Tockholes

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Tockholes
Tockholes shown within Lancashire
OS grid reference	SD665235
Unitary authority	Blackburn with Darwen
Ceremonial county	Lancashire
Region	North West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	DARWEN
Postcode district	BB3
Dialling code	01254
Police	Lancashire
Fire	Lancashire
Ambulance	North West
European Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Blackburn
List of places: UK • England • Lancashire

Coordinates: 53°42′22″N 2°30′29″W / 53.706, -2.508

Tockholes is a village and civil parish in the English county of Lancashire. It lies on the West Pennine Moors, close to the towns of Blackburn and Darwen. It is administered as part of the Blackburn with Darwen unitary authority. Darwen Tower is a prominent local landmark. The Roddlesworth Reservoirs lie to the south of the village and the M65 passes to the north. Approximately two miles to the south are the ruins of Hollinshead Hall, the former Tockholes manor house.

What may be an older Manor house can be found if the road from the centre of the village known as Top O't Low past Victoria Terrace and the Bethesda Chapel towards Abbey Village. This Manor house was still occupied during the 1930's though not by the original family. Tockholes itself has quite a lot of history. During the time of the religious purges it was a centre for nonconformist followers to come to worship. The Chapel situated at the bottom of Long Lane was one of the earliest Congregational Chapels in Lancashire though not in the present building. When Slavery was still practised in England I believe one of the local farmers went to Liverpool and bought a Slave to work on his farm but the villagers objected so strongly at this that he was made to declare him a free man and pay him his due wages. The row of cottages in Silk Hall fold were built during the 17th century to accommodate silk weavers and the old weaving rooms are situated in the rooms at the top of the stone staircase the roof windows are still to be seen.