LET’S TAKE A WALK…
This is a lovely walk that takes in historic buildings, a heritage centre and attractive parkland
BARROWFORD TOWN TRAIL
Close to the junction of Gisburn Road (A682) and Colne Road (B6247) is Pendle Heritage Centre, which is open daily and includes a Garden Tearoom that overlooks an 18th Century walled garden.
At the George and Dragon turn left towards the centre. At the waterfall on the opposite side of the river you will see a fishpass built by the Environment Agency.
Next to Booths supermarket is Dacatie House. The unusual name comes from the ingenious cavity bridging system for doorways and windows called the Dacatie system. The system was designed by a local engineer based in the building.
Opposite Dacatie House is a row of buildings overhanging the river. Jesse Blakey was born here in 1861 in a shop run by his father. Jesse later started the Barrowford Almanac in 1889 which was published until 1914. He went on to write the Annals of Barrowford, published in 1929.
Back across Gisburn Road you will see buildings that started as a pair of cottages with one being converted into a shop during the mid 19th century. By the 1900s the shop was owned by Ernest Faraday, a relation of Barnard Faraday a local poet and journalist and first cousin to Michael Faraday, the scientist and inventor.
Further along Gisburn Road is the White Bear, built in 1667. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, retreated to the building in 1748, after being carried by an angry mob from Roughlee.
Further along is 129 Gisburn Road or The Size House, built around 1790 as back-to-back houses. Ormerod Baldwin lived here and employed home-based handloom weavers. Size, a mixture based on animal fats, was used to size the ‘warps’, it strengthened the threads and made the weaving easier by reducing friction.
At the junction of Church Street and Gisburn Road you will find what was Shipside Maritime Chandlers (now Nursery Time) supplying sailing and ship gear. The business operated for years, which is surprising when you consider that Barrowford is as far from the sea as you can get!
A short way along Church Street is the Lamb Club (Bank Hall) parts of which were built in 1696. In 1904 the house was sold for £587.10s to the Working Men’s Institute. It’s been known as the Lamb Club ever since.
The shops from 99 to 103 Gisburn Road are listed weavers’ cottages.
The shops across the main road fronts what was the bowling green where the annual Barrowford Rushbearing took place. This was a country fair which, in early times saw bull baiting. This was replaced by horse racing, then foot racing and then in the 1870s by cycle racing.
Holmefield House was built around 1865 by the Berry family. Thomas Berry was an early social reformer, being instrumental in setting up the provision of free education for the village.
Just past Holmefield House on the opposite side of the road is Wilton Street. This takes you back across the river into Bull Holme playing fields and further along the river into Barrowford Memorial Park. From here you have a choice of four varied routes back to the Heritage Centre, three through the park and one longer alternative back along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.
For a more detailed hard copy of the trail call 01282 661963 or email: michael.williams@pendle.gov.uk
