This article was written by Richard Ainsworth and published in The Accrington Observer on 28 July 1928. It is reproduced here by kind permission of The Accrington Observer.

The Story of the Britcliffe Family (Continued).

Britcliffe Row, Accrington

It has been a pleasure to me to glean some information respecting the Britcliffe family from an old account book, which contains the names of members of the family resident in Accrington in the eighteenth century and early nineteenth century.

This interesting family record has been kindly placed at my disposal for the purpose of these articles by Mrs. Gill a relative of the family, who has been for the most part of half a century associated with Britcliffe Row, and still resides there. A marginal note in the book states that the name was "Britcliff" as originally written, that is the "e" at the end of the name was then omitted. It is an historical record, and as such is here for the first time gleaned for information of the family. The Calender - Old Style The first name recorded in the Register of the Britcliffe's is that of John Britcliffe, mentioned in last weeks article, as coming from Midhope in Gisburn.

John Britcliffe, born at two o'clock in the morning on the 23rd of February, 1732. Baptised at Burnley on the 4th of July, 1733.

His parents were then residing at Hollingreave, but three years later removed to Gisburn. From the above entries there would appear to be on first glance a discrepancy in regard to the dates. But when we look at the dates in question they are quite correct The present style of reckoning the year did not come in vogue until 1752. Previous to that year, the New Year commenced on the 25th March. Hence the days that came between the 31st December and 25th March were in the preceeding year, old style of reckoning. February 23rd., 1732, would be, in the modern style, 1733. Thus it would be expressed for clearness 1732-3. So that the birth and registering or christening of John Britcliffe would be in the same year, as reckoned in the modern style, and five months only elapsed, which was not uncommon when the homes were some distance from the Parish Church.

New style of the calender began on the 1st January , 1753, the day immediately following Wednesday, 2nd September, 1752, being called and reckoned Thursday, 14th September, 1752, hence old Christmas Day was on the 6th January. In Parish Registers previous to that date in 1752, the year was reckoned according to the old style, a circumstance to be remembered when consulting old parish registers. Old Lady Day was the 6th April, and old Michaelmas Day, 11th October.

One Generation of Britcliffe's
The family of John Britcliffe of Accrington, is recorded as follows :-

Thomas, born February 4th, 1761, Wednesday at half past four in the morning.

John, born on Tuesday, 26th April, 1763, at 12 o'clock at noon. He died Monday, 26th March 1764, at half past twelve at night.

Another son named John, born Sunday, February 10th, 1765, at 2 o'clock in the morning.

William, born February 6th, 1768, at 12 o'clock at night. He died March 1st 1844

Robert, born August 19th, 1774, at 6 o'clock at night. He died February 14th, 1847.

There was also another son, James, and a daughter, Jenny, who married a man named Noble.

The old Badge Book of Henry Ratcliffe gives the names of John, James and Thomas, all of whom were block-printers in 1790.

William Britcliffe became a foreman madder grinder at the old Madder House belonging to Broad Oak Works, which was situate in Manchester Road, at the opposite corner to Christ Church vicarage grounds.

Robert Britcliffe removed to Haslingden and became a flannel manufacturer there.

Perhaps it was in response to the following advertisement that Robert Britcliffe became attracted to that trade in Haslingden: "October 30th, 1795.- Flannel weavers wanted immediately to weave on hand looms. The best wages that are at this time generally given will be allowed, and constant work found. Apply Matthew Cowpe, Flaxmoss, near Haslingden. None need apply but who is of sober and good conduct."

Robert Britcliffe eventually became a flannel manufacturer on his own account, and aquired considerable property, among which was Britcliffe Row in Accrington. During the early part of the 19th century, it is interesting to note, a flannel market was held in Haslingden, in front of the old Black Dog Inn. Britcliffe Row. Britcliffe Row, situate between Maudsley Street and Meadow Street, Accrington, is an old landmark of Whalley Road. The cottages are examples of a type that were erected in Accrington at the close of the 18th centuryand during the first 25 years of the nineteenth century. They have throughout their long history ben associated with the Britcliffe family, hence their name

The houses still have their gardens in front, a practice similarly followed by the houses that came to be erected in Abbey Street. Stone walls enclose them, with the round-headed flat gateway posts as originally placed there in the last decade of the 18th century. They were erected soon after the construction of the present Whalley Road in 1794. They were then quite in the country, with open fields and meadow behind, from which Meadow Street derives its name. At that time the cottages were more considerably elevated than thay are at the present time and formed a terrace approached from the road by a step or two. At present they are below the level of the road owing to the road surface being raised.

Early Methodists' Meeting Places.
That Britcliffe Row was in existence soon after the road was constructed is shown by the Britcliffe's being associated with the Weslyan Methodists soon after they commenced in Accrington at the home of the Harrisons in the Lower Fold in 1788. They held their services at different houses besides Harrison's in 1797; a second meeting place was at a house next door to the Golden Cup in Union Street, which later became a possession of the Britcliffe family. A third was held at the home of th Britcliffe's on Britcliffe Row, a fourth in Abbey Street next door to the Oak tree Inn, and a fifth was in a house at Woolhurst Bank, occupied by James Barnes.

The establishment of Methodism in Accrington was not accomplished without much bitter persecution. The trials and insults the members had to endure were endless. Scarcely a service took place without some annoyances of one kind or another. Sometimes the relentless persecutors would mount the roof of the cottage were the service was held, stop up the chimney, and smoke out those assembled there.

At other times on dark nights, they wouldfasten a rope across the road to throw people down as they came from the service. On one occassion some young men threw a cock into the house, and as they had fastened the door from the outside such a commotion ensued that the meeting had to be quickly closed. Such were the annoyances that the Britcliffe's had to endure when meetings were held at their home.

The inconveniences arising from the constant changing of the place of service, and the smallness of the rooms at their disposal were a constant source of anxiety to these early Methodists. No suitable room was then available in Accrington, and poor as the members were, they felt compelled to do something to meet this difficulty. In 1798 they secured a plot of land in Union Street, but owing to bad times in trade and to distrees, it was not until March, 1803, that the chapel in Union Street was opened. John Britcliffe was one of the early stalwarts of the little society, and was one of the first trustees of this Union Street Chapel, the earliest Weslyan Methodist Chapel in Accrington.

Mr. Richard Ainsworth, the author of the recently-published "Old Homesteads of Accrington," could scarcely faili to be gratified by the messages of warm approval and congratulation he has received upon his book. One grateful subscriber, a former Accringtonian writes:-
"We are gradually reading through your book, and I am enjoying every page of it, walking through old scenes and houses, and meeting old friends in imagination continually. We have only got to about the middle of the book, but it has given me more pleasure already than any book I have had read to me for a long time. I have had many a plunge in the bath at Woodnook, and was very pleased to meet that old bath again, and to ramble up to Rothwell Mill. In fact, I can't mention the number of familiar places I have come accross,"

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