Mr. A.H. Clegg

An Informative Earby Lecture by A.H. Clegg

Earby & District Local History Society
...
An informative address, on "Landmarks in the History of an Ancient Parish," was given by Mr. A.H. Clegg, headmaster of the New Road School, at the weekly meeting of the Earby Wesley Guild on Tuesday evening.Mr J. Hartley presided, and the lecturer dealt specifically with the Thornton Parish.

Four Townships

The old parish of Thornton-in-Craven consisted of four townships, said Mr.Clegg.
...
The place-names connected with the manor make an interesting study, said Mr Clegg.
...
Dealing with the geographical conditions, Mr. Clegg said the manor was more wooded in early times than to-day.Possibly, he suggested, a large portion of the low-lying parts was waste, owing to the swamping conditions.
...
These were staggering figures, commented Mr. Clegg.
...
Included in the old registers, proceeded Mr. Clegg, were many Church Terriers, which were documents drawn up by the Churchwardens specifying everything belonging to the Church.This brought one to two interesting points: Tithes, and the tithe barn.

History of the Parish Registers by A.H. Clegg

Mr.A.H. Clegg, in the article published below, continues his survey of the history of the ancient parish of Thornton-in-Craven.Mr. Clegg deals with the church two centuries ago in Thornton and Barnoldswick and illuminates his article by the inclusion of two documents throwing light on parochial life in the two parishes on the middle of the eighteenth century.

Mr. Clegg's previous articles appeared in the "Craven Herald" on April 26th, May 23rd, June 14th, June 21st, August 23rd and October 18th.

One may fittingly introduce this article by the announcement that Archbishop Herring became Archbishop of York on April 6th, 1743.In preparation for his primary visitation, he sent out a questionnaire consisting of eleven questions to each of the 903 parishes in his diocese which consisted at that time of almost the whole of Yorkshire.