical record in late nineteenth century. The Towneleys had owned the Bowland Forest Estate from 1835 and it transpired that the title had been retained by an extinct family trust. Controversially, Lord O'Hagan went on to sell the title.. The 16th Lord of Bowland was later revealed to be a Cambridge University don.
In April 2010, it was announced that the 16th Lord of Bowland had appointed Charles Bowman, landlord of the Inn at Whitewell, Chief Steward of the Forest of Bowland, the first such appointment since 1922. The appointment was short-lived, however, and in May 2011, chartered surveyor Michael Parkinson of Ingham & Yorke of Clitheroe assumed the role.
Ribble Valley
Ribble Valley is a local government district with borough status within the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Clitheroe. Other places include Whalley, Longridge and Ribchester. The area is so called due to the River Ribble which flows in its final stages...
borough of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in the Forest of Bowland
Forest of Bowland
The Forest of Bowland, also known as the Bowland Fells, is an area of barren gritstone fells, deep valleys and peat moorland, mostly in north-east Lancashire, England. A small part lies in North Yorkshire, and much of the area was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire...
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
. Historically
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
, it lay on the border of the former West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
. It stands above a picturesque bend in the River Hodder
Hodder
-People:*Christopher Hodder-Williams, British writer*Harvey Hodder, Canadian politician*Ian Hodder, British archaeologist*Jackie Hodder, Australian gangster*Jim Hodder , American musician*Kane Hodder, American actor and stuntman...
.
The hamlet comprises Upper and Lower Whitewell. Lower Whitewell is the site of St Michael's, a Chapel of Ease
Chapel of ease
A chapel of ease is a church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently....
built in the late medieval period, certainly no later than 1400, which comes under the Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
parish of Whalley
Whalley
Whalley is a large village in the Ribble Valley on the banks of the River Calder in Lancashire, England. It is overlooked by Whalley Nab, a large picturesque wooded hill over the river from the village....
. The restaurant and hotel, The Inn at Whitewell, is also situated in Lower Whitewell..
History
From the late fourteenth century, The Inn anciently housed the Forest courts of the Forest of BowlandForest of Bowland
The Forest of Bowland, also known as the Bowland Fells, is an area of barren gritstone fells, deep valleys and peat moorland, mostly in north-east Lancashire, England. A small part lies in North Yorkshire, and much of the area was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire...
and provided lodgings for the Master Forester. There is evidence of Master Foresters in Bowland dating back as early as the late twelfth century.
It is thought that the ancient administrative centre of the Forest was at Hall Hill, north-north-east of the current hamlet. It is conjectured that this motte - now merely an earthwork mound surmounted by trees overlooking the old keeper's cottage at Seed Hill Farm - formed the centre of an early medieval hunting laund (enclosure) known as Radholme which is mentioned as a vill in Domesday.
Sir Walter Urswyk was Master Forester to John of Gaunt, 11th Lord of Bowland and it is Urswyk who seems to have been responsible for the shift to Lower Whitewell sometime between 1372-1403. Bowland appears to undergone wholesale manorial reorganisation in the second half of the fourteenth century, a process that may have been driven by a fall in population resulting from the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
(1348-50) and the absorption of Bowland into the Duchy of Lancaster
Duchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is one of the two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Cornwall. It is held in trust for the Sovereign, and is used to provide income for the use of the British monarch...
after 1360.
After 1660, the office of Master Forester fell into abeyance. The Forest courts at Whitewell - a swainmote and a woodmote - were presided over by a Chief Steward or more often his deputy, one of whose duties was to appoint a Bowbearer (or more often two Bowbearers) on behalf of the Lord of Bowland. The responsibilities of the Bowbearer were akin to those of a chief verderer
Verderer
Verderers are officials in Britain who deal with Common land in certain former royal hunting areas which are the property of The Crown.-Origins:...
– an unpaid official appointed to protect vert and venison and responsible for supervising and assisting in the enforcement of forest laws.
The Parkers of Browsholme Hall
Browsholme Hall
Browsholme Hall is a privately owned Elizabethan house in the parish of Bowland Forest Low in the borough of Ribble Valley, Lancashire , England. It is claimed to be the oldest surviving family home in Lancashire...
have traditionally claimed the office of Bowbearer as an hereditary right but this claim was an early nineteenth fabrication and has now been discredited. The family were certainly Bowbearers for successive generations between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries but the right of appointment was always a prerogative of their local lord, the Lord of Bowland, the so-called Lord of the Fells
Lord of the Fells
Lord of the Fells is a subsidiary title of the Lords of Bowland. The title is thought to have become customary during the high medieval period as a description of the Lords' rugged upland demesne. Bowland Fells, more widely known as the Forest of Bowland, is an area of barren gritstone fells,...
.
Although the Forest courts at Whitewell fell into disuse in the first half of the nineteenth century, the 16th Lord of Bowland chose in April 2010 to appoint Robert Parker of Browsholme Hall his Bowbearer of the Forest of Bowland, the first Parker to be so appointed in more than 150 years.. On an official visit by the Lord of Bowland to the Forest in April 2011, his Bowbearer was in attendance.
Whitewell Estate
Since 1938, much of the land and property in the area has formed part of the Duchy of LancasterDuchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is one of the two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Cornwall. It is held in trust for the Sovereign, and is used to provide income for the use of the British monarch...
Whitewell Estate, as black plaques throughout the area serve to remind. The surrounding forest has been the hunting ground of kings since the time of William Rufus. The present monarch is said to be fond of the area, visiting the Inn at Whitewell for lunch in 2006. Nearby settlements include Dunsop Bridge
Dunsop Bridge
Dunsop Bridge is a village within the Ribble Valley borough of Lancashire, England, situated north-west of Clitheroe, south-east of Lancaster and east of Skipton. It is in the civil parish of Bowland Forest High....
which claims to be the centre of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and Clitheroe
Clitheroe
Clitheroe is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Ribble Valley in Lancashire, England. It is 1½ miles from the Forest of Bowland and is often used as a base for tourists in the area. It has a population of 14,697...
, the administrative centre of the borough.
Contemporary
Whitewell enjoyed brief media attention in 2009 when it was reported that Charles Towneley Strachey, 4th Baron O'Hagan had stepped forward on behalf of the Towneley family to claim the title of 15th Lord of Bowland. Previously, the Lordship of BowlandLordship of Bowland
The Lordship of Bowland, an ancient English title connected with the Forest of Bowland in the northwest of England, was once thought lost and was only recently rediscovered. It disappeared from sight in 1885 when the estates of the Towneleys, one of Lancashire’s great aristocratic families, were...
had been thought lost or in the possession of the Crown having disappeared from the historical record in late nineteenth century. The Towneleys had owned the Bowland Forest Estate from 1835 and it transpired that the title had been retained by an extinct family trust. Controversially, Lord O'Hagan went on to sell the title.. The 16th Lord of Bowland was later revealed to be a Cambridge University don.
In April 2010, it was announced that the 16th Lord of Bowland had appointed Charles Bowman, landlord of the Inn at Whitewell, Chief Steward of the Forest of Bowland, the first such appointment since 1922. The appointment was short-lived, however, and in May 2011, chartered surveyor Michael Parkinson of Ingham & Yorke of Clitheroe assumed the role.