Hill, from which the dykes are highly visible. The prevailing train of thought places Broadclough Dykes as an ancient structure, however, there is a suggestion that it may actually have an industrial origin as open-cast site for extraction of fireclay, from beneath an exposed coal seam. Whilst the industrial nature of the dyke is a possibility, Thomas Newbigging, in his 1887 book Historical Sketch of the Forest of Rossendale, reported the farmer from Dykes House Farm confirmed the undulating and pitted land closer to the turnpike, and behind what is now Broadclough Mill, is invariably made up of loose soil and is of a filled-up character, containing fragments of stick, bark and other substances that where not normally found in the natural deposits, suggesting the soils dug out of the dyke had been used to construct defences further down the slope. Broadclough Buildings Before Bacup rose in significance and before deafforestation, Broadclough historically sat in the Forest of Rossendale's Newchurch township, being a clough within the Bacup Booth. Broadclough Hall at Lower Broadclough was the seat of the Whittaker family, one of the most important families in the Forest of Rossendale, who held the position of Greave of the Forest as a quasi-hereditary title from around 1515. Considered the only "ancient hall" in Rossendale, Broadclough Hall was originally built around 1596, with a coach house believed to date from circa 1750 featuring a rare recessed/rebated frontage with veranda. The hall had a number of notable visitors including Beatrix Potter and John Wesley. Whilst there is a date-stone of 1666 over the former side door, the present building was built in 1816, being the third hall to be built on the site, although it is likely a building had existed on or near the site previously. Whilst many of Broadclough's buildings were built by the Whittakers of Broadclough Hall, a family by the name of Lord grew to become a significant property owner and there are a number of listed buildings within Broadclough that are associated with them, as well as a number of place names (including Lord's Court and Lord's Barn). Broadclough Farm, Higher Broadclough Barn and Dikes House Farm have date-stones associated with John Lord, with dates of 1697, 1729 and 1737, whilst Broadclough Mill features a date-stone - with the initials of his namesake descendant - which is dated 1835. Furthermore, Broadclough Farm has a stone trough dated