Edgworth
Coordinates: 53°38′38″N 2°23′31″W / 53.644°N 2.392°W
| Edgworth | |
 View of Edgworth from Crowthorn |
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 Edgworth
Edgworth shown within Lancashire |
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| OS grid reference | SD741168 |
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| Civil parish | North Turton |
| Unitary authority | Blackburn with Darwen |
| Ceremonial county | Lancashire |
| Region | North West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BOLTON |
| Postcode district | BL7 |
| Dialling code | 01204 |
| Police | Lancashire |
| Fire | Lancashire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament | Rossendale and Darwen |
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Edgworth is a small village within the Blackburn with Darwen borough of Lancashire, England. It is north east of North Turton between Broadhead Brook on the west (expanded artificially to form the Wayoh reservoir) and Quarlton Brook in the south east. The ground ranges from 650 feet (200 m) to 1,100 feet (340 m) above sea level.
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History [edit]
Edgworth is of Anglo-Saxon origin, denoting a village in the hills and has had many spellings, from 'Eggwrthe' in 1212, Egewurth in 1221, and in 1277 Eggeswrth and Edgeword and Eggeworth in the year 1292. In the 19th century the preferred spelling was "Edgeworth",[1] although "Edgworth", as used by the Post Office, is now the standard spelling.
The village is especially rich in the number of 'Folds' formed in the 17th century. The title usually indicates the enclosure of a farmstead and associated cottages. Isherwood Fold, off Blackburn Road is a good example. Other examples are Horrocks Fold, Thomasson Fold and Brandwood Fold.
Five small hamlets also make up the area of the village - Quarlton, Turton Bottoms at the south-east point, with Entwistle, Round Barn and Whittlestone Head to the west.
Although the character of Edgworth has always been rural, during the 19th century a number of textile mills were built around the village. Most industry has now left the area and since the 1970s a number of suburban housing developments have expanded the core of the village.
Barlow family [edit]
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Barlow family showed great generosity to the village. The industrialist James Barlow (1821–87) funded the new Methodist Church, opened in 1863, and the children's home at Crowthorn. The Edgworth Home, opened in 1872, was the first National Children's Home and closed in 2002.
James Barlow was proprietor of textile manufacturers Barlow & Jones Ltd and was also Mayor of Bolton 1867-1869.
James's son Sir Thomas Barlow was physician to Queen Victoria and Edward VII.[2] He was created a baronet in 1902.
The Barlow Institute was built in 1909 and then consisted of a village hall, coffee bar, library and recreation grounds.
The Barlows' family home, Greenthorne, was used as a conference venue during Mahatma Gandhi's visit to Lancashire in September 1931.[3]
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Edgworth Methodist Church.
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Memorial to James Barlow in Edgworth Methodist Church.
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Plaque at Brandwood Fold, the Barlow family home before the building of Greenthorne.
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The Barlow Institute and Millennium Cross, Bolton Road, Edgworth.
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The bowling green at the Barlow Institute.
Economy [edit]
Edgworth is renowned to walkers as it is very picturesque. Two large reservoirs, the Wayoh Reservoir, and the Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, are located north-east of the village, and the Jumbles Reservoir is near Turton Bottoms. They supply water to the Bolton area.[4][5]
The village has many fine pubs/restaurants and Bed and Breakfast establishments.
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The Wayoh Reservoir looking toward the Entwistle Viaduct.
Sports [edit]
Edgworth has a cricket team, Edgworth Cricket Club, in the Bolton Association. Formed in 1902, they now play continuously in the season on the Recreational Ground adjacent to the Barlow Institute.
Another successful recreational club competing in two leagues is of course the Edgworth Village Institute Bowling Club. Founded in 1900, they play crown green bowls on the green adjacent to the Barlow Institute.
References [edit]
- ^ "Edgeworth Tn/CP through time | Administrative history of Parish-level unit:hierarchies, boundaries". A Vision of Britain through Time. University of Portsmouth. 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
- ^ Margaret Higson (1993) Three in One (Local Methodist magazine).
- ^ Cotton Town retrieved 6 March 2007
- ^ "Edgworth Heritage Trail Map & Guide". Lancashire County Council/Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. Retrieved 2010-06-27.
- ^ "Walking - Entwistle Reservoir". Lancashire Evening Post. Johnston Publishing. 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2010-06-27.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Edgworth |
