Musbury Tor or Tor Hill is a flat-topped hill in south-east Lancashire, England. It overlooks the village of Helmshore and separates Alden Valley to its south and Musbury Valley to its north. Mainly consisting of farmland and pastures, its summit is above sea level. The hill is a prominent landmark and can be seen from much of Helmshore and is often colloquially referred to as ‘the Tor’ by the local population. 'Tor View' is a name shared by several houses and a local Special School. Geology The underlying solid geology of the Rossendale fells is largely formed by the Lower coal measures comprising bedded sandstones, shales and mudstones. Rocks of the Millstone Grit series outcrop above the valley of the River Irwell and cap the hills. Musbury Tor is a perfect example of peneplanation leaving an almost isolated flat-topped hill where the harder Millstone Grit protects the softer underlying shales, leaving the distinctive sharp topography of edges and ledges characteristic of the uplands above the Irwell Valley. The other small-scale topographic variations such as the undulating hummocky landforms are generally due to the former workings and stone quarries. History Deer park In the 13th century, Musbury was recorded as part of the manor of Tottington. The Rossendale area, as part of the Honour of Clitheroe had been under the control of the de Lacy family since not long after the Norman conquest, and John de Lacy, the Earl of Lincoln acquired the Tottington fee in 1235. John's grandson, Henry de Lacy obtained a grant of free warren in Tottington in 1296, and shortly after created a deer park here, and although detached from the Forest of Rossendale this led to it being included in it. Tor Hill was the dominant feature of the park, with the River Ogden and the surrounding ridges of Musbury Heights, Musden Head, and Alden Moor forming the other boundaries. The costs of constructing the paling which surrounded the park are listed in the de Lacy accounts for 1304-05. The wood came from the surrounding area, felled and shaped by carpenters on site, with eighteen oxen specially purchased to cart the pales to Musbury. Almost £83 was spent on the construction, enough to cover the park-keeper or parker's 45 shilling annual payment for over 36 years. After Henry de Lacy's death in 1311, both Tottington and Clitheroe passed to Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster who had