Edgworth, Lancashire

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Edgworth is a small village located north east of North Turton between Broadhead Brook on the west (expanded artificially to form the Wayoh reservoir) and Quarlton Brook in the south east. The ground ranges from 650 to 1100 feet (200–335 m) above sea level.

1 History
- 1.1 The Barlow Family
2 Recreation & Tourism
- 2.1 Edgworth Cricket Club
- 2.2 Edgworth Village Institute Bowling Club
3 Photo Gallery
4 Notes
5 External links

[edit] History

Edgworth on Anglo-Saxon origin, and denoting a village in the hills has had many spellings, from 'Eggwrthe' in 1212, Egewurth in 1221, and in 1277 Eggeswrth and Edgeword and Eggeworth in the year 1292. Today it is still mis-spelled by some people as "Edgeworth".

The village is especially rich in the number of 'Folds' formed in the 17 century. The title usually indicates the enclosure of a farmstead and associated cottages. Isherwood Fold, off Blackburn Road is a good example. Other examples are Horrocks Fold, Thomasson Fold and Brandwood Fold.

Five small hamlets also make up the area of the village - Quarlton, Turton Bottoms at the south-east point, with Entwistle, Round Barn and Whittlestone Head to the west.

Although the character of Edgworth has always been rural, during the nineteenth century a number of textile mills were built around the village. Most industry has now left the area and since the 1970s a number of suburban housing developments have expanded the core of the village.

[edit] The Barlow Family

Edgworth Methodist Church.

During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Barlow family showed great generosity to the village. The industrialist James Barlow (1821-87) funded the new Methodist Church, opened in 1863, and the children's home at Crowthorn. His son John Barlow was physician to Queen Victoria and Edward VII.^[1]

The Barlow Institute was built in 1909 and then comprised of a village hall, coffee bar, library and recreation grounds.

The Barlows' family home, Greenthorne, was used as a conference venue during Mahatma Ghandi's visit to Lancashire in September 1931^[2].

[edit] Recreation & Tourism

Edgworth is renowned for walkers and is a very picturesque. Two large reservoirs - the Wayoh, and Entwistle service the area with freshwater with a further reservoir south namely the Jumbles (in Chapeltown). The village has many fine pubs/restaurants and Bed and Breakfast establishments.

[edit] Edgworth Cricket Club

Edgworth boasts one of the finest cricket teams in the Lancashire League - Edgworth Cricket Club. Formed in 1902, they now play continuously in the season on the Recreational Ground adjacent to the Barlow Institute.

[edit] Edgworth Village Institute Bowling Club

Another successful recreational club competing in two leagues is of course the Edgworth Village Institute Bowling Club. Founded in 1900, they play crown green bowls on the green adjacent to the Barlow Institute.