“A parson by the name of Dehane erected the older parts of Ickornshaw Mills
for the purpose of spinning wicks for candles. Motive power was provided by a water wheel that came within inches of being the largest in the country. I think the parrock must be the plot of land between the two becks at the bottom of Winkholme.”

Posted by Howard Benson | 13/07/2009 14:15:51

“According to the 1846 tithe map and notes for Cowling, most of the fields had names and were each given a number to correspond with fields on the map (front of Cowling a Moorland Parish 1980, map also on this site History & Inf.) - Parrock was a name for one of fields. eg. In 1846 Wm. Watson occupied Winter House, no. 584 on map was called Parrock House, and no. 916 was Bank. John Smith occupied Knoll Hill Farm and field no. 624 was called Parrock - don't know what this word means though, pls. let us know if you find out, there were many more strange names for our fields at that time. There was a "halfpenny cake" at Stott Fold/Stoneys Farm, no. 428. Most of the farms owned doles on either Warleywise, Ickornshaw or Reedshaw Mosses.”

Posted by Joan | 14/07/2009 14:28:09

“A Parrock is a croft a small field or a paddock”

Posted by Howard Benson | 14/07/2009 15:28:44

“Thanks Howard, so Ickornshaw Mill was probably built on the parrock/land of Winter House Farm? John Redman, schoolmaster of Ickornshaw, and surveyor etc. crops up quite a lot in the old documents. Have also seen reference to a N.E. farm in that area - one theory being that before new road, land would extend across the other side?
Also seen ref. to "Beckside Cottages" the old building Winkholme side of beck?”

Posted by Joan | 15/07/2009 15:34:50

“Yes Joan I do think so. It must have been quite a parcel reaching Ickornshaw Chapel, where the beck is diverted into the dam and up as far as Cock Hall where the beck from the moor was diverted. The two story part of the mill (nearest the dam) contained the waterwheel. I think the channel by the Chapel still exists but I haven't been there for a while. When the water was being introduced to the dam from the Ickornshaw end that beck must have stopped (by the waterfall) and then the single story part of the mill was built over the beck by means of a culvert which can be seen from the bottom of Winkholme.The dam area was quite large and as far as I can remember it was excavated and then flagged. I can well remember viewing the old deeds thirty years ago but they will have long since gone - reduced to a single sheet no doubt. The building you refer to on the Winkholme side of the beck was derelict when I was a child I think it is on three floors and a Mr. Simpson used to keep hens there. The parrock must be approaching a couple of acres do you think ? I think it is marked at 582a on your map but 581 must also have been purchased at some stage. H.”

Posted by Howard Benson | 17/07/2009 16:07:46