Cliviger
is a large rural parish located at the edge of East Lancashire,
between Burnley and Todmorden. It is made up of several
small villages, including Holme Chapel, Walk Mill, Red
Lees, Mereclough, Southward Bottom and Overtown, all situated
in the picturesque Cliviger Gorge. The name Cliviger means
Cliff Acre or Cliff Ground and refers to the rocky gorge.
Buried in
the churchyard of St John the Divine Church in Holme
Chapel is General James Scarlett, who led the successful
Charge of the Heavy Brigade during the Crimean War,
at the same time as the unsuccessful Charge of Light
Brigade (immortalised by Tennyson in his poem of the
same name). Close to his grave lies that of Lady Alice
O'Hagan, the last of the Towneley family to live in
Towneley Hall, Burnley. The church itself was built
in 1787 by Rev Dr Thomas Dunham Whitaker, a noted historian,
who was vicar of the parish from 1796 to 1821 and collected
many artefacts to display in the church.
Nowadays
the wood at Holme Chapel is an excellent area for walking
and also provides access to the Mary Towneley Loop and
the rest of the Pennine Bridleway.
©
Edward Rawlinson
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