Rishton
| Rishton | |
| Lancashire | |
|---|---|
 Rishton High Street | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SD725305 |
| Location: | 53°46’12"N, 2°25’7"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 6,625 (2011[1]) |
| Post town: | Blackburn |
| Postcode: | BB1 |
| Dialling code: | 01254 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Hyndburn |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Hyndburn |
Rishton is a small town in Lancashire, about two miles west of Clayton-le-Moors and four miles north-east of Blackburn. The population at the census of 2011 was 6,625.[1]
History
Rishton was the first place that the cloth calico was woven on an industrial scale. Its name means “village (or farmstead) where rushes grow”.[2][3]
Geography
Rishton is situated in an area of low moorland north-east of Blackburn and north west of Accrington. Its elevation above sea level varies from 250 ft in the east, where Norden Brook flows into the River Hyndburn, to 785 ft on Rishton Height, north west of the town.[4]
Geology
Around ¾ mile from the town is a former sandstone quarry, known locally as Star Delph Quarry. Its use as a sandstone quarry ended in 1897. Part of the quarry contains rocks formed around 314 to 315 million years ago in the Carboniferous period, These rocks contain an imprint from where the roots of a Lepidodendron, which are known as Stigmaria. This quarry is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and so it is protected by law with those that damage the site facing fines. The exposed rock layers are Fletcher Bank Grit, this is a subgroup of the Millstone Grit.
Transport
The main road through Rishton is the A678 Blackburn to Burnley Road; there is also the B6535 (formerly A6064), which connects the town to Great Harwood.[5] The Blackburn Southern Bypass section of the M65 motorway opened in December 1997, bypassing the A678.[6]
In the 19th century, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was a major transport route in the area. The section of the canal through Rishton was completed in 1810.[7] Rishton Reservoir, which provides water to the canal, was built in 1828.[8] The East Lancashire Railway, which was opened in 1848, crossed the reservoir on a viaduct until 1858; it is now on an embankment.[9]
Rishton railway station, south west of the town centre, is on the East Lancashire line. Services are provided between Blackpool South and Colne. Bus services include the Hyndburn Circular routes.
Sport
Cricket
Rishton has over the years been famous for its cricket team, based at Rishton Cricket Club. Notable professionals who have played for the club include Viv Richards in 1987. Other former professionals include former England coach Duncan Fletcher, Michael Holding (former West Indies international), Aussie fast bowler Jason Gillespie, former South African cricket captain Allan Donald and Sri Lankan right-handed batsman and right arm offbreak bowler Kumar Dharmasena.
Football
Rishton United F.C. provides junior and senior football for over 20 teams for both children and adults. The football club is currently developing its own ground next to the canal behind Hyndburn Academy. This will see the club have its own grass pitches and in time, clubhouse and parking. The club has teams ranging from nippers (U7s) through to U16s and men's senior teams.
Golf
Rishton Golf Club is located off Petre Crescent, and is an eleven-hole course.
Sailing
Sailing has taken place on Rishton Reservoir since the start of the 20th century.[10] East Lancashire Sailing Club is based at the reservoir, and is a RYA-Recognised Training Centre.
Culture
Leisure and tourism
The facilities at Cutwood Park, between Blackburn Road and the reservoir include a football pitch and a children's playground.[11]
Churches
- Rishton Christian Fellowship, Commercial Street.
- Rishton Baptist Church, Commercial Street[12]
- Rishton Methodist Church, Albert Street[12]
- St Charles Borromeo RC Church, St Charles Road[13]
- St Peter and St Paul Church (Anglican), Blackburn Road[14][15]
- Primitive Methodist Church, School Street[16]
- United Methodist Church, Mary Street[16]
Education
There are three primary schools in Rishton: St. Peter and St. Paul's Church of England Primary School, St. Charles' Roman Catholic Primary School and Rishton Methodist Primary School. There is also one high school: Norden High School and Sports College.
Notable people
- Martin Dobson – Burnley F.C. and Everton F.C. footballer
- Ernest Marsden – assistant to Ernest Rutherford
- Brett Ormerod – Blackpool footballer
- Hardy Falconer Parsons – winner of the Victoria Cross,
- George Tomlinson – Education Minister to Clement Attlee's Government and MP for the Farnworth constituency in Bolton[17]
- Christine Walkden – gardener
- Mark Felix – strongman
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Rishton Built-up area (1119882908)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2011_ks/report?compare=1119882908. Retrieved 8 February 2018
- ↑ Mills, A.D. (2011). A Dictionary of British Place Names (First edition revised 2011 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 391. ISBN 9780199609086.
- ↑ Simpson, David (2002). Northern roots: who we are, where we came from and why we speak the way we do. Sunderland: Business Education Publishers. ISBN 978-1-901888-35-5. OCLC 59292921.
- ↑ "Townships: Rishton, A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 6". University of London & History of Parliament Trust. 1911. pp. 344–348. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53130. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
- ↑ "Ordnance Survey New Popular Edition Map: Sheet 095". Ordnance Survey. 1947. http://www.npemap.org.uk/tiles/map.html#373,430,1.
- ↑ Yeadon, Harry L. (2005). The Motorway Achievement: Building the Network: The North West of England. Chichester: Phillimore & Co.. ISBN 978-1-86077-352-5.
- ↑ Clarke, Mike (2003). The Leeds & Liverpool Canal : a history and guide. Lancaster: Carnegie Publishing. p. 120. ISBN 978-1-85936-013-2. OCLC 54881773.
- ↑ Clarke, Mike. "The Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Hyndburn" (PDF). Hyndburn Borough Council. Archived from the original on 9 April 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110409093445/http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/downloads/canal_walk_LEAFLET.pdf.
- ↑ Clarke, Mike (2003). The Leeds & Liverpool Canal : a history and guide. Lancaster: Carnegie Publishing. pp. 161, 191. ISBN 978-1-85936-013-2. OCLC 54881773.
- ↑ Clarke, Mike (2003). The Leeds & Liverpool Canal : a history and guide. Lancaster: Carnegie Publishing. p. 241. ISBN 978-1-85936-013-2. OCLC 54881773.
- ↑ "Hyndburn Life: Cutwood Park". Hyndburn Life. http://www.hyndburnlife.co.uk/roundabout/opencms/Residents/Sport_and_Leisure/Parks/Cutwood_Park.html. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Watkinson, David (18 June 2007). "Three arrested over church vandalism". Lancashire telegraph. http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/1479620.three_arrested_over_church_vandalism/.
- ↑ stringer, phil. "St Charles Borromeo, Rishton – Roman Catholic". http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LAN/Rishton/StCharlesBorromeo.shtml. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
- ↑ Blackburn Diocese: WHALLEY Deanery
- ↑ GENUKI: St Peter and St Paul Church of England, Rishton, Lancashire genealogy
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 GENUKI: Rishton, Lancashire genealogy
- ↑ Ruth follows in George's steps
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Rishton) |