On this account, it must be observed, that several villages in the parish are omitted, and that six berewicks under Bradford are enumerated, without being named. These berewicks, in al probability, were Great and Little Horton, Manningham, Denholme, Haworth, Oxenhope.

Bradford itself was depopulated and waste, and no superiority is ascribed to it, even in a feudal sense, over any part of the parish, its own berewicks excepted. Here was no church, no parish, no castle, no manor-house, no leet. The whole district was immediately dependent on Dewsbury in an ecclesiastical, and on Pontefract in a civil capacity. In the course of two hundred and forty years, all these things either existed, or had existed in the interval. How then, it may be asked, did a Saxon village, depopulated and waste, acquire these distinctions? It is impossible to answer such a question with certainty; but it is always pleasant aud often satisfactory to speculate upon probable grounds, where positive evidence is wanted, the following conjectures may be accepted.

The great family of Lacy became seised of the honour of Clitheroe, and erected a castle there within a few years after the Conqueror's bounty put them in possession of the richer fee of Pontefract.

From Pontefract to Clitheroe, a space of somewhat more than fifty miles, the greatest part of which extends over a bleak and desolate country. A line drawn from one of these points to the other would pass nearly over Bradford. At Leeds, the Lacies had a castle, and at Colne a manor-house, but these places were forty miles from each other, and therefore an intermediate resting place was wanted. The name of burgenses in the following inquisition proves that there had been a castle at Bradford, though there was only then a manor-house; some of the earlier Lacies, therefore, most have erected a small fortress there, and the protection afforded by a fortress always attracted inhabitants. This

Whitaker gives an exact copy of the original, but as this work is intended for the people, I have given Bawden's Translation for Yorkshire. See Note (2).

was the first principle of a town. The inconvenient distance of the place, and still more so of the remoter parts of the present parish from Dewsbury would now occur. The Lacies were a devout and munificent family; and at the representation of the people of Bradford, an agreement would be made with the Earls Warren, a stipend in lieu of tithes and other rights settled upon the rector of Dewsbury, a rectorial glebe and tithes assigned to the incumbent of the new parish, and a church erected.

I now go on to the inquisition after the death of Henry de Lacy, the last Earl of Lincoln, which happened in 1311. to prove by whatever means, all these things had taken place in the interval.

"The Earl had at Bradford a Hall (Aulum) or Manor-house, with chambers, and it is nothing worth beyond necessary repairs, and there are there forty acres in demesne, demised to divers tenants at will and the value whereof yearly, is (8d. an acre) £1 6s. 8d. And there is one Water-mill valued by the year at £10. And a Fulling Mill, which is worth yearly £1. And there is a certain market every seventh day, upon the LORD'S Day, the toll of which is worth yearly £3. And there is a certain fair, which is held annually upon the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle, the toll of which is worth yearly £3. And there are certain Villains who hold twenty-three Oxgangs of land in bondage, and render yearly, at the Feast of Saint Martin, (4s. for every Oxgang,) £4 16s. And the same Villains do work in autumn, which is worth yearly, for every Oxgang, 3d.*"

The parish of Bradford is about fifteen miles in length, and at an average four in breadth; it contains, therefore, forty thousand acres more or less. Of these, little more than fifteen hundred appear to have been reclaimed at the time of the inquisition, or 1316. There were twenty-eight burgagehouses, a few free tenants at will, and a few in bondage, but from the smallness of their rents, their numbers cannot have been con siderable. If we suppose them to have equalled the burgesses, it will perhaps give fair estimate of the population of the town. The profits of the Corn.mill amounted to more than one-fourth of all the lord's receipts for the parish. The soke must therefore have extended over the whole. From the

I have here given the translation from Hopkinson's MS.S. See Note (3).

existence of a Fulling-mill, I do not see how we can avoid inferring that the cloth manafactory had commenced. To that also a soke bolonged. The market was held on the lord's-day, a concession (however inexcusable) to the circumstances of the greater part of the parish; for the church was situated at one extremity, and few, perhaps, would have resorted to it from the more distant quarters, who had not the additional induce.. ment of purchasing and carrying home necessaries for their families. The glebe of the church was eight oxgangs, or one carucate, which, according to another survey, extended to ninety-six acres; so that the oxgang at Bradford equailed twelve acres. All the old manors mentioned in Domesday were now absorbed in that of Bradford, and one court, from three weeks to three weeks, after the time of the union, was holden for the whole. The next inquisition about two hundred and fifty years later, will show that they had once more been granted out.

But in that interval a singular grant occurs, which will go far towards establishing my conjecture, that the Lacies, and after them the Plantagenets, took Bradford in their way from Pontefract into Blackburnshire."

Know all present and future that I John Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, have given and granted, and by this my present charter have confirmed, unto John Northrop of Manyingham, three messuages and six oxgangs of land, and sufficient common of land to the same, in Manyingham aforesaid, lying and abutting upon one brook running between Manyingham and Horton on the south; upon one small brook called Bullroyd syke on the west part; on the north between Manyingham and Heaton to the height where the rain water divides; and on the east part upon one small brook called Shaw-syke, to the water which runneth by Bradford; with all and singular the liberties and easements in Manyingham aforesaid. To have and to hold the three messuages and six oxgangs of land, with sufficient common to the same belonging and appertaining with all the conveniences to the aforesaid John Northrop, his heirs and assigns, of the chief lord of the fee thereof, by his services due and of right accustomed. Rendering therefore to me and my heirs coming to Bradford, one blast with his horn, upon St. Martin's day, in winter; and attending upon me and my heirs coming to Bradford from Blackburnshire, with one lance and hunting dog, for the space of forty days having yeoman's

board, one penny for himself, and a halfpenny for the dog, per day, and rendering as well one of his best cattle, on the day of death for releif; and going with my receiver or bailiff to conduct him with his friends safe to Pontefract, whenever the same shall be faithfully required. And I truly, the aforesaid John Gaunt, and my heirs, the aforesaid three messuages and six oxgangs of land, with sufficient common, and all other the premises before mentioned, to the aforesaid John Northrop and his heirs, against all men, will warrant and forever defend. In witness whereof, I have to this present writing put opposite my seal.-Dated at Lancaster, 4th of August, Edward 3rd.*"

After another interval of somewhat more than two centuries and a half, the inquisition of 1577 ascertains with great exactness the manors, vills, and hamlets, into which this parish was then divided

'MANOR OF BRADFORD.'

"V. Allerton with H. Wilsden, V. Bolton, V. Bolling, V. Clayton, H. Heton with Frizinghall, V. Thornton with H. Cockham and H. Hedley, V. Horton, Little V. Horton, Great V. Haworth with V. Oxenhope and V. Stanbury, V. Manningham with Northrop, V. Wyke, Capital messuage called Crosley Hall. The aforesaid villages and hamlets are within the liberty of the Duchy aforesaid, and the suit of the Court of View of Frank Pledge, of Bradford.

HAWORTH.-One carucate there, formerly of John Haworth, afterwards of Roger de Manynghham and John Buecroft, lately of John Rishworth, and now of Alexander Rishworth, held by the service of one-eighth part of a Knight's fee. In this Village the aforesaid Alexander claimeth to have the manor by reason of the land aforesaid.

OXENHOPE.-Four oxgangs of land, formerly of William Heton, afterwards of William Eltofts, and now of Edmund Eltofts, gentleman, held by the service of one-eighth part of a Knight's fee, in which village he clameth to have the manor by reason of the land aforesaid.

HORTON.-William Leventhorp formerly

In preference to giving the original Latin from Whitaker, I give the above translation from Hopkinson's MS.S., that my readers may understand it.

held in Horton and Clayton the third-part of one Knight's fee.

CLAYTON.-John Lacye, gentleman, held the third part of one Knight's tee, in which village he claimeth to have the manor by reason of the tenure aforesaid.

BOLLINGE.--William Bollinge formerly held in Bollinge the third part of one Knight's fee, afterwards John Bollinge, and now Richard Tempest. gentleman, in which he claimeth to have the manor by reason of the fee aforesaid.

CLAYTON.-William de Clayton formerly held in Clayton ten oxgangs of land, after wards John Bollinge, late Robert Bollinge, and now Richard Tempest, gentleman, the same ten oxgangs are held by Knight's ser

vice.

Jordanus de Birkby formerly held in Clayton one carucate, afterwards Thomas Matthewson, senr., and now Richard Tempest, gentleman, by Knight's service.

ALLERTON.-Thomas Thornton held in Allerton, in Bradford dale, half a knight's fee, afterwards John Bollinge, and now Richard Tempest, gentleman. Six oxgangs of land and a half there, formerly Thomas de Thornton held of the Duchy of Lancaster, which to the hands of the late king, Henry the 8th, came by reason of the dissolution of the late monastery of Byland, and now in the tenure of Richard Tempest, gentleman, and Robert Savile, gentleman, One oxgang of land there, formerly Thomas de Thornton held of the Duchy of Lancaster, which to the hands of the late king, Henry the 8th, came by reason of the dissolution of the late monastery of Pontefract.

THORNTON.-Roger de Thornton formerly held in Thornton, two carucates, afterwards Thomas de Thornton, late Tristram de Bolling, and now Richard Tempest, gentleman, in which village he claimeth to have the manor by reason of the land aforesaid.

HETON. -Lady Margaret Leedes formerly held two carucates in Heton, before Roger de Leedes, as appears by record, afterwards Jane Pigott, late Lady Hussey, now Henry Bat, in which village he claims to have the manor by reason of the land aforesaid.*'

Eccleshill and Shipley are not enumerated in this inquisition among the mesne manors dependent upon the leet of Bradford. Wyke, which is so enumerated, is in the parish of Birstall. The translation from Hopkinson's MS.S., is given, instead of the Latin of Whitaker.

This inquisition, so accurate and satisfactory with respect to the manors, tenures, etc., in the parish throws no light on the progress of population; but in the reign of Henry the 8th, we have an original and curious account of the place from Leland.

Bradeforde, a praty, quik market toune, dimidio aut eo amplius minus Wackefelda. It hath one paroche Churche, an a chapel of Saint Sitha. It standith much by clothing, and is distant vi miles from Halifax, and four miles from Christeal abbay. There is a confluence in this toune of three brokes. One riseth above Bouline Haul, so that the head is a mile dim, from the toune, and this at the toune hath a bridge of one arche. Another risethe a 11 mile of, having a mille and a bridge of

The 3 risethe four miles off, having

The relative difference of Leeds and Bradford was very different at that time and at present; for "Ledis," saith Leland, "two miles lower than Christal abhay, on Aire rywer, is a praty market, having one paroche church, reasonably well builded, (that is the toune, not the church.) and as large as Bradeforde, but not so quik as it."

These brooks before and after their confluence, are unnamed on the old maps; and "aqua quæ currit per Bradeforde" is the only designation which I have met with in any charter or inquisition. But the course of this stream, and its final union with the Aire, entitles the parish of Bradford to be considered as one of the collateral vallies of Airedale, though its ancient ecclesiastical dependence on Dewsbury connected it with that of the Calder. It is not easy to account for the origin of the name; for though there can scarcely be a doubt that it refers to the ford at the bottom of the church brow, yet that ford is so insignificant as not to entitle it. on any common principle of comparative measurement, to the epithet "broad.

In one of the oldest attestations to a charter of this neighbourhood which I have seen this name is spelt Braforthe, as it 15 sometimes pronounced by the common people even now. This would have denoted the ford by the brae or brow; but the elder te timony of Domesday, which exhibits the common spelling of the word, seems to be decisive on the other side.

Of the probable origin, and of the date of the church, I have already spoken. It mut originally have been an opulent benefice, as

* Dr. Whitaker wrote this, about 1812

there was an endowed vicarage for many years, while the rectory continued to be presentative, a circumstance which never took place but where wealth had rendered the incumbent idle. During this period the vicarage was in the rector's patronage. Not a vestige of the original fabric is extant. It must have been comparatively small; and the date of a great increase of population by means of the woollen manufacture may nearly be ascertained by the area of the present spacious church, which is known to have been erected in the reign of Henry 6th, and was finished in the 36th of his reign. The tower was of later date, and finished in or about the 23rd of Henry 7th. Parish rates were then levied slowly, and accordingly it was fifteen years in being built. The chapel of St. Sitha, mentioned by Leland, seems to have been a detached foundation, not a chantry in the church, but all memory of the site and name has perished.

The advowson of the rectory of Bradford was given to the College of Leicester, called the Newark, by Henry, Duke of Lancaster; and in the year 1416 a second vicarage was endowed by Henry Bowett, Archbishop of York, rese ving to himself and successors a pension of 20s. per ann.; and to the dean and chapter 6s. 5d. to be paid to the college; 29s. annually to be given to the poor, and the vicar's portion to continue as before.

After the dissolution of colleges and chantries, the advowson of this church, together with that of Calverley, was given by Queen Mary, to the Archbishop of York; but, for some reason which does not appear, the archbishops were never benefitted by the grant, and the crown continued to present. Since that period it is neither easy nor important to trace the successive transfers of this benefice from one private hand to another.

In the reign of Jamest 1st, the rental of the rectorial glebe, consisting of 96 acres, was £84 3s. 4d., and the value of the feesimple, as fixed by Sir John Fortescue, Chancellor, and John Brograve, Attorney, of the duchy, was 16 years' purchase in 1332.

From the survey of 1619, it appears that there was no monument in the church, In the choir window, was, alone, Bradford, viz., a lion's head erased, inter three bugle borns, S an annulet Arg.

In the great window of the south choir were the coats of Badelsmere, Scargil, Eland, Bolling, and the Earl of Lancaster; this proves the erection to have taken place before the marriage of the heiress of Bolling with Sir Richard Tempest. The east window is an awkward insertion, containing a

multitude of lights apparently about the time of James the First ; and I suspect the much handsomer though smaller window, which now appears on the south side of the choir, and eastward from the Bolling chapel, to have been the identical one which was removed on that occasion.

From the numerous epitaphs which incrust the walls of the church, I shall select that of the indefatigable mathematician, Abraham Sharp Ludolph Van Ceulen, a Dutchman, computed the quadrature of the circle to 136 places of decimals, and had the process inscribed upon his tomb. Our countryman far (but I forget how far) surpassed him, yet has a much shorter epitaph. The long duration of his life proves that the pursuit of abstract science have no necessary tendency to exhaust the constitution.

Feb. 16, 1644, the son of Thomas Sharp, a tradesman of that town. There is no doubt of the consanguinity with the Sharps of Little Horton; but Thoresby,(4) who, with a little more of that industry which he usually exerted on such occasions, might probably have discovered the connecting link, has in this instance neglected it (5)

The chapels in this parish are Haworth, Thornton, Wibsey. Horton, consecrated by Archbishop Markham, and a church or chapel of ease within the town, consecrated by the present Archbishop, Oct., 1815.* Haworth, alone, is prior, and not long prior, to the Reformation; a tremendous anachronism, indeed, if we are to believe a modern inscription near the steeple. Hic fuit cœnobium Monachorum Autaste fundatore anno Christi Sexcentessimo-that is, before the first preaching of Christianty in Northumbria. The origin of this strange misapprehension is visible on the adjoining stone. ORATE PRO BONO STATU EUTEST'TOD, in the character of Henry the 8th's time. Now every antiquary knows that the formulary of prayer, pro bono statu, always refers to the living. I suspect that this singular christian name has been mistaken by the stone-cutter for Eustat, a contraction of Eustatius; but the word Tod, which has been misread for the Arabic numerals for 600, is perfectly fair and legible. I suspect, however, that some minister of the chapel has committed the twofold blunder, first, of assigning to the place this absurd and impossible antiquity; and, secondly, of inferring the existence here of a monastery.

On the presumption of this foolish claim to antiquity, the people would needs set up for independence, and contest the right of the vicar to nominate a curate.

The chapel itself bears every mark of the reign of Henry the 8th, but has some peculiarities; as ex. gr. only two aisles, a row of columns up the middle, and three windows at the east end, one opposite to the columns.

The ancient families of this parish have never been numerous, and are now either extinct or removed. The truth is, that the greater part of it ascending to the confines of the moors, afforded not many very flattering situations to those who were in a condition to choose for themselves; and for the rest, the genius of trade, as usual, has expelled the aristocracy. But in their places have

* The Hon, Ed. Venables Vernon.

arisen many modern houses, in every direction about the town, fruits of prosperous industry, and rising in the scale from simple convenience almost to the confines of splendour.

Bolling and Bierley, however, are to be distinguished as belonging to an higher order. The first of these was the manor and residence of a family, bearing the same name from the origin of local surnames to the reign of Henry the 8th; when Rosamond, daughtor and heiress of Tristram Bolling, married Sir Richard Tempest of Bracewell, and thereby brought into that family not only Bolling, but the manors of Thornton and Denholme, with lands in Clayton and Oxenhope. In this line it continued till the civil wars, when Richard Tempest, a weak imprudent man, a royalist and a gambler, sold it to Henry Savile, Esq, of Thornhill Green, the immediate ancestor of the present family. In the year 1668, Mr. Savile disposed of it to Francis Lindley, Esq., of Gray's Inn, in whose name it continued till the year 1760, when it descended to Thomas Pigot, Esq., the heir at law, who settled it upon Charles Wood, Esq., a captain in the navy, who received a mortal wound, Sept. 3, 1782, in an engagement between Sir Edward Hughes and a French squadron, in the East Indies. On his death the manor of Bowling descended to his son, Sir Francis Wood, Bart., who sold it to John Sturges, John Green Paley and Mason, Esq.

The house which is a large majestic building, with a centre and two deep wings to the north, has been built at very different periods. The south front opening to the garden is terminated by two square towers of considerable but uncertain antiquity. The rest I think may safely be assigned to the Tempests, in the reign of Elizabeth. Next within the towers are two deep embayed windows, and between them the hall, which has one vast window of many square-headed lights. It is about thirty feet long, and has a plain plaster ceiling, which probably conceals a fine coved oaken roof; in the windows of this, and several other apartments, are many shields of arms, so unconnected with any families to whom the manor has belonged, that on surveying the house I was never more perplexed. There are indeed, as might be expected, several shields of the Tempests, but there are many of the Stanley's, and beneath an ordinary bearing are the words in black letter, OUR LADY THE KINGES MOTHER. These strong appearances remained unaccounted for, till I was informed