Worsthorne
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Worsthorne is a rural village located on the eastern outskirts of the town Burnley in East Lancashire, England.
The village has a small village green, and the church and Crooked Billet pub overlook the spacious square.[1] Buildings in the village include cottages dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, and housing for millworkers dating from the Industrial Revolution.
Relatively high property prices in the village reflect the fact that it is perceived to be a desirable place to live, with low crime and good education.[2]
Contents |
[edit] History
The history of human habitation in the area goes back to the late stone, bronze and Iron Ages.
[edit] Worsthorne Moor stone circle
Earthworks and two prehistoric stone circles are shown on Ordnance Survey maps, one at grid reference SD885327[3] on the moors to the east of the village. Both are in a poor state of repair.
Also, a flint dagger 15cm in length was found on Worsthorne Moor and is now in Towneley Museum.[3]
[edit] Origins of the name
The village was known as Worthesthorn in 1202, which means Thorn Tree of a man named 'Weorth'.[4]
[edit] Historic buildings
The village had a close association with the Thursby family, great benefactors of the Burnley area,[4] and has a number of interesting listed buildings.
These include the Church of St. John the Evangelist which dates from 1833-1839.[5] The original plans for the church, drawn up by architect Lewis Vulliamy, can be seen on the Incorporated Church Building Society website.[6] It has a 61ft clocktower, beautiful stained glass windows and fascinating wrought ironwork.[7] The churchyard has a grave of a packmaster, a person whose job was to lead packhorses across the moors in special sunken trails that allowed the horses to walk unhitched since the walls of the trail prevented them from straying.[4]
Jackson's House in the centre of the village was built in about 1600.
[edit] Amenities
The village has a primary school with about 190 pupils in the 4-11 age range,[8] serving Worsthorne, Hurstwood, Brownside and Pike Hill.[9] The school houses seven classes in modern buildings and has extensive playing fields and grounds.
There are two pubs in the village: the Crooked Billet and the Bay Horse Inn.[10]
A regular bus service (routes 109 and 110) runs between Worsthorne and Burnley.[11]
[edit] Politics
In 2002 the Cliviger with Worsthorne ward elected a British National Party (BNP) councillor.[12] This shift to the political far right was unexpected and generated considerable media comment.
[edit] Famous people from Worsthorne
- Ron Greenwood CBE (1921 — 2006) was an English football player and manager, and was born in Worsthorne
[edit] References
- ^ Ron Freethy (2006). Tourist Guide to Worsthorne. burnleycitizen.co.uk (Newsquest). Retrieved on March 25, 2007.
- ^ David Ward (2004). Right on the Edge. Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved on March 25, 2007.
- ^ a b Paul Kenyon. Worsthorne Moor (Slipper Hill). Paul's Stone Circle Data Base. Retrieved on March 25, 2007.
- ^ a b c Lancashire County Council. Worsthorne-with-Hurstwood Parish Council. Lancashire Parish Portal. Retrieved on March 25, 2007.
- ^ Burnley Borough Council (2003). Beautiful Villages. Burnley Tourism. Retrieved on March 25, 2007.
- ^ Search Results. The Incorporated Church Building Society archive. Retrieved on March 25, 2007.
- ^ Burnley Tourist Information Centre (2006). Burnley 2006 Heritage Open Days (pdf). Burnley Tourism. Retrieved on March 25, 2007.
- ^ Worsthorne Primary School. Ofsted (2005). Retrieved on March 25, 2007.
- ^ About our school. Worsthorne Primary (2007). Retrieved on March 25, 2007.
- ^ Real Ale Pubs in the Burnley Area. East Lancashire CAMRA (2007). Retrieved on March 25, 2007.
- ^ Transdev Burnley & Pendle (2007). Burnley Town services 109, 110, 119. Lancashire County Council leaflet number 79. Retrieved on March 25, 2007.
- ^ David Ward (2002). Voice of BNP's new stronghold: 'No one in this village is a racist'. Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved on March 25, 2007.
