Barrowford

Civil Parish in Lancashire Pendle

England

Barrowford

Back of Alice Nutter Statue The commemorative statue by David Palmer, to mark the 400th anniversary of the Pendle Witch Trials. Alice Nutter is in chains but this cloak on her back looks like an instrument of torture — Back of Alice Nutter Statue Credit: Kevin Waterhouse

Barrowford is a civil parish located in the county of Lancashire, England. Situated in the borough of Pendle, Barrowford is a small village with a population of approximately 6,500 people. It lies on the banks of the River Calder and is surrounded by beautiful countryside, making it an attractive destination for nature enthusiasts.

The village has a rich history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to prehistoric times. In the Middle Ages, Barrowford was primarily an agricultural community, and remnants of its rural heritage can still be seen today in the form of historic farmhouses and barns.

One of the notable landmarks in Barrowford is the Pendle Heritage Centre, housed in a Grade II listed building. The center provides insights into the region's history, particularly the infamous Pendle Witch Trials of the 17th century. Visitors can explore interactive exhibits and learn about the village's connection to this dark chapter in English history.

Barrowford offers a range of amenities for residents and visitors alike. The village center features a variety of shops, restaurants, and cafes, providing a pleasant shopping and dining experience. Additionally, Barrowford has several schools, a community center, and recreational facilities, including parks and sports fields.

The village is well-connected to surrounding areas via road and public transportation, with regular bus services operating to nearby towns and cities. The M65 motorway also runs close by, offering easy access to larger urban centers such as Burnley and Preston.

Overall, Barrowford is a charming and historically significant village, offering a mix of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and modern conveniences.

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Barrowford Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.852642/-2.221823 or Grid Reference SD8539. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Back of Alice Nutter Statue

The commemorative statue by David Palmer, to mark the 400th anniversary of the Pendle Witch Trials. Alice Nutter is in chains but this cloak on her back looks like an instrument of torture

Kevin Waterhouse

Barrowford Reservoir, drained

The reservoir, which serves the Leeds and Liverpool Canal rather than public water supply, was not empty because of the 2022 drought, but because it had been deliberately drained down in autumn 2021 for a year-long contract to stabilise the embankment. A short section of the canal nearby was also drained for maintenance at the same time.

Stephen Craven

Caspers Fold, Francis Avenue, Higherford

The house bears a datestone of 2000.

Stephen Craven

Defibrillator on the corner of Francis Avenue

These devices are normally found on the wall of public buildings, but here is one on a post by the street in an area of housing.

Stephen Craven

Bus shelter and old phone box

Located at the junction of Barnoldswick Road and Gisburn Road in Higherford. The phone box appears disused. Street furniture here also includes a grit bin and litter bin.

Stephen Craven

Road sign in Higherford

Located at the junction of Barnoldswick Road and Gisburn Road; the sign also points to Nelson in the opposite direction. Milestone Society National ID: LA_SD8640

Stephen Craven

Old mill, Gisburn Road, Higherford

The 1912 map shows this as a corn mill. It's probably too high above the river to have been water powered. Now in private hands, a 2015 proposal for 'brownfield' development on the site was not approved. SD8640 : Old mill on Gisburn Road, Barrowford shows it from the other direction.

Stephen Craven

Former Catholic church, Gisburn Road, Higherford

The name on the sign board is 'Parish of the Good Shepherd' but other contributors name the building itself as St Peter & St Paul's. A local website says that it was built from 1897, the first service registers being from 1902, but closed for worship in 2019. It appears no new use has been found yet.

Stephen Craven

Detail of Gisburn Road bridge, Higherford

An inscription 'C C Higherford Bridge' and an OS cut benchmark (shown on the 1912 map as 437.9ft). It was built in 1807. See SD8640 : Higherford Bridge and Mill for a side view of the bridge.

Stephen Craven

Former cotton mill, Higherford

Listed grade II (List entry 1271499) where it is dated to 'c.1844, incorporating elements of an earlier C19 mill, with further additions of 1882, and C20 alterations'. The main weaving shed seen in SD8640 : Grimshaw's (Higherford) Mill is claimed to be the oldest surviving example of its kind. Note the iron beam and high level doorway, presumably for loading bales of cotton from road vehicles.

Stephen Craven

Listed cottages, Foreside, Higherford

Listed grade II (List entry 1073432) where the oldest is dated to 1755.

Stephen Craven

Crowtree Cottage, Foreside, Higherford

Listed grade II (List entry 1273168) where it is dated to the mid-18th century. The large number of windows at first floor level suggests it was used for weaving.

Stephen Craven

Th' Owd Brig at Higherford

This is described by Margaret Slack (Ref.1) as 'One of the most attractive packhorse bridges in [the Pennines] ...standing on the direct line of the Roman Road from Castercliffe to Ribchester. It was crossed by teams of packhorses bringing coal from near Gisburn and ... lime from Lothersdale.' She adds that the date of the bridge is not known with certainty, but probably late 16th century. The bridge crosses Pendle Water, draining the steep eastern scarp of that great hill, and subject to flash flooding; Slack relates a story that a bell used to hang from the bridge that rang a warning when water approached flood level. Listed grade II *(List entry 1273194) and a Scheduled Monument. Originally it would have had no, or very low, parapets to allow ponies with low-hanging panniers to cross; the present parapets were added in 1815. (1) 'The Bridges of Lancashire and Yorkshire', Margaret Slack, 1986.

Stephen Craven

Gisburn Road bridge, Higherford

This road bridge over Pendle Water was erected in 1807 to supersede the old packhorse bridge, which still stands but closed to motor traffic SD8640 : Th' Owd Brig at Higherford.

Stephen Craven