In 1786 William Bancroft, a baker, grocer and Methodist preacher brought Methodism to the tiny hamlet of Mereclough. The next year, local resident William Halstead volunteered his cottage for a regular meeting place of the converts. This arrangement continued until 1824, when a purpose-built chapel was constructed. The popularity of the movement meant that a large two storey building was required.
In 1865 a school was added on to the chapel. The first school master employed there commented that a school had long been needed at Mereclough. He stated “I never knew children so ignorant. The only thing that many about eight or even ten year olds can do is say very imperfectly their letters”. The rural nature of the location meant that children were often absent from school to participate in farm jobs, especially in the summer, with haymaking a particular busy time of year. Records show that children would ask if they could leave school early to watch the sheep being dipped.
In 1878 head teacher Thomas Butcher was given notice to leave “without any justifiable reason”. He had a huge amount of local support, and so started a new day school and Sunday school in the weaving shed at nearby Walk Mill. By 1930 the school at Mereclough was struggling with inadequate facilities, and the decision was taken to close it. The younger children were transferred to nearby Holme CE School in Cliviger (now known as St John CE Primary School), while the older ones had a much longer trek to Walter Street School at Brierfield.
In 1883 a large part of the chapel was damaged by coal mining. The chapel needed to be rebuilt and was closed during this work. Interior photographs from the later days of the chapel reveal long box pews facing the lectern, with a white octagonal font in front of it. Behind this was an ornate painted frieze displaying the words “Faith, Hope, Love”. Gas lamps hung from the ceiling. In 1966 the chapel itself was closed, and subsequently demolished. The grounds it stands on were turned into a memorial garden that can be visited today. The chapel’s graveyard remains intact, high up on the hill, overlooking the gardens. The grave of headteacher Peter Thomas Tueart, who was at the school for 33 years can be found there.
Some of the cottages at Mereclough date from the 1600s to early 1700s, as revealed by their date stones, and local research. A tollbar existed at the junction with Red Lees Road, opposite the Kettledrum Inn. This would charge a toll fee for access to the Long Causeway, a turnpike road over the moors to Yorkshire. This was a very old route, and during Medieval times had a number of wayside crosses strung out along it. Today, five of these have been ‘recreated’ and placed in the memorial garden where the chapel once stood. The Long Causeway goes past the chapel site, ascends the very steep Wicked Hill, and then travels the high level route to Yorkshire. A piece on the history of the causeway and crosses will appear soon on Lancashire Past.
Access
On road parking on the Long Causeway next to the site of the chapel at Mereclough.
Nearby
Mosley Height Bronze Age Ring Cairn
References
Onsite interpretation board on the site of the chapel and school
redrosecollections.lancashire.gov.uk
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