The Rossendale Valley which was originally known as the Forest of Rossendale, is an upland within the Borough of Rossendale.
Geographically, it is sandwiched between the West Pennine Moors to the west and the South Pennines to the east.
The geology of the area is layers of grit-stone, coal and glacial deposits of sand and gravel. These rocks were cut by fast flowing rivers, the Irwell and its tributaries, to form steep valleys with sides 600 feet in high and a narrow valley floor. Woodland on the steep slopes includes remnants of ancient woodland but other areas are more recently planted.
At the time of the Norman conquest, Lancashire was held by Edward the Confessor. The county was divided into six Hundreds, with Rossendale north of the Irwell in the Blackburn Hundred. In 1102, Henry 1 granted Blackburn with other land in Lancashire to Robert de Lacy. This land became the main part of a collection of manors and forests known as the Honour of Clitheroe . Settlement in late Middle Ages would have been in "booths" or farmsteads and encroachment into the forest would have developed them into small hamlets. Originally the Honour of Clitheroe comprised about 60 villages, numerous hamlets and farms and five forests of which Rossendale was one.
The forest of Rossendale (or maybe more correctly chase, as it may have belonged to the lord of the manor rather than the king) was a hunting grounds for the exclusive use of the lord. It was later used for cattle rearing with the deer being enclosed in deer parks, locally at Musbury in 1304-5.
Much of the remaining land was used for vaccaries or cow farming, with some being common land and some waste. Each vaccary had about 50 cows, 50 young cattle (bred for oxen) and 1 bull.
By the end of the thirteenth century there were in Rossendale 'a couple' of hamlets, a 'dozen or more' vaccaries, a home farm for the Lord and evidence of 'spasmodic smelting'.
Forests were subject to forest law and breaches of forest law considered at the Halmote or manor court. Main breaches related to encroachment, enclosure, venison trespass (i.e. any game) and vert trespass (i.e. wood or other plant material). Each dead animal was inspected and fines levied for lax custody. Any trespass with a dog and bows was taken as poaching.
Rossendale was governed by a constable nominated by principal landowners. He held the position of "The Greave of The Forrest" which after 1515 became a quasi-hereditary position held by the Whitacker family at the only ancient hall in the district: Broadclough Hall.
Although Rossendale was forest land and belonged to the lord of the manor, there had apparently been gradual piecemeal enclosure since early 14th century. The land was eventually deforested in 1507 by decree of Henry VII and forest law was ended.
One of the earliest sites of historical interest in the valley is that of the dykes at Broadclough, which are associated with the Battle of Brunanburh.
Extracts courtesy of Wikipedia and Barrie, J., Springhill : The people and places associated with the Springhill area of Rossendale ( 2015)