Great Harwood Past: People and Places

Great Harwood History is an archive of historical records and original research relating to Great Harwood, Lancashire. It is intended for family historians, local historians, and researchers seeking reliable access to primary sources relating to the town. The site brings together original and transcribed documents—many unpublished elsewhere—dating from the Early Modern period through to the nineteenth century.

What you will find on this site

Material is drawn from a wide range of historical sources, including poor law records, manor and property documents, tax lists, wills and probate records, and other local administrative papers.

Taken together, these records help to illuminate how Great Harwood was governed, how people lived and worked, and how families were supported—or, at times, controlled—by local institutions.

How to use this site

• Records are organised by topic using the navigation menu above.
• Individual pages contain full transcriptions of original documents.
• Original spelling has been retained throughout.
• Gaps in surviving records are noted where known.
• Many individuals appear under variant spellings; manually searching within pages is often effective.

Scope and limitations

This site is a working archive and continues to grow as additional material is photographed, transcribed, and reviewed. Not all historical records for Great Harwood survive, and not all surviving records have yet been located or transcribed.

The absence of a name or event on this site does not necessarily indicate absence from the historical record.

Use of AI on this site

AI tools are used on this site in limited and transparent ways to support efficiency and accuracy. They are not used to generate historical interpretation or narrative content.

AI is used for:

• Automation of research tasks (for example, conversion of data into Excel spreadsheets)
• Initial transcription of difficult handwritten material (followed by full manual checking)
• Some initial proofreading
• Suggestions relating to site navigation, layout, and narrative flow

AI is not used for:

• Drafting essays or blog material on the site
• Image generation
• Photo editing (Paint Shop Pro is used where necessary)

About me

I hold a Certificate in Local History from Lancaster University and an Advanced Diploma in Local History (Distinction) from the Oxford University Department of Continuing Education.

I have a long‑standing interest in the history of Great Harwood, where many of my ancestors were born and lived. This site brings together formal academic training and long‑term archival research with a personal commitment to making the town’s history more accessible to others.

Thank you to those who, over the years, have helped with transcriptions of material, and with donations to keep this site running. Many thanks go to John Michael Trappes-Lomax, who gave Ian Fairclough and I access to documents owned by his family, who were of course, Lords of the Manor for many years.

Contact me at greatharwoodhistory@outlook.com