Oswaldtwistle

Coordinates: 53°44′35″N 2°23′35″W / 53.743°N 2.393°W / 53.743; -2.393
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Oswaldtwistle
The Parish Church of Immanuel
Oswaldtwistle is located in the Borough of Hyndburn
Oswaldtwistle
Oswaldtwistle
Location in Hyndburn
Oswaldtwistle is located in Lancashire
Oswaldtwistle
Oswaldtwistle
Location within Lancashire
Area0.93 sq mi (2.4 km2) [1]
Population11,803 (2011) [1]
• Density12,691/sq mi (4,900/km2)
OS grid referenceSD740275
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townACCRINGTON
Postcode districtBB5
Dialling code01254
PoliceLancashire
FireLancashire
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Lancashire
53°44′35″N 2°23′35″W / 53.743°N 2.393°W / 53.743; -2.393

Oswaldtwistle (/ˈɒzwəl.twɪzəl/ "ozwel twizzel") is a town in the Hyndburn borough of Lancashire, England, 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Blackburn, contiguous with Accrington and Church. The town has a rich industrial heritage, being home to James Hargreaves, inventor of the spinning jenny and Sir Robert Peel of calico printing fame. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal passes through the town and was responsible for the export of much of the area's cotton produce.

At the 2011 census, it had a population of 11,803.[1]

History[edit]

Oswaldtwistle Library (2000)
White Ash Field (1988)

The name is derived from "Oswald" and "Twistle". The word "twistle" is an old English word meaning "brooks meet". Legend has it that Saint Oswald, King of Northumbria passed through, giving the area its full title of Oswald's Twistle, which in time came to be Oswaldtwistle. However, it is more likely derived from the name of the Anglo-Saxon who farmed the land.

The Peel family[edit]

Robert Peel was born at Peelfold (within the township) in 1723, and laid the family fortunes by innovations in calico printing.[2] A particularly successful pattern featured a sprig of parsley, so Robert Peel became known as "Parsley Peel".[2] Robert Peel went into business with his Brother-in-law, Jonathan Haworth in 1760, establishing the Brookside Mill Calico Works, the remnants of which are still visible in Bury Meadow Nature Reserve.[3]

The soubriquet helps distinguish him from his son also Robert Peel, who was born at Peelfold in 1750 and went on to become a successful cotton mill owner (with large works at Bury and Burton on Trent), a very rich man, an MP and a Baronet.[4]

Sir Robert's son (Parsley Peel's grandson), born at Bury was yet another Robert Peel and in due course Sir Robert Peel; he was a full-time politician and rose to be Prime Minister.[5] Another historical figure associated with the textile industry was James Hargreaves, inventor of the Spinning Jenny.

Power loom riots[edit]

Main article: Power-loom riots

The people of Oswaldtwistle were involved in the power loom riots of 1826. The mechanisation of the textile industry (with the introduction of looms powered by steam engines from the 1820s onwards) resulted in redundancies, low wages, and hunger. On 26 April, a large number of cotton workers attacked the factory in White Ash (Brookside Mill) in Oswaldtwistle, about a mile from Hargreaves' workshop, destroying looms and other equipment. The riots went on for three days, extending to all cotton towns in central Lancashire.[6]

Coal[edit]

Oswaldtwistle is part of the Burnley Coalfield and had a number of coal mines such as Aspen Colliery 53°45′07″N 2°23′59″W / 53.752°N 2.3998°W / 53.752; -2.3998 (Aspen) next the canal and the East Lancashire line, having both a canal basin and railway siding. Mining here is thought to have commenced in the early 19th century and the colliery closed in 1930. The remains of the site which includes two stone-built engine beds and a bank of 24 beehive type coke ovens are protected as a scheduled monument.[7][8]

Others in the hills to the south, include: Broadfield Colliery 53°44′13″N 2°22′52″W / 53.737°N 2.381°W / 53.737; -2.381 (Broadfield Colliery) which in the 1840s had a surface tramroad connected to the printworks at Foxhill Bank via Moscow Mills;[9] Sough Lane Colliery 53°43′48″N 2°25′44″W / 53.730°N 2.429°W / 53.730; -2.429 (Sough Lane Colliery) which had a tramroad connecting it to Knuzden;[10] And Town Bent Colliery 53°44′10″N 2°23′49″W / 53.736°N 2.397°W / 53.736; -2.397 (Town Bent Colliery).[11]

PoW camps[edit]

During World War II, a number of PoWs (particularly Italians) were interned in camps near Oswaldtwistle.[12][13]

Governance[edit]

Oswaldtwistle Town Hall

Oswaldtwistle was once a township in the ancient parish of Whalley, covering Oswaldtwistle Moor in the south and with Knuzden Brook forming the boundary with Blackburn, and as far as the village of Belthorn. The township became a civil parish in 1866.[14]

Between 1894 and 1974, the area was administered by an urban district.[15] It has since become an unparished part of the borough of Hyndburn. Oswaldtwistle Town Hall was completed in 1891.[16]

Economy[edit]

It is important to note the contribution of Alfred N. Waterhouse in Oswaldtwistle. In the 1940s, he created what became Shopfitters Lancashire Ltd and in the 1950s, the firm moved from Accrington to Rhyddings Mill, Oswaldtwistle. He was a very successful entrepreneur who manufactured the shopfittings. At its peak in the 1960s, Shopfitters (Lancashire) Ltd employed over 80 salesmen nationally, and had an annual turnover measured in millions, in an age when a new house cost about £3,000. The firm closed in the 1980s.[citation needed]

The town centre is home to a number of high street multiples, including: Bargain Booze, Coral, Betfred, Cohens Chemist, Travis Perkins, as well as McColl's (previously Gateway), which opened in 1980. There is also a Tesco Express, which opened in 2009, built on the site of the former retained fire station, which closed in 2003. A Spar is in the town, which opened in 1991. There are a number of independent businesses in the town - Whitaker’s Butchers, sues barbers, martins bakery and the vault micro pub and gin bar to name a few. Other stores include an appliance repairs/sales, numerous takeaways, numerous barbers, estate agents, off licences, bakers, butchers, funeral directors and many more shops. There are several Boys' Brigade/Girl's Brigade groups in the town, along with groups for Scouts, Beavers and Cubs. Additionally, Hyndburn Comets, a group of majorettes, exists in the town.[citation needed]

Landmarks[edit]

Oswaldtwistle Moor[edit]

Oswaldtwistle Moor (2011)

Oswaldtwistle Moor (adjacent to Haslingden Moor) is an extensive area of moorland to the south of Oswaldtwistle, with Haslingden Grane bordering the moor's southern edges, Belthorn to the west and Haslingden to the east. The area forms part of the West Pennine Moors.

In May 2007, plans were made to build a wind farm consisting of twelve wind turbines on the moors. This attracted both support and opposition, but the plan was approved by councillors in March 2010.[17] In October 2012, the project was officially completed, and was called the Hyndburn Wind Farm.[18]

Oswaldtwistle Mills[edit]

Oswaldtwistle Mills is a notable attraction; a textile mill converted into a craft fair and with an exhibition about life in the mill a hundred years ago. It is also home of the world's largest pear drop, made by Stockley's Sweets.

Civic Arts Centre and Theatre[edit]

Rhyddings Park (2005)

Also of note is the 457 capacity, recently refurbished, Civic Theatre, known as the "Friendly Theatre" and the brand new Civic Arts Centre. .[19] The ground floor was refurbished, and in August 2010, it opened as the Civic Arts Centre.

The first production performed at the Arts Centre was Romeo and Juliet, directed by young producer, Joanne Haworth. Since then, there have been many productions, with something different happening every week. There are workshops, and drama sessions most evenings, plus projects and new plays, being written, and performed, with at least four plays in production, at any one time. The Centre is now home to a number of theatre groups, including ReAct Academy, Dramatic Annie, Sparks, Oswaldtwistle Players and St Mary's Panto among others. The theatre now has a professional production company that produces shows that are toured around Lancashire.

The Civic Arts Centre is involved in local heritage projects, and organises outdoor festivals. From 1 April 2015, the Arts Centre & Theatre merged, and the building is now known as the Civic Arts Centre and Theatre. It is home to Manford's Comedy Clubs. Jason Manford and John Bishop have both performed there at Manford's Comedy evenings.

Rhyddings Park[edit]

Rhyddings Park is the only formal park within Oswaldtwistle. It was originally the grounds of a private house belonging to a local mill owning family. It has been a public park since 1909. More information about Rhyddings Park can be found on the website of its active community group. [20]

Oswaldtwistle Carnival[edit]

The carnival is held every two years. The committee was formed in June 2014, after a sixteen year gap, and the first event was successfully held that summer.

Education[edit]

Oswaldtwistle is home to Rhyddings (secondary school), Hippings Methodist Primary School, St. Mary's RC Primary School, St. Paul's CE Primary School, Moor End Primary School, St. Andrew's CE Primary School, West End Primary School, Oswaldtwistle School (a PRU), and White Ash Specialist School.

Sport[edit]

Oswaldtwistle Rovers F.C. were a football team in the late 19th century; they managed to reach the second round of the FA Cup in 1885.

Oswaldtwistle is also the home of Oswaldtwistle Juniors FC, a local junior football club that plays in the ADJFL and ELFA, they play their home matches on Saint Mary's RC Primary School field.

Notable people[edit]

Twinned town[edit]

In January 2017, the Carnegie Trust UK advertised for towns who wanted to take part in a pilot twin town scheme. Oswaldtwistle was chosen, and paired with Whitburn in Scotland. Initial visits have been made.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Oswaldtwistle Built-up area (1119884526)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b Bourne, H R Fox (1866). English merchants: memoirs in illustration of the progress of British commerce. Vol. 2 (1st ed.). London: R Bentley. pp. 148–156. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  3. ^ "Robert Peel (1723-1795) - Graces Guide". gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Member Biographies: PEEL, Robert I (1750-1830), of Drayton Manor, Staffs". The History of Parliament online. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  5. ^ "Member Biographies: PEEL, Robert II (1788-1850), of Drayton Hall, Staffs". The History of Parliament online. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  6. ^ Walsh, David (1994). "The Lancashire "Rising" of 1826". Albion: A Quarterly Journal Concerned with British Studies. 26 (4): 607. doi:10.2307/4052248. JSTOR 4052248 – via JSTOR.
  7. ^ Historic England, "Remains of Aspen Colliery, associated beehive coking ovens and canal basin (1016943)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 29 April 2018
  8. ^ Lancashire and Furness (Map). 1 : 2,500. County Series. Ordnance Survey. 1893.
  9. ^ Lancashire and Furness (Map). 1 : 10,560. County Series. Ordnance Survey. 1848.
  10. ^ Lancashire and Furness (Map). 1 : 10,560. County Series. Ordnance Survey. 1848.
  11. ^ Lancashire and Furness (Map). 1 : 2,500. County Series. Ordnance Survey. 1893.
  12. ^ POW camp, Lancashireatwar.co.uk. Accessed 11 April 2024.
  13. ^ The Christmas when enemies became friends: Town recalls a memorable day in history, Lancashiretelegraph.co.uk. Accessed 11 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Oswaldtwistle Tn/CP through time". visionofbritain.org.uk. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  15. ^ "Oswaldtwistle UD through time". visionofbritain.org.uk. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  16. ^ Farrer, William; Brownbill, J. (1911). A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 6. London: Victoria County History. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  17. ^ Plans for wind farm on Oswaldtwistle Moor Archived 18 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine The Citizen
  18. ^ Hyndburn Wind Farm has been exporting renewable energy since October 2012 Energie Kontor UK
  19. ^ "Civic Arts Centre and Theatre | Arts and Entertainment | Lancashire".
  20. ^ The Friends of Rhyddings Park Website. Accessed 11 April 2024.
  21. ^ "Twin Towns UK". Archived from the original on 22 December 2016.

External links[edit]

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