Medieval Knollshaw

This area was known as Cnolleshalgh (Knowlshaw) a name that could be tracable back to ancient times as possibly a derivitive of the Old English personal name Cenulfes (Cenewulf, Cynewulf) with the suffix either sceaga (shaw) literally ‘The Wood’ or perhaps haga (halh, halgh) an enclosure, wattled or hedged enclosure, or an enclosure or space with a triangular shape or corner. Either meaning becomes appropriate if the area enclosed by the Crooked Edge Brook and River Douglas known as Shaw’s Park is both triangluar and wooded. Or perhaps the larger area defined in an a grant of land from the 13th Century, more on this later.

It is also possible that the ‘le’ in Knolle could be a shortened from the old Saxon lea, (laeh, ley) that would indicate a meadow or open space or in Latin lith, open country, more specifically woodland that has been cleared, opposed to the alternate common place name suffix ‘feld’ meaning land that is naturally clear; that is, not woodland.

Ancient Knollshaw Boundary

A medieval text thought to date from around 1285 AD exists, written in a local dialect of Old English that describes the extent of a fourth of the Knollshaw estate. We don’t have a copy of the original text and the least altered interpretation we can find is shown below. It should be noted that only certain words in the text are shown in seemingly literal Old English so we cannot be sure the interpretation of the rest of the text is accurate.

“Grant of Cecily, daughter of William de Roynton, the widow of Roger de Workedlegh, to Adam son of Robert son of Dorant; one-fourth of Knolleshaw in Rivington.

Sciant omnes Sec I, CeciHa daughter of William de Roynton, formerly wife of ” Roger de Workydelle ” , by lawful power and in my pure and perfect widowhood have given and granted &c to Adam the son of Robert son of Dorant, for his homage and service, all that fourth part of ” Cnolleshagh ” with appurtenances, which &c., beginning at ” Kaldewell ” below the house of William, following under the bank as far as the ” Quernstanesclife,” and so following ” Quernstanesclife ” into ” Fridbroc,” and so ascending to the highway, and so following the highway beyond “Rovin pik ” [Rivington Pike] as far as ” Stondandeston” [Standing stone], thence following as far as the head of ” Cringelbrochevyd,” and so descending ” Cringelbroc ” as far as to the foot of the cliffe, and so following the cliff as far as ” Kaldewell,” which is the first mete. And all that croft which is called Kirk-land [” terra ecclesiastica ”] which was given in exchange for the assart of Matilda, to wit 3 acres of land which &c within the said bounds. To have and to hold &c of me and my heirs, to him and his heirs, in fee of inheritance, freely, quietly, wholly, well, and in peace, with common of pasture and easements, and all other liberties to the vill of ” Roynton ” belonging, and with quittance of pannage for all the swine of all the men of the said land and tenements wheresoever they may abide or tarry in the woods. Rendering therefor yearly to me and my heirs one pair of white gloves worth one halfpenny, or one half-penny at the feast of St. Peter the Apostle [29th June] for all services and exactions, customs and demands [Here follows the usual Warranty.] In testimony whereof I append my seal to this my charter, these present being Witnesses - Thomas de Perpund , John de Hulton, Adam de Lever, Helia de ” Thoge ” , Roger de Bretherton, William de Worthynton, Henry de ” Hashogh ” , Robert del Cnolle, Robert de Lostock, William the clerk, and others.”