About three hundred years since the venerable Harrison described the principal rivers of Lancashire, and from his writings at that time we quote as under:—
"The Wire ryseth eight or ten miles from Garstan, out of an hill in Wiresdale,
from whence it runneth by Shireshed chappell, and then going by Wadland,
Grenelaw Castle (which belongeth to the erle of Darbie), Garstan and Kyrkeland
hall, it first receiveth the seconde Calder, that commeth down by Edmersey
chappell, then another chanel increased with sundrie waters, the first water is
called Plympton brooke. It riseth south of Gosner, and commeth by Craweforde
hall, and eare long receyving the Barton becke, it proceedeth forward till it
joyneth with the Brooke rill that commeth from Bowland Forest by Claughton
hall, where M. Brokehales doth live, and so throw Mersco forest. After this confluence
the Plime or Plimton water meeteth with the Calder, and then with the
Wire, which passeth forth to Michael church and the Rawcliffes, and above
Thorneton crosseth the Skipton, that goeth by Potton, then into the Wire rode,
and finally into the sea, according to his nature."
Drayton also has left the subjoined versified account of the
Wyre, and as in addition to its poetic merit, it possesses the
virtue of being a faithful description, we need not apologise for
giving it unabridged:—
"Arising but a rill at first from Wyersdale's lap,
Yet still receiving all her strength from her full mother's pap,
As downe to seaward she her serious course doth ply,
Takes Calder coming in, to beare her company,
From Woolscrag's cliffy foot, a hill to her at hand,
By that fayre forest knowne, within her Verge to stand.
So Bowland from her breast sends Brock her to attend,
As she a Forest is, so likewise doth she send
Her child, on Wyresdale Flood, the dainty Wyre to wayte,
With her assisting Rills, when Wyre is once repleat;
She in her crooked course to Seaward softly glides,
Where Pellin's mighty Mosse, and Merton's on her sides
Their boggy breasts outlay, and Skipton down doth crawle
To entertain this Wyre, attained to her fall."[1]
White Hall, (formerly Upper Rawcliffe Hall,) Rawcliffe Hall, and Mains Hall, each of which will claim our attention more particularly hereafter, are seated on the banks of the Wyre, so also is the ancient house of Preesall-with-Hackensall, and although not properly comprised within the limits of this work, it has a right from its association with the river, to some description—a right the more readily conceded when it is known that in point of antiquity and interest, the hall and domain are well deserving
- ↑ Faerie Land, Song, edit. A.D. 1622.
