Carter Place Hall and The Worsleys

This is my sketch of the late "Carter Place Hall".  

I remember it well from when I lived up Hud Hey. 

Click over illustration to enlarge.

Some very early historic accounts

Checking out some of the "early day" history of Carter Place, its quite obvious there were dwellings on this land (estate) prior to the main hall being built.  I can now refer to this historic information given here by the late Thomas Woodcock in his corrigendum to the Short Account of Haslingden Parish Church.

"It is not correct to say that Carter-place is a corruption of chantry-place or the mansion of the chantry.  Carter-place (not the modern property but a much larger area) was in 1424-5 the property of Thomas Carter, who in that year transferred it to his son Henry le Carter.  In 1507 William Carter, Richard Carter, Nicholas Durdon and Richard Durden gave the Carter-place estate to John Holden (clerk) and others and this was obviously the endowment of the chantry, which existed in the chapel for a few years until Henry VIII dissolved the chantries and seized their property.  Carterplace however takes its name from the family which owned it not from its having been chantry property". 

(Moving on the following undermentioned historic accounts have been documented and so kindly offered to me by Annie Taylor who is currently researching Carter Place and the general area of Acre. "Thanks Annie". And if anyone has any further information on Acre or Carter Place they would like to offer Annie, just let me know and I will gladly pass it on to her)

The historic naming has always been Carterplace and in some documents it is spelt Carter Place. The name derived from the Carter family who owned the land during the reign of Henry VII, and the Carter's along with the Dearden family who owned adjacent land at Dearden Place (Hud Hey).  Later Carterplace sold into private hands. 

Photo: Courtesy of Rossendale Museum

Which Chadwick's owned the copyhold estate of Carterplace?

1)  Ellis Chadwick of Wolstenholme and Great Grandfather of Sir Andrew Chadwick bought Carterplace and was admitted in 1580 which was the 22nd year of Queen Elizabeth's reign.

2)  in 1603 Ellis Chadwick's son and heir at law Robert Chadwick of Spotland was admitted.

3)  Another Ellis Chadwick who was son and heir at law of Robert was admitted on 8th October 1684, he is Sir Andrew's father and court rolls record him as living in Dublin.

4) Sir Andrew was admitted to Carterplace on 11th October 1726, though he married had no children and upon his death Carterplace was claimed by his first cousin Sarah Law.

5)  Sarah Law (nee Chadwick) admitted on 31st May 1768, on this same day she promptly surrendered the whole of Carterplace to her son-in-law John Taylor, a blacksmith of Bacup "for the better promotion advancement and preferment of her said son in law and his family in the World". 

Please note the old painting above right (click over to enlarge) which is currently in the Rossendale Museum and it shows Carterplace painted in 1790 from oil on canvas. This was the original Carterplace hall which was built in 1769 and then later extended during the nineteenth century when it was the home of the Turner Family. 

Sir Andrew Chadwick 

During Sir Andrew Chadwick's lifetime Carterplace was a farm estate and consisted of the following:

1) There are two dwellings at Carterplace from at least late c15 to late c18th century and these could be on the footprint of/incarnations of what is now number 1 Carter Place Cottage and Chantry Cottage (created in 1980s (?) from outbuildings of Carter Place Cottage and reads as a vernacular c18th century farmhouse with possible remains of an earlier building in the structure. 2 - Carter Place Farm which architecturally looks like an old "Hall House" that incorporates later additions/alterations. 

2) Three barns

3) One kiln containing twelve bays of building and other the buildings to the same belonging.

And parcels of land called:

* The Chadwick Croft

* The Holme Meadow

* The Acre Meadow (possibly the origin of Acre village name?)

* The Wood

* The Shutts

* The Two Cross Fields

* The Kiln Meadow

* The Ryall Meadow

* The Adam Hill

* The Low most Meadow

* The Backside.

In addition near to Carterplace but not at Carterplace there was also two acres of common situate upon the High Moor and also other two acres of common lying near to Fryer Hill.

Sir Andrew Chadwick appears to have never actually lived at Carterplace and certainly never lived at Carterplace Hall as it was not built until after his death. During Sir Andrew's lifetime Carterplace appears to have been occupied by some of his relatives including a Benjamin Chadwick, and also to Sarah Law (nee Chadwick and Sir Andrew's Cousin). 

This is the crest which used to hang on the apex of the Hall high above the front porch

The Sir Andrew Chadwick (knight) "coat of arms" which was identified at the "apex" of the grand building (see photo) and also that same "coat of arms" displayed on the nearby Carter Place Cottage. It is documented that Sir Andrew Chadwick never lived at the hall, there is evidence of him probably growing up in Dublin and later moving to London where he spent the rest of his life.  He owned Poland Street and also Golden Square in what is now Soho. He died in St James Westminster.  He and his wife are buried at St. Mary Le Bow Church in Marylebone, London. 

Records show him having visited Lancashire on one occasion which was 22nd November 1726 and at the time of his admittance to Carter Place. 

Look up "Chadwick Millions" as he was a very wealthy man and had mills in Haslingden, and also owned a brewery/pub in Westerminster London SW1. It is said that when he died his will was falsified and the solicitors at the time seemed to disappear with a lot of the money, so we are told!  

John Taylor  after gaining Carterplace from his mum in law (Sarah Law), starts to call himself John Taylor Esquire and sets about buying new land and building the georgian Great House (Carterplace Hall), a farm called Farmer Barn (now Carterplace Farm) and Carterplace Lodge.  These buildings formed part of the Carter Place estate. 

John Taylor Esquire surrenders everything to trustees on 13th July 1792, and his son John Taylor inherits.  He in turn sells Carterplace to James Turner. 

James Turner - admitted on 20th October 1807, this did not include any of the extra land and buildings that John Taylor had purchased, just Carterplace. Martha Turner admitted on 18th April 1853

Tom Worsley

Worsley's - Nicholas Worsley purchased Carterplace in 1907.  In 1912 the next owners were his son Tom (see photo on left) and his wife Evelyn.  In 1923 Tom dies aged 39. (Obituary:  We much regret to record the death of Mr. Tom Worsley on April 8th, aged 39. Mr. Worsley resided at Carter Place Hall, Haslingden, Lancashire, where he had formed an excellent collection of Orchids, the principal feature of which was a fine seclection of over a thousand choice Cypripediums - The Orchid Review) 

In 1929 his wife Evelyn puts Carterplace on the market and the estate appears at this point in time to have been separated into individual lots and offered for auction.

A snow scene from around 1915
 (Please click over to enlarge)

The 1950's as I remember it 

(although the photos here are much older)

Its some years now since I used to look over towards Carter Place from where I lived on Hud Hey Road. I still remember as kids spending lots of time over there "sneaking around" as kids do.  Cant remember for sure whether we were collecting birds eggs, collecting conkers or having the gardener chasing us around, probably all three!.  Without doubt during them early 1950's it was the Manor.

I also remember the "Rookery" which was on the North East side of the house, it was the first rookery I had ever seen with scores of the noisy corvids calling from above your head.  Regularly finding dead young birds which had recently fallen from their respective nest above you, how ugly these chicks looked without any feathers on them.

The Carter Place Lodge snow scene
(Please click over to enlarge)

I remember the Carter Place Lodge (see photo on right and below) which had its entry from Blackburn Road, quite near to the Worsley Park (North entry).  The Lodge always seemed so dark having been built into the side of the large banking to its rear so there was very little natural light and in addition it was always shadowed by the nearby overhanging large decideous trees, I remember that gatehouse used to get so damp with constant water dripping through the soil and tree roots to the rear of the property. The photo on the right is a beautiful snow scene showing the "Lodge" in its prime. Also check out the fabulous photo below which was kindly sent in by ex pat Alison May (nee Heywood), thanks Alison. I wonder who that is on the horse?

A closer look at the Carter Place Lodge
(gatehouse - click over to enlarge)

Besides the "Lodge" entrance there was also another way to Carter Place which was approached from its West side by going along Rising Bridge Road, and about halfway, would turn right and go across the bridge which in turn crossed over the Railway below.  This entry/exit also seemed to be the preferred used at that time for the Carter Place Farm, which lies just to the rear or North of the Carter Place Hall.  The farm had long been independant from the Hall and Mr and Mrs. Tom Barne's was the farmers helped along by their son and daughters Dorothy and Sylvia. 

The main doorway is all thats
left now of the Carter Place Hall

It was many, many years later in the 1960s or 70s

that I again became associated with the Carter Place, having received a phone call from Geoff Holden who by then had bought the old Hall and its grounds, which he had started to put "mobile homes" there.  He had also made a Licensed Social Club (separate from the Hall), and also had a grocers shop within the hall, and also a laundry on the site for the many residents who lived there. I was contacted by him to give advice on the entertainment and supply some of the cabaret acts they were to have on Saturday night events at the social club.

Around the 1979 period Granada Television filmed "Hard Times" at Carterplace.

Fifteen factory chimneys!!

Here is a very old photo (below) which is looking down from Carter Place towards Haslingden.  It must be a very old photo because just look at all the "factory chimneys" I can manage to see fifteen!! - Click over photo to see how many you can see!

Looking from Carter Place towards Haslingden.

At least 15 large smoking chimneys (very old photo)

Another nice photo outside of the Carter Place Hall, Who is that on the horse?
and look at them Lions! (Photo kindly supplied by Joyce Thorne)

(5th April 2013) Christine Howarth has kindly added:

Just read with interest your piece in the blog about Carter Place Hall.  It was great to read.

I actually lived in a caravan there around about 1965.  It was owned by Geoff Holden then (as was the old caravan site behind Hollands Pies which is now where all Hollands vans are kept).  On the site part of the old grounds were quite clear, such as the "old fountain and gardens".  There was an old building in the lower area which was used as a laundry area for the caravan owners and the ground floor of Carter Place Hall itself had a little shop where you could buy day to day things.  I remember one Christmas, Geoff Holden put a party on for the children on the site and it was held in a large first floor room of the Hall.

Brought back happy memories reading your piece.  It also reminded me of the little bungalow that was at the bottom of the long driveway (little bit further up Blackburn Road from the top entrance to Worsley Park). There was an old lady who lived there (I think she may have been called Marjorie).  Lovely old building - pity somebody did'nt save it.

Chris......

(7th April 2013) Annie Taylor added:

The porch of Carterplace Hall along with its two carved stone lions (on the ground at either side of the porch in the photographs), along with the large pediment at roof level bearing Sir Andrew Chadwick's coat of arms (which can also be seen in your photos) were saved as monuments by the Secretary of State and are supposed to all be erected at Carterplace, they are grade 2* listed.   Sadly the lions and the  pediment are currently missing, does anyone know where they are so they can be returned to their rightful home? 

cheers

Annie. 

(19th April 2013) Ann Taylor added:

Hi 

As part of my research into the local history of Acre and Carterplace I am looking for historic images.  I am wondering if anyone has any old photos of Acre including the farms, buildings. people and Carterplace that they would be happy to let me copy?  

In addition the owners of the Sun Dragon Cantonese, which you may know is what was 'Acre Garage' have said that they would like some photos to display on their restaurant's walls, especially if they are ones of Acre Garage.  

If you are able to help I can either scan and print from your original images or if you e-mail me high resolution images I can print these. 

you can email to me at acrevillage@gmail.com and please pass this message on to anyone you feel may be able to help. 

thanks

Ann Taylor 

(22nd June 2013) Myra Frohnapfel added:

My great great grandfather Lewis Hall was employed at Carter Hall as a coachman/domestic servant).  The family of five children and his wife Margaret came from Sandal Magna, Holbeck in Yorkshire and they are shown on the 1871 census.  The writing is so bad and difficult to make out who the master and head of the house was but think perhaps it could have been Matthew and Matilda Turner.

Myra.

(2nd August 2013) Chris Miller added:

I was very interested to stumble upon your web site about Carter Place Hall.  My Grandmother, a Worsley, grew up and was married there.  I think a few of your photos are of that part of my family.  All very interesting.

Thank you for pulling it together.

Regards, Chris Miller.

(18th September 2013) John Hindle - Ex Pat (Australia)

Bryan - Photos attached are 1) my Grandfather in 1961 outside Carter Place, and 2) is me in 1953 on the lion outside Carter Place.  We were living with my grandfather while our house was finished.  I know that the Hall was sold by my father and his brothers and sisters when he died in 1964.  As you say in the 1950s the gardener used to also chase me and refused to believe me it was my grandfather's house.  I remember the inside had a very large entrance hall with large paintings down either side of the passage which led to a single staircase that split into two with a landing and then went up on either side.

There was a ballroom upstairs I used to roller skate in much to the horror of my parents.

My grandfather owned mills in Blackburn and Haslingden in latterdays only in Haslingden.

I used to play in the woods and watch my cousins shoot crows.

There was a grave there some kids thought it was a persons, it had Taffy on it and dates etc. This was my Grandfather's corgi.

I now live in Australia and have never seen the place for 30 years, it is a shame it was knocked down.

Mr. Hindle - John's Grandfather and the last owner of Carter Place

John Hindle sat on one of the Lions in 1953

Keith Burton (ex pat from Harrogate) has kindly sent in the following photo of the Lodge:

Carter Place Lodge (please click over to enlarge).

A lovely photo of Carter Place sent in by Jackie Ramsbottom (Click over to enlarge)

A garden party held at Carter Place Hall (no further information)

Carter Place from the Lake (kindly supplied by Keith Burton)

Filming of "Hard Times" at Carterplace in 1977 (Click over to enlarge)

Kindly shared to us by Chris Kirby

Filming of "Hard Times" at Carterplace in 1977 (Click over to enlarge)
Kindly shared to us by Chris Kirby

Carter Place Hall (Click over to enlarge)
Photo: Kindly shared by Terry McGuire

***

It’s a bonny place so knock it daaern,

So all can watch with a drooping fraaern.

There’s tons and tons of Hassy’s best,

Millstone Grit can’t be seen to rest!

Knock it daaern, Knock it daaern!

Vicarage that stood up on that bonk!

In its shadow was Martins bank

Grammar School was a buried Road,

Good few ton did mek that load,

Knock it daaern, Knock it daaern!

Major, would turn over in his grave if he knew,

What had happened to his Highfield view,

Lions at Carter Place have gone with rest,

We're left with a porch without its crest,

Knock it daaern, Knock it daaern! 

Town Hall! Council will have a Ball,

With all thi hard earned cash,

So lets get shut for once and for all,

Before they have their Annual bash.

Knock it daaern, knock it daaern!

It's only a building is yon Con Club

For some I suppose it was their hub,

Another fine place was Workhouse past,

Who needs a hospital on yon hill,

Knock it daaern, Knock it daaern!

And now another bites the dust,

Which once a brewer’s dream abode,

And later a place where prayers were said,

And now all but memories are read,

Knock it daaern, knock it daaern.

Even the "mighty" can fall but we'll not have a ball!
Salem, Trinity, Primitive and John Wesley preached!
but all went down with a "bang"
and no more did the bells ring or did the people sing"
 so Knock it daaern, knock it daaern!

 Nah! dont let it stand still,

or tha'll get a bill,

"Knock it daaern"

Thought to be Mr. Tom Worsley of Carter Place Hall

Photo: Kindly shared by Joyce Thorne

 

Thought to be Mrs. Worsley and shows the large 

greenhouses which

Mr Tom Worsley had at 

Carter Place Hall for growing his prize winning Orchids

Photo: Kindly shared to us by Joyce Thorne

 and uploaded here on 18th May 2017

Two photos here showing Mrs. Tom Worsley

 and their daughter Mary - taken from the lawn area and steps of

Carter Place Hall during a Winter and Summer

Photo: Kindly shared to us by Joyce Thorne

The Lawn at Carter Place Hall
Photo: Kindly shared by Joyce Thorne
 and uploaded here on 18th May 2017

 

Click over photo to Enlarge

Photo: Kindly shared by Joyce Thorne

Click over to enlarge

Photo kindly shared by Joyce Thorne

Mrs Evelyn Worsley and Mary of Carter Place Hall

Photo: Kindly shared by Joyce Thorne

 Miss Mary Worsley - Carter Place Hall

Photo: Kindly shared to us by Joyce Thorne

Miss Mary Worsley

Photo: Kindly shared to us by Joyce Thorne

Carter Place Hall related

Photo: Kindly shared by Joyce Thorne

Carter Place Hall related

Photo: Kindly shared by Joyce Thorne

Carter Place Hall related

Photo: Kindly shared by Joyce Thorne

CLICK OVER THE FOLLOWING PAGES TO ENLARGE - 

The following documents have been shared to us by the estate of the late 

Alderman Joyce Thorne

13 photos showing the building just before demolition. (photographer unknown)