Location:
Approximately 20 miles north of Manchester, close to M6, M62, M65, M66.
Welcome to East Lancashire Online. This site is dedicated to the promotion of the area of East Lancashire, encompassing the Boroughs of Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Burnley, Rossendale and Ribble Valley. The region is steeped in tradition, and varies much across the towns in terms of history, culture and scenery, and offers a great deal to businesses and to the discerning tourist. It has a thriving community life, still swathed in a warm-hearted, friendly and neighbourly 'Northern' environment.
Blackburn dates back to Roman times where Ribchester is the site of a Roman fort, and now houses a museum, whereas Burnley was born 1200 years ago. Both towns were prominent in the Industrial Revolution, and thrived in the era when cotton was king, mills dotted the landscape, and transport was enhanced by the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. Darwen, today, still has a skyline which is dominated by the huge India Mill chimney which stands proudly over the town. Famous characters of the time included James Hargreaves (inventor of the Spinning Jenny, an example of which is located in the Helmshore Textile Museum) who spent time in Oswaldtwistle, and Samuel Crompton (Spinning Mule) who lived in Blackburn. Nelson and Colne were also prominent at the time, and the latter had a famous son, Wallace Hartley, the bandleader who continued to play as the Titanic sank.
Industry today is dominated by some large corporates such as Airtours, ICI and Great Universal Stores. Capita has a strategic alliance with Blackburn with Darwen Council, and has large call centres administering TV Licensing and the Criminal Records Bureau.
In contrast, the Ribble Valley is a beautiful tourist location, dotted with picturesque villages and outstanding countryside. Clitheroe is overlooked by its splendid 11th century castle remains, and has a thriving market and busy streets. Nearby Whalley is famous for its Cistercian abbey which dates back to the 13th century. Pendle Hill is renowned not only as a beautiful landmark but as the scene for the Lancashire Witches who were immortalised in the popular novel, 'Mist Over Pendle'. The Ribble Valley is also the home of Stonyhurst College, a private school founded by Jesuits at the end of the 16th century.
The area wallows in sporting tradition, and houses Nationwide League Football Clubs and founder members of the Football League, Blackburn Rovers and Burnley FC, and one of the most famous names in the sport, Accrington Stanley, another founder member though sadly no longer enjoying that level of success. It is the base for the world-famous Lancashire Cricket League, noted as the premier league in the country, which has boasted such professional talent as Sir Learie Constantine, Charlie Griffiths, Dennis Lillee, Clive Lloyd and Michael Holding amongst hundreds of other Test players, and has been the proving ground for many England cricketers. New sports to have become popular in the area include ice hockey which is played at Blackburn Arena. Rawtenstall is the home of Ski Rossendale, one of the largest dry ski slopes in the country.
Hopefully, you will find this site useful and informative, and that it whets your appetite for more information about the area. You are encouraged to to email your comments or provide further information which you think would enhance the site.
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