There again, Maggie, that is a very handsome little building for a farmhouse. Was the area particularly prosperous in the 16th/17th centuries? People living at subsistence level generally just threw together hovels to live in, but that certainly isn't a hovel!
Yes - it's a substantial farmhouse and one of several in the valley. They belonged to the up and coming yeoman farmers of the 16th C.
Initially - and I hope I get this correct as I'm not consulting notes, the Forest of Pendle, after the Norman conquest, was owned by the King for hunting purposes. Later the land was granted to the De Lacy earldom and when it ceased to be used for hunting purposes the forest was then given over to tennant farmers. Prior to this time, because it was hunting territory, there were few people living here, the population generally was principally employed in farming, stock management and the vaccary system predominated.
By the 16thC, due to the decimation of the population through plague and Henry VIII's policies, an opportunity was given for these tennant farmers to acquire more land, their sole aim was to improve their social standing and become minor gentry. Around this time many of the finest farmhouses were built.
This is an over-simplification of a complex subject and it's written in a rush .... so I hope it's a fairly accurate account
