brother-in-law, who were the immediate ancestors of the Leeses, of Werneth, Bank-side, Green-bank, Side-of-moor, New-earth, and Butler-street. The estate passed to John Dunkerley, Esq., cotton manufacturer, of Rhodes mill, who erected the present elegant mansion at Pit-bank, In March, 1813, the property was sold to John Taylor, Esq., of Hargreaves, hat manufacturer, and was subsequently purchased by Daniel Lees, Esq., of Bank-side, one of the nephews of the former possessor, John Lees, Esq. For several years the house was occupied by Benjamin Mashiter, Esq., of Taunton Hall, near Ashton, son of the Rev. Mr. Mashiter, Curate of Shaw. On the death of Daniel Lees, Esq, in 1822, the Pit-bank estate was vested on the eldest daughter of his son, Robert Lees, Esq. (died 1813), who conveyed it by marriage to the present possessor, Jesse Ainsworth, Esq., son of Mr. Jesse Ainsworth, woollen manufacturer, of Wicken Hall, near Rochdale.

Whetstone Hill is one of the most ancient homesteads in the township. The Kershaw family have been seated here a considerable period. John Kershawe, gentleman, was one of the parties assessed to contribute to a tenth or tax in 1621. Edmund Kershaw, was the representative of the family in 1681. John Kershaw, yeoman, was the possessor in 1702, and Ralph Kershaw in 1735. Their descendants were resident at Copster-hill. In 1817 Mr. George Booth, colliery proprietor, was the possessor. The principal part of the estate now belongs to Messrs. Cleggs, of Bent grange. Broadbent, an old abode was the residence of the Leeses in 1634; but in 1735 it was held by a Mr. Hall. In 1752 there were three owners here, Edmund Radcliffe, gentleman, of Fog-lane, George Hall, surgeon, and Mr. George Crompton. Some of the property is now vested in Charles Swainson, Esq., of Preston, in right of marrying a daughter of the Rev. Edmund Stringfellow Radcliffe.

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