Callis Wood, Erringden and the south hillside

This page was last updated in March 2004

SOUTH HILLSIDE Erringden Cruttonstall Thorps Callis Wood House Farm Edge End Farm Goose Gate Lower Callis Callis Wood Bottom ERRINGDEN We have not done much research on this area as yet. The south hillside is in the parish of Erringden. Erringden has gone through several changes of spelling: Heyricdene (reign of Edward 111) Eyrybedene (1227) Ayringden (1534) Arrendenne (1559) The origin of these terms is said to be "the valley of the high ridge", probably in Norse. The Parish boundary with Blackshaw (formally Stansfield) is the River Calder. The valley side is precipitous in places and has beech and birch woods on the slopes. Erringden was used as a hunting ground by the aristocracy (Stubbing House in Mytholm being built as a hunting lodge and Palace house being originally being a palisade to keep the deer from roaming). We are not sure when this stopped and the land sold off. The hillside was covered in beech trees which were cut down during the second world war. This allowed the birch to self seed creating the present wood. A postcard of Callis Woods A small stream called Beaumont Clough comes down the hillside. The earliest recording of this stream is in 1450 (Beamondecloughe meaning stream off a beautiful hillside). The source is just above Lower Rough Head farm. During the second world war the clough was used for occasional secret night slaughtering of a pig, ensuring that all traces of the blood were gone by the morning Click here to see larger version of this oil painting of the view of Callis in 1846. The painting which is in Bankfield Museum in Halifax (sadly not on display), shows Callis mill dominating the valley bottom. The track going up the right hand side is now the route of the Pennine Way. This photograph shows the same scene as the painting about 75 years later A postcard of the same view (date unknown) There are several dwellings on the hillside: CRUTTONSTALL This farmstead which is now partly ruined is the earliest recorded place in Charlestown. It is mentioned in the Domesday book (1086) as Cru'betonestum and described as a Vill centre (a Scandinavian term). In 1308 it became known as Cromtonstall and in 1323 it was called Crumtonstall. Each of the names is said to be translated at crooked farmstead). The current building dates from the early 17th century with 19th century additions. Cruttonstall THORPS This is now in ruins, at present we have no information on the history of this farmhouse. Thorpe Farm CALLIS WOOD HOUSE FARM This is still a working farm. At present we have no information about the history of the farm. EDGE END FARM This farm dates from the early 17th Century, but was substantially altered in the early 18th Century. GOOSE GATE This dwelling is now in ruins. In 1571 it was called Gooshey (meaning a goose enclosure). The picture below of the lintel shows a date of 1740, so it is likely that the original farm was (partly) pulled down and rebuilt (a common practice). The dwelling was probably a small farmhouse with barn attached. The dwelling was occupied by someone called Brown in the 20s CALLIS WOOD BOTTOM This terrace is the higher one in the photograph below. It is on the Pennine Way and is still occupied. Postcard of Lower Callis and Callis Wood Bottom The dwellings in the foreground are Temple and Lacey house. Callis Wood Bottom was built in two stages in the 1880s. The terrace was built by James Midgely who with his wife Mary, had the shop on Woodland View around 1900. LOWER CALLIS This terrace is the lower terrace in the photograph above - below Callis Wood Bottom, up from Callis Bridge, next to the canal. It was built before callis Wood Bottom, but we do not have an accurate date. It is now demolished with little trace left of the terrace. There were eight houses back and front, there was a balcony at the front and cellars underneath. The back side of the terrace is shown in the photograph below.