Bracewell

The Ancient Parish of BRACEWELL

[Transcribed information mainly from the early 1820s]

"BRACEWELL, a parish-town, in the east-division of Staincliffe, liberty of Clifford's-Fee; 2 miles E. of Gisburn, 5 miles from Colne, (Lanc.) 9 from Skipton, 11 from Burnley, (Lanc.) 50 from York. Pop. 176. The Church is a vicarage, dedicated to St. Michael, in the deanry of Craven, value, ~£2. 9s. 9½d. p.r. £60. Patron, Lord Grantham.

"The Vicarage House," Dr. Whitaker observes, and very justly, "is a disgrace to the parish and Church of England, a miserable thatched cottage of two rooms only, floored with clay, and open to the roof. --History of Craven.

Here is the ruin of an old Hall, built of brick, probably about the time of Henry VII. or VIII. and was formerly the residence of the ancient family of the Tempests. North of this are the remains of a still older house of stone, in which is an apartment called "King Henry's Parlour"; undoubtedly one of the retreats of Henry VI. --Whitaker's Craven."

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"CROOKS HOUSE, a farm-house in the township of Stock, and parish of Bracewell; 10 miles from Skipton."

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"STOCK, in the township and parish of Bracewell, east-division of Staincliffe, liberty of Clifford's-Fee; 2½ miles E. of Gisburn, 5½ miles from Colne, (Lanc.) 9½ from Skipton."