Places: Accrington

ACCRINGTON

Accrington, in the parish of Whalley, comprised two townships – Old Accrington and New Accrington – which were united in 1878.

The agricultural land of the area is mainly pasture. By 1830 textile industries were developing in the town, notably calico weaving and printing and cotton spinning. Associated works producing textile machinery also grew up. From the fifteenth century there were collieries, quarries and mines in the area. The town was also famous for the manufacture of bricks.

There was a chapel at Accrington which was confiscated as a chantry in about 1547, but subsequently restored in 1553 on payment of a fee. The vicars of Whalley were responsible for maintaining worship there, and the chapel did not usually have its own minister. The chapel was demolished and rebuilt in 1826.

Sources:

‘Townships: Old and New Accrington’, in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 6, ed. William Farrer, J Brownbill( London, 1911), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol6/pp423-427

‘Abingdon – Ackton’, in A Topographical Dictionary of England, ed. Samuel Lewis( London, 1848), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/england/pp5-9