Legends of Longdendale

by Thomas Middleton

List of Subscribers.

The Author desires to gratefully acknowledge the kindness and encouragement that he has received from the Ladies and Gentlemen whose names appear in the following list. It is in great measure owing to their assistance that the present effort to preserve in book form the Legends and Traditions of Longdendale has been successful.

Andrew, J. D., Esq.,
Longdendale, Oswestry.

Andrew, W. J., Esq., F.S.A.,
Cadster, Whaley Bridge.

Ashton, Mrs. Thomas,
37, Princess Gardens, London, S.W. (4 copies).

Ashton, Thomas Gair, Esq., M.P.,
Of Hyde, and of Vinehall Place, Robertsbridge, Battle, Sussex.

Astley-Cheetham Public Free Library
(Stalybridge)—Thomas Swain, Esq., Librarian.

Aspland, Mrs.,
Werneth Lodge, Gee Cross, Hyde.

Barr, John, Esq.,
Dinting Lodge, Dinting.

Beaumont, Mrs. T. A.,
Lower Market Street, Broadbottom.

Beeley, James, Esq.,
Derbyshire Level, Moorfield, Glossop.

Bennett, Isaac Booth, Esq.,
Godley Green, Hyde.

Birkenhead Central Library
(John Shepherd, Esq., Librarian).

Blackburn Public Library
(R. Ashton, Esq.)

Bodell Smith, Rev. H.,
The Parsonage, Mottram-in-Longdendale.

Booth, Amos, Esq.,
Hattersley, Gee Cross, Hyde.

Booth, D., Esq.,
4, Mottram Moor, Mottram-in-Longdendale.

Bowles, Charles E. B., Esq.,
The Nether House, Wirksworth.

Bradbury, Geo. T., Esq.,
Green Lane, Hollingworth.

Bramhall, Fredk. J., Esq.,
56, Bank Street, Hadfield.

Bridges, Rev. W. G., M.A.,
Oxford (formerly Vicar of Hyde).

Brown, Percy B., Esq.,
Chisworth House, Charlesworth, near Manchester.

Caldwell, Miss C. M.,
Marple.

Chapman, Charles, Esq.,
Carlecotes Hall, Dunford Bridge, Sheffield.

Chapman, George J., Esq.,
Carlecotes, Dunford Bridge, Sheffield.

Cheetham, F. H., Esq.,
Triscombe House, Taunton, Somerset.

Clegg, W. E., Esq.,
Printer and Publisher, Market Place, Oldham.

Cocks, John, Esq.,
Brookside, Romiley.

Cocks, James, Esq.,
Harden Cottage, Woodley.

Collier, Alfred, Esq.,
Solicitor, 44, Mosley-street, Manchester.

Collier, Edward, Esq.,
Glen Esk, Whalley Range, Manchester.

Collier, Edwin, Esq.,
Holly Wood, Glossop.

Coppock, Major Sydney,
Daisy Bank, Macclesfield.

Dain, Edward, Esq.,
Market Street, Stalybrldge.

Derby Public Free Library,
(W. Crowther, Esq.)

Dodds, James, Esq.,
Penketh House, near Warrington.

Dukinfield Free Library,
(E. B. Broadrick, Esq., Librarian).

Ellison, F. B., Esq.,
Holly Grove, Hollingworth.

Evans, Seth, Esq.,
Bradwell Villa, New Mills.

Faulkner, F. W., Esq.,
527, Hollins Road, Hollinwood, Oldham

Fidler, Samuel, Esq.,
26, Ashton Road, Newton Moor.

Firth, D., Esq.,
Hall Green, Dukinfield.

Flint, William, Esq.,
Woolley Lane, Hollingworth.

Gartside, J. E., Esq.,
Moorlands, Stalybridge.

Glossop Dale New Industrial Co-operative Society
(John Hyde, Esq., 2 copies).

Hamnett, Robert, Esq., Glossop.

Heape, C, Esq.,
Hartley, High Lane, Cheshire.

Hibbert, Oliver, Esq.,
Brook Bank, Mottram Road, Godley.

Hollinworth, George, Esq.,
277, Crompton Road, Macclesfield.

Hollingworth Industrial Co-operative Society, Ltd.
(J. Swindells, Esq., secretary, Education Committee).

Howarth, Daniel F., Esq., F.S.A.,
24, Villiers Street, Ashton-under-Lyne.

Howard, Joseph, Esq.,
Denby Grange, Burford Road, Whalley Range, Manchester.

Hyde Public Free Library
(John Chorton, Esq., Librarian).

Kenyon and Sons,
Chapel Field Works, Dukinfield (4
copies).

Kenworthy, Orlando, Esq.,
106, Werneth Hall Road, Oldham.

Knight, Miss M. H., Brooklands.

Knight, Richard, Esq., F.R.C.O., Hyde.

Lawrance, Rev. Henry,
Dinting Vicarage, near Manchester.

Leech, Mrs.,
4, Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W. (8 copies).

Lees, Mrs.,
Leesdene, Hale, Altrincham.

Lomax, Hy., Esq.,
School House, Mottram.

Mackenzie, Dr., Glossop.

Marsden, Joseph, Esq.,
Solicitor, Hall Street, Glossop.

Miller, N., Esq.,
297, Buxton Road, Macclesfield.

Moorhouse, F., Esq.,
Westfield, Bramhall.

Moss, Robert, Esq.,
Hague View, Charlesworth (5 copies).

Mossley Industrial Co-operative
Society (Ed. Jackson, Esq., Librarian)

Manchester Public Libraries (C. W.
Sutton, Esq., Chief Librarian—4 copies.)

Neale, John, Esq.,
Borough Treasurer, Town Hall, Ashton-under-Lyne.

Nicholson, Albert, Esq.,
Portinscale, Arthog Road, Hale, Altrincham.

Ogden, Miss, Oldham.

Ogden, George, Esq., Broadbottom.

Oldham Central Free Library
(W. H. Berry, Esq.)

Pearse, Percival, Esq.,
Bookseller, Warrington.

Pemberton, Rev. W. A., M.A., C.C.,
The Vicarage, Mottram-in-Longdendale

Phillips, W. G., Esq., J.P.,
Ansley Hall, Atherstone, Warwickshire (2 copies).

Platt, Edward, Esq., J.P.,
Mersey Bank, Hadfield.

Pomfret, Dr. H. W., M.D., F.R.C.S.,
Hollingworth, Cheshire (2 copies).

Potts, Charles, Esq.,
Braehead, Great Norbury Street, Hyde (4 copies).

Ramsbottom, Mrs.,
Highfield, Alderley Edge.

Ridyard, Alderman Joseph, J.P.,
High Bank, Stalybridge.

Ringrose, Rev. R. D.,
The Vicarage, Glossop.

Rochdale Public Library
(George Hanson, Esq.)

Roscoe, T., Esq.,
The Old Hall, Mottram-in-Longdendale.

Ross, G. B., Esq.,
Mersey Mill, Hollingworth.

Salmons, Edward J., Esq.,
The Villa, Mottram-in-Longdendale.

Shaw, Wright, Esq.,
234, Stamford Street, Ashton-under-Lyne.

Sidebotham, E. J., Esq., J.P.,
Erlesdene, Bowdon.

Sidebotham, J. W., Esq., J.P., C.C.,
Merlewood, Bowdon, Cheshire.

Sidebottom, T. Harrop, Esq., J.P.,
Etherow House, Hollingworth.

Sidebottom, Colonel W., V.D., J.P.,
Harewood, Broadbottom.

Simpson, Alderman Allwood, J.P.,
Enville Place, Stamford Street, Stalybridge.

Sparrow, Walter W., Esq., J.P.,
Betton Hall, Market Drayton.

Stamford, The Rt. Hon. the Earl of,
Dunham Hall, Cheshire.

Summers, H., Esq., Stalybridge.

Summers, John, Esq.,
Inglewood, Stalybridge.

Taylor, Miss Jessie, A.L.C.M.,
West End Terrace, Harry Fields, Broadbottom.

Taylor, Henry, Esq.,
Hollingworth Hall, Hollingworth, near Manchester.

Turner, George, Esq.,
5, Cathedral Yard, Manchester.

Underwood, Wm., Esq., J.P.,
Albert House, Astley Street, Dukinfield

Wagstaffe, John, Esq.,
Mottram House, Mottram-in-Longdendale.

Wainwright, Joel, Esq., J.P.,
Finchwood, Marple Bridge.

Walton, William, Esq., J.P.,
Horsley Priory, Nailsworth, Stroud.

Ward, Mrs., The Hurst, Glossop.

Watts, James, Esq., J.P.,
Abney Hall, Cheadle (2 copies).

Whewell, Samuel, Esq.,
Hollingworth, Cheshire.

Wilkinson, Arthur, Esq.,
Victoria Road, Dukinfield.

Wigan Public Free Library
(H. T. Folkhard, Esq., F.S.A., Librarian)

Wood, Mrs., Moorfield,
Glossop (2 copies).

Wood, Colonel John, V.D., J.P.,
Whitfield House, Glossop.

---

[PREFACE.]

HITHERTO, the Legends of Longdendale—although popular with the country people of the extreme north-east corner of Cheshire—have been scattered, and, to some extent, fragmentary. They are here re-told in what, I hope, is a more permanent and complete form. As far as possible I have carefully followed the original versions; but in one or two instances, it has been necessary to draw upon imagination. I have, therefore, introduced several characters and incidents for the purpose of giving local connection and completeness to those stories which were lacking in detail or were vague in location. The legends are here printed in chronological order. They were first published in the columns of the “Cheshire Post” during the winter of 1905-6; and it is to the kind encouragement and assistance of Mr. Frederick Higham, the proprietor and editor of that journal, that they owe their appearance in book form.

If further explanation as to the publication of these stories be considered necessary, I would refer the reader to the Preface to the first series of “The Traditions of Lancashire.” In it Mr. Roby quotes the following passage from a German writer:—“All genuine, popular tales, arranged with local and national reference, cannot fail to throw light upon contemporary events in history, upon the progressive cultivation of society, and upon the prevailing modes of thinking in every age. Though not consisting of a recital of bare facts, they are in most instances founded upon fact, and in so far connected with history, which occasionally, indeed, borrows from, and often reflects light upon, these familiar annals, these more private and interesting casualties of human life. It is thus that popular tradition connected with all that is most interesting in human history and human action upon a national scale, ... invariably possesses so deep a hold upon the affections, and offers so many instructive hints to the man of the world, to the statesman, the citizen, and the peasant.”

I may add to the above the fact that these wild and improbable tales have a fascination for me, and that I firmly believe it to be the duty of the people of the present to preserve from oblivion the traditions of the past. In the case of the County of Lancaster, this preservation has been admirably carried out by the late John Roby; and it is with the desire to perform a similar service for the County of Cheshire—or at least one corner of it,—that I have ventured to write the stories which appear in this volume.

THOMAS MIDDLETON.

Manchester Road,
Hyde.
1906.

---

[CONTENTS.]

		Page
[I].	The Legend of Coombs Rocks	1
[II].	The Legend of Alman’s Death: A Tale of Melandra Castle	7
[III].	King Arthur’s Adventure	15
[IV].	The Legend of War Hill	21
[V].	Sir Ro, of Staley Hall	27
[VI].	Robin Hood’s Visit to Longdendale	33
[VII].	The Abbot of Basingwerke, or the Wehr Wolf of Longdendale	39
[VIII].	The Devil’s Elbow	43
[IX].	The Legend of Charlesworth Chapel	47
[X].	Sir Edmund Shaa	49
[XI].	Lord Lovel’s Fate	55
[XII].	The Raiders from the Border-Side	59
[XIII].	The Legend of Gallow’s Clough	63
[XIV].	The King’s Evil: or the Wonderful Cure of the Mottram Parson	71
[XV].	The Magic Book	75
[XVI].	The Parson’s Wife	79
[XVII].	The Devil and the Doctor	81
[XVIII].	The Writing on the Window Pane	85
[XIX].	A Legend of the Civil War	91
[XX].	A Tale of the ’45	103
[XXI].	The Haunted Farm	109
[XXII].	The Spectre Hound	113
[XXIII].	The Boggart of Godley Green	117

---