Clegg Hall at Smithy Bridge in Littleborough, near Rochdale, has recently been
re-stored, but it was in a state of disrepair from the 1920s onwards. There was
possibly a medieval building on the very same site in the mid 12th century which
might have been referred to as Clegg Hall, but the four-storey Grade II listed
building that we see today called Clegg Hall dates from the late 16th to early
17th century. It was even in use as a public house in the 19th century! So far
as we know the hall does not take its name from the Clegg family who resided at
the earlier hall back in medieval times but from local place-names Great Clegg
and Little Clegg. There is also the famous legend of the Clegg Hall boggart
which has survived for many centuries - with one room in particular being the
site of the haunting. The newly renovated hall is located 2 miles southwest of
Littleborough and half a mile south of Smithy Bridge on Clegg Hall Road at OS
grid reference: SD 92241448.
Kathleen Eyre writing in 1979 tells us about the Clegg Hall Boggart: She says
"Built about 1600 by Theophilus Ashton, Clegg Hall stands derelict by the
Rochdale Canal. From 1818 to 1869 it was a public house called the "Black
Sloven" - the name of a favourite hunting mare of legendary speed which
belonged to a former owner, Mr. Charles Turner. He died in January, 1733, and
the mare walked in the cortege carrying his hunting regalia. Clegg Hall had a
peculiar reputation and was believed to be haunted. Traditionally, a wicked
uncle, guardian of the orphaned heirs, threw the children into the moat and
claimed the estate for himself. The Boggart Chamber became a place to be
avoided. During the Commonwealth era, there were hints of counterfeiting
activities in the vaults and cellars of Clegg Hall."
Ken Howarth wrote in 1993 that: "
Clegg Hall lies quite close to Hollingworth Lake near Rochdale. It has been
derelict for many years, but still remains an impressive ruin even to this
day. Some time about the 13th or 14th century, a wicked uncle destroyed the
lawful heirs of Clegg Hall and estates - two orphan children that were left in
his care - by throwing them over a balcony into a moat. Clearly the wicked
uncle, much in Babes in the Wood vein, wanted their inheritance, what
happened to him and whether he was successful in his quest is not known.
However, ghostly spirits or boggarts began to disturb the peace, even after
the house had been substantially rebuilt. Various attempts were made to lay
the ghosts. A pious monk who claimed to be able to lay the ghosts told the
local people that the ghosts would only be quietened by the sacrifice of a
body and a soul. The pious monk told them to bring the bodyof a cockand the
soul of shoe. Thus ended the laying of the Clegg Hall boggarts. During a visit
in 1972, I was told that footsteps had been heard in the Old Hall. Several
local people had seen an apparition of an old man with a pipe in his mouth
walking in an old works nearby. Perhaps the boggart still stalks the ruins?
Who knows?"
Sources and References used:
Photo (Top) Clegg Hall, near Littleborough, Lancashire by Dr Neil Clifton
(Creative Commons). https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/193719. Kathleen Eyre, Lancashire Legends, Dalesman, 1979. Howarth, Kenneth, Ghosts, Traditions & Legends Of OLD LANCASHIRE, Sigma, 1993.
Copyright © RayS57, 2024.
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