Longridge
Encyclopedia
Longridge is a small town
and civil parish in the borough of Ribble Valley
in Lancashire
, England. It is situated 8 miles (13 km) north-east of the city of Preston, at the western end of Longridge Fell
, a long ridge
above the River Ribble
. Its nearest neighbours are Grimsargh
and the Roman
town of Ribchester
(Bremetennacum
), 3.5 miles (6 km) to the southeast. The parish of Longridge had a population of 7,546 recorded in the 2001 census
.
started from Longridge, Cromwell
halting there before taking on Monarchist forces from Scotland
.
Longridge initially developed outwards from an area around St. Lawrence's Church, at the boundary of the townships of Dilworth and Alston and to the south of the modern-day town centre. Though there was a thoroughfare
called 'Market Place', there was no development around that area. Most of the development of the town occurred after 1800. After this time, development occurred at a much faster pace, with expansion northwards including a mill to the north of Kestor Lane.
The demand for stone
from Longridge's quarries
led to the opening of the Preston and Longridge Railway
in 1840 to carry the stone away, for use in such places as Lancaster
town hall and Liverpool Docks. The arrival of the railway led to the opening of several cotton mill
s and the town grew considerably larger from the mid-19th century. The mills and quarries have now all closed, although stone quarried in the town was used to construct the M55 motorway
in the 1970s. One of the quarries was used as Longridge motor-racing circuit
between 1973 and 1978. Longridge railway station
closed to passengers in 1930, and the railway was dismantled in 1967. The station buildings are now used as offices for the parish council.
squadron. Longridge is also the location of Alston Hall
, a residential adult education
college operated by Lancashire Adult Learning. The local football club, Longridge Town F.C., have two senior teams and play in the West Lancashire Football League
. Their ground and clubhouse is situated off Inglewhite Road behind the Alston Arms.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and civil parish in the borough of Ribble Valley
Ribble Valley
Ribble Valley is a local government district with borough status within the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Clitheroe. Other places include Whalley, Longridge and Ribchester. The area is so called due to the River Ribble which flows in its final stages...
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...
, England. It is situated 8 miles (13 km) north-east of the city of Preston, at the western end of Longridge Fell
Longridge Fell
Longridge Fell is a fell near the English town of Longridge, Lancashire. It lies within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As its name suggests, it takes the form of a long ridge which rises in a northeasterly direction from the town of Longridge to its summit 4.5 miles distant...
, a long ridge
Ridge
A ridge is a geological feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for some distance. Ridges are usually termed hills or mountains as well, depending on size. There are several main types of ridges:...
above the River Ribble
River Ribble
The River Ribble is a river that runs through North Yorkshire and Lancashire, in northern England. The river's drainage basin also includes parts of Greater Manchester around Wigan.-Geography:...
. Its nearest neighbours are Grimsargh
Grimsargh
Grimsargh is a village and civil parish in the City of Preston, Lancashire, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 2,164. The parish is part of the electoral ward of Preston Rural East.-Geography:...
and 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...
town of Ribchester
Ribchester
Ribchester is a village and civil parish within the Ribble Valley district of Lancashire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Ribble, northwest of Blackburn and east of Preston.The village has a long history with evidence of Bronze Age beginnings...
(Bremetennacum
Bremetennacum
Bremetennacum was a Roman fort which is now the village of Ribchester in Lancashire . The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The first Roman activity on the site was the establishment of a timber fort believed to have been constructed during the campaigns of Petillius Cerialis around AD 72/3...
), 3.5 miles (6 km) to the southeast. The parish of Longridge had a population of 7,546 recorded in the 2001 census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
.
History
The Battle of PrestonBattle of Preston (1648)
The Battle of Preston , fought largely at Walton-le-Dale near Preston in Lancashire, resulted in a victory by the troops of Oliver Cromwell over the Royalists and Scots commanded by the Duke of Hamilton...
started from Longridge, 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....
halting there before taking on Monarchist forces from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Longridge initially developed outwards from an area around St. Lawrence's Church, at the boundary of the townships of Dilworth and Alston and to the south of the modern-day town centre. Though there was a thoroughfare
Thoroughfare
A thoroughfare is a place of transportation intended to connect one location to another. Highways, roads, and trails are examples of thoroughfares used by a variety of general traffic. On land a thoroughfare may refer to anything from a rough trail to multi-lane highway with grade separated...
called 'Market Place', there was no development around that area. Most of the development of the town occurred after 1800. After this time, development occurred at a much faster pace, with expansion northwards including a mill to the north of Kestor Lane.
The demand for stone
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
from Longridge's quarries
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...
led to the opening of the Preston and Longridge Railway
Preston and Longridge Railway
The Preston and Longridge Railway was a branch line in Lancashire, England. Originally designed to carry quarried stone in horse-drawn wagons, it became part of an ambitious plan to link the Lancashire coast to the heart of Yorkshire...
in 1840 to carry the stone away, for use in such places as Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
town hall and Liverpool Docks. The arrival of the railway led to the opening of several cotton mill
Cotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
s and the town grew considerably larger from the mid-19th century. The mills and quarries have now all closed, although stone quarried in the town was used to construct the M55 motorway
M55 motorway
The M55 is a motorway in Lancashire, England, which can also be referred to as the Preston Northern Bypass. It connects the seaside resort of Blackpool to the M6 at Preston. It is 11.4 miles in length.-Route:...
in the 1970s. One of the quarries was used as Longridge motor-racing circuit
Longridge circuit
Longridge Circuit was a motor racing circuit built in the former Tootle Heights quarry close to Longridge, Lancashire, England. It held races between 1973–1978, although sprint events were held prior to this. The circuit was only 0.43 miles long , this meant that starters was limited to a maximum...
between 1973 and 1978. Longridge railway station
Longridge railway station
Longridge railway station was a passenger terminus of the Preston and Longridge Railway. It served the town of Longridge in Lancashire, England....
closed to passengers in 1930, and the railway was dismantled in 1967. The station buildings are now used as offices for the parish council.
Housing
The appearance of the town centre has changed little from when it was first built. Many of the buildings are built of locally quarried sandstone and despite more modern developments the town centre remains largely as it was when it was first developed. The town itself has expanded since the closure of the quarries with the building of new housing estates, as well as council housing.Community
The town is home to 11 pubs, several restaurants, a public library, and a number of primary and high schools. It is also home to an Air Training CorpsAir Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
squadron. Longridge is also the location of Alston Hall
Alston Hall
Alston Hall is a Victorian gothic style country mansion located in Longridge in Lancashire, England.Alston Hall is owned and operated by Lancashire Adult Learning as an adult residential college and corporate event venue.It was designed by the architect Alfred Darbyshire....
, a residential adult education
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
college operated by Lancashire Adult Learning. The local football club, Longridge Town F.C., have two senior teams and play in the West Lancashire Football League
West Lancashire Football League
The West Lancashire Football League is a football competition based in northern England, consisting of five divisions - three for first teams , and two for reserve teams...
. Their ground and clubhouse is situated off Inglewhite Road behind the Alston Arms.