Lower Darwen
Encyclopedia
Lower Darwen is a village in the unitary
borough of Blackburn with Darwen
, in the town of Darwen
, in the county of Lancashire
. It is located between the towns of Blackburn and Darwen
. Nearby places include Ewood and Blackamoor
. It is situated in the valley of the River Darwen
. The former township
of Lower Darwen, abolished in the 1890s, extended south to Earnsdale Brook, and included areas now in the town of Darwen.
Until the late 18th century Lower Darwen was a farming area. A spinning
mill was built in 1774 and although this did not have a major impact on the village at first, by the 1820s the majority of the village was involved in the textile industry
.
Lower Darwen is on the Blackburn to Bolton railway line
, and the line through the village was opened in 1847. Lower Darwen formerly had a railway station
, however this closed in 1958. There was also a motive power depot
north of the station, which closed in the 1960s.
Since the 1980s the village has expanded rapidly, with many new houses being built, including a large estate on the site formerly occupied by ROF Blackburn
. It is not far from junction four of the M65 motorway
.
A new road was built when the M65 was extended and the junction four created. Originally named Eccleshill Road, the road was renamed to Paul Rink Way in 2008. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has stated it chose this road for the renaming because it would not affect anyone, as there are no houses or business directly on the road. On this road is a new housing estate along with a Premier Inn and Brewsters restaurant / pub.
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
borough of Blackburn with Darwen
Blackburn with Darwen
Blackburn with Darwen is a unitary authority area in Lancashire, North West England. It consists of Blackburn, the small town of Darwen to the south of it, and the surrounding countryside.-Formation:...
, in the town of Darwen
Darwen
Darwen is a market town and civil parish located within Lancashire, England. Along with its northerly neighbour, Blackburn, it forms the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen — a unitary authority area...
, in the county of 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...
. It is located between the towns of Blackburn and Darwen
Darwen
Darwen is a market town and civil parish located within Lancashire, England. Along with its northerly neighbour, Blackburn, it forms the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen — a unitary authority area...
. Nearby places include Ewood and Blackamoor
Blackamoor, Lancashire
Blackamoor is a village in Lancashire, England, to the south of Blackburn. It is located on the cross-roads between Lower Darwen and Guide, Lancashire where the B6231 crosses the old Roman Road from Manchester to Ribchester....
. It is situated in the valley of the River Darwen
River Darwen
The River Darwen is a river running through Darwen and Blackburn in Lancashire.The river was seriously polluted with human and industrial effluent during the Industrial Revolution, up to the early 1970s. The river often changed colour dramatically as a result of paper and paint mills routinely...
. The former township
Township (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...
of Lower Darwen, abolished in the 1890s, extended south to Earnsdale Brook, and included areas now in the town of Darwen.
Until the late 18th century Lower Darwen was a farming area. A spinning
Spinning (textiles)
Spinning is a major industry. It is part of the textile manufacturing process where three types of fibre are converted into yarn, then fabric, then textiles. The textiles are then fabricated into clothes or other artifacts. There are three industrial processes available to spin yarn, and a...
mill was built in 1774 and although this did not have a major impact on the village at first, by the 1820s the majority of the village was involved in the textile industry
Textile industry
The textile industry is primarily concerned with the production of yarn, and cloth and the subsequent design or manufacture of clothing and their distribution. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry....
.
Lower Darwen is on the Blackburn to Bolton railway line
Ribble Valley Line
The Ribble Valley Line is a railway line that runs from Manchester Victoria through Blackburn to the small market town of Clitheroe in Lancashire. Regular passenger services normally only run as far as Clitheroe, but occasional passenger services run along the line through north Lancashire towards...
, and the line through the village was opened in 1847. Lower Darwen formerly had a railway station
Lower Darwen railway station
Lower Darwen railway station was a railway station that served the village of Lower Darwen, in Lancashire.-History:The station was built by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway in the 19th century and closed on 3 November 1958 by British Rail, and subsequently was demolished.Lower Darwen motive...
, however this closed in 1958. There was also a motive power depot
Motive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
north of the station, which closed in the 1960s.
Since the 1980s the village has expanded rapidly, with many new houses being built, including a large estate on the site formerly occupied by ROF Blackburn
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....
. It is not far from junction four of the M65 motorway
M65 motorway
The M65 is a motorway in Lancashire, England. It runs from just south of Preston through the major junction of the M6 and M61 motorways, east past Darwen, Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley, Nelson and ends at Colne.-History:...
.
A new road was built when the M65 was extended and the junction four created. Originally named Eccleshill Road, the road was renamed to Paul Rink Way in 2008. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has stated it chose this road for the renaming because it would not affect anyone, as there are no houses or business directly on the road. On this road is a new housing estate along with a Premier Inn and Brewsters restaurant / pub.