Haslingden

Haslingden is a small town in the Rossendale Valley in Lancashire, lying 19 miles north of Manchester. The name means 'Valley of the Hazels', though the town is in fact set on a high and windy hill. In the early 20th century it was an independent borough, but following local government reorganisation in 1974 it became part of the Borough of Rossendale. In 1831 there was a population of 7,776. It forms part of a conurbation with Bacup and Rawtenstall.

Haslingden is the birthplace of the composer Alan Rawsthorne (1905-1971), and Haslingden Cricket Club is a member of the note-worthy Lancashire League.

[edit] History

Part of the Haslingden territory, along with that of the neighbouring towns of Rawtenstall and beyond that Bacup were part of the Forest of Blackburnshire, that part being the Forest of Rossendale. The 'Forest' was a hunting park during the 13th and 14th centuries, but much of the woodland would have been cleared during the 16th and 17th century, making the area into upland pasture.

Haslingden grew from a market town - a market was established in 1676 - and later a coaching station to a significant industrial borough during the period of the Industrial Revolution. In particular with the mechanisation of the wool and cotton spinning and weaving industries from the 18th to the 19th centuries, and with the development of watermills, and later steam power.

Haslingden is also notable for its quarrying, and Haslingden Flagstone was exported throughout the country in the 19th century, where it was widely used, including the paving of Trafalgar Square, London.

Haslingden was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1891. In the 20th century, the population declined, from 19,000 in the 1911 census to 15,000 in the 1971 census.

[edit] Buildings and points of interest.

Haslingden's Anglican Parish Church, St James's, was built in the 18th century on a site occupied by a church building since at least 1284. In that year a deed of gift of the Earl of Lincoln to the monks of Stanlaw granted them the parish of Whalley. When they later took possession and had a valuation of its assets done, they recorded at Haslingden one of the parish's seven independent chapelries. Beside the Memorial Gardens, the Manchester Road Methodist Church is a classic building with an Italian-inspired interior.

Haslingden was once connected to Accrington and Bury by railway. The East Lancashire Railway built a station here, which remained open under British Rail until the 1960s, when the line was closed due to the Beeching Report. Much of the trackbed of the railway is no longer visible, with the A56 by-pass built over it between Grane Road and Blackburn Road, however, the line can still be traced through Helmshore towards Stubbins where several magnificent viaducts still remain.

The town centre is home to the famous Big Lamp from where all distances in Haslingden are measured, although the original lamp has been replaced by a replica. In Deardengate Cissy Green's pie shop can be found. People visit from across Lancashire to sample the handmade pies which are still made to the original 1920's recipe. To the north of the town is the Hollands Pie factory, and Winfield's, a large warehouse-style retail development selling footwear and clothing, and promoting itself as a family day out.

The nearby Snighole (eel-hole) is a famous beauty spot. The Grane Valley to the west of the town is popular with walkers.

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