THE stories and secrets hidden in the ancient walls of Coal Clough House in Burnley, which is said to date back to the early 1600s are investigated by historian Jack Nadin.

The date-stone over the entrance porch ‘1638-1894’ marks its beginnings.

Coal Clough House and estate was connected with the Sagar family , who were a branch, perhaps even a direct line of the Sagars of Southfield in Marsden.

The Sagar family were in pocession of Coal Clough House by 1655, along with land at both Sandygate and Westgate.

In 1698, Miss Ellen Sagar, heiress of her uncle John, married Miles Veevers of Slaidburn at St Peter’s Parish Church, and so the estate passed to the Veever family.

Sagar Veevers, the grandson of Miles and Ellen was one of the most important manufacturers at this time in Burnley’s history and he made many Improvements to the house, building dining rooms and a kitchen and replanting the garden.

After his death it passed into the procession of their widowed daughter, Mary Smirthwaite, and then her son, Dr George Smirthwaite, who was a councillor, surgeon to the militia, police and Towneley Colliery.

Dr Smirthwaite’s practice was based in Hargreaves Street, and was run in partnership with Dr John Lyle Black.

In 1869, Coal Clough House underwent further major improvements, when George demolished a number of outbuildings and constructed new washrooms, stables and a hayloft.

Three years after his death, Dr Black married his widow, and incorporated the Smirthwaite name to become Dr Smirthwaite-Black and he later carried out a number of alterations.

It has been speculated that Coal Clough House was at some time in its history a chantry house, and that a bell that used to hang outside the kitchen window dated from this time.

It goes without saying that a house of such antiquity should have a ghost or two — and so it is reported.

The once country lane outside Coal Clough House, now Coal Clough Lane, is said to be haunted by the tormented soul of a murdered pedlar, who appears on the eve of each St John’s Day, November 27.

Legend says that the spirit would take up abode for the night crouched in the corner of the upstairs room over the entrance porch, and there remain until cock crow.

This same room is also said to be haunted by the shadow of a bull with two bright cherubs upon each of its horns — the guardian of Coal Clough House.

By the 1920s, Coal Clough House was the home of Dr John Stephens who had married Maude, the only daughter of Dr and Mrs Smirthwaite-Black at Holy Trinity on 30th July 1902.

In later years, residents at Coal Clough House included Thomas Alexander Hall, a director of a Burnley beret manufacturing company, in Trafalgar Street who was there with his wife, Jeannie and their three sons and a daughter from 1943 through until at least 1960.

Coal Clough House with its four acres of land, and six bedrooms eventually became a public house in October 1978.