Accrington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Accrington Accy
Town
Accrington Town Hall
Accrington
Population	35,456 (2011)
OS grid reference	SD761286
District	Hyndburn
Shire county	Lancashire
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ACCRINGTON
Postcode district	BB5
Dialling code	01254
Police	Lancashire
Fire	Lancashire
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Hyndburn
List of places UK England Lancashire 53°45′12″N 2°21′50″W / 53.75337°N 2.36384°W / 53.75337; -2.36384

Accrington is a town in Lancashire, England. It's about 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Blackburn and 20 miles (32 km) north of Manchester. Locals often call it "Accy". In 2011, about 35,456 people lived there. Accrington is the biggest town in the Hyndburn area.

Accrington used to be a big center for making cotton and textile machines. The town is famous for making some of the strongest bricks in the world, called "Accrington NORI" (iron) bricks. These bricks were used to build parts of the Empire State Building and the foundations of Blackpool Tower. The Haworth Art Gallery in Accrington has Europe's largest collection of beautiful Tiffany glass. The town is also home to the EFL club Accrington Stanley. An older football club from Accrington was even one of the first twelve teams to start the Football League!

History of Accrington

What's in a Name? Accrington's Meaning

The name "Accrington" likely comes from old Anglo-Saxon words. The earliest record of the name is from 850, written as "Akeringastun". Over time, it changed to names like "Akarinton" and "Acrinton".

The name might come from the Old English words "æcern" (meaning "acorn") and "tun" (meaning "farm" or "village"). So, it could mean "acorn farmstead". This makes sense because the area used to have many oak trees. Acorns were an important food for pigs back then. In the old Lancashire way of speaking, "acorn" sounded like "akran".

Early Days of the Town

There are no records of Accrington from the Roman times. The area was mostly thick forest with very few settlements. An old story says a Danish leader named Wada founded "Akeringastun" (Accrington) between 760 and 798.

Accrington was once divided into two parts: Old Accrington and New Accrington. These two parts joined together in 1878. In the past, kings and queens of England used to hunt in the "Forest of Accrington".

In the 1100s, a lord named Robert de Lacy gave the land of Accrington to the monks of Kirkstall Abbey. The monks built a farm there, but the locals were angry and burned it down. Three monks died in the fire. An area of the town is still called 'Black Abbey', possibly because of this event.

A small chapel was built in Accrington before 1553. It didn't have its own minister, so a priest from a nearby church would visit. St. James's Church was built in 1763, replacing the old chapel.

The Industrial Revolution and Growth

Before 1830, Accrington was just a "considerable village". But the Industrial Revolution changed everything. Many streams in the area made it a good place for mills. So, factories started to be built in the mid-1700s. Rich landowners built big houses on the edge of town, while their workers lived in crowded, unhealthy homes in the center.

The number of people living in Accrington grew very fast in the 1800s. It went from 3,266 people in 1811 to 45,029 in 1911. Many people moved to Accrington from all over North West England to find work.

For many years, making textiles, engineering, and coal mining were the main jobs. Cotton mills and dye factories gave people work, but conditions were often very hard. Workers often argued with employers about pay and working conditions.

In 1826, over 1,000 people gathered and marched to a mill, smashing over 60 weaving machines. These riots spread to other towns. In the end, 1,139 machines were destroyed, and some people were killed.

In 1842, a general strike called the 'plug riots' spread because of poor conditions. Thousands of workers walked from town to town to get others to join the strike. They would stop mill machines by pulling out boiler plugs, letting out water and steam. This strike lasted about a week but didn't achieve its goals.

The Lancashire cotton famine in the early 1860s also hit Accrington hard. About half of the mill workers were out of a job at one point. To help improve the town, a Local Board of Health was set up in 1853, and Accrington became an official borough in 1878.

The Accrington Pals in World War I

Accrington is well-known for the 'Accrington Pals'. This was a special group of volunteers who fought in World War I. Lord Kitchener, who was in charge of the army, thought it would help if friends and co-workers from the same town could join and fight together.

The 'Accrington Pals' were officially the '11th East Lancashire Regiment'. The name is a bit misleading because only one of the four companies was made up of men from Accrington. The others came from nearby towns like Burnley and Blackburn.

Their first day of fighting was on 1 July 1916, near Serre in France. This was part of a huge attack called the Battle of the Somme. The German defenses were supposed to be destroyed, but the Pals met strong resistance. In just half an hour, 235 men were killed, and 350 more were wounded. This was a terrible day for the British Army, with about 19,000 soldiers killed in one day.

Later, the regiment was rebuilt with new volunteers. In total, 865 men from Accrington died during World War I. Their names are on a war memorial in Oak Hill Park. The memorial also lists 173 local people who died in World War II. There's even a memorial in France made of Accrington brick where the Pals fought.

After the war, Accrington's buses were painted in the regiment's red and blue colors, with gold lines. The mudguards were painted black as a sign of mourning.

People and Population

In 2011, the population of Accrington was 35,456. The larger urban area, which includes nearby towns like Church and Oswaldtwistle, had about 71,220 people in 2001. The whole Hyndburn area has a population of 80,734.

Accrington's Economy

In the past, cotton and textile machinery were very important industries in Accrington. Many mills and factories operated here. Accrington was known for its high-quality cotton fabrics. However, like many towns in Lancashire, the cotton industry declined in the mid-1900s.

A famous product from Accrington is the NORI brick. These super-hard bricks were made in nearby Huncoat. They were used to build many factories and mills, as well as Blackpool Tower and the Empire State Building. The brickworks closed in 2013 but reopened in 2015.

Today, Accrington's economy is more varied. Many old mill buildings have been turned into offices and workshops. The town also has shopping areas like the Arndale Centre and the Peel Centre.

Accrington Power Station used to provide electricity to the town from 1900 to 1958. Now, it's a residential area.

The town is well-connected by the M65 motorway and the East Lancashire railway line. In recent years, there have been new projects to improve the town center, like the £60 million "Civic Quarter" plan. This plan aims to create new jobs and opportunities.

Accrington also has a rich sporting history. The Accrington Stanley Football Club represents the town. The town also has a strong tradition of brass band music. Other attractions include the Haworth Art Gallery and the Accrington Market Hall.

Helping Accrington Grow

Some parts of Accrington have faced challenges with poverty. To help, the council has a plan to improve the local economy. This plan includes upgrading old shops and building a new bus station. A memorial for the Accrington Pals might also be built near the town hall.

The Hyndburn Borough Council plans to spend £10 million to improve the town center. This includes making the town square more attractive and building a new bus station, which opened in 2016. Half of Blackburn Road is also being improved to make it a nicer shopping street.

New houses are being built in areas like Acorn Park and Project Phoenix.

Geography of Accrington

Accrington is a town located among hills, between the Pennines and the West Pennine Moors. It sits in a bowl, surrounded by hills, with Hameldon Hill to the east reaching 409 meters (1,342 ft) high. The River Hyndburn flows through the center of the town.

The town's height above sea level varies. A spot near the Market Hall is about 133.5 meters (438 ft) high. The highest point in the town is in Baxenden at 320 meters (1,050 ft), and the lowest is near the town hall at 132.5 meters (435 ft).

Getting Around Accrington

Trains

Accrington railway station is on the East Lancashire Line. You can catch trains locally and from Blackpool to York. In 2015, a new train service to Manchester opened.

Roads

The M65 motorway serves the town, making it easy to get to other places. The A680 road also runs through Accrington. The closest airports are Manchester Airport, Blackpool Airport, and Leeds Bradford Airport.

Buses

Several bus companies provide services in Accrington, connecting it to nearby towns like Blackburn, Oswaldtwistle, and Burnley.

Walking and Cycling

An old railway track from Accrington to Baxenden is now a lovely tree-lined path for cycling and walking. It's a popular route with nice views.

Public Services

Entrance to Accrington Library

Accrington Library, built in 1908, is a Carnegie library. It has a beautiful stained glass window. Near the Tesco supermarket, there's Accrington Skate Park, which is popular during school holidays. Accrington Police Station and Hyndburn Community Fire Station serve the area.

Police Services

The Lancashire Constabulary police station is on Broadway. Crime rates in Accrington are low compared to nearby towns. The British Transport Police looks after the railway station and railway properties.

How Accrington is Governed

Accrington is part of the Hyndburn area for national elections. It has been represented in Parliament since 1885.

Accrington became an official borough in 1878. Since 1974, it has been part of the larger Hyndburn Borough, which includes towns like Oswaldtwistle and Great Harwood. The Hyndburn Borough has 16 wards, and Accrington is covered by several of these wards.

Local Media

For local news and TV, Accrington is covered by BBC North West and ITV Granada. You can also listen to local radio stations like Central Radio North West and BBC Radio Lancashire. The local newspaper is the Accrington Observer, which comes out on Fridays.

Accrington Dialect

The way people speak in Accrington is part of the wider Lancashire dialect. This dialect comes from Old English and Middle English, with some words from Old Norse because of the Vikings.

Some words you might hear in Accrington include:

• Ginnel - A narrow path or alleyway between buildings.
• Mither - To bother or annoy someone, or to be worried about something.
• Tackler - A skilled worker who set up and fixed looms in the old textile mills.
• Clough - A steep, wooded valley or ravine.
• Brook - A small stream or watercourse.

The Accrington dialect, like many local ways of speaking, changes over time. But it still has unique features that show the town's rich language history. For example, the word "acorn" might be pronounced "akran".

Old Customs and Traditions

Accrington has had several old customs that shaped its local culture.

Rush-Bearing Festival

One old custom was the rush-bearing festival. Every year, people would gather rushes from wet areas to use as fresh flooring in local churches. They would carry the rushes to the churches in decorated carts, with music and dancing. This festival was common across Lancashire.

Wakes Week

Another important custom was Wakes Week. This was a holiday period, usually in summer, when local mills and factories would close for a week. Workers could take a much-needed break. Wakes Week often had fairs, carnivals, and other community events.

Local Sports and Games

In the past, Accrington was known for traditional sports like football, cricket, and quoits. These games were fun and helped bring the community together.

Sports in Accrington

Football Team

Accrington Stanley F.C. joined the Football League in 1921. After many years, they left the league in 1962 due to money problems and closed down in 1965. The club started again three years later and worked its way back up. In 2006, Stanley returned to the Football League! Their stadium is called the Crown Ground.

An even older club, Accrington F.C., was one of the first twelve teams to start the Football League in 1888. But they also left the league early because of money problems. So, Accrington is unique for having two different clubs leave the Football League. Accrington Stanley F.C. is currently in EFL League Two.

Cricket

Accrington Cricket Club plays at Thorneyholme Road in the Lancashire League. Cricket is also played in parks, and local schools are very interested in the sport.

Other Sports

Accrington has two sports centers, including the Hyndburn Sports Centre, which has a renovated swimming pool.

Education in Accrington

Accrington has many primary schools, including:

• Hyndburn Park Primary School
• Peel Park Primary School
• Sacred Heart Primary School
• Springhill County Primary School
• Accrington Huncoat Primary School
• St Johns and St Augustines CE Primary School
• St Mary Magdalen's CE Primary School
• Woodnook Primary School

The secondary schools serving Accrington are:

• Accrington Academy
• The Hollins
• The Hyndburn Academy
• Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School
• St Christopher's Church of England High School

The college in the town center is Accrington and Rossendale College. Nearby universities include Blackburn College and the University of Central Lancashire in Preston.

Famous Places and Landmarks

Haworth Art Gallery

The Haworth Art Gallery is an art museum in Accrington. It's in a beautiful Tudor-style mansion called Hollins Hill, built in 1909 by William Haworth, a local cotton maker. He gave the mansion and its park to the people of Accrington when he died in 1913. The gallery opened in 1921.

The gallery has the largest public collection of Tiffany glass in Europe! This collection was given by Joseph Briggs, who was from Accrington and worked for the famous artist Louis Comfort Tiffany. The gallery also has many 19th and 20th-century paintings and sculptures.

The Viaduct

The Viaduct is a large bridge with a railway line on it that goes through the town. It has many storage units and shops underneath. The Viaduct ends at the Accrington Eco Station.

Town Hall

Accrington Town Hall was built in 1858 to remember Sir Robert Peel. It is a listed building, meaning it's historically important.

The Arcade

The Arcade is a Victorian shopping center with about 10-15 shops and restaurants.

Oakhill Park

Oakhill Park is a large, old park with great views of Accrington. It has won awards, including "best park in Lancashire", and an Eco Award.

Haworth Park

Haworth Park can be reached from Manchester Road. It was originally William Haworth's private garden. The Haworth Art Gallery is located here.

The Coppice and Peel Park

Peel Park is a green space in the center of Accrington. It opened in 1909 and was first called Corporation Park. It was renamed to honor William Peel, a local Member of Parliament. The park is about 18 acres and has a lake, flower gardens, and a bandstand.

The Coppice is a hill within the park. It offers a 2.2-mile (3.5 km) scenic walk with views of the area. The paths and monuments on the hill have been improved over the years. In 2009, people celebrated 100 years since the Coppice was given to the town. The playground area of the park has also been updated.

Events and festivals, like the annual Accrington Food and Drink Festival, are held in the park throughout the year.

Important Landowners in Accrington's Past

Many families helped Accrington grow over the centuries.

De Lacy Family

The de Lacy family were the first recorded landowners in Accrington. They helped establish the town as a center for farming and trade.

Walmsley Family

The Walmsley family bought the land of Accrington in the 1500s. They owned several mills, which helped Accrington's textile industry grow.

Peel Family

The Peel family were very important in the 1700s and 1800s. Sir Robert Peel started textile mills in the area, which greatly boosted Accrington's economy.

Hargreaves Family

The Hargreaves family built the Broad Oak Print Works in 1778. It became one of the biggest textile printing factories in the region.

Haworth Family

The Haworth family were important landowners. James Haworth started Haworth Mill in the early 1800s. Their investments helped the town's economy.

Peel, Yates and Co.

Peel, Yates and Co. was a business partnership between the Peel and Yates families, started in 1795. They owned several cotton mills in Accrington, including the Woodnook Mill, which employed about 800 people.

Duckworth Family

The Duckworth family were landowners and business owners in the 1800s. They owned mills like Broad Oak Mill and Spring Hill Mill, employing hundreds of workers.

Birtwistle Family

The Birtwistle family were also involved in the cotton industry. They owned mills like Church Bank Mill and Wellington Mill, employing over 1,000 workers.

Holden Family

The Holden family helped Accrington grow through coal mining and brick making. They owned the Accrington Brick and Tile Company.

Famous People from Accrington

Many notable people have come from Accrington, including:

• David Lloyd, a famous cricketer and TV commentator.
• Diana Vickers, a singer-songwriter and actress.
• Jeanette Winterson, an author whose book Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is about her childhood in Accrington.
• Jon Anderson, the singer from the rock band Yes.
• Julie Hesmondhalgh, an actress known for playing Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street.
• Mystic Meg, a well-known astrologer.
• Ron Hill, a famous long-distance runner.
• Vicky Entwistle, an actress known for playing Janice Battersby in Coronation Street.

See also

In Spanish: Accrington para niños