Boardmans is a set of 17th century cottages on Hawkshaw Lane near Bury. Hawkshaw Lane used to be the main road from Hawkshaw to Haslingden and thus on to Burnley. At the end of the 18th century and into the beginning of the 19th century a number of Magnalls have lived at Boardmans and in a number of the other local cottages. Boardmans cottages have now been restored by Mrs Jan Barnes and her husband and are available to let. Jan was extremely helpful in our family history research when we visited the area which is quiet and ideal for gentle country walking. If you are interested in a holiday there she can be contacted on 01204 882844 or by email at cep.boardmans@good.co.ukThere is also a web page at http://wwww.good.co.uk/cep.boardmans/ though this does not seem to be available at the moment!

The earliest record of a Magnall in the Hawkshaw area that I have is in 1793 when John (KM028) and Betty (KM029) Magnall were living in Hawkshaw Lane with their son James and daughter Betty. A survey of the Township of Tottington Lower End of 1794 refers to a John Magnall renting (?) one cottage on Hawkshaw Lane. Various Magnalls, probably all descended from John and Betty, lived in the area until the late 1850s when they seemed to have mainly moved to Habergham Eaves and Burnley. The first reference I have of a Magnall living at Boardmans is in 1813 and the last reference is 1853 when Mary Ann (FM232), daughter of Thomas and Rachel was baptised.

Boardman’s Farm dates from about 1707 and is one of the oldest buildings in Hawkshaw. It was owned by the Bridge family in the early 1800s and the building has an inscription on it. One Joseph Bridge from Boardmans was transported to Australia in 1806 for passing forged one pound notes whilst on a pub crawl! The Bridge family sold Boardmans to Andrew Knowles in 1868. At this time Boardmans consisted of a farmhouse, outbuildings, stables, 13 cottages and a public house known as the Peels Arms. By 1974 when the present owners bought the properties the Peels Arms no longer had a licence and six of the cottages had “disappeared”! Boardmans was previously known as Hawkshaw Meadows, this name appearing on a rental from 1662. By 1750 it had gained the name Boardmans. Further details of the history of Boardmans is available from the present owners (see above).

I hope shortly to draw up a chart showing the movements of the Magnall family around the Hawkshaw area covering these dates. If you had ancestors living in the Hawkshaw area about the same time I would be interested in hearing from to compare notes and to see if any of our families are linked in any way.

Photo of the cottages at Boardmans 1998

Records of Magnalls at Boardmans

8 January 1814 Christening of John Magnall by James and Nancy at Holcombe Chapel
12 May 1816 Christening of William Magnall by James and Nancy at Emmanuel Church, Holcombe
4 January 1817 Christening of Ann Magnall, daughter of Richard and Esther Magnall at Holcombe Chapel
16 June 1821 Christening of Betty Mangnall, daughter of James and Nancy at Holcombe Chapel
7 September 1822 Christening of Richard Magnall by James and Nancy at Emmanuel Church, Holcombe
20 November 1824 Christening of James Magnall by James and Nancy at Emmanuel Church, Holcombe
31 March 1827 Christening of Nancy Magnall by James and Nancy at Emmanuel Church, Holcombe
6 October 1827 Christening of John Mangnall, son of Thomas and Mary Mangnall
3 February 1828 Burial of John Magnall, Infant at Holcombe Chapel
17 October 1830 Christening of David Magnall by James and Nancy at Emmanuel Church, Holcombe
21 January 1831 Burial of James Magnall, Infant at Holcombe Chapel
31 Mar 1832 Batism of Richard Mangnall, son of Thomas and Mary Mangnall at St Anne’s, Tottington
12 October 1835 Burial of Sarah Magnall by David and Mary at Holcombe Chapel
28 August 1836 Christening of Richard Magnall by David and Mary at Holcombe Chapel
5 March 1837 Christening of William Magnall, son of John and Ann at Holcombe Chapel
25 June 1837 Christening of Alice Magnall by David and Mary at Holcombe Chapel
7 April 1839 Christening of William Magnall, son of Thomas and Mary at Holcombe Chapel
1841 Census John Mangnall (30- Labourer), Ann (30), William (5) and Betty (1 month)
6 April 1845 Burial of John Magnall (82) at Holcombe Chapelry
7 February 1846 Christening of Maria Magnall, daughter of John Jackson, Repd. father and Nancy at Holcombe Chapel
19 April 1846 Christening of Mary Magnall, daughter of Thomas and Mary at Holcombe Chapel
14 July 1847 Burial of Mary Magnall (2) at Holcombe Chapel
21 November 1847 Burial of Ann Magnall (9) at Holcombe Chapel
28 December 1847 Burial of John Magnall (40) at Holcombe Chapel
5 February 1848 Christening of Betty Magnall by David and Mary at Emmanuel Church, Holcombe
Christening of John Magnall by David and Mary at Emmanuel Church, Holcombe
Christening of Betty Magnall by Thomas and Rachel at Emmanuel Church, Holcombe
3 November 1848 Burial of Betty Magnall at Holcombe Chapel
24 February 1849 Christening of Sarah Magnall, daughter of Henry Clark, Repd. father and Ann Magnall at Holcombe Chapel
11 December 1849 Burial of William Magnall (13) at Holcombe Chapel
29 February 1852 Burial of David Magnall (42) at Holcombe Chapel
23 May 1852 Christening of Mary Magnall, daughter of David (deceased) and Mary at Holcombe Chapel
1 June 1852 Burial of Mary Magnall, daughter of David and Mary Magnall at Holcombe Chapel
25 October 1852 Marriage of Amos Ogden and Mary Mangnall (nee Jackson) widow, Boardmans at St Mary the Virgin, Bury
18 January 1853 Christening of Elizabeth Mangnall, daughter of Alice Mangnall at Emmanuel Church, Holcombe
21 January 1853 Burial of Elizabeth Mangnall, daughter of Alice Mangnall at Emmanuel Church, Holcombe
19 March 1853 Christening of Mary Ann Mangnall, daughter of Thomas and Rachel Mangnall

[Last updated 14 Dec 2023]