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MOORCOCK
(HIGH WICKEN)
HIGHER
INCHFIELD
WALSDEN
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The
farm commonly known as Moorcock was originally called High Wicken
Farm. It is now just a ruin, sitting on the side of an old track
on the moor at Higher Inchfield. Evidence it was once a house can
be seen from the ruins, with foundations and other interesting features
on both sides of the track. The farm included 59 acres of land,
mostly wild and undulating moor and rough pasture, on which sheep
would roam (and still do). It is only accessible on foot. |
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Its
early history is unknown, but the land appears to have been owned
by a Dearden family. Thomas Highley and his wife Sally (Haigh)
lived at High Wicken briefly in 1809, followed by Samuel Howarth
and his family very briefly in 1810. The next known occupier was
Reuben Haigh who moved his family from the nearby Top of All Farm
about 1814.
In
1792, Reuben's father, John Haigh of Pastureside, took out a lease
on land near to High Wicken, with permission to develop the coal
measures under the pasture.
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With
his sons John junior and Reuben, he built drift mines and associated
buildings, including a road leading from the mines to the valley
bottom to enable the carting of the coal down to the canal. This
road, barely better than a packhorse trail, passed High Wicken,
making it more accessible. |
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He
also built Coolham, a building containing rooms to house colliers.
The moor became populated with colliers and their families who
took over the cottages at Coolham and those attached to the various
farms.
Reuben,
being an astute businessman, must have noticed the lack of ale
houses in this isolated and wild spot because he built an extension
to his farm and turned it into a pub for the benefit of the thirsty
colliers and his own pocket. It is thought this would be about
1817, which is when the name of the farm changed to Moorcock.
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Every
night after the shift in the mines was finished, the colliers would
walk down the road from Coolham and the other outlying farms to
gather at the Moorcock for their evening pints and catch up on the
day's events. As the evening progressed many an argument and fight
broke out between the miners and the young sons of Reuben. It was
all the outcome of youthful high spirits and too much ale, with
never any lasting damage done or any malice meant. |
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However, there was at least one tragic outcome to an evening's drinking at the Moorcock. A newspaper report of 19th November 1836 says:
Manchester Times and Gazette Saturday 19 November 1836
A collier named Woodhead, who was employed at the colliery of Messrs. John and Reuben Haigh, of Inchfield Common, near Todmorden, left the Moorcock public house late in the evening of Friday week, being at the time intoxicated, and proceeded homewards, having to pass over the common, and was found dead the morning following, in a kneeling position, with his shoes and stockings taken off. It is supposed that he had fallen and slept for some time, and when he awoke, that he was so benumbed by the cold, and bewildered, as to suppose himself at home, and that he had put off part of his clothes, thinking to repair to rest.
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Reuben's sons were a handful, for not only did they cause trouble in the beerhouse, they also enjoyed a spot of poaching and hare coursing, as the following newspaper reports confirm:
Daily News Thursday October 18 1849
Game Case
At the Rochdale petty sessions on Monday last, Reuben Haigh, John Collinge, Samuel Jackson and Joseph Haigh, were summoned by William Royds Esq., on a charge of trespass whilst in pursuit of game on Weather Hill, Todmorden Moors.
It appeared by the evidence of John Butterworth, a gamekeeper, that on the 5th of September the prisoners were on the moors; that the first two had each a gun and were on land belonging to Miss Dearden in the occupation of Mr. Reuben Haigh, the father of two of the defendants, who had also an estate of his own adjoining that of Miss Dearden’s. Mr. Wm. Royds stated that he had paid a sum of money to Miss Dearden for the game on her land, and the Haighs had no right to it. The case was adjourned to Monday next.
Manchester Times, Wednesday 26th February 1851
Charge of trespass in Pursuit of Game
On Monday at the petty sessions, John Collinge and Reuben Haigh were charged with tracing hares at Calderbrook with dogs on the first of Feb. Mr. Hunt, solicitor, appeared on behalf of the prosecution and Mr. Harris, solicitor, defended. A penalty of ten shillings each and costs were inflicted
Reuben
remained at the Moorcock until after 1851, running the pub and
farming the land. In 1851 he says he farms 270 acres, but High
Wicken was a mere 59 acres. He must have been including land on
other farms he owned: Pighill, Top of All, and Vicarage. He also
continued as a successful coal merchant. He died a rich man in
1857 of an epileptic fit, aged 68. It is strange that he made
Moorcock his home for so many years. He was a large landowner
in Walsden, but never owned Moorcock or its land.
The
farming of Moorcock passed into the hands of the Jacksons, whilst
two sons of Reuben of Moorcock, Joseph and Samuel Haigh, lived
in the new buildings at Moorcock, built between 1851 and 1861.
It was still being farmed in 1901, and was still in existence as a public house in 1938. The road
was never improved and is much the same today.
MOORCOCK
LINKS
COMPLETE
CENSUS TRANSCRIPTION FOR MOORCOCK 1841 TO 1901
WILL
OF REUBEN HAIGH OF MOORCOCK
JINNY
HAIGH OF MOORCOCK
THE
HAIGHS INVOLVEMENT WITH THE COAL MINES OF INCHFIELD
BACK
TO TOP
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