Edgworth
| Edgworth | |
 View of Edgworth from Crowthorn |
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  Edgworth |
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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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Coordinates: 53°38′38″N 2°23′31″W / 53.644°N 2.392°W
Edgworth is a small village within the borough of Blackburn with Darwen, 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.
Edgworth is part of the Rossendale and Darwen constituency. Jake Berry has been the Member of Parliament for Rossendale and Darwen since 2010.
History
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
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
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
Edgworth has a cricket team, Edgworth Cricket Club, in the Greater Manchester Cricket League. 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.
Edgworth is also home to the oldest club in Lancashire Turton FC who currently play in the West Lancs League for open age and the Bolton and Bury Junior District Football League (BBDJFL) for its junior teams. The club has recently been awarded the prestigious Charter Status from the Lancs FA as the new Committee continue their task to turn the club's fortunes around after nearly folding in 2010
Transport
The 537 bus operated by ARRIVA, originally went from Bolton to Edgworth via Blackburn Road, Bromley Cross and Chapeltown but in October 2013, the route was changed to terminate at Bromley Cross, due to a "lack of passengers" in Edgworth. As of September 2014, there are only school buses and a limited coach service, 37 operating from Darwen to Edgworth.
References
- ↑ "Edgeworth Tn/CP through time | Administrative history of Parish-level unit:hierarchies, boundaries". A Vision of Britain through Time. University of Portsmouth. 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- ↑ Margaret Higson (1993) Three in One (Local Methodist magazine).
- ↑ Cotton Town retrieved 6 March 2007
- ↑ "Edgworth Heritage Trail Map & Guide" (PDF). Lancashire County Council/Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ↑ "Walking – Entwistle Reservoir". Lancashire Evening Post. Johnston Publishing. 11 January 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Edgworth. |
- Welcome to Edgworth
- Edgworth Township Boundaries (394), a 19th-century map
- North Turton Weather Station
- Edgworth Children's Home
- James Barlow – Mayor of Bolton 1867–69
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