Barnoldswick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barnoldswick
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 A view from Weets Hill across Barnoldswick and Craven towards Ingleborough, Pen-y-ghent and Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales |
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 Barnoldswick
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| Population | 10,752 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SD875465 |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BARNOLDSWICK |
| Postcode district | BB18 |
| Dialling code | 01282 |
| Police | Lancashire |
| Fire | Lancashire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Barnoldswick is a lively market town in Lancashire, England. People who live here often call it "Barlick." It's located in the Borough of Pendle and was historically part of Yorkshire.
Barnoldswick is about 30 miles (48 km) from Leeds and 50 miles (80 km) from Lancaster. Nearby towns include Skipton and Burnley. In 2011, about 10,752 people lived in the town.
Contents
History of Barnoldswick
How Barnoldswick Began
Barnoldswick has a long history, going all the way back to Anglo-Saxon times. These were people who lived in England before the Norman Conquest in 1066. The town was mentioned in the Domesday Book, a famous survey of England made in 1086. Its name, Bernulfesuuic, means "Bernulf's Town." The "wick" part means "settlement" or "dairy farm."
Monks and Mills
In 1147, a group of Cistercian monks from Fountains Abbey tried to build a monastery here. However, they faced problems like bad harvests and unhappy locals. So, after six years, they left and built Kirkstall Abbey instead.
Later, they returned to build the Church of St Mary-le-Ghyll. This church is still standing today.
For many centuries, Barnoldswick was just a small village. But things changed with the arrival of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. This canal helped the town's wool industry grow. Later, a railway also came, making Barnoldswick an important cotton town.
One of the last mills built in Barnoldswick was Bancroft Mill. Its huge 600-horsepower steam engine has been saved. You can visit it today as a tourist attraction and see the engine working!
Geography of Barnoldswick
Where is Barnoldswick?
Barnoldswick sits on the lower slopes of Weets Hill, which is part of the Pennines mountain range. It's located on a natural dividing line between two river valleys: the River Ribble and the River Aire.
The town is the highest point on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. This means it's on the "summit level" of the canal. This is the highest section of a canal, where boats travel between different water levels.
Nature Around Town
Barnoldswick is very close to some beautiful natural areas. These include the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Forest of Bowland, which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A small stream called Stock Beck flows through the town. It eventually joins the River Ribble.
Local Government in Barnoldswick
Past and Present Governance
For a long time, Barnoldswick was an "ancient parish" in Yorkshire. An ancient parish was a local area with its own church and local government.
From 1894 to 1974, Barnoldswick was an "urban district." This was a type of local government area. In 1974, a new law called the Local Government Act 1972 changed how local areas were governed. Barnoldswick, along with other villages, became part of the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire.
Today, Barnoldswick has its own town council. This council helps make decisions about local issues. The town is also part of the West Craven Area Committee on Pendle Borough Council.
Local Representatives
The person who represents Barnoldswick in the UK Parliament is called an MP. The current MP for the area, which is called Pendle and Clitheroe, is Jonathan Hinder. He is from the Labour Party and was first elected in 2024.
Economy of Barnoldswick
Local Businesses and Jobs
Barnoldswick is home to several important companies. Since 1854, Esse stoves has been making stoves in the town. Famous people like Florence Nightingale and explorers Shackleton and Scott have used their stoves!
The town is also where Silentnight Beds is based. This company is the UK's largest maker of beds and mattresses. Silentnight had a very long strike from 1985 to 1987. This was a time when workers stopped working to ask for better conditions.
Another big employer in Barnoldswick is Rolls-Royce plc. This company is famous for making jet engines. Many of their jet engine models start with "RB," which stands for Rolls Barnoldswick. This is because their design center used to be in the town.
Hope Technology also has its base here. They make parts for mountain bikes, like disc brakes. Albert Hartley Textiles is the last remaining textiles mill in Barnoldswick. It's an important employer for the area. There used to be thirteen mills in the town!
There are plans to update the Albert Hartley mill. This project would create a new factory and a supermarket. It would also offer a local apprenticeship scheme, which helps young people learn job skills.
Getting Around Barnoldswick
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Buses and Trains
Barnoldswick has bus routes that connect it to nearby towns like Skipton and Burnley. On Sundays, you can even take a bus from Burnley through Barnoldswick to Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
The town used to have its own railway station, but it closed in 1965. This was part of something called the Beeching Axe, which closed many railway lines in the UK. Now, if you want to travel by train, you need to go to Skipton or Colne.
Airports Nearby
The closest airports are Leeds Bradford Airport and Manchester Airport. You can reach them by car or public transport.
Education in Barnoldswick
Barnoldswick has four primary schools for younger students: Gisburn Road, Church School, Coates Lane, and St. Joseph's (for Catholic students).
Most older students go to West Craven High School in Barnoldswick. Some students also attend other schools in Colne or the Skipton Grammar Schools, which are special schools that focus on academic learning.
Local Media
People in Barnoldswick can watch TV channels like Yorkshire Television and BBC Yorkshire. For local news, they can read newspapers like the Craven Herald & Pioneer and Barnoldswick and Earby Times. Other newspapers include the Lancashire Telegraph and the Yorkshire Post.
Sport
Barnoldswick's main football team is Barnoldswick Town. They play in the North West Counties Football League.
Notable Residents
- Michael Holt, a footballer, was born in Barnoldswick.
- Adam Blacklaw, a goalkeeper for Burnley and Scotland, lived in the town.
- Gordon Prentice, a Labour MP, represented the Pendle area from 1992 to 2010.
See also
In Spanish: Barnoldswick para niños
