Lower Darwen
Fore Street United Methodist Free Church
Lower Darwen is located in Blackburn
Lower Darwen
Lower Darwen
Shown within Blackburn
Lower Darwen is located in Blackburn with Darwen
Lower Darwen
Lower Darwen
Shown within Blackburn with Darwen
Lower Darwen is located in Lancashire
Lower Darwen
Lower Darwen
Location within Lancashire
OS grid referenceSD688250
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townDARWEN
Postcode districtBB3
Dialling code01254
PoliceLancashire
FireLancashire
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Lancashire
53°43′16″N 2°28′23″W / 53.721°N 2.473°W / 53.721; -2.473

Lower Darwen is a village in the unitary borough of Blackburn with Darwen, contiguous with the town of Darwen, in the county of Lancashire. It is located between the towns of Blackburn and Darwen. Nearby places include Ewood and Blackamoor. It is situated in the valley of the River Darwen.

The former township of Lower Darwen, abolished in the 1890s, extended south to Earnsdale Brook,[1] and included areas now in the town of Darwen.[2]

History

Until the end of the eighteenth century, Lower Darwen was a farming area. The first cotton mill in the village of Lower Darwen was built about the year 1774, by Mr. Thomas Eccles, yeoman and manufacturer.[3] Although this did not have a major impact on the village at first, by the 1820s, the majority of the village was involved in the textile industry.[4]

Lower Darwen was formerly a township and chapelry in the parish of Blackburn,[5] in 1866 Lower Darwen became a separate civil parish,[6] on 25 March 1893 the parish was abolished and merged with Blackburn.[7] In 1891 the parish had a population of 5573.[8] It is now in the unparished area of Blackburn.

Lower Darwen is on the Blackburn to Bolton railway line, and the line through the village was opened in 1847.[9] Lower Darwen formerly had a railway station, however, this closed in 1958.[10] There was also a motive power depot north of the station, which closed in the 1960s.[9] Since the 1980s, the village has expanded rapidly, with many new houses being built, including one large estate on the site formerly occupied by ROF Blackburn.

It is not far from junction four of the M65 Motorway.

A new road was built when the M65 was extended and the junction four created. Originally named Eccleshill Road, the road was renamed to Paul Rink Way in September 2008. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has stated it chose this road for the renaming because it would not affect anyone, as there are no houses or business directly on the road.[11]

On this road is a new housing estate, along with a Premier Inn and Brewers Fayre.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ William Farrer; J Brownbill (eds.). A History of the County of Lancaster. Vol. 6 (1911): Townships: Lower Darwen. pp. 275–278. Retrieved 25 March 2010 – via British History Online.
  2. ^ "Darwen Historic Towns Assessment Report" (PDF). Lancashire Historic Town Survey Programme. Lancashire County Council. May 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  3. ^ Lower Darwen Mill Archived 4 May 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Lower Darwen Village Archived 4 May 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "History of Lower Darwen, in Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Relationships and changes Lower Darwen CP/Tn through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Blackburn Registration District". UKBMD. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Population statistics Lower Darwen CP/Tn through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  9. ^ a b Taylor, Stuart (2003). Blackburn's Railways in the 1950s and 60s. Bredbury, Greater Manchester: Foxline (Publications). ISBN 978-1-870119-84-9.
  10. ^ James, David (2004). Lancashire's Lost Railways. Catrine, Ayrshire: Stenlake Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84033-288-9. OCLC 56002103.
  11. ^ Pye, Catherine (9 September 2008). "Darwen road tribute to green pioneer". Blackburn Citizen. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
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