Before 1974, it formed part of Bowland Rural District in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Historic Bowland comprised a Royal Forest and a Liberty of ten manors spanning eight townships and four parishes and covered an area of almost 300 square miles (800 km2) on the historic borders of Lancashire and Yorkshire.

[3] The manors within the Liberty were Slaidburn (Newton-in-Bowland, West Bradford, Grindleton), Knowlmere, Waddington, Easington, Bashall, Mitton, Withgill (Crook), Leagram (Bowland-with-Leagram), Hammerton and Dunnow (Battersby).

This chapel was founded by Richard Eastwood of Thorneyholme, land agent to the Towneley family.

An acclaimed breeder of racehorses and shorthorn cattle, he died in 1871 and is buried at St Hubert's.