The local history group gathered to learn about Long Preston, a village often passed through but rarely stopped at. Thirteen of us gathered to learn from Gayle and Frances, the history of this ancient meeting place.

The following is a small excerpt from Gayle and Frances’ extensive research, based on information provided by the Long Preston Heritage Group (click here)

Long Preston in 1086 was known as ‘Prestune’ from the old English, preos plus tun: the priest’s farmstead or town. ‘Long’ was added later to distinguish this settlement from the many other Prestons, and refers to its linear development.

In many villages, buildings provide evidence of an early layout, not so in Long Preston. Few buildings survive even from 18thC.  What have survived in pristine condition are the crofts behind the houses. However, the layout today is discernible back to the 14C.

There were three groups of crofts – Monastic , Freehold and Village centre held meadow land and pasture.  At the centre of the village are 2 small triangular greens. Evidence strongly suggests that the village crofts (around the Maypole area) demonstrated the centre of the village at Domesday.

Record Keeping: We know so much about Long Preston due to the good amount of information gleaned from Bolton Priory records, the 1379 Poll Tax and manorial records. Also via the 1814 Tithe Survey. Thus giving a picture of the village that can be followed through the centuries.

Monastic tenant families held onto the tofts and crofts even after feudalism passed in the mid 14C. Bolton Priory Glebe land was let on favourable 300 year leases and was still in the hands of the monastic tenants in the 17th &18^th C.

An interesting feature of LP is that it has several larger than average barns and six different sites of former schools.

John Birtwistle of Skipton was significant in altering the tone of the village. He was responsioble for the great cattle fairs at Great Close at Malham – 20,000 animals!  This droving trade incentivised people to change from arable to pasture land. The Birtwistles handled around 20% of cattle brought to England from Scotland, making Langber Lane one of the busiest droving roads in England.

Arguments about the inheritance of the Birtwistle fortune went on for years and were eventually settled in the House of Lords, the ruling was used as part of the Laws of the United States). Search: “A dynasty of Craven drovers” for more information

Corn mills became redundant after easy availability of corn from the east of the Pennines. The Long Preston corn mill was converted to cotton spinning mill around 1783/93. By 1812 mills were failing to compete with larger mills and were advertised for sale.

The opening of the Leeds/Liverpool canal also facilitated transport of cloth to Burnley and thence to Manchester. However, due to automation hand loom weaving was also affected and this explains the resulting poverty and fall of the population. 708 pop. In 1841, down to 590 in 1851. Weavers fell back on the parish for support, many residences were left empty. In the 20 years after 1841 – 84 weavers left the village taking their families with them, they became known as the “lost generation”.

This diminishing of the population and the enclosure of the towns fields most likely led to the preservation of the crofts in their original form.

The Little North Western opened in 1846, Settle to Carlisle in 1876 and was instrumental in bringing the long droving trade to an end. Hill top pastures were redundant, a new use was found – grouse shooting. Prior to the railways most Long Preston residents were born in the village.

The railways aided the development of the cattle market which brought an influx of visitors and became “second to none” in this part of the country. The railway company was persuaded to stop the 6.45 train from Carlisle to enable to get to the delayed opening time of the market. Buyers and butchers came from Leeds, Halifax, Huddersfield, Burnley, Bolton, Manchester and Liverpool.

Maypole Green originally held many livestock fairs. The annual Spring hiring fair must have provided good trade for the Maypole Inn and the opening of the fortnightly cattle fairs in 1868 would have greatly increased business . There was also the annual Autumn sheep fair which regularly attracted in access of 10,000 sheep on the then concreted area in front of The Maypole which used to known as the Market Square and sometimes ‘The Concrete’ (etymology: compacted). Shortly after being sold in 1872 The Maypole Inn changed its name to The Eagle Hotel but changed it back to The Maypole 30 years later. It is a grade 2 listed building, late-C18 with mid-C19 alterations and C17 origins.

One of the two Smithies in Long Preston was attached to the righthand side of The Maypole where a track now leads into the car park at the rear.

It was taken from Langber Lane (just to the NE of the village) to the Old Vicarage garden, where for many years it was at the front door. It was then moved to its present position. The stone indicates ‘Skipton 7 miles and Settle 3 miles’

The windows have a raised centre lintel; the lights at either side are thinner than the centre sash window which provided the only ventilation. This style was common about 1750. The cottage next door on the right was formerly an infants’ school. It was later used as a plumber’s workshop and store.

with odd wooden cladding (now a private residence) this also once housed the Infants’ School founded in 1857. After that it became a Library and Parish Room before becoming the Midland Bank.

(with blocked window in gable) This was the girls school until the new school was built in 1898

West View: The cottage facing the main road was recorded as a drapers shop at the beginning of the 1900s but before that, along with Dyson House next door, it was the Kings Head Pub which closed in the early 1800’s when the Boars Head was built. Round the backis a very fine doorhead – now a holiday cottage (Dyson House). The cottage and barnat the rear would have been the stables for the public house. Note datestone RJWF 1876 in wall.

On church street – Next to Dyson House which was once part of The Kings Head, are 19th century cottages; many sash windows have been altered recently, but some original doors remain. Applecross in particular has a good example of a Victorian door.

An unusual millstone made from French Buhrstone, mined in the Marne Valley in Northern France. The millstones for grinding grain are made of quartzite stone and built up in sections from several shaped boulders, bound together with an iron band and then embedded in plaster of Paris.

A large 19th century house in the Gothic style (Tudor revival), imitating Tudor features, e.g. dripstones and mullions. It is on the site of a much older house which is mentioned in a document of 1303.

This the largest house in the village which was taxed on 4 hearths in 1672. The vicarage was relocated to the much more modest house in Station Rd, in the 70’s.

It seems, we think, that the Tithe Barn also stood adjacent to the church according to the 1841 tithe map. However Rev Kempson reported it fell down in 1830 and “disorderly people turned it into a garden”.

At the time of the tithe survey in 1841 both of these cottages were inhabited by cotton weavers – one, a family of 8 in the righthand side and 5 in the left. 7 of the residents were children under the age of 10.

About ten years ago it was a sad site, derelict despite being an important listed building and was on ‘The Buildings “At Risk Register”‘.

The current owner welcomed us inside to look at the conservation work being carried out and the huge fire places that have been discovered. She lead us through a fascinating story of how she came to own the property and how saving an important building requires commitment over a long period of time.

Research and words by Gayle and Frances. Much of the information was pulled together from publications by the Long Preston Heritage Group.

Images by Keith P.