The ancient settlement of Fulston, also includes the hill settlements of Deershaw, Ebsonhouse, Hollinhouse, Mearhouse and Melthamhouse. All these settlements are in the Parish of Kirkburton. Kirkburton itself being only about three miles to the East.

All these places have well documented associations with the name Robucke dating back to at least the 16th century.

One such family is that of George Robucke, evidenced by Wills and entries in the Kirkburton Parish Registers. This large extended family occupied an area stretching at least from Fulston to Mearhouse. Click on the link to see the family tree of George Robucke from 1550 to 1700. From this chart are further links to the Wills.

The hill settlements of Fulston have long been overtaken by the town of New Mill, in the valley bottom.

To see photographs of the Fulston area click on the thumbnails.

The pretty hamlet of Fulstone was once one of the main hill settlements of the Graveship of Holme, less than one mile from Hollinhouse and less than two miles from Mearhouse and Deershaw.

Hollinhouse Lane rises steeply uphill from Fulston to the hamlet of Hollinhouse, once a well used ancient route barely wide enough for one car. The hamlet of Hollinhouse now comprises about half a dozen houses. These houses date from the industrial revolution, which started about 1760. Unfortunately none of the 16th century dwellings have survived.

This photograph is from the top of Hollinhouse lane, looking back across Hollinhouse and beyond, towards Deershaw. You can see some of the houses across the field. This is the point at which Butterley Lane meets Hollinhouse Lane.

This is the bottom end of Butterley Lane, at Mearhouse. At the other side of the lane is Mearhouse Footpath, which is marked on the map of 1854. This photograph is where the footpath emerges, down some steps onto Butterley Lane.

This is a photograph of Mearhouse as it is today. The houses were built for the workers at the mill situated at Mearhouse Bridge, in the valley below. Again, none of the 16th century dwellings have survived.

This final photograph is of the old mill at Mearhouse Bridge, built about 1850. You can see the stream running underneath the mill. Today it has been converted into flats and is the centrepiece of a new housing development. In the 16th century, when Robert Roebuck's ancestors were here, there might have been a bridge which gives this site its name and you can see what might have been the old bridge in the photograph.