Clitheroe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clitheroe |
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| Town | |
 Clitheroe town centre |
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 Clitheroe
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| Population | 17,141 (2021 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SD742417 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CLITHEROE |
| Postcode district | BB7 |
| Dialling code | 01200 |
| Police | Lancashire |
| Fire | Lancashire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Clitheroe (/ˈklɪðəroʊ/) is a town in Lancashire, England. It is located about 34 miles (55 km) north-west of Manchester. The town is close to the beautiful Forest of Bowland. Many visitors use Clitheroe as a starting point to explore this area. In 2018, about 16,279 people lived in Clitheroe.
The town was named one of the best places to live in Northern England in 2017. The wider Ribble Valley area, where Clitheroe is the biggest town, was also listed as a great place to live in 2018 and 2024.
Clitheroe's most famous building is Clitheroe Castle. It is known for being one of the smallest Norman castles in Great Britain. Several companies have factories here. These include Dugdale Nutrition, Hanson Cement, Johnson Matthey and Tarmac.
Contents
- History of Clitheroe
- How Clitheroe is Governed
- Clitheroe's Climate
- Economy of Clitheroe
- People of Clitheroe
- Religion in Clitheroe
- Famous Landmarks
- Transport in Clitheroe
- Sports in Clitheroe
- Culture in Clitheroe
- Media in Clitheroe
- Education in Clitheroe
- Twin Town
- Famous People from Clitheroe
- Images for kids
- See also
History of Clitheroe
The name Clitheroe probably comes from an old Anglo-Saxon word. It means "Rocky Hill". The town was once the main centre for the lands of the Honour of Clitheroe. A battle called the Battle of Clitheroe happened here in 1138.
These lands were owned by important families over time. They eventually became part of the Duchy of Lancaster. Later, King Charles II gave the lands to George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle.
Clitheroe's oldest written rulebook, called a charter, is from 1283. It confirmed rights that were given to the town much earlier.
Local stories say that stepping stones across the River Ribble near the town are home to an evil spirit. This spirit is said to drown one traveler every seven years.
Jet Engine Development in Clitheroe
During World War II, the first jet engine was being developed. Engineers from companies like Rover and Rolls-Royce met in Clitheroe. They met at the Swan & Royal Hotel. A residential area in town, 'Whittle Close', is named after Frank Whittle. He was a key person in developing the jet engine. This area was built where the old jet engine test sites used to be.
Ancient Sites in Clitheroe
Clitheroe has three special protected historical sites. These are the Bellmanpark Lime kiln and embankment, Edisford Bridge, and Clitheroe Castle.
How Clitheroe is Governed
Clitheroe used to elect two members to the old Parliament. This changed to one member in 1832. The town's special election area was removed in 1885.
Clitheroe became a municipal borough in 1835. This meant it had its own local government. It stayed this way until 1974. Then, it became part of the Ribble Valley district.
Since 1991, the town of Clitheroe has mostly elected Liberal Democrat councillors. These councillors serve on the Ribble Valley Borough Council. The Clitheroe Town Council has also been controlled by Liberal Democrats for a long time.
Clitheroe was one of the first places to elect a Labour Member of Parliament (MP). This happened in 1902 when David Shackleton won. He was the first Labour MP to win a special election. He was also the third Labour MP ever elected.
Today, Clitheroe is part of the Ribble Valley election area. It has been represented by a Conservative MP for many years. The current MP is Jonathan Hinder, who was elected in 2024.
Clitheroe's Climate
| Climate data for Stonyhurst (115 metres asl) 1981–2010 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.5 (43.7) |
6.8 (44.2) |
9.0 (48.2) |
11.7 (53.1) |
15.3 (59.5) |
17.8 (64.0) |
19.7 (67.5) |
19.2 (66.6) |
16.7 (62.1) |
13.0 (55.4) |
9.2 (48.6) |
6.8 (44.2) |
12.7 (54.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.5 (34.7) |
1.2 (34.2) |
2.9 (37.2) |
4.3 (39.7) |
7.1 (44.8) |
9.7 (49.5) |
11.8 (53.2) |
11.7 (53.1) |
9.6 (49.3) |
7.0 (44.6) |
4.0 (39.2) |
1.7 (35.1) |
6.1 (43.0) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 124.2 (4.89) |
94.2 (3.71) |
104.4 (4.11) |
66.6 (2.62) |
73.4 (2.89) |
90.1 (3.55) |
96.0 (3.78) |
108.2 (4.26) |
114.7 (4.52) |
141.4 (5.57) |
139.4 (5.49) |
141.6 (5.57) |
1,294.2 (50.95) |
| Average rainy days | 17.0 | 12.4 | 14.7 | 11.6 | 11.3 | 11.8 | 12.1 | 14.1 | 14.1 | 15.6 | 16.9 | 16.1 | 167.8 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 45.8 | 67.9 | 94.8 | 148.8 | 175.0 | 166.6 | 156.9 | 164.9 | 117.0 | 92.5 | 61.8 | 43.1 | 1,335 |
| Source: metoffice.gov.uk | |||||||||||||
Clitheroe has a typical climate for England. The weather box shows average temperatures, rainfall, and sunshine hours. For example, July is usually the warmest month, and December has the most rain.
Economy of Clitheroe
Local Businesses
Many businesses operate in Clitheroe. ICI opened a chemical plant here in 1941. It was later sold to Johnson Matthey. A company that makes conservatories, Ultraframe, started in Clitheroe in 1983.
Hanson Cement is another local company. It has faced some criticism for using industrial waste in its kilns. However, the company says its filters clean the air and government inspectors have approved the plant.
Dugdale Nutrition is a family-owned business that makes animal feed. It has been around since 1850.
Shopping in Clitheroe
Clitheroe has many shops for its residents. You can find banks like Lloyds Bank and HSBC. There are also three jewellers, including Nettletons Jewellers.
The town has five supermarkets: Booths, Tesco, Sainsbury's (which includes an Argos), Lidl, and Aldi. There is also a shopping area called the Swan Courtyard.
People of Clitheroe
| Clitheroe Ethnic groups 2011 | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White British | 94.9% |
| Asian | 2.0% |
| Black | 0.1% |
In 2011, Clitheroe had a population of 14,765 people. The town has small groups of people from Eastern Europe and Asia.
Clitheroe and the wider Ribble Valley area have been called some of the healthiest and happiest places to live in the United Kingdom.
Religion in Clitheroe
Clitheroe has several churches. There are three Anglican churches: St Mary Magdalene's, St James' Church, and St Paul's. The Roman Catholic church is St Michael and St John Church.
Other churches include Trinity Methodist Church and a United Reformed Church. There is also a Salvation Army building and a Friends meeting house. A former church building now serves as a multi-faith centre with a Muslim prayer room. It is open for people of all faiths to use.
Famous Landmarks
Clitheroe Castle
Clitheroe Castle is believed to be the smallest Norman castle tower in all of England. It sits on top of a 35-metre high limestone hill. It is one of the oldest buildings in Lancashire.
A noticeable feature of the castle is a hole in its side. This hole was made in 1649 by order of the government.
Transport in Clitheroe
Clitheroe has good public transport options. These are mainly found at the Clitheroe Interchange.
Trains
Clitheroe railway station is on the Ribble Valley line. Trains run every hour to Blackburn, Manchester Victoria, and Rochdale. These services are run by Northern Trains.
Regular passenger trains stopped running in 1962 but started again in 1994. A group called Ribble Valley Rail is working to extend train services further north from Clitheroe.
On Saturdays, special DalesRail trains go to Settle and Ribblehead. Freight trains also pass through Clitheroe each week.
Buses
Many bus services run from Clitheroe Interchange to nearby towns in Lancashire and Yorkshire. The main bus company is Transdev Blazefield. Other companies also operate services in the area.
Sports in Clitheroe
Clitheroe F.C. is the town's football club. They play in the Northern Premier League Division One North. The club was started in 1877. They play their home games at the Shawbridge Stadium. There is also a youth football club called Clitheroe Wolves, founded in 1992.
Cricket has been played in Clitheroe since the 1800s. Clitheroe Cricket Club was formed in 1862. They play at Chatburn Road.
The Clitheroe Golf Club was founded in 1891. The current golf course was designed by James Braid. Clitheroe Rugby Union Football Club was formed in 1977. They play at the Littlemoor Ground.
In 2005, a bike race called the Clitheroe Grand Prix took place in the town. The town was also the starting point for a stage of the 2015 Tour of Britain cycle race.
Public sports facilities are available at Edisford. These include the Ribblesdale Pool and Clitheroe Tennis Centre. There are also football pitches and netball courts. The Roefield Leisure Centre is also located here.
In 2006, Clitheroe Skatepark opened in the Castle grounds. In 2016, Michael Bisping, a mixed martial artist from Clitheroe, won the UFC Middleweight Championship. He was inducted into The UFC Hall of Fame in 2019. He is the first English fighter to receive this honour.
Culture in Clitheroe
In 2018, a short film called Alfie the Odd-Job Boy of Clitheroe was shown on BBC Three. It followed a young man named Alfie Cookson who started his own business.
Festivals in Clitheroe
Clitheroe hosts the Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues Fest. It returned in 2010 after many years and is now held every year.
The annual Clitheroe Food Festival happens in early August. Many food and drink producers from Lancashire take part. Local chefs, shops, and volunteer groups also join in the fun.
Media in Clitheroe
Local news and TV shows are provided by BBC North West and ITV Granada. You can listen to local radio stations like BBC Radio Lancashire and Ribble FM. The town is also served by local newspapers, including the Burnley Express and Lancashire Telegraph.
Education in Clitheroe
Clitheroe has three main secondary schools: Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, Ribblesdale High School, and Moorland School. There are also several primary schools in the town. These include St James's Church of England Primary School, St. Michael and John's Roman Catholic Primary School, Pendle Primary School, Edisford Primary School, Brookside Primary School, and the new Ribblesdale Primary School (built in 2024).
Twin Town
Clitheroe is twinned with Rivesaltes, a small town in France.
Famous People from Clitheroe
- James King (1750–1784), a Royal Navy officer who sailed with James Cook.
- Jimmy Clitheroe (1921–1973), a comedian known for his radio shows.
- Peter Hargreaves (born 1946), who helped start the company Hargreaves Lansdown.
- John Pettinger (born 1953), who won a medal for bravery in the Falklands War.
- Michael Bisping (born 1979), a UFC World Middleweight Champion.
- Samantha Murray (born 1989), a modern pentathlete.
Images for kids
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Clitheroe Library and Market Street.
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The main street in Clitheroe, taken from Swan Court Shopping Arcade.
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The main park in Clitheroe; its entrance.
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A part of the original Houses of Parliament, a gift from London in the 'rose garden'.
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View from Clitheroe Castle. In the distance is Pendle Hill.
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View towards the railway station from Clitheroe Castle
See also
In Spanish: Clitheroe para niños
