Chorley
Encyclopedia
Chorley is a market town
in Lancashire
, in North West England
. It is the largest settlement in the Borough of Chorley
. The town's wealth came principally from the cotton industry. As recently as the 1970s the skyline was dominated by numerous factory chimneys, but most are now demolished: remnants of the industrial past include Morrison's chimney and a few other mill buildings, and the streets of terraced houses for mill workers. Chorley is known as the home of the Chorley cake
.
Ceorla-lēah = "the peasant
s' clearing".
or chor leah meaning clearing on the river chor
. The earliest find came from 3500 BC on Anglezarke
Moor at Round Loaf
. A farmer at Astley Hall
Farm found a pottery burial urn from this period in 1963. This find was followed up with further excavations, with further artifacts being found. Objects from these excavations are on display at the hall's museum.
During the Roman
era a Roman road ran near Chorley towards Wigan
. It is believed that Romans settled at Brindle
to the north of the town, as Roman remains were discovered there in the late 1950s.
in various forms. Chorley is also famous for its famous Chorley cake
.
During 1442 a local noble named Sir Rowland Standish (a relative of Myles Standish
, Mayflower
passenger and military commander of Plymouth Colony
), who had fought at Agincourt
, brought back to Chorley the skull and bones of Saint Lawrence
and interred them at an altar at the parish church. With the bones interned there the church was renamed St. Lawrence's. Records of this are mentioned in the Harleian Manuscripts. The bones were not of the 3rd century saint but are believed to be the bones of Lorcán Ua Tuathail
, a saint canonised as St. Laurence from Dublin, who died in Normandy
in the 12th century. The bones went missing in the Reformation
under the rule of King Henry VIII
.
after a good meal, officially knighted Sirloin steak ("Sir" loin
) at Hoghton Tower
, a large stately home to north east of the town, where William Shakespeare
once worked. Astley Hall
is a more central stately home, set in the middle of the town's largest park, Astley Park. Oliver Cromwell
visited here on his trek through the region.
On 27 November 1745 when Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobites
passed through Preston and Wigan on their way south to Manchester and Derby in the hope of taking London and the Crown, Chorley was a mustering point for the Government scouts tracking them. The Prince and his Army marched through Chorley itself on 10 December on the way back to Carlisle and Scotland and their dreadful day of destiny on Culloden Moor near Inverness
the following 16 April. There was considerable local support in the town for that famous lost cause.
Also Chorley in its location on the edge of Lancashire Coalfield
was vital in coal mining. Several pits existed in Duxbury Woods
, the Gillibrand area and more numerously in Coppull
. Chisnall Hall Colliery
at Coppull
was considered the biggest Lancashire pit outside of Wigan and one of many located in the Chorley suburb. The last pit in the area to close was the Ellerbeck Colliery
in 1987 which was located south of Chorley, between Coppull
and Adlington
.
The town played an important role during the Second World War, when it was home to the Royal Ordnance Factory
, a large munitions manufacturer in the village of Euxton
about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the town centre. A smaller factory was also built near the Blackburn-Wigan railway line in Heapey
.
In the 1970s Chorley was designated as part of Central Lancashire
new town
, together with Preston and Leyland. The original aim of this project was to combine the three settlements into a single city with a population of around half a million. Although this never came to pass, and the project has since been abandoned, Chorley benefited from the urban renewal
commonly associated with new towns. Examples include a bypass of the town centre, and the Market Walk shopping centre.
Chorley saw the completion of the largest Mormon
temple in Europe in 1998, known as the Preston England Temple.
s (or civil parishes) in the area to become head of the Chorley Poor Law Union
which took responsibility for the administration and funding of the Poor Law
in the area.
Chorley became incorporated as a municipal borough
in 1881 by its first mayor William Augustus Smethurst. The town's population remained roughly static in the 20th century, with the 1911 census showing 30,315 people and the 1971 census showing 31,665. Under the Local Government Act 1972
, Chorley became the core of a larger non-metropolitan district on 1 April 1974. The present Borough of Chorley
has forty-seven councillors, representing twenty electoral wards
.
. The Black Brook
is a tributary of the Yarrow. The name of the River Chor
was back-formed
from "Chorley" and runs not far from the centre of the town, notably through Astley Park.
Chorley is located at the foot of the West Pennine Moors
and is overlooked by Healey Nab
, a small hill which is part of the West Pennine Moors
. It is the seat for the Borough of Chorley
which is made up of Chorley and its surrounding villages. Chorley had a population of 33,424 as of the 2001 census, with the wider borough of Chorley having a population of 101,991. Chorley forms a conurbation with Preston and Leyland
and was once proposed as being designated part of the Central Lancashire
New Town under the New Towns Act, a proposal which was eventually scaled back.
The first signs of industry as with many towns in Lancashire was mining, evidence of which can be seen by the various abandoned quarries
on the outskirts of the town. One of the most beautiful of these is Anglezarke Quarry, found between Chorley and Horwich
. A lot of remnants can be found of mining including the old railway bridge belonging to the Duxbury Mine on Wigan Lane, eventually the mining industry was surpassed by cotton mills which litter the town scape with Chimneys (one of the few remaining examples in the one that stands at the town's Morrisons).
Another industry in Chorley has been the manufacture of truck
s which it inherited from Chorley's neighbouring town of Leyland
. The large factory on Pilling Lane was used heavily for the production of trucks and during the Second World War
' military trucks and tanks. The factory eventually went on to spares manufacture up until the collapse of Leyland DAF
in the 1990s. The works emerged as a central parts depot for the Multipart
firm which eventually would come part of the RAC
. The plant was closed in 2006 and work was moved to a new smaller site on Buckshaw Village
. The Pilling Lane site has now been demolished to make way for new homes.
Another major industry was the manufacture of ammunition
and armaments. During the 1930s one of Britain's biggest such factories to build these products was built at Euxton. The site known as ROF Chorley
was vital in the Second World War
and during that time over 40,000 people worked at the site. It is also the site where the bouncing bomb
was built. The Nazis tried to bomb the site but could not find it as the roofs at the time were painted green, matching the surrounding grass-lands and making it very hard to spot from a plane. After World War II, production was reduced, and the final part of the site was closed in 2008 by BAE Systems
. A large part of the site has been redeveloped for residential and industrial use as Buckshaw Village
.
Today many of the town's residents work in Manchester
, Preston and nearby towns Bolton
, Blackburn and Wigan
. Leyland Trucks
and BAE Systems
are the Central Lancashire area's largest employers at their sites in Leyland
and Samlesbury
respectively.
Companies with a presence in the borough are:
Chorley town centre is the main location of shopping facilities in the town. Shops such as W.H. Smith, Argos
, Massa's Ice Cream Parlour, Rebel Cause and The Blue House to name a few have a presence in the town. The town centre in recent years has seen the new Market Walk development and the building a new town centre Booths
supermarket.
The town is also famous for its market heritage and is quoted as "Lancashire's market town". The outdoor market which has run for over 200 years, takes place every Tuesday on the Flat Iron. There is also a covered market place in the Market Square.
As well as these, Chorley has seen development out of town including retail parks which have seen the addition of Currys
and B&Q
to name a few. Chorley is also home to three of the four big supermarket
s, including Asda
, Morrisons
and Tesco
. Further to this Chorley was the starting point for The Chorley Group with their flagship dealership Chorley Nissan. The motor group now boasts eight dealerships across the North West with the newest addition appearing in the form of Chorley Fiat in Blackpool. The Chorley group are continuing to promote the Chorley name across the Country and beyond.
A £20m development, Market Walk Phase Two, is planned to add four shop units and a multi-storey car park to the existing Market Walk shopping centre. this is on hold until the council finds another developer.
hospital Chorley and South Ribble District General Hospital
which is located on Euxton Lane in addition to a private hospital located in Euxton
. The town also had another major hospital formerly on Eaves Lane before this closed in the 1990s. There was also the Heath Charnock
isolation hospital on Hut Lane which dealt with infectious diseases before reverting to use for long term patients before closing in the 1990s.
of which Junction 6 and 8 serving the town. Also the M6 motorway
serves the west of the town with Junction 27 connecting the town to the motorway, Charnock Richard Services
on the M6 are located in Chorley Borough.
, opened in 2003, replacing an older bus station also in the town centre. Bus services are provided by several operators:
in the town centre. The station is used by:
The station was also served by the Wigan-Blackburn Railway line up until it was closed in 1960. The line also had stops at Heapey
, Brinscall
, Withnell
and the White Bear Station
at Adlington
.
Elsewhere in the borough there are stations at Euxton
on the Wigan-Preston line, at Adlington
and Buckshaw Village on the Manchester-Preston line, and at Croston
on the Ormskirk Branch Line
.
runs parallel to Chorley and several marinas and locks are located on the Chorley area. Marinas along the canal include:
Chorley has the following 6 high schools:
Some independent schools are also present just outside the borough.
Most Chorley children go on to attend the nearby Runshaw College
in Leyland. Runshaw College has also expanded into the former administration site of ROF Chorley and is using, amongst others, the main Administration Building.
Lancashire College
, based in Chorley, is a part of Lancashire County Council
's Lancashire Adult Learning, offering a wide range of courses, a speciality being intensive residential language courses. From 1905 to 1981 the town was home to Chorley Training College (from the 1960s known as Chorley 'Day' Training College), designed by the Victorian and Edwardian architect Henry Cheers, and the town centre building now occupying this site is now Chorley Public Library.
team, Chorley F.C.
, also known as the 'Magpies' due to their black and white strip. Founded as a rugby team in 1875, they switched to playing football eight years later. Since then they have had limited success, with their most memorable moments being two appearances in the second round of the FA Cup
, and two seasons in the Football Conference
in the late 1980s. They currently play in the Northern Premier League First Division
.
The town and surrounding boroughs boast a number of cricket clubs, with two teams taking the town's name. Chorley Cricket Club
currently play in the Northern League, and were finalists in the ECB National Club Cricket Championship
for three consecutive seasons from 1994 to 1996, winning the trophy on the first two occasions. Chorley St James Cricket Club are the second side in the town, competing in the Southport & District Amateur Cricket League, having been members of the Chorley League until its demise in 2005.
Chorley RUFC
was founded in the early 1970s and initially their matches were on the playing fields of Astley Park. Since there was no club house in the early days the team played from the Prince of Wales pub, near the town's covered market. Work started on a new clubhouse on 22 March 1984, on an area of land off Chancery Road, situated on the edge of the freshly constructed Astley Village Estate. The club currently run two senior sides and a mini section, the 1st XV playing in the RFU North Lancs 2 division.
Until 2004, Chorley also boasted a rugby league
side, Chorley Lynx
, who played in league two of the national league
. However, the club was forced to close in 2004 due to small crowds and the withdrawal of funding by backer Trevor Hemmings
. Many of the club's players and staff joined Blackpool Panthers
, operating out of nearby Blackpool
.
Chorley also boasts as being home to some of the countries most successful track cyclists
including Jason Queally
, Bradley Wiggins
both Olympic gold medal winners and Rik Waddon Paralympic Silver Medalist. The town due to the Manchester Velodrome
has become home to some of the biggest names in the sport. Chorley is also the home town of Paralympic Gold Medallist Natalie Jones.
In terms of local sporting facilities the town is home to Chorley Fitness, who was awarded UK Fitness Centre of the Year and UK King of Clubs at the 2007 Club Mirror Awards. They also boast BUPA accreditation and the largest and modern leisure facilities in Chorley. There's also a council owned leisure centre; All Season which contains a swimming pool, sports hall, squash courts and a small fitness suite. The borough also includes other gym facilities, two other council owned leisure centres; Clayton Green and Coppull
and another public swimming pool at Brinscall
. The town is also home to a Next Generation
fitness centre and other private pools and leisure centres. It is also home to a David Lloyd
Tennis Centre.
A mile south of Chorley town centre is Duxbury Park municipal golf
course.
The town is also home to many amateur football, rugby and cricket teams. There are also several grass football pitches, bowling greens and tennis courts in the town. A public outdoor swimming pool did exist in Astley Park but was demolished in the 1990s due to Health and Safety fears.
Chorley are also home to the Chorley Harriers Running Club, who regularly compete in road, cross country, fell and athletics events.
Chorley has two local newspapers: the weekly paid-for Chorley Guardian and the free Chorley Citizen.
A British comedy television show, Phoenix Nights
, cited Chorley's radio station
, Chorley FM
, whose slogan was "Coming in your ears". Chorley does have a radio station, (which is unconnected to the TV Series) The station based in Chorley originally broadcast for only a few weeks, but in 2005 received a licence to broadcast from Chorley Community Centre, for more information see Chorley FM
.
As well as Phoenix Nights
, comedian Dave Spikey
based his comedy series Dead Man Weds
on, and filmed most of it in, Chorley. Steve Pemberton
, the creator of The League of Gentlemen
, based most of its characters on folk from Adlington
.
Seal Films, a local film production company brought an accolade to the town in 2001 after they were nominated for a Royal Television Society Award for a short film. The company continue to operate in Higher Wheelton.
Chorley Little Theatre was built as one of the town's first electric cinemas in 1910, it has been owned and operated by volunteers from Chorley Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society (CADOS) since 1960. The society put on at least six productions a year (typically four plays, a pantomime
, and a musical) and shows by Chorley Youth Theatre and big-screen films from Chorley Empire Community Cinema. It underwent refurbishment in 2010 and hosts touring comedy and music shows from old and new acts.
Astley Park, the town's urban, town centre park includes the Grade I listed, Astley Hall and also the renovated and refurbished Coach House Gallery and Walled Garden. The Coach House Gallery presents a seasonal programme of visual art's exhibitions from local and regional artists alongside an outdoor cultural events programme in the Walled Garden. These events include live music, theatre, dance and community arts events.
The Arts Partnership is a youth arts charity that operates from their own venue on Railway Street in the town centre. They run a number of arts and creative schemes with a diverse range of young people. The murals at the train and bus stations were produced as part of projects from the registered charity.
Cedar Farm Galleries in Mawdesley houses a number of artist's studios, retail stores and an on site restaurant.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, in North West England
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
. It is the largest settlement in the Borough of Chorley
Chorley (borough)
Chorley is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. It is named after its largest settlement, the town of Chorley.-Creation:...
. The town's wealth came principally from the cotton industry. As recently as the 1970s the skyline was dominated by numerous factory chimneys, but most are now demolished: remnants of the industrial past include Morrison's chimney and a few other mill buildings, and the streets of terraced houses for mill workers. Chorley is known as the home of the Chorley cake
Chorley cake
Chorley cakes are flattened, fruit-filled pastry cakes, traditionally associated with the town of Chorley in Lancashire, England. They are a close relative of the more widely known Eccles cake, but have some significant differences...
.
Toponymy
The name Chorley came from Anglo-SaxonOld English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
Ceorla-lēah = "the peasant
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
s' clearing".
or chor leah meaning clearing on the river chor
Early and Roman history
The area around Chorley has been inhabited since at least the Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
. The earliest find came from 3500 BC on Anglezarke
Anglezarke
Anglezarke is a sparsely populated civil parish in the Borough of Chorley in Lancashire, England. It is dominated by reservoirs that were built to supply water to Liverpool, and a large expanse of moorland with evidence of Bronze Age settlements...
Moor at Round Loaf
Round Loaf
Round Loaf is a Neolithic or Bronze Age tumulus on the West Pennine Moors on Anglezarke Moor, within the locale of Chorley in Lancashire, England.It is the largest of its type in the North West of England, dating back 3500 years...
. A farmer at Astley Hall
Astley Hall
Astley Hall is a country house in Chorley, Lancashire, England. Oliver Cromwell is said to have stayed here for a time. The hall is now owned by the town and is known as Astley Hall Museum and Art Gallery. The extensive landscaped grounds are now Chorley's Astley Park.-History:The site was...
Farm found a pottery burial urn from this period in 1963. This find was followed up with further excavations, with further artifacts being found. Objects from these excavations are on display at the hall's museum.
During the Roman
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
era a Roman road ran near Chorley towards Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
. It is believed that Romans settled at Brindle
Brindle, Lancashire
Brindle is a small village and civil parish of the borough of Chorley, Lancashire, England. It is in the centre of a triangle between Preston, Blackburn, and Chorley. The area has little industry. Brindle is one of the most affluent areas in Lancashire , with average earnings over 33% higher than...
to the north of the town, as Roman remains were discovered there in the late 1950s.
Late Middle Ages
A market charter was granted to the town in the 1250 and there is evidence from 1498 that the market was actually taking place Nowadays, the town has two markets, the Flat Iron Market and the Covered Market. For one weekend each year, French market traders sell their produce in the town, with Chorley's merchants returning the favour in France. The market has a number of specialist cheesemongers who purvey the local Lancashire cheeseLancashire cheese
Lancashire is an English cow's-milk cheese from the county of Lancashire. There are three distinct varieties of Lancashire cheese. Young Creamy Lancashire and mature Tasty Lancashire are produced by a traditional method, whereas Crumbly Lancashire is a more recent creation suitable for mass...
in various forms. Chorley is also famous for its famous Chorley cake
Chorley cake
Chorley cakes are flattened, fruit-filled pastry cakes, traditionally associated with the town of Chorley in Lancashire, England. They are a close relative of the more widely known Eccles cake, but have some significant differences...
.
During 1442 a local noble named Sir Rowland Standish (a relative of Myles Standish
Myles Standish
Myles Standish was an English military officer hired by the Pilgrims as military advisor for Plymouth Colony. One of the Mayflower passengers, Standish played a leading role in the administration and defense of Plymouth Colony from its inception...
, Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
passenger and military commander of Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
), who had fought at Agincourt
Battle of Agincourt
The Battle of Agincourt was a major English victory against a numerically superior French army in the Hundred Years' War. The battle occurred on Friday, 25 October 1415 , near modern-day Azincourt, in northern France...
, brought back to Chorley the skull and bones of Saint Lawrence
Lorcán Ua Tuathail
Lorcán Ua Tuathail, also known as St Laurence O'Toole, was born at Castledermot, Kildare, Ireland, in 1128, and died at Eu, Normandy, France, on 14 November 1180; he was canonized in 1225 by Pope Honorius III.-Early life:...
and interred them at an altar at the parish church. With the bones interned there the church was renamed St. Lawrence's. Records of this are mentioned in the Harleian Manuscripts. The bones were not of the 3rd century saint but are believed to be the bones of Lorcán Ua Tuathail
Lorcán Ua Tuathail
Lorcán Ua Tuathail, also known as St Laurence O'Toole, was born at Castledermot, Kildare, Ireland, in 1128, and died at Eu, Normandy, France, on 14 November 1180; he was canonized in 1225 by Pope Honorius III.-Early life:...
, a saint canonised as St. Laurence from Dublin, who died in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
in the 12th century. The bones went missing in the Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
under the rule of King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
.
17th and 18th centuries
According to the apocryphal story, James IJames I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
after a good meal, officially knighted Sirloin steak ("Sir" loin
Loin
The loins are the sides between the lower ribs and pelvis, and the lower part of the back. It is often used when describing the anatomy of humans and quadrupeds . The anatomical reference also carries over into the description of cuts of meat from some such animals, eg...
) at Hoghton Tower
Hoghton Tower
Hoghton Tower is fortified manor house near the village of Hoghton in the Borough of Chorley to the east of Preston in Lancashire, England. It has been the ancestral home of the De Hoghton family since the time of William the Conqueror. It features a mile long driveway to the main gates...
, a large stately home to north east of the town, where William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
once worked. Astley Hall
Astley Hall
Astley Hall is a country house in Chorley, Lancashire, England. Oliver Cromwell is said to have stayed here for a time. The hall is now owned by the town and is known as Astley Hall Museum and Art Gallery. The extensive landscaped grounds are now Chorley's Astley Park.-History:The site was...
is a more central stately home, set in the middle of the town's largest park, Astley Park. Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
visited here on his trek through the region.
On 27 November 1745 when Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobites
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
passed through Preston and Wigan on their way south to Manchester and Derby in the hope of taking London and the Crown, Chorley was a mustering point for the Government scouts tracking them. The Prince and his Army marched through Chorley itself on 10 December on the way back to Carlisle and Scotland and their dreadful day of destiny on Culloden Moor near Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
the following 16 April. There was considerable local support in the town for that famous lost cause.
19th, 20th to 21st centuries
Chorley, like most Lancashire towns, gained its wealth from the industrial revolution of the 19th century which was also responsible for the town's growth. Chorley was a vital cotton town with many mills littering the skyline. Today only three mills still remain working.Also Chorley in its location on the edge of Lancashire Coalfield
Lancashire Coalfield
The Lancashire Coalfield in north-west England was one of the most important British coalfields.-Geography and geology:The geology of the coalfield consists of the coal seams of the Upper, Middle and Lower Coal Measures, layers of sandstones, shales and coal of varying thickness, which were laid...
was vital in coal mining. Several pits existed in Duxbury Woods
Duxbury Woods
Duxbury Woods is an area of woodland and parkland situated in Chorley, Lancashire, at the foot of the West Pennine Moors. The area originally existed as a township with the council meeting at the Yarrow Bridge pub; this was absorbed into Chorley Rural Council in the early 20th century.Duxbury today...
, the Gillibrand area and more numerously in Coppull
Coppull
Coppull is a village and civil parish in Lancashire, England. It is part of the borough of Chorley, lies around above sea level and has a population of around 7,600. It is bounded by Whittle Brook, Clancutt Brook, the River Yarrow, Eller Brook, Hic-Bibi Brook and Stars Brook...
. Chisnall Hall Colliery
Chisnall Hall Colliery
Chisnall Hall Colliery was the largest coal mine in the area north of Wigan in Northern England. The mine was sunk on Coppull Moor between 1891 and 1900. It was owned by the Pearson & Knowles Coal and Iron Co Ltd, of Warrington and connected to the London and North Western Railway's Wigan–Preston...
at Coppull
Coppull
Coppull is a village and civil parish in Lancashire, England. It is part of the borough of Chorley, lies around above sea level and has a population of around 7,600. It is bounded by Whittle Brook, Clancutt Brook, the River Yarrow, Eller Brook, Hic-Bibi Brook and Stars Brook...
was considered the biggest Lancashire pit outside of Wigan and one of many located in the Chorley suburb. The last pit in the area to close was the Ellerbeck Colliery
Ellerbeck Colliery
Ellerbeck Colliery was a coal mine located on the border of Coppull and Adlington, within the Borough of Chorley in Lancashire, England. The Hilton House and Red Moss Coal Company sank the first shaft in 1876 and it closed in 1928....
in 1987 which was located south of Chorley, between Coppull
Coppull
Coppull is a village and civil parish in Lancashire, England. It is part of the borough of Chorley, lies around above sea level and has a population of around 7,600. It is bounded by Whittle Brook, Clancutt Brook, the River Yarrow, Eller Brook, Hic-Bibi Brook and Stars Brook...
and Adlington
Adlington, Lancashire
Adlington is a town and civil parish in Lancashire, England, near the West Pennine Moors and the town of Chorley. Six miles northwest of Bolton, it became a separate parish in 1842 then grew into a town around the textile industry. It has a population of 5,270.-Toponymy:The last element 'ington'...
.
The town played an important role during the Second World War, when it was home to the Royal Ordnance Factory
Royal Ordnance Factory
Royal Ordnance Factories was the collective name of the UK government's munitions factories in and after World War II. Until privatisation in 1987 they were the responsibility of the Ministry of Supply and later the Ministry of Defence....
, a large munitions manufacturer in the village of Euxton
Euxton
Euxton is a village and civil parish of the Borough of Chorley, in Lancashire, England. The village is pronounced "Exton") and is situated just to the south of Leyland, and to the west of Chorley.-Early Industry:...
about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the town centre. A smaller factory was also built near the Blackburn-Wigan railway line in Heapey
Heapey
Heapey is a village and civil parish of the Borough of Chorley, in Lancashire, England. The village is two miles from Chorley and on the western fringe of the West Pennine Moors. In 2001 the population was 955.- History:...
.
In the 1970s Chorley was designated as part of Central Lancashire
Central Lancashire
Central Lancashire is a designated new town in England. The designated area covers the towns of Preston, Leyland and Chorley...
new town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
, together with Preston and Leyland. The original aim of this project was to combine the three settlements into a single city with a population of around half a million. Although this never came to pass, and the project has since been abandoned, Chorley benefited from the urban renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
commonly associated with new towns. Examples include a bypass of the town centre, and the Market Walk shopping centre.
Chorley saw the completion of the largest Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
temple in Europe in 1998, known as the Preston England Temple.
Governance
In 1837, Chorley joined with other townshipTownship (England)
In England, a township is a local division or district of a large parish containing a village or small town usually having its own church...
s (or civil parishes) in the area to become head of the Chorley Poor Law Union
Poor Law Union
A Poor Law Union was a unit used for local government in the United Kingdom from the 19th century. The administration of the Poor Law was the responsibility of parishes, which varied wildly in their size, populations, financial resources, rateable values and requirements...
which took responsibility for the administration and funding of the Poor Law
Poor Law
The English Poor Laws were a system of poor relief which existed in England and Wales that developed out of late-medieval and Tudor-era laws before being codified in 1587–98...
in the area.
Chorley became incorporated as a municipal borough
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
in 1881 by its first mayor William Augustus Smethurst. The town's population remained roughly static in the 20th century, with the 1911 census showing 30,315 people and the 1971 census showing 31,665. Under the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, Chorley became the core of a larger non-metropolitan district on 1 April 1974. The present Borough of Chorley
Chorley (borough)
Chorley is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. It is named after its largest settlement, the town of Chorley.-Creation:...
has forty-seven councillors, representing twenty electoral wards
Wards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
.
Geography
The principal river in the town is the River YarrowRiver Yarrow (Lancashire)
The River Yarrow is in Lancashire, with its source at an area called Will Narr at Hordern Stoops, along Spitlers Edge - the Chorley/Blackburn boundary - on the West Pennine Moors. The river feeds the Yarrow Reservoir, which in turn feeds the Anglezarke and Upper and Lower Rivington Reservoirs...
. The Black Brook
Black Brook (Chorley)
Black Brook in Lancashire has its source at Great Hill in the West Pennine Moors. The water is acidic due to a high level of peat in the uplands near to Round Loaf, giving the brook its black colour. The young river was known as Warth Brook in olden Heapey. A feeder stream also known as Black...
is a tributary of the Yarrow. The name of the River Chor
River Chor
The River Chor is a largely culverted stream in the Lancashire town of Chorley. Its name was back-formed from "Chorley".The source of the river is in the hills near Heapey....
was back-formed
Back-formation
In etymology, back-formation is the process of creating a new lexeme, usually by removing actual or supposed affixes. The resulting neologism is called a back-formation, a term coined by James Murray in 1889...
from "Chorley" and runs not far from the centre of the town, notably through Astley Park.
Chorley is located at the foot of the West Pennine Moors
West Pennine Moors
The West Pennine Moors cover an area of approximately of moorland and reservoirs in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England.The West Pennine Moors are separated from the main Pennine range by the Irwell Valley. The moorland includes Withnell, Anglezarke and Rivington Moors in the extreme west,...
and is overlooked by Healey Nab
Healey Nab
Healey Nab or "The Nab" is an area of countryside owned by Lancashire County Council containing rolling hills, moorland, woodland, ponds and streams to the east of Chorley, Lancashire between the M61 and the West Pennine Moors. To the south east is Anglezarke Reservoir and to the north east White...
, a small hill which is part of the West Pennine Moors
West Pennine Moors
The West Pennine Moors cover an area of approximately of moorland and reservoirs in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England.The West Pennine Moors are separated from the main Pennine range by the Irwell Valley. The moorland includes Withnell, Anglezarke and Rivington Moors in the extreme west,...
. It is the seat for the Borough of Chorley
Chorley (borough)
Chorley is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. It is named after its largest settlement, the town of Chorley.-Creation:...
which is made up of Chorley and its surrounding villages. Chorley had a population of 33,424 as of the 2001 census, with the wider borough of Chorley having a population of 101,991. Chorley forms a conurbation with Preston and Leyland
Leyland, Lancashire
Leyland is a town in the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England, approximately six miles south of the city of Preston.Throughout the 20th and 21st century, the community has seen a large growth in industry, population and farming, due to the establishment of Leyland Motors, housing...
and was once proposed as being designated part of the Central Lancashire
Central Lancashire
Central Lancashire is a designated new town in England. The designated area covers the towns of Preston, Leyland and Chorley...
New Town under the New Towns Act, a proposal which was eventually scaled back.
Economy
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
on the outskirts of the town. One of the most beautiful of these is Anglezarke Quarry, found between Chorley and Horwich
Horwich
Horwich is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Chorley, northwest of Bolton and northwest from the city of Manchester. It lies at the southern edge of the West Pennine Moors with the M61 motorway close to the...
. A lot of remnants can be found of mining including the old railway bridge belonging to the Duxbury Mine on Wigan Lane, eventually the mining industry was surpassed by cotton mills which litter the town scape with Chimneys (one of the few remaining examples in the one that stands at the town's Morrisons).
Another industry in Chorley has been the manufacture of truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s which it inherited from Chorley's neighbouring town of Leyland
Leyland, Lancashire
Leyland is a town in the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England, approximately six miles south of the city of Preston.Throughout the 20th and 21st century, the community has seen a large growth in industry, population and farming, due to the establishment of Leyland Motors, housing...
. The large factory on Pilling Lane was used heavily for the production of trucks and during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
' military trucks and tanks. The factory eventually went on to spares manufacture up until the collapse of Leyland DAF
Leyland DAF
Leyland DAF was a commercial vehicle manufacturing company based in the United Kingdom, and a division of DAF NV. In 1993 DAF NV became insolvent and Leyland DAF went into receivership.-History:...
in the 1990s. The works emerged as a central parts depot for the Multipart
Multipart Solutions
Multipart Solutions Limited is a firm that supplies spare parts and components to customers in the automotive, defence and utility sectors in the United Kingdom and Europe....
firm which eventually would come part of the RAC
RAC plc
RAC Limited is a breakdown company in the United Kingdom supplying products and services for motorists. Initially formed as the "Associate Section" of the Royal Automobile Club, it was incorporated as R.A.C. Motoring Services Ltd. in 1978. It was then sold by the members of the Royal Automobile...
. The plant was closed in 2006 and work was moved to a new smaller site on Buckshaw Village
Buckshaw Village
Buckshaw Village is a new residential and industrial area between the towns of Chorley and Leyland in Lancashire, the original area of Buckshaw being part of Euxton...
. The Pilling Lane site has now been demolished to make way for new homes.
Another major industry was the manufacture of ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
and armaments. During the 1930s one of Britain's biggest such factories to build these products was built at Euxton. The site known as ROF Chorley
ROF Chorley
ROF Chorley was a UK government-owned, munitions filling, Royal Ordnance Factory . It was planned as a Permanent Royal Ordnance Factory with the intention that it, unlike some other similar facilities, would remain open for production after the end of World War II; and, together with ROF Bridgend...
was vital in the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and during that time over 40,000 people worked at the site. It is also the site where the bouncing bomb
Bouncing bomb
A bouncing bomb is a bomb designed specifically to bounce to a target across water in a calculated manner, in order to avoid obstacles such as torpedo nets, and to allow both the bomb's speed on arrival at the target and the timing of its detonation to be pre-determined...
was built. The Nazis tried to bomb the site but could not find it as the roofs at the time were painted green, matching the surrounding grass-lands and making it very hard to spot from a plane. After World War II, production was reduced, and the final part of the site was closed in 2008 by BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
. A large part of the site has been redeveloped for residential and industrial use as Buckshaw Village
Buckshaw Village
Buckshaw Village is a new residential and industrial area between the towns of Chorley and Leyland in Lancashire, the original area of Buckshaw being part of Euxton...
.
Today many of the town's residents work in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Preston and nearby towns Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, Blackburn and Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
. Leyland Trucks
Leyland Trucks
Leyland Trucks is the UK's leading medium & heavy duty truck manufacturer and is based in the town of Leyland, Lancashire. It emerged from the bankruptcy of DAF NV as the result of a management buy-out in 1993, and was acquired by PACCAR in 1998, of which it is now a subsidiary...
and BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
are the Central Lancashire area's largest employers at their sites in Leyland
Leyland, Lancashire
Leyland is a town in the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England, approximately six miles south of the city of Preston.Throughout the 20th and 21st century, the community has seen a large growth in industry, population and farming, due to the establishment of Leyland Motors, housing...
and Samlesbury
Samlesbury
Samlesbury is a small village and civil parish in the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England. Samlesbury Hall, a historic house, is located in the village as well as Samlesbury Aerodrome...
respectively.
Companies with a presence in the borough are:
- BAE SystemsBAE SystemsBAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
- The Chorley Group
- Telent
- FedExFedExFedEx Corporation , originally known as FDX Corporation, is a logistics services company, based in the United States with headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee...
, North West depot located in the town - CSCComputer Sciences CorporationComputer Sciences Corporation is an American information technology and business services company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, USA...
, two locations, one in EuxtonEuxtonEuxton is a village and civil parish of the Borough of Chorley, in Lancashire, England. The village is pronounced "Exton") and is situated just to the south of Leyland, and to the west of Chorley.-Early Industry:...
and the other in Clayton-le-WoodsClayton-le-WoodsClayton-le-Woods is a large village and civil parish of the Borough of Chorley, in Lancashire, England. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001 it has a population of 14,528.-Geography:...
, north of Chorley - Multipart SolutionsMultipart SolutionsMultipart Solutions Limited is a firm that supplies spare parts and components to customers in the automotive, defence and utility sectors in the United Kingdom and Europe....
Limited, successor to the parts arm of the Leyland DAFLeyland DAFLeyland DAF was a commercial vehicle manufacturing company based in the United Kingdom, and a division of DAF NV. In 1993 DAF NV became insolvent and Leyland DAF went into receivership.-History:... - Porter LancastrianPorter LancastrianPorter Lancastrian Limited is a leading English manufacturer of point of sale dispense equipment for the brewing industry. Porter Lancastrian Limited is also the UK's premier manufacturer of bathroom televisions...
is a distinguished manufacturer of beer pumpsBeer engineA beer engine is a device for pumping beer, originally manually operated and typically used to dispense beer from a cask or container in a pub's basement or cellar. It was invented by the locksmith and hydraulic engineer Joseph Bramah in 1797...
, under the Porta brand.
Chorley town centre is the main location of shopping facilities in the town. Shops such as W.H. Smith, Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
, Massa's Ice Cream Parlour, Rebel Cause and The Blue House to name a few have a presence in the town. The town centre in recent years has seen the new Market Walk development and the building a new town centre Booths
Booths
Booths is a chain of supermarkets in Northern England. Most of its branches are located in Lancashire, but there are also branches in Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire. Booths is targeted at the middle class market and competes on quality as opposed to just...
supermarket.
The town is also famous for its market heritage and is quoted as "Lancashire's market town". The outdoor market which has run for over 200 years, takes place every Tuesday on the Flat Iron. There is also a covered market place in the Market Square.
As well as these, Chorley has seen development out of town including retail parks which have seen the addition of Currys
Currys
Currys is an electrical retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland and is owned by Dixons Retail plc. It specialises in selling home electronics and household appliances, with 295 superstores and 73 high street stores...
and B&Q
B&Q
B&Q plc is a multinational DIY and home improvement retailer headquartered in Eastleigh, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1969 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingfisher plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange....
to name a few. Chorley is also home to three of the four big supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
s, including Asda
Asda
Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
, Morrisons
Morrisons
Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc is the fourth largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom, headquartered in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The company is usually referred to and is branded as Morrisons formerly Morrison's, and it is part of the FTSE 100 Index of companies...
and Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
. Further to this Chorley was the starting point for The Chorley Group with their flagship dealership Chorley Nissan. The motor group now boasts eight dealerships across the North West with the newest addition appearing in the form of Chorley Fiat in Blackpool. The Chorley group are continuing to promote the Chorley name across the Country and beyond.
A £20m development, Market Walk Phase Two, is planned to add four shop units and a multi-storey car park to the existing Market Walk shopping centre. this is on hold until the council finds another developer.
Healthcare
Chorley is served by the local NHSNational Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
hospital Chorley and South Ribble District General Hospital
Chorley and South Ribble District General Hospital
Chorley and South Ribble District General Hospital is the main NHS hospital for the Lancashire boroughs of Chorley and South Ribble.The hospital comes under the authority of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust along with the Royal Preston Hospital.There were once another two NHS...
which is located on Euxton Lane in addition to a private hospital located in Euxton
Euxton
Euxton is a village and civil parish of the Borough of Chorley, in Lancashire, England. The village is pronounced "Exton") and is situated just to the south of Leyland, and to the west of Chorley.-Early Industry:...
. The town also had another major hospital formerly on Eaves Lane before this closed in the 1990s. There was also the Heath Charnock
Heath Charnock
Heath Charnock is a small village and civil parish of the Borough of Chorley in Lancashire, England. It is adjacent to Adlington and Anderton. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001 it has a population of 2,065.-History:...
isolation hospital on Hut Lane which dealt with infectious diseases before reverting to use for long term patients before closing in the 1990s.
Infrastructure
Road
Chorley is bisected by the A6 Roman road which goes straight through the town centre. The town is also near to the M61M61 motorway
The M61 motorway is a motorway in North West England. It runs from the M60 motorway northwest of Manchester and heads northwest past Bolton and Chorley to join the M6 just north of the junction between the M6 and M65 motorways to the south of Preston....
of which Junction 6 and 8 serving the town. Also the M6 motorway
M6 motorway
The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby via Birmingham then heads north, passing Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and terminating at the Gretna junction . Here, just short of the Scottish border it becomes the A74 which continues to...
serves the west of the town with Junction 27 connecting the town to the motorway, Charnock Richard Services
Charnock Richard services
Charnock Richard services is a motorway service station, between junctions 27 and 28 of the M6 motorway in England. It was the first service station to open on the M6 motorway when it opened in 1963. It is operated by Welcome Break....
on the M6 are located in Chorley Borough.
Bus
The town's bus station, Chorley InterchangeChorley Interchange
Chorley Interchange is a bus station located in the town of Chorley, Lancashire. The station links up to the nearby Chorley railway station and replaces the former bus station, which was demolished in 2003. The station is owned by Lancashire County Council....
, opened in 2003, replacing an older bus station also in the town centre. Bus services are provided by several operators:
- Stagecoach North WestStagecoach North WestStagecoach North West is a major operator of bus services in North West England. It is a subsidiary of the Stagecoach Group, and has its origins in the purchase of Cumberland in 1987 and Ribble in 1988 from the National Bus Company. The head office of Stagecoach North West is in Carlisle...
operate bus services which connect the town to BoltonBoltonBolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, Blackburn, Preston and ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, and the Network ChorleyNetwork ChorleyNetwork Chorley is a Stagecoach in Lancashire operated bus service which provides internal services around the Borough of Chorley.The service operates Optare Solos which previously replaced Mercedes-Benz 709D buses which operated on local routes....
routes within the borough. - Transdev Lancashire United operate the bus service between Blackburn and Chorley.
- Fishwick Buses connect Chorley bus station to LeylandLeyland, LancashireLeyland is a town in the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England, approximately six miles south of the city of Preston.Throughout the 20th and 21st century, the community has seen a large growth in industry, population and farming, due to the establishment of Leyland Motors, housing...
and Preston. - ArrivaArrivaArriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each...
operate buses to WiganWiganWigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
. - National ExpressNational ExpressNational Express Coaches, more commonly known as National Express, is a brand and company, owned by the National Express Group, under which the majority of long distance bus and coach services in Great Britain are operated,...
also operate a daily service from Chorley Interchange to LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Rail
The main central station is Chorley railway stationChorley railway station
Chorley railway station serves Chorley in Lancashire, England. Since 2004 it has been linked with its "interchange" bus and coach station.The railway station is a modern 1980s built on top of the original station, the level of which can be seen under the existing station's two platforms connected...
in the town centre. The station is used by:
- FirstFirstGroup plcFirstGroup plc is a public transport company, registered in Scotland at its headquarters in Aberdeen, operating in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Canada and the United States...
TransPennine North West whose line runs between Manchester Airport and Windermere and now links direct to Scotland without changing. - Northern RailNorthern RailNorthern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
Manchester to Preston LineManchester to Preston LineThe Manchester to Preston Line runs from the city of Manchester to Preston, Lancashire. It is largely used by commuters entering Manchester from surrounding suburbs and cities, but is also one of the main railway lines in the North West and is utilised by intercity services for Scotland and the...
runs through Chorley and also connects the town to Bolton, Preston and ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
The station was also served by the Wigan-Blackburn Railway line up until it was closed in 1960. The line also had stops at Heapey
Heapey railway station
Heapey railway station was a railway station that served the village of Heapey, in Lancashire, England.-History:The station was opened by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway on the Blackburn to Chorley Line. In 1960 the station was closed to passengers, although goods traffic survived until the...
, Brinscall
Brinscall railway station
Brinscall railway station was a railway station that served the village of Brinscall, Lancashire, England.-History:The station was opened by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. It was on the Blackburn to Chorley Line. On January 4th 1960, the station was closed to passengers although goods...
, Withnell
Withnell railway station
Withnell railway station was a railway station that served Abbey Village and Withnell, in Lancashire, England.-History:The station was opened by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. It was on the Blackburn to Chorley Line. In January 1960, the station was closed following the withdrawal of the...
and the White Bear Station
White Bear railway station
White Bear railway station, on Station Road, Adlington, Lancashire, England, was on the Lancashire Union Railway line between St Helens and Blackburn...
at Adlington
Adlington, Lancashire
Adlington is a town and civil parish in Lancashire, England, near the West Pennine Moors and the town of Chorley. Six miles northwest of Bolton, it became a separate parish in 1842 then grew into a town around the textile industry. It has a population of 5,270.-Toponymy:The last element 'ington'...
.
Elsewhere in the borough there are stations at Euxton
Euxton Balshaw Lane railway station
Euxton Balshaw Lane is situated in the village of Euxton , Lancashire, England. It is a local station on the West Coast Main Line on the stretch between Wigan and .-History:...
on the Wigan-Preston line, at Adlington
Adlington (Lancashire) railway station
Adlington railway station serves the village of Adlington, near Chorley in Lancashire, England. It is a two-platform station on the Chorley-Bolton line...
and Buckshaw Village on the Manchester-Preston line, and at Croston
Croston railway station
Croston railway station serves the small village of Croston, near Chorley in Lancashire, the station is on the Ormskirk branch line.This line was cut back with the railway restructuring of the 1960s and 1970s, and only a single DMU operates over the line, shuttling from end to end to provide a...
on the Ormskirk Branch Line
Ormskirk Branch Line
The Ormskirk Branch Line is a railway line in Lancashire, England, running between Preston and Ormskirk. The train service is operated by Northern Rail. The line is the northern section of the former Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway; the line from Ormskirk to Liverpool is now part of...
.
Waterways
The Leeds and Liverpool CanalLeeds and Liverpool Canal
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a canal in Northern England, linking the cities of Leeds and Liverpool. Over a distance of , it crosses the Pennines, and includes 91 locks on the main line...
runs parallel to Chorley and several marinas and locks are located on the Chorley area. Marinas along the canal include:
- White Bear Marina, Adlington
- Cowling Launch, Chorley
- Top Lock, Whittle
- Botany Bay, Botany Brow
- Riley Green, Hoghton
Education
Chorley is home to numerous primary schools both council and church supported.Chorley has the following 6 high schools:
- Holy Cross Catholic High SchoolHoly Cross Catholic High SchoolHoly Cross Catholic High School is a Roman Catholic Voluntary aided comprehensive school in Chorley, Lancashire, England. The school has dual specialist Sports College and Science College status....
- Albany Science College
- Bishop Rawstorne CE High SchoolBishop RawstorneBishop Rawstorne C of E Language College is a high school situated in the village of Croston, Lancashire, England.- About the school :Bishop Rawstorne was founded in the early 1960s. Pupils are drawn from a wide area, and is over-subscribed every year. The school was awarded DfES Teacher Training...
- Parklands High School
- Southlands High SchoolSouthlands High SchoolSouthlands High School is a specialist Technology College in Chorley, England. The current headteacher is Mr M Fowle.-Awards:*Arts Mark*Lancashire Healthy Schools *Sports Mark*Successful IPAD 2 Scheme-External links:**...
- St. Michael's CE High SchoolSt. Michael's CE High SchoolSt. Michael's is an Anglican high school located in the town of Chorley, Lancashire, England. The school is home to 1,200 pupils and is a performing Arts College.The Headteacher is Chris Bagguley and the Deputy Headteacher is Julie Heaton....
Some independent schools are also present just outside the borough.
Most Chorley children go on to attend the nearby Runshaw College
Runshaw College
Runshaw College is a further and higher education college based at three centres in Leyland and Chorley, Lancashire, England.-History:The college was founded in Leyland when the sixth forms of Parklands High School and Balshaw's CE High School were amalgamated in 1974 to make a sixth form college...
in Leyland. Runshaw College has also expanded into the former administration site of ROF Chorley and is using, amongst others, the main Administration Building.
Lancashire College
Lancashire College
Lancashire College is an adult education college located in Chorley, Lancashire, England.The college is the main site and headquarters of Lancashire Adult Learning, an adult education service operated by Lancashire County Council, which includes The Adult College and Alston Hall.Courses offered by...
, based in Chorley, is a part of Lancashire County Council
Lancashire County Council
Lancashire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire, England. It currently consists of 84 councillors, and is controlled by the Conservative Party, who won control of the council in the local council elections in June 2009, ending 28 years of...
's Lancashire Adult Learning, offering a wide range of courses, a speciality being intensive residential language courses. From 1905 to 1981 the town was home to Chorley Training College (from the 1960s known as Chorley 'Day' Training College), designed by the Victorian and Edwardian architect Henry Cheers, and the town centre building now occupying this site is now Chorley Public Library.
Sport
Chorley is home to the semi-professional footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team, Chorley F.C.
Chorley F.C.
Chorley Football Club are a football club from Chorley, Lancashire, England. They were founded as a rugby union club in 1875 but switched to football in 1883. They have reached the FA Cup second round twice in 1986–87 and 1990–91. Their best performance in the FA Trophy was in 1995–96 when they...
, also known as the 'Magpies' due to their black and white strip. Founded as a rugby team in 1875, they switched to playing football eight years later. Since then they have had limited success, with their most memorable moments being two appearances in the second round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, and two seasons in the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
in the late 1980s. They currently play in the Northern Premier League First Division
Northern Premier League First Division
The Northern Premier League First Division was a football league covering the north of England. After the creation of Conference North/South in the 2004-05 season it sat at level 8 of the English football league system....
.
The town and surrounding boroughs boast a number of cricket clubs, with two teams taking the town's name. Chorley Cricket Club
Chorley Cricket Club
Chorley Cricket Club is an English cricket club based in Chorley, Lancashire, playing their home matches at Windsor Road. The club's first and second teams compete in the ECB Northern Premier Cricket League, while their thirds take part in the more locally based Palace Shield.Gained prominence...
currently play in the Northern League, and were finalists in the ECB National Club Cricket Championship
ECB National Club Cricket Championship
The ECB National Club Cricket Championship is a knockout club cricket competition in England. The most successful clubs have been Scarborough Cricket Club from Yorkshire, with five titles and Old Hill Cricket Club from the Metropolitan county of West Midlands , with four.-Winners:ECB National Club...
for three consecutive seasons from 1994 to 1996, winning the trophy on the first two occasions. Chorley St James Cricket Club are the second side in the town, competing in the Southport & District Amateur Cricket League, having been members of the Chorley League until its demise in 2005.
Chorley RUFC
Chorley RUFC
Chorley Rugby Union Club was founded in 1973 and initially played their matches on the playing fields of Astley Park. Since there was no club house in the early days the team played from the Prince of Wales pub, near the town's covered market...
was founded in the early 1970s and initially their matches were on the playing fields of Astley Park. Since there was no club house in the early days the team played from the Prince of Wales pub, near the town's covered market. Work started on a new clubhouse on 22 March 1984, on an area of land off Chancery Road, situated on the edge of the freshly constructed Astley Village Estate. The club currently run two senior sides and a mini section, the 1st XV playing in the RFU North Lancs 2 division.
Until 2004, Chorley also boasted a rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
side, Chorley Lynx
Blackpool Panthers
Blackpool & The Fylde Panthers RLFC was an English professional rugby league club based in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. They played at Woodlands Memorial Ground owned by Fylde rugby union club...
, who played in league two of the national league
Rugby League National Leagues
The Championship, known as Co-operative Championship due to sponsorship by The Co-operative Group, is a professional rugby league competition based in the United Kingdom. It is currently contested by ten teams from England. It acts as Europe's second-tier competition below the Super League, and has...
. However, the club was forced to close in 2004 due to small crowds and the withdrawal of funding by backer Trevor Hemmings
Trevor Hemmings
Trevor James Hemmings CVO is a British businessman, he was born in London, and grew up in Leyland, Lancashire He currently resides in the Isle of Man, but has homes in Jersey and Ireland....
. Many of the club's players and staff joined Blackpool Panthers
Blackpool Panthers
Blackpool & The Fylde Panthers RLFC was an English professional rugby league club based in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. They played at Woodlands Memorial Ground owned by Fylde rugby union club...
, operating out of nearby Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
.
Chorley also boasts as being home to some of the countries most successful track cyclists
Track cycling
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles....
including Jason Queally
Jason Queally
Jason Paul Queally is an English track cyclist. He won a gold medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.Born at Great Heywood, Staffordshire, Queally attended Lancaster Royal Grammar School, where he was part of the swimming squad in the mid-1980s, later representing Lancaster and British Universities...
, Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Marc Wiggins, CBE is a British professional track and road bicycle racer, currently riding for Team Sky. Wiggins' career began on the track, where he specialised in the pursuit and madison disciplines....
both Olympic gold medal winners and Rik Waddon Paralympic Silver Medalist. The town due to the Manchester Velodrome
Manchester Velodrome
Manchester Velodrome is an indoor cycle-racing track or velodrome in Manchester, northwest England. It opened in September 1994 and is the leading indoor Olympic-standard track in the United Kingdom. It houses the National Cycling Centre and British Cycling...
has become home to some of the biggest names in the sport. Chorley is also the home town of Paralympic Gold Medallist Natalie Jones.
In terms of local sporting facilities the town is home to Chorley Fitness, who was awarded UK Fitness Centre of the Year and UK King of Clubs at the 2007 Club Mirror Awards. They also boast BUPA accreditation and the largest and modern leisure facilities in Chorley. There's also a council owned leisure centre; All Season which contains a swimming pool, sports hall, squash courts and a small fitness suite. The borough also includes other gym facilities, two other council owned leisure centres; Clayton Green and Coppull
Coppull
Coppull is a village and civil parish in Lancashire, England. It is part of the borough of Chorley, lies around above sea level and has a population of around 7,600. It is bounded by Whittle Brook, Clancutt Brook, the River Yarrow, Eller Brook, Hic-Bibi Brook and Stars Brook...
and another public swimming pool at Brinscall
Brinscall
Brinscall is a village in the borough of Chorley, Lancashire, England. Located approximately five miles north-east of Chorley, Brinscall borders the similar-sized villages of Withnell and Abbey Village. Brinscall is part of the civil parish of Withnell but does not have its own boundaries...
. The town is also home to a Next Generation
Next Generation
Next Generation or Next-Generation may refer to:- Publications and literature :* Next Generation Magazine, video game magazine that was made by the now defunct Imagine Media publishing company...
fitness centre and other private pools and leisure centres. It is also home to a David Lloyd
David Lloyd (tennis)
David Lloyd is a former professional English tennis player and businessman.He was born in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. He and his younger brother John Lloyd became two of the most successful British tennis players throughout the 1970s and 1980s. David captained the British Davis Cup team and became a...
Tennis Centre.
A mile south of Chorley town centre is Duxbury Park municipal golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
course.
The town is also home to many amateur football, rugby and cricket teams. There are also several grass football pitches, bowling greens and tennis courts in the town. A public outdoor swimming pool did exist in Astley Park but was demolished in the 1990s due to Health and Safety fears.
Chorley are also home to the Chorley Harriers Running Club, who regularly compete in road, cross country, fell and athletics events.
Media
Nationally Chorley is often portrayed as a barometer of public opinion, especially during political campaigns as it has both a large rural and urban mix.Chorley has two local newspapers: the weekly paid-for Chorley Guardian and the free Chorley Citizen.
A British comedy television show, Phoenix Nights
Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights
Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights was a BAFTA-nominated English sitcom about The Phoenix Club, a working men's club in the northern English town of Farnworth, Greater Manchester. The show was written by Neil Fitzmaurice, Peter Kay and Dave Spikey, produced by Goodnight Vienna Productions and Ovation...
, cited Chorley's radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
, Chorley FM
Chorley FM
Chorley FM is a radio station based in Chorley, Lancashire, England. The station was created by volunteers back in 2001 to broadcast a special two week licence in conjunction with the Midsummer Festival which was located on Botany Bay near the M61.-History:...
, whose slogan was "Coming in your ears". Chorley does have a radio station, (which is unconnected to the TV Series) The station based in Chorley originally broadcast for only a few weeks, but in 2005 received a licence to broadcast from Chorley Community Centre, for more information see Chorley FM
Chorley FM
Chorley FM is a radio station based in Chorley, Lancashire, England. The station was created by volunteers back in 2001 to broadcast a special two week licence in conjunction with the Midsummer Festival which was located on Botany Bay near the M61.-History:...
.
As well as Phoenix Nights
Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights
Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights was a BAFTA-nominated English sitcom about The Phoenix Club, a working men's club in the northern English town of Farnworth, Greater Manchester. The show was written by Neil Fitzmaurice, Peter Kay and Dave Spikey, produced by Goodnight Vienna Productions and Ovation...
, comedian Dave Spikey
Dave Spikey
Dave Spikey is an English comedian, actor, writer and film producer, currently residing in Chorley, Lancashire....
based his comedy series Dead Man Weds
Dead Man Weds
Dead Man Weds is a 6-part comedy series shown on ITV on British TV in January and early February 2005 .The series was written by Dave Spikey who played the part of Jerry St Clair in Phoenix Nights...
on, and filmed most of it in, Chorley. Steve Pemberton
Steve Pemberton
Steve James Pemberton is an English actor, comedian, writer and performer, most famous as a member of The League of Gentlemen along with fellow performers Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss and co-writer Jeremy Dyson.-Early life:...
, the creator of The League of Gentlemen
The League of Gentlemen
The League of Gentlemen are a group of British comedians formed in 1995, best known for their radio and television series.The League of Gentlemen may also refer to:* The League of Gentlemen ,...
, based most of its characters on folk from Adlington
Adlington, Lancashire
Adlington is a town and civil parish in Lancashire, England, near the West Pennine Moors and the town of Chorley. Six miles northwest of Bolton, it became a separate parish in 1842 then grew into a town around the textile industry. It has a population of 5,270.-Toponymy:The last element 'ington'...
.
Seal Films, a local film production company brought an accolade to the town in 2001 after they were nominated for a Royal Television Society Award for a short film. The company continue to operate in Higher Wheelton.
Culture and Community
Chorley has two Historical Societies, The Chorley Historical and Archaeological Society and The Chorley and District Natural History Society. It also has a Civic Society.Chorley Little Theatre was built as one of the town's first electric cinemas in 1910, it has been owned and operated by volunteers from Chorley Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society (CADOS) since 1960. The society put on at least six productions a year (typically four plays, a pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
, and a musical) and shows by Chorley Youth Theatre and big-screen films from Chorley Empire Community Cinema. It underwent refurbishment in 2010 and hosts touring comedy and music shows from old and new acts.
Astley Park, the town's urban, town centre park includes the Grade I listed, Astley Hall and also the renovated and refurbished Coach House Gallery and Walled Garden. The Coach House Gallery presents a seasonal programme of visual art's exhibitions from local and regional artists alongside an outdoor cultural events programme in the Walled Garden. These events include live music, theatre, dance and community arts events.
The Arts Partnership is a youth arts charity that operates from their own venue on Railway Street in the town centre. They run a number of arts and creative schemes with a diverse range of young people. The murals at the train and bus stations were produced as part of projects from the registered charity.
Cedar Farm Galleries in Mawdesley houses a number of artist's studios, retail stores and an on site restaurant.
Places of interest
- Astley Park & Astley Hall
- Bank HallBank HallBank Hall is a Jacobean mansion south of the village of Bretherton in Lancashire, England. It is a Grade II* Listed Building. The hall was built on the site of a previous building in 1608 during the reign of James I by the Banastre family who were Lords of the Manor. It was extended during the 18th...
- Botany Bay
- Buckshaw VillageBuckshaw VillageBuckshaw Village is a new residential and industrial area between the towns of Chorley and Leyland in Lancashire, the original area of Buckshaw being part of Euxton...
- Camelot Theme ParkCamelot Theme ParkCamelot Theme Park is a resort and theme park located in the English county of Lancashire. It is based on the legend of Camelot. It is located on a site near the village of Charnock Richard, west of Chorley. The site is owned by The Story Group, and operated by Knights Leisure...
- Preston England TemplePreston England TempleThe Preston England Temple is the 52nd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .The LDS Church first took root in Preston, Lancashire when the first Mormon missionaries arrived in 1837. Because of its place in LDS Church history and the growth of membership in Preston,...
- Duxbury Park
- White CoppiceWhite CoppiceWhite Coppice is a hamlet near Chorley, Lancashire, England. It was the most populated part of the township of Anglezarke in the 19th century. Close to the settlement in the early 19th century were quarries and small coal mines. The hamlet lies to the north of Anglezarke Reservoir in the Rivington...
& The Great Hill
- Heskin HallHeskin HallHeskin Hall is a manor house in Heskin, Lancashire, England. It probably dates from the 17th century. It has been designated a Grade I listed building by English Heritage.-History:...
- Heapey Nab
- Leeds & Liverpool Canal
- Park Hall
- St. Laurence's ChurchSt Laurence's Church, ChorleySt Laurence's Church, Chorley, is located in the town of Chorley, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Chorley, the archdeaconry of Blackburn, and the diocese of Blackburn...
- the oldest building in Chorley - Rivington PikeRivington PikeRivington Pike is a hill summit on Winter Hill, part of the West Pennine Moors, overlooking the village of Rivington in Lancashire, England. The nearest towns are Chorley and Horwich. The Pike is a prominent local landmark which derives its name from the Old English hreof plus ing meaning the rough...
- Winter Hill
- Worden ParkWorden ParkWorden Park is a large area of parkland situated on the outskirts of Leyland, a town in the borough of South Ribble, Lancashire, England. It is less than a quarter of a mile from the town centre, yet is a peaceful and relaxed environment.-History:...
- Yarrow Valley Country Park
Notable residents
- Loui BatleyLoui BatleyLouie Anne Batley is an English actress, singer and dancer best known for her role in Hollyoaks as Sarah Barnes...
(actress and dancer) - Bill BeaumontBill BeaumontWilliam "Bill" Blackledge Beaumont CBE was captain of the England rugby union team at a time when they struggled to win games. His greatest moment as captain was the unexpected 1980 Grand Slam. He played as a lock...
(former England rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
captain) - Walter BergWalter BergWalter Berg is a British astrologer, known for his system of a 13-sign sidereal astrology , "a sidereal system that uses the actual star constellations of the true zodiac"....
(astronomer/astrologer) - Phil CoolPhil CoolPhil Cool is an English comedian, impressionist and musician.-Early life:Cool discovered that he had the ability to pull faces when he was at school...
(comedian) - C. D. DarlingtonC. D. DarlingtonCyril Dean Darlington FRS was an English biologist, geneticist and eugenicist, who discovered the mechanics of chromosomal crossover, its role in inheritance, and therefore its importance to evolution.-Early life:...
(biologist) - Derek DraperDerek DraperDerek William Draper is a former lobbyist, former editor of the LabourList website, and psychotherapist. As a political advisor during the 1990s he became widely known for his role in two political scandals, "Lobbygate" and "Smeargate".-Biography:Draper was educated at Southlands High School in...
(former LabourLabour Party (UK)The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
spin doctor and newspaper columnist) - John FoxxJohn FoxxJohn Foxx is an English singer, artist, photographer and teacher. He was the original lead singer of the band Ultravox before being replaced by Midge Ure, when he left to embark on a solo career in 1979...
(musician) - Joseph GilgunJoseph GilgunJoseph William Gilgun is an English actor best known for playing Eli Dingle in ITV's Emmerdale, Woody in the film This Is England and Rudy Wade in series 3 of E4's Misfits.-Biography:...
(actor) - Paul GraysonPaul Grayson (rugby player)Paul James Grayson is the assistant head coach ofNorthampton Saints rugby union club. He formerly played at fly-half for Northampton and England. He is known as "Larry" or "Grase"....
(England rugby union player) - Rick GuardRick GuardRick Guard of Chorley, Lancashire, England is a contemporary jazz singer and songwriter. He performs as a solo vocalist or with other live musicians from two piece up to an 18-piece bigband. Guard made his debut with Decca Records, progressing to Roots Music Group and is one half of a successful...
(jazz singer and songwriter) - Sir Walter Haworth (Nobel Prize winner)
- Trevor HemmingsTrevor HemmingsTrevor James Hemmings CVO is a British businessman, he was born in London, and grew up in Leyland, Lancashire He currently resides in the Isle of Man, but has homes in Jersey and Ireland....
(businessman) - Conrad HunteConrad HunteSir Conrad Cleophas Hunte, KA was a Barbadian cricketer. Hunte played 44 Test matches as an opening batsman for the West Indies.-Early life and career:...
(former West Indian Test cricketer, lived in Chorley before the 1957 Test Series against England) - Michael Jennings (boxer)
- Charles LightollerCharles LightollerCommander Charles Herbert Lightoller DSC & Bar, RD, RNR was the second mate on board the , and the most senior officer to survive the disaster...
(highest-ranking crew member to survive the RMS Titanic) - Paul McKenna (footballer)
- Paul MarinerPaul MarinerPaul Mariner is an English football coach, manager, and retired player, who is currently with Toronto FC.A striker during his playing days, Mariner began his career with Chorley. He became a professional player in 1973 with Plymouth Argyle, where he scored 61 goals in 155 appearances and is...
(England international footballer) - Barry MasonBarry MasonJohn Barry Mason is an English songwriter, originally from the village of Coppull, near Chorley in Lancashire....
(songwriter) - Ken MorleyKen MorleyKen Morley is an English comedian and actor who is best known for his role as Reg Holdsworth in Coronation Street. He played the role from 1989 until quitting the show in 1995...
(actor) - Phil ParkinsonPhil ParkinsonPhilip John "Phil" Parkinson is an English football manager and former player who currently manages Bradford City.-Playing career:...
(ex-footballer, now football manager) - Steve PembertonSteve PembertonSteve James Pemberton is an English actor, comedian, writer and performer, most famous as a member of The League of Gentlemen along with fellow performers Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss and co-writer Jeremy Dyson.-Early life:...
(comedian) - Jason QueallyJason QueallyJason Paul Queally is an English track cyclist. He won a gold medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.Born at Great Heywood, Staffordshire, Queally attended Lancaster Royal Grammar School, where he was part of the swimming squad in the mid-1980s, later representing Lancaster and British Universities...
(cyclist) - Thomas Rawlinson (industrialist, believed to have been born in Chorley)
- Adrian RigbyAdrian RigbyAdrian Colliver Rigby is an award winning artist with studios in Lancashire, England and Florida, United States.-Biography:Rigby demonstrated considerable artistic talent from an early age...
(artist) - Kevin SimmKevin SimmKevin Ian Simm , is an English pop singer and former member of the group, Liberty X.-Biography:...
(musician, Liberty XLiberty XLiberty X were a British pop vocal group formed by the five contestants eliminated from the final ten qualifiers from the 2001 ITV show Popstars. The group consisted of Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm, Michelle Heaton, Kelli Young and Jessica Taylor...
) - Tom SmithTom Smith (cricketer)Thomas Christopher Smith, , is a cricketer who currently plays for Lancashire County Cricket Club. He has also been a member of the England Academy team. In 2008, he played for Leicestershire on loan because he was unable to break into Lancashire's first team. He is an all-rounder, bowling...
(cricketer) - Dave SpikeyDave SpikeyDave Spikey is an English comedian, actor, writer and film producer, currently residing in Chorley, Lancashire....
(comedian) - Myles StandishMyles StandishMyles Standish was an English military officer hired by the Pilgrims as military advisor for Plymouth Colony. One of the Mayflower passengers, Standish played a leading role in the administration and defense of Plymouth Colony from its inception...
(founder of the Pilgrim Fathers) - StarsailorStarsailor (band)Starsailor is an English post-britpop band, formed in Leigh, Warrington and Greater Manchester. By 2009, they had four charting albums and ten Top 40 singles in the UK since 2001.-Early history:...
(pop group) - Tom Criddle StephensonTom StephensonTom Criddle Stephenson was a British journalist and a leading champion of walkers' rights in the countryside.In the First World War he was imprisoned as a conscientious objector....
(journalist and champion of walkers' rights) - Sir Henry Tate (sugar magnate and founder of the Tate GalleryTate GalleryThe Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
, London) - Joel TomkinsJoel TomkinsJoel Tomkins is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors in the European Super League. An England international representative second-row forward, he has played his whole career to date at Wigan, winning the 2010 Super League Grand Final and 2011 Challenge Cup with...
(rugby league footballer) - Sam TomkinsSam TomkinsA pre-season unofficial friendly match provided Tomkins his first experience against top-flight opposition as he came off the bench during Lee Briers' testimonial match in a 30–22 loss to Warrington Wolves. Noble followed this up by providing Tomkins, aged 19, with his first team debut on 12 May...
(rugby league footballer) - David UnsworthDavid UnsworthDavid Gerald Unsworth is an English former footballer who played in the position of centre-back or left-back, and is currently first team coach at Preston North End....
(former footballer and current Preston North EndPreston North End F.C.Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
development coach) - Mickey WalshMickey WalshMichael Anthony "Mickey" Walsh is an English-born Irish former professional footballer and current football agent.-Club career:...
(former Irish international footballer) - Lana WilliamsLana WilliamsLana Williams partnered Darren Bailey in the second series of BBC One show Strictly Dance Fever. They reached the final which aired on 3 June 2006, and came second behind Hollie Robertson and Darrien Wright, and ahead of Ben Harrold and Stephanie CroxsonLana grew up in Chorley, where she attended...
(dancer) - Rosemarie WrightRosemarie WrightRosemarie Wright is an English pianist.Wright studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Patrick Cory and Harold Craxton, winning many prizes including the Chappell Silver Medal and Tobias Matthay Fellowship. Her later studies were with Bruno Seidlhofer at the Staatsakademie in Vienna, and with...
(pianist) - Leonora CarringtonLeonora CarringtonLeonora Carrington OBE was a British-born Mexican artist, a surrealist painter and a novelist. She lived most of her life in Mexico City.-Early life:...
(painter)