Withnell

Withnell
Bury Lane, Withnell Village Centre
Withnell  Withnell shown within Lancashire
Population	3,631 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	SD634217
Civil parish	Withnell
District	Chorley
Shire county	Lancashire
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CHORLEY
Postcode district	PR6
Dialling code	01254
Police	Lancashire
Fire	Lancashire
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Chorley
List of places: UK • England • Lancashire

Withnell is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Chorley, Lancashire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 3,631. Withnell is about 5 miles (8.0 km) north-east of Chorley itself and about 5 miles (8.0 km) away from Blackburn. It constituted an urban district from 1894 to 1974. It was originally called 'Withinhull' around 1160, later appearing as 'Withinhulle' in the 1332 Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire, meaning 'a hill where willow trees grow'. It borders the villages of Brinscall and Abbey Village.

Geography

Withnell Local Nature Reserve roughly traces the path of a now disused railway cutting for around 2/3 of a mile. Since 1966, a large number of wildflowers, native trees and heathers have been planted in the 12-acre (49,000 m²) site. The public are free to walk through this Reserve, designated as a Local Nature Reserve by Chorley Borough Council.

Amenities in Withnell include St. Joseph's Catholic school and church, and St Paul's Church of England church There is a newsagent (Post Office recently closed on May 8 2008 as part of the Post Office Network Change Program). There is a GP surgery for Withnell and surrounding villages, a village grocer's shop, a fish and chip/Chinese takeaway and a beauty parlour.

Withnell railway station served the village, but it closed in 1960.

External links

• Withnell, Chorley Borough Council.
• History of Withnell Township, British History Online.