At the time of the Norman conquest the main landowner was Gamel who had very large land holdings in Yorkshire.

Several old farm buildings survive in the area around the village, most notably the grade II* listed Long Croft.

[4] Originally the village comprised three separate hamlets namely Ickornshaw, Middleton, Gill and Cowling Hill.

It was only following the construction of the main Keighley to Colne road (A6068) and the building of large mills alongside the road that what is now regarded as the main village was constructed providing terraced cottage homes for the mill workers.

The mills continued to operate and to provide the main source of local employment until the end of the 20th century but are now all closed down and their sites largely redeveloped for housing and the village hall.