Larks of Dean

Such was the forest of Rossendale in the past, such is Rossendale in the present day, and in view of the facts we must be ready to commend the foresight of those who, three hundred and eighty years ago, expressed the belief that, if the deer were taken out and from the said forest, that then the same was likely to come and be brought and applied to some good purpose, so as that the commonwealth might be increased thereby.

End of chapter 7 chapter eight of lancashire characters and places by thomas newbigging the larks of dean compared with these italian trills are tame burns in a memorandum book or diary kept by sir ralph ashton a hospitable lancashire baronet of the seventeenth century and under date the year sixteen seventy six occurs the following entry Christmas, given the Rossendale players ten shillings.

The musicians of Rossendale Forest are not of yesterday's growth.

They are a venerable race and can count their congeners back through the centuries.