124-706: Bamber Bridge is a large village in Lancashire , England, 3 miles (5 km) south-east of Preston , in the borough of South Ribble . The name derives from the Old English "bēam" and "brycg", which probably means "tree-trunk bridge". People who live in Bamber Bridge like to be known as Briggers. By 1764 calico printing had been established in what was then a village; this was the first example of calico printing anywhere in Lancashire. Previously had been mainly carried out in
248-660: A 2-4-0 tank engine . In 1847, two 0-4-2s were supplied by R and W Hawthorn, rebuilt in 1868 as 2-4-0s. In 1845 the MB&;RR ordered four 0-6-0s from the Haigh Foundry , and a fifth engine from Fenton, Craven and Company. Another engine was built by Haigh in 1848. The largest ELR class was a series of outside-frame 2-4-0s with 15 in × 20 in (38 cm × 51 cm) cylinders and 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) driving wheels. Some may have originated as 2-2-2s, and some were later rebuilt as 2-4-0 tank engines. One
372-668: A change at Preston on other days. Trains to Bradford and Leeds that pass through the unmanned station normally require a change at either Blackburn or Preston. The Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire 125 bus route from Preston runs regularly through Bamber Bridge en route to Chorley and Bolton . The 113 service is operated on behalf of Lancashire County Council by Vision Bus between Preston and Leyland links Bamber Bridge with Gregson Lane and Lostock Hall . The 112 service, also operated on behalf of Lancashire County Council by Holmeswood Chaches from Preston to Croston via Clayton Brook and Leyland, also operates through
496-520: A complex network of lines connecting towns and cities including Liverpool , Manchester , Salford , Preston , Burnley and Blackburn . During a period of rapid growth the company acquired several of its competitors, including the Blackburn and Preston Railway , which it purchased to gain access to Preston. It faced competition from companies such as the North Union Railway , and was involved in
620-565: A continuous built-up area from Lytham St Annes to Fleetwood , including Blackpool, and further north is the Lancaster/Morecambe built-up area . The rest of the region is characterised by small towns and villages in the flat farmland surrounding the lower reaches of the Ribble , Wyre , and Lune and the sparsely populated uplands of the Forest of Bowland . The centre and south-east of Lancashire
744-453: A cutting at Outwood . This required the removal of about 600,000 cubic yards (460,000 m ) of earth. It then passed north-east through Radcliffe Bridge and Withins station , and from there into Bury Bolton street station . From Bury, it ran through Summerseat , Ramsbottom , Stubbins and finally to Rawtenstall . The railway climbed a constant gradient, across a mixture of viaducts, tunnels, cuttings and embankments, one of which,
868-599: A direct link between Blackburn and Colne. A second BBA&CER act allowed it to lease or sell itself to the MB&RR, and so in 1845 the two companies joined. The MB&RR later that year changed its name to the East Lancashire Railway (ELR). The following year, the ELR acquired the Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway (LO&PR), which gave it direct access to Liverpool Docks . The LO&PR's line would run from
992-491: A foot control at the base—which were used to alert drivers on both the up and down lines. Each foot control was held in place by a hook on the post. An arm set at an angle would indicate that the train should approach slowly, before stopping at the station. The same arm set vertically (and out of sight) would indicate that the train could pass through without stopping. The posts were also illuminated to allow use at night. Signals at Accrington station were more complex, linked to
1116-470: A footbridge on the river viaduct. Meanwhile, the former MB&RR line from Clifton to Rawtenstall was inaugurated on Friday 25 September 1846. Surveyed two days earlier by the Inspector-General of railways, Charles Pasley , who was reportedly satisfied with the project, upwards of 1,000 invitations were delivered to local people, shareholders and other interested parties. They gathered at
1240-502: A junction with the Liverpool and Bury Railway at Walton-on-the-Hill to a junction with the B&;PR. The enabling act also allowed the LO&;PR to build further branch lines, and the ELR obtained further acts including one which allowed it to build a connection to Preston . Following the acquisition on 3 August 1846, a disagreement ensued over traffic priorities and arrangements for the ELR at
1364-472: A large meal in a closed-off section of a power-loom shed owned by John Robinson Kay. They listened to several celebratory speeches, before re-embarking the train to head home. The railway was opened to the general public on the following Monday. In November 1846 the company submitted proposals for a new line from Buckley Wells (south of Bury) through Whitefield and Prestwich , to a new terminus at Victoria Station. The plan did not progress any further than
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#17328527033951488-487: A luggage train ran into a passenger train at Maghull railway station . A serious accident occurred at Clifton Junction on 19 October 1851 when a passenger train derailed passing the points on the junction, injuring several passengers, some seriously. In September 1866 a man died after jumping from the train from Blackburn. A non-fatal collision occurred at Lostock Hall railway station in November 1876. Inclement weather
1612-491: A notable stand-off in 1849 with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway . Following several years of discussions, the East Lancashire Railway was in 1859 amalgamated with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. Parts of the network remain in use today, and a section of the original line between Bury and Rawtenstall is now operated as a heritage railway . In 1830, the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Company began to promote
1736-459: A number of notable settlements along west to east of the M65 : including the city of Preston and towns of Blackburn , Darwen , Accrington , Burnley , Padiham , Brierfield , Nelson and Colne . South of Preston are the towns of Leyland and Chorley (which, with Preston, formed Central Lancashire New Town designated in 1970), as well as Penwortham , Skelmersdale and Ormskirk . The north of
1860-509: A plant at Springfields, Salwick operated by Westinghouse and Heysham nuclear power station is operated by British Energy . Other major manufacturing firms include Leyland Trucks , a subsidiary of Paccar building the DAF truck range. Other companies with a major presence in Lancashire include: The creation of Lancashire Enterprise Zone was announced in 2011. It was launched in April 2012, based at
1984-479: A position directly abreast of the L&;YR train. The line remained completely blocked until about mid-day, with a queue of trains from both companies, and from the Blackburn and Darwen Railway , building up on each side of the blockage. The situation was eventually defused when the L&YR withdrew their train. The General Manager of the ELR, Richard Hacking, wrote to The Times newspaper expressing his annoyance at
2108-435: A proposal exists to reopen the line as far as Skelmersdale . Services between Liverpool and Ormskirk are now operated by Merseyrail . The ELR used a range of locomotives. One of its earliest orders was for twelve Long Boiler 2-2-2s from Fenton, Craven and Company (at least one of these was used on the inauguration of the railway ), but dissatisfied with the locomotives they accepted only four,. Four were diverted to
2232-655: A railway from Blackburn to Farington . Following the East Lancashire Railway Act 1845 ( 8 & 9 Vict. c. xxxv) the B&PR was absorbed by the MB&RR on 3 August 1846 under the East Lancashire Railway Amalgamation Act 1846 ( 9 & 10 Vict. c. cccii). The B&PR's act of Parliament also allowed for a connection with the proposed Blackburn, Burnley, Accrington and Colne Extension Railway (BBA&CER), which would run from Stubbins Junction to Accrington , providing
2356-466: A walkway. In 1846, the Manchester and Bolton Railway (whose line the ELR used to gain access to Manchester) was taken over by the Manchester and Leeds Railway , which, the following year, became part of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR). The ELR's expansion and the opening of new routes—including an alternative route between Manchester and Leeds—had caused a degree of consternation at
2480-489: Is a Grade II listed building . St. Aidan 's Church, on Station Road, was founded in 1895. The village's Roman Catholic church, St. Mary 's Church, is on Brownedge Lane, and was built in 1826, as a replacement for a chapel. A spire was added in 1866, and the church was partly rebuilt by Peter Paul Pugin in 1892. The church has a neo-gothic altar . Bamber Bridge is in the Diocese of Salford . Bamber Bridge Methodist Church
2604-951: Is based in County Hall in Preston , and has 84 councillors. The council has been controlled by the Conservative Party since the 2017 Lancashire County Council elections ; the 2021 elections they won 48 seats, the Labour Party won 32, and the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party won two each. The twelve districts of the non-metropolitan county are Burnley , Chorley , Fylde , Hyndburn , Lancaster , Pendle , Preston , Ribble Valley , Rossendale , South Ribble , West Lancashire , and Wyre . Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen are unitary authorities , meaning their councils combine
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#17328527033952728-690: Is home to four universities: Lancaster University , the University of Central Lancashire , Edge Hill University and the Lancaster campus of the University of Cumbria . Seven colleges offer higher education courses. The Lancashire economy relies strongly on the M6 motorway which runs from north to south, past Lancaster and Preston. The M55 connects Preston to Blackpool and is 11.5 miles (18.3 km) long. The M65 motorway from Colne , connects Burnley, Accrington, Blackburn to Preston. The M61 from Preston via Chorley and
2852-482: Is limited at most schools in most districts, with only Fylde and Lancaster districts having mostly sixth forms at schools. The rest depend on FE colleges and sixth form colleges, where they exist. South Ribble has the largest school population and Fylde the smallest (only three schools). Burnley's schools have had a new broom and have essentially been knocked down and started again in 2006. There are many Church of England and Catholic faith schools in Lancashire. Lancashire
2976-850: Is now disused. Lancashire was historically the location of the port of Liverpool while Barrow-in-Furness is famous for shipbuilding . As of 2013, the largest private sector industry is the defence industry with BAE Systems Military Air Solutions division based in Warton on the Fylde coast. The division operates a manufacturing site in Samlesbury . Other defence firms include BAE Systems Global Combat Systems in Chorley, Ultra Electronics in Fulwood and Rolls-Royce plc in Barnoldswick . The nuclear power industry has
3100-576: Is on the corner of Wesley Street and Station Road, and was opened in 2006, as a replacement for an older building on the same site. Bamber Bridge is also home to Valley Church which meets in Fourfields House on Station Road. The church was planted in 2007 by Pastors Ed and Michele Carter. Valley Church is a church plant from Fulwood Free Methodist Church and originally met in Walton-le-Dale Arts College and High School before outgrowing
3224-428: Is relatively urbanised, especially around the major settlements of Preston , Blackburn , and Burnley and near the border with Greater Manchester. The Central Lancashire urban area includes the city of Preston and the towns of Penwortham , Leyland and Chorley . A short distance east, Blackburn and Darwen are the first of several adjacent areas urban areas which stretch east toward West Yorkshire and south into
3348-463: Is represented by Barrie Yates. Both county councillors are members of the Conservative Party . Following their review of parliamentary representation in Lancashire, the Boundary Commission for England created a modified Ribble Valley seat and the three Bamber Bridge electoral wards at that time - Bamber Bridge East, Bamber Bridge North and Bamber Bridge West - moved into this constituency at
3472-420: Is represented by Christine Melia and John Michael Higgins. All four borough councillors are members of the Labour Party . Bamber Bridge is covered by two electoral divisions on Lancashire County Council. The first, Lostock Hall & Bamber Bridge, covers the majority of Bamber Bridge and is represented by Jeff Couperthwaite. The second, South Ribble East, covers part of the south and east of Bamber Bridge and
3596-489: Is still the home of flying schools, private operators and North West Air Ambulance. Manchester Airport is the main airport in the region. Liverpool John Lennon Airport is nearby, while the closest airport to the Pendle Borough is Leeds Bradford . There is an operational airfield at Warton near Preston where there is a major assembly and test facility for BAE Systems . Heysham offers ferry services to Ireland and
3720-647: Is that the Duchy administers bona vacantia within the County Palatine, receiving the property of persons who die intestate and where the legal ownership cannot be ascertained. The county palatine boundaries remain the same as the historic boundaries , ignoring subsequent local government reforms. Lancashire in the 19th century was a major centre of economic activity, and hence one of wealth. Activities included coal mining, textile production, particularly that which used cotton, and fishing. Preston Docks, an industrial port
3844-543: Is the county flower found on the county's heraldic badge and flag. The rose was a symbol of the House of Lancaster , immortalised in the verse "In the battle for England's head/ York was white, Lancaster red" (referring to the 15th-century Wars of the Roses ). A flag consisting of a red rose on a gold field was designed by the Friends of Real Lancashire , a pressure group which promotes
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3968-545: Is the area to which the High Sheriff of Lancashire is appointed. As of 2023 these positions are held by Amanda Parker and David Taylor respectively. The ceremonial county is divided into sixteen constituencies for the purpose of parliamentary representation. The Duchy of Lancaster , the private estate of the sovereign, exercises the right of the Crown in the County Palatine of Lancaster. The most prominent effect of this
4092-597: Is the main road through Bamber Bridge, and most of the shops are on this road. It crosses the railway at a level crossing next to the railway station. It was formerly part of the A6 , until a bypass was built in the 1980s. The village is also at the northern end of the A49 , where it meets the A6. The section of the M6 motorway around the village is part of the Preston Bypass opened in 1958,
4216-640: Is upland, with the West Pennine Moors in the south-east and the Forest of Bowland in the north-west; Bowland has also been designated a national landscape. The major rivers of the county are, from north to south, the Lune , the Wyre , and the Ribble , which all flow west into the Irish Sea. The highest point in Lancashire is either Gragareth or Green Hill , both approximately 628 m (2,060 ft) high and located in
4340-407: The Diocese of Blackburn . The first to be built was St.Saviour's Church , on Church Road at the south end of the village, was built in 1837 on land given by Mr. R. Townley Parker (Guild mayor of Preston in 1862) and was considerably altered and enlarged in 1886/87, when the altered church was opened by Lord Cranbourne. The land for the churchyard was donated by Mr. R. A. Tatton of Cuerden Hall . It
4464-537: The Earl of Derby , John Robinson Kay, William Grant and others, was mostly "waste, woodland, pasture or reservoirs, except at Brookbottoms where arable land was avoided by the tunnel". Strong financial support was offered to the MB&RR by local businesses, who were unhappy with the idea of the M&;LR building their own railway. The Manchester and Leeds District Board of Trade produced a report in 1845 which gave their backing to
4588-509: The Furness and Cartmel peninsulas of Cumbria, and part of northern Cheshire , but excluded the eastern part of the Forest of Bowland . The west of Lancashire contains flat coastal plains: the West Lancashire coastal plain to the south and the Fylde in the centre. The north-western coast is hilly and contains part of Arnside and Silverdale , a national landscape . The east of the county
4712-518: The Furness exclave . The new ceremonial county of Lancashire also gained land in 1974, as the urban districts of Barnoldswick and Earby , Bowland Rural District , and the parishes of Bracewell and Brogden and Salterforth from Skipton Rural District were transferred from the West Riding of Yorkshire . One parish, Simonswood , was transferred from the borough of Knowsley in Merseyside to
4836-650: The Irish Sea to the west. The city of Preston is the largest settlement. The county has an area of 3,079 square kilometres (1,189 sq mi) and a population of 1,490,300. After Preston (147,800), the largest settlements are Blackpool (141,100) and Blackburn (124,995); the city of Lancaster has a population of 52,655. For local government purposes, Lancashire comprises a non-metropolitan county , with twelve districts, and two unitary authority areas: Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool . The county historically included northern Greater Manchester and Merseyside,
4960-589: The Isle of Man . As part of its industrial past, Lancashire gave rise to an extensive network of canals, which extend into neighbouring counties. These include the Leeds and Liverpool Canal , Lancaster Canal , Sankey Canal , Bridgewater Canal , Rochdale Canal , Ashton Canal and Manchester Ship Canal . The major settlements in the ceremonial county are concentrated on the Fylde coast (the Blackpool Urban Area ), and
5084-539: The Lancaster Canal , and crossed Station Road. The steam-hauled railway came to Bamber Bridge around the same time as the first cotton mills. A line was built connecting Blackburn with the West Coast Main Line at Farington , with a branch connecting Bamber Bridge directly to Preston . Bamber Bridge station was built where the railway crossed Station Road at a level crossing. The stretch of track through
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5208-453: The Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway , providing the ELR with a connection to Bradford and Leeds . The LO&PR line to Lostock Hall (26 miles (42 km)) was completed on 2 April 1849, and the (3 miles (4.8 km)) extension into Preston station opened on 2 September 1850. The line ran into new platforms built on the east side of the NUR's station, which were managed and staffed by
5332-614: The Leeds, Dewsbury and Manchester Railway , and two to the Eastern Counties Railway . In 1848, the ELR's four 2-2-2s were rebuilt as 2-4-0s by R and W Hawthorn . In about 1858, they were again rebuilt as 0-6-0s by Sylvester Lees . Richard Walker, a director of the ELR between 1838 and 1854, was the supplier of about twenty locomotives to the company, including, in the 1850s, four 2-4-0s and several 0-6-0s. Walker, Richard & Brother supplied four 2-2-2 locomotives, Medusa, Hecate, Diomed and Lynx. All were later rebuilt as
5456-569: The Leighton Moss nature reserve. In the east of the county are upland areas leading to the Pennines. North of the Ribble are Beacon Fell Country Park and the Forest of Bowland , another National Landscape . Much of the lowland in this area is devoted to dairy farming and cheesemaking, whereas the higher ground is more suitable for sheep, and the highest ground is uncultivated moorland . The valleys of
5580-596: The Lord-Lieutenant (termed now a ceremonial county ) covered the entirety of the administrative county and the county boroughs. It expanded whenever boroughs annexed areas in neighbouring counties such as Wythenshawe in Manchester south of the River Mersey and from Cheshire, and southern Warrington . It did not cover the western part of Todmorden , where the ancient border between Lancashire and Yorkshire passes through
5704-578: The M66 starting 500 metres (0.3 mi) inside the county boundary near Edenfield , provide links between Lancashire and Manchester, and the trans-Pennine M62 . The M58 crosses the southernmost part of the county from the M6 near Wigan to Liverpool via Skelmersdale . Other major roads include the east–west A59 between Liverpool in Merseyside and Skipton in North Yorkshire via Ormskirk, Preston and Clitheroe, and
5828-558: The Manchester Guardian wrote a favourable report on the works. However, a shortage of workers in 1845 (reflecting the amount of railway construction underway at that time) meant that some men were asked to work on Sundays, resulting in some being charged with breaking the Sabbath . Further difficulties prompted the dismissal of the original contractors, their place being taken by John Waring. The railway ran north from Clifton through
5952-663: The Manchester and Bolton Railway . On 14 September 1843, a group of local businessmen including John Grundy, Thomas Wrigley and John Robinson Kay met at a public house in Bury to discuss the creation of a railway connection for the Bury and the Rossendale districts. Their proposed railway offered better facilities than those also proposed by the Manchester and Leeds Railway (M&LR), whose planned connection at Bury would be made with their Heywood branch line from Castleton . The Manchester, Bury and Rossendale Railway Company (MB&RR)
6076-620: The Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government building in London. An alternative flag consists of a red rose on a white field. This design had already been registered by Montrose in Scotland. East Lancashire Railway (1844-1859) The East Lancashire Railway operated from 1844 to 1859 in the historic county of Lancashire , England. It began as a railway from Clifton via Bury to Rawtenstall , and during its short life grew into
6200-574: The Ribble , Wyre and Lune , which all drain west to the Irish Sea . The Wyre rises in Bowland and is entirely within Lancashire, while the Ribble and Lune rise in North Yorkshire and Cumbria respectively. Many of Lancashire's other rivers are tributaries of the Ribble, including the Calder , Darwen , Douglas , and Hodder . The Irwell , which flows through Manchester, has its source in Lancashire. To
6324-475: The south of England , before spreading to Scotland and the northern counties . In 1857, as a result of the downturn in the cotton trade, a large manufacturer and spinner in the village (Bamber Bridge SP & WN Co.) reported liabilities estimated at £40,000 to £60,000, and were about to go on short time. On 31 October 1859, the Withy Trees Mill in the village, owned by Eccles and Company, burnt down. It
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#17328527033956448-527: The 1990s with Bamber Bridge station having been operated by First North Western , Northern Rail , Arriva Rail North and Northern Trains . The line from Farington to Blackburn is now part of the East Lancashire Line . The direct route to Preston was closed by British Rail in the 1970s, and most of the route is now a cycle route, forming part of the National Cycle Network . Station Road
6572-487: The 2-4-0 wheel arrangement, some being tank engines: several 2-4-0 locomotives were altered from tender to tank, or vice versa. Most had outside frames and were continuations of an ELR design dating back to 1848, but four built in 1873 had inside frames and were similar to 2-4-0s to the design of Yates that were being built at Miles Platting at the same time. Station buildings generally followed one of three designs. The principal stations at Bury and Accrington were based on
6696-605: The 2010 UK general election. Following a further boundary review completed in 2023 the area remained in the Ribble Valley constituency. This means that Bamber Bridge is currently represented in the House of Commons by Maya Ellis , the Labour Party MP for Ribble Valley. Population . The 2021 Census data for the three wards that make up Bamber Bridge listed the entire population as 40,357. Of this number, 20,042 are listed as male and 20,380 as female. Age . The population
6820-461: The ELR had already taken tickets at their Ringley Road station. ELR employees then removed the baulk of timber, and in an effort to push the L&YR train out of the way, drove their train forward. The L&YR had anticipated this, and moved another engine (taken from a L&YR train from Manchester) to the front of their Manchester-bound train. The ELR then blocked the L&YR down line with another of their trains, laden with stone, moving it to
6944-447: The ELR's stone train onto the down line, changing the signals accordingly. Hacking's account ends by claiming that Blackmore ordered the L&YR train to move, effectively resolving the dispute. The matter was so serious that it was raised in the House of Commons . It was eventually settled in court, with the ELR thereon making a pro rata payment according to the distance travelled on each railway. The court also found in favour of
7068-623: The ELR, and which had their own booking hall and entrance. The new platforms were effectively a separate station. More lines followed with a connection between Newchurch and Bacup by October 1852, and the Ormskirk to Rainford Skelmersdale Branch in March 1858. A three-mile long line to Tottington opened in 1882 from a junction with the original MB&BR line. It was electrified in 1913 before reverting to steam in 1951. It closed to passengers in 1952 and goods in 1963 and has since been reclaimed as
7192-462: The L&YR line. Hacking stated that he had received a letter from the L&YR porter at Clifton requesting that all ELR trains stop at Clifton Junction so that tickets could be collected by L&YR staff, and that all ELR goods trains would have to supply invoices at the junction. In his letter he concluded that the purpose of the L&YR's demands was to impede the flow of ELR traffic to Manchester and onwards to Yorkshire. Hacking's account of
7316-497: The L&YR of trying to impede their traffic, particularly as they had recently gained a connection to Bradford, in competition with the L&YR. They stated that the L&YR had access to their accounts, and to the returns made by their staff. On the morning of 12 March 1849, despite the presence of police from Bury and Pendleton , the L&YR placed a large baulk of timber across the ELR's line at Clifton Junction, effectively blocking it. Employees from both companies arrived at
7440-447: The L&YR who had argued that the original agreement to share the line did not extend to a vastly extended ELR network. The amount of compensation to the L&YR was left at the discretion of both companies. Relations between the two companies were, therefore, not entirely amicable. In 1853 the ELR made further proposals for a new line from Clifton to Salford, roughly parallel to the L&YR line, however in 1854 an agreement between
7564-412: The L&YR's tactics. He claimed to have received a letter from the company sent on 9 March 1849 informing him of proposed changes to operational procedures resulting from a near-collision at Clifton Junction . The first change was that ELR trains would at all times give way to L&YR trains on the Manchester and Bolton line; a stop signal was to be placed 400 yards (370 m) along the ELR line from
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#17328527033957688-510: The L&YR, but the two companies initially managed to work together successfully. After about three years a dispute flared up over the collection of tolls for the ELR's use of the line. The ELR had become accustomed to running their trains on to the L&YR line and then later declaring of the number of passengers liable for a toll but, in March 1849, the L&YR insisted that ELR trains stop at Clifton so that passenger numbers and tickets could be checked by their own employees. The ELR accused
7812-442: The LYR had begun constructing a proportion of its locomotives in its own workshops (one of the first railways to do so) at Miles Platting, and after the 1859 amalgamation supplied a number of these to the EL section. Bury works did not build new locomotives until 1862, and between then and 1877, approximately sixteen new locomotives were built there, although at least one incorporated parts from an older locomotive. All of them were of
7936-626: The LYR), the ELR had 32 passenger locomotives and 31 goods. They were numbered 1–63, and all were named. For a few years after the two railways amlgamated in 1859, the LYR maintained a distinct number list for locomotives of what became the East Lancashire section (EL section): new LYR locomotives intended for use on the EL section were given numbers in that section's list, instead of the main LYR list, and those built up to mid 1872 were also named. The EL section locomotive list eventually reached 142, and in March 1875, they had their numbers increased by 600, becoming LYR nos. 601–742. The ELR locomotive works
8060-415: The M&LR and the line was sanctioned in 1846, however the MB&RR project was unaffected by this connection. Manchester contractors Pauling & Henfry, who tendered £167,529 (£21.2 million in 2024), were in May 1844 awarded two contracts to build the Clifton to Bury and Bury to Rawtenstall sections of the new railway. The work was sub-let to smaller contractors and began quickly; in July 1844
8184-410: The NUR's station in Preston. The ELR proposed a new station and a separate line with a new crossing of the Ribble, but this proved controversial; Preston Corporation petitioned against the proposed line, producing a series of witnesses who attested to the damage they presumed would be caused by the embankment necessary for the scheme to proceed. Several members of the corporation were also shareholders of
8308-409: The Ribble between Preston and Bamber Bridge was closed to passengers in 1968, and to goods four years later. The East Lancashire platforms 10–13 were demolished along with Butler Street Goods Yard. The line between Preston and Colne survives as the East Lancashire Line , operated by Northern . The Skelmersdale Branch was closed to passengers in 1956 and to all traffic seven years later, however
8432-442: The River Ribble and its tributary the Calder form a large gap to the west of the Pennines, overlooked by Pendle Hill . South of the Ribble are the West Pennine Moors and the Forest of Rossendale , where former cotton mill towns are in deep valleys. The Lancashire Coalfield , largely in modern-day Greater Manchester , extended into Merseyside and to Ormskirk , Chorley , Burnley and Colne in Lancashire. The highest point of
8556-415: The Second World War, Bamber Bridge was home to the 1511 Quartermaster Truck regiment. The unit was racially segregated , and all of the soldiers except the officers were African American . Tensions in the wake of the 1943 Detroit race riot caused a major fight, known as the Battle of Bamber Bridge to break out between white American military police on one side, and black American soldiers and townsfolk on
8680-436: The UK. On 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972 , southern parts of administrative Lancashire were transferred to the two newly established metropolitan counties of Merseyside and Greater Manchester . Widnes and Warrington , which did not form part of either new county but which were cut off from the rest of Lancashire, were transferred to Cheshire . In the north, the new county of Cumbria incorporated
8804-403: The accounts of the two companies". Hacking claimed to have replied stating that the near-collision had occurred because the L&YR's engine driver had ignored a signal at Clifton Junction, and that the ELR would not accept the changes requested by the L&YR. The ELR refused to supply tickets at any point, although they considered it reasonable to supply more information on their traffic using
8928-430: The administrative county, between Oldham county borough and the West Riding of Yorkshire . Lancaster, the historic county town , became a city in 1937. The administrative county was also the most populous of its type outside London, with a population of 2,280,359 in 1961. By the census of 1971, the population of Lancashire and its county boroughs had reached 5,129,416, making it the most populous geographic county in
9052-550: The airfields owned by BAE Systems in Warton and Samlesbury. Warton Aerodrome covers 72 hectares (180 acres) and Samlesbury Aerodrome is 74 hectares. Development is coordinated by Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, Lancashire County Council and BAE Systems. The first businesses to move into the zone did so in March 2015, at Warton. In March 2015 the government announced a new enterprise zone would be created at Blackpool Airport , using some airport and adjoining land. Operations at
9176-583: The airport will not be affected. This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire at basic prices published by the Office for National Statistics with figures in millions of British pounds sterling. Lancashire has a mostly comprehensive system with four state grammar schools. Not including sixth form colleges , there are 77 state schools (not including Burnley's new schools) and 24 independent schools. The Clitheroe area has secondary modern schools. Sixth form provision
9300-605: The area was part of the Brigantes tribal area in the military zone of Roman Britain . The towns of Manchester , Lancaster , Ribchester , Burrow , Elslack and Castleshaw grew around Roman forts. In the centuries after the Roman withdrawal in 410 AD the northern parts of the county probably formed part of the Brythonic kingdom of Rheged , a successor entity to the Brigantes tribe. During
9424-402: The canal had been infilled and replaced by a railway. A new Act had been required for the new alignment, but due mainly to the objections of the company's engineer, the connection to Bury was never built, as it would have required a 1,100-yard (1,000 m) tunnel on a gradient of 1 in 100, at the time a difficult and expensive proposition. The new railway therefore became known as
9548-431: The ceremonial counties of West Yorkshire , Cheshire , Merseyside , Greater Manchester and Cumbria : Boundary changes before 1974 include: The ceremonial county of Lancashire is divided into fourteen local government districts . Twelve are part of the two-tier non-metropolitan county of Lancashire, which is administered by Lancashire County Council and twelve district councils. Lancashire County Council
9672-458: The ceremonial county is Gragareth , near Whernside , which reaches a height of 627 m (2,057 ft). Green Hill near Gragareth has also been cited as the "county" top . The highest point in the historic county is Coniston Old Man in the Lake District , at 803 m (2,634 ft). The north of the ceremonial county is less densely populated than the south, especially inland. The Fylde coast forms
9796-425: The closure of Bury works in 1888, following the transfer of locomotive maintenance to the new Horwich Works . Like many of its contemporaries, the ELR obtained its locomotives from various private manufacturers. Chief amongst these were the firms of Richard Walker and Brothers of Bury, who supplied 24 locomotives between 1846 and 1854, and Sharp Brothers of Manchester, who supplied 16 between 1846 and 1850. In 1846
9920-630: The connecting A565 to Southport ; the A56 from Ramsbottom to Padiham via Haslingden and from Colne to Skipton; the A585 from Kirkham to Fleetwood ; the A666 from the A59 north of Blackburn to Bolton via Darwen ; and the A683 from Heysham to Kirkby Lonsdale via Lancaster. Several bus companies run bus services in the Lancashire area serving the main towns and villages in
10044-403: The construction of a railway along the line of their canal from Salford , to Bolton and Bury. Following an act of parliament to enable them to become a railway company, they built their line from Manchester to Bolton, although on a slightly different alignment than was first planned. This was mainly to preserve the canal for the use of mine traffic, which would not have been provided for if
10168-426: The county is predominantly rural and sparsely populated, except for the city of Lancaster and the towns of Morecambe and Heysham , the three of which form a large conurbation of almost 100,000 people. Lancashire is home to a significant Asian population, numbering over 70,000 and 6% of the county's population, and concentrated largely in the former cotton mill towns in the south east. The Red Rose of Lancaster
10292-481: The county rapidly industrialised; until 1974 it included both Liverpool, a major port, and Manchester, which with its surrounding towns dominated the manufacture of textiles . The Lancashire coalfield was also exploited, with many collieries opening. By 1971 Lancashire had a population of 5,118,405, which made it the most heavily populated county in the United Kingdom after Greater London . During Roman times
10416-869: The county with some services running to neighbouring areas, Cumbria , Greater Manchester , Merseyside and West Yorkshire . Some of these include: The West Coast Main Line provides direct rail links with London, Glasgow and other major cities, with stations at Preston and Lancaster . East-west connections are carried via the East Lancashire Line between Blackpool and Colne via Lytham , Preston, Blackburn , Accrington and Burnley . The Ribble Valley Line runs from Bolton to Hellifield with regular passenger services running as far as Clitheroe via Darwen and Blackburn. There are connecting lines from Preston to Ormskirk and Bolton, and from Lancaster to Morecambe , Heysham and Skipton . Blackpool Airport are no longer operating domestic or international flights, but it
10540-510: The district of West Lancashire in 1994. In 1998 Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen became unitary authorities , removing them from the non-metropolitan county but not from the ceremonial county . As the new boundary changes came into effect on 1 April 1974, a government statement in The Times newspaper stated: “They are administrative areas and will not alter the traditional boundaries of counties”. The three main rivers in Lancashire are
10664-481: The early history of the railways accidents were not uncommon, and the ELR was no exception. Several incidents were reported in The Times . During Whitsuntide 1849, a passenger train was in a rear-end collision with an excursion train near Burnley , Lancashire . Despite efforts to protect the rear of the passenger train, another excursion train was in a rear-end collision with it. In January 1850, three people died when
10788-468: The events of 12 March is similar to that reported by The Times . He claims to have travelled to Clifton to witness an L&YR clerk being prevented from collecting tickets, and to have then continued on another train to Manchester. On his arrival there, he saw L&YR employees ready to pull up the rails to the ELR platform, although the rails were left intact. He then mentions returning to Clifton after hearing that L&YR employees had recently left for
10912-471: The facilities there and moving to Fourfields House in 2011. Lancashire Lancashire ( / ˈ l æ ŋ k ə ʃ ər / LAN -kə-shər , /- ʃ ɪər / -sheer ; abbreviated Lancs ) is a ceremonial county in North West England . It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and
11036-584: The far north-east of the county. Lancashire was founded in the 12th century; in the Domesday Book of 1086 much of what would become the county is treated as part of Yorkshire and Cheshire . Until the Early Modern period the county was a comparatively poor backwater, although in 1351 it became a palatine , with a semi-independent judicial system. This changed during the Industrial Revolution , when
11160-517: The first motorway in Britain, and includes the junction with the M61 from Manchester. More recently the M65 has been extended to join the A6, also in Bamber Bridge. Bamber Bridge railway station has hourly direct trains to Preston , Blackburn , Accrington and Burnley and various railway stations in between. There are also Sunday direct services to Lytham St Annes and Blackpool South but these require
11284-477: The functions of a district and county council. They were formed in 1996, before which each district was part of the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire. Both authorities currently have a majority Labour administration. The ceremonial county itself only has a minor administrative functions, being the area to which the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire is appointed; the shrieval county has the same boundaries and
11408-528: The historic county, and registered with the Flag Institute , a vexillological charity, in 2008. The flag has been flown from public buildings within the historic county boundaries on Lancashire Day (27 November), including from County Hall in Preston , St Helens Town Hall , the in the parts of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham which were previously in Lancashire. It has also been flown from
11532-475: The house. The railway was then amalgamated into the London & North Western Railway in 1922, and twelve months later became part of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS). The LMS plaque was still in existence on the station subway buildings before their demolition in 2005 due to dilapidation. The railways were nationalised in 1948, becoming part of British Railways . The railways were privatised in
11656-537: The initial planning stages; Whitefield and Prestwich eventually got their own railway stations in 1879. In two years the ELR grew from a company authorised to build 14 miles (23 km) of railway into one with the authority to build 50 miles (80 km) of railway. In February 1848 with 24 miles (39 km) of track open, the company reported for the week ending 5 February 1848 an annual income of £553 18s 8d (£70,000 in 2024) for passengers and parcels, and £498 10s 4d for freight (£63,000 in 2024) – almost double
11780-444: The junction, to be activated whenever a L&YR train was in sight. The second change was that "for the safety of the public" all ELR trains would be required to stop before the points at the junction, where all passenger tickets to Manchester would be collected by L&YR employees. A daily return would be required of all passengers and other freight booked from Salford "for the purpose of keeping regularly and balancing punctually
11904-405: The majority of Chorley. Elsewhere it is less extensive but covers the areas between the major settlements to prevent their convergence both with each other and with the nearby Merseyside and Greater Manchester conurbations. There is a further area of green belt in the north of the county, between Lancaster, Morecambe , and Carnforth . Some settlements within the historic county boundaries are in
12028-665: The mid-8th century, the area was incorporated into the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria from the north of the River Ribble and the Kingdom of Mercia from the south, which both became parts of England in the 10th century. In the Domesday Book , land between the Ribble and Mersey were known as " Inter Ripam et Mersam " and included in the returns for Cheshire . Although some historians consider this to mean south Lancashire
12152-413: The middle of the town. During the 20th century, the county became increasingly urban with Warrington (1900), Blackpool (1904) and Southport (1905) becoming county boroughs, with many boundary extensions. The borders around the Manchester area were particularly complicated, with narrow protrusions of the administrative county between the county boroughs – Lees Urban District formed a detached part of
12276-488: The mile–long section from Ramsbottom to Stubbins, was substantial. The extant Clifton Viaduct was built to cross the River Irwell , which flowed 80 feet (24 m) below, and also the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal . Its largest span is 96 feet (29 m) wide. By 1844, the Blackburn and Preston Railway (B&PR), who shared a viaduct across the River Ribble with the North Union Railway (NUR), were planning
12400-515: The new Hunts Bank station in Manchester. Leaving Manchester, the train stopped near Philips Park to collect chairman John Hodges, before continuing to Radcliffe Bridge to collect more passengers. Large crowds were gathered along the course of the railway. In Bury, the train was extended to about 30 carriages and three engines, and more passengers were collected before the train finished its journey in Rawtenstall. Passengers were provided with
12524-452: The other. A Black American soldier, Private William Crossland, was killed. In June 2022, a memorial garden commemorating the battle was created opposite the pub where the Battle of Bamber Bridge started. The incident inspired the plot of the 2022 film The Railway Children Return . The first railway through Bamber Bridge was the horsedrawn Lancaster Canal Tramroad , which connected two parts of
12648-627: The previous year's income. By March 1848 the line between Rawtenstall and Newchurch was complete, followed in June by the Blackburn to Accrington connection (5.25 miles (8.45 km)), and, in August, the Stubbins junction to Accrington section. The line was extended east to Burnley (5.5 miles (8.9 km)) by September 1848, and, in February 1849, from Burnley to Colne , where it made an end-on junction with
12772-408: The rival Fleetwood, Preston and West Riding Junction Railway , and the petition's proposer was brother-in-law to a director of the rival Manchester and Leeds Railway . In the end the ELR won its bid, but had to landscape its embankment (which later became the dividing line between Avenham and Miller Parks), make an ornamental arch for carriages and pedestrians crossing under the railway, and build
12896-722: The same design by a Manchester-based firm of architects. Most of the other stations were designed by the company's resident engineer. They were stone-built and consisted of a station master's room, adjoining a seated waiting area, a ladies waiting room and the booking office. The third and cheapest design followed the standard design but utilised brick and timber as materials. The platform was normally roofed. Track signals were based on two designs—station signals on posts, each post with two moveable arms—and portable signals; flags were used by day, and coloured lanterns at night. The signals on posts were patented semaphore designs from J Stevens & Son. Each post had two arms—linked by chain to
13020-414: The scene, and a large crowd gathered to watch events unfold. The L&YR also pulled a train past the junction, blocking the up line to the city. Its engine was pointed south-east toward Manchester, available to any ELR passengers who wished to continue their journey. An ELR train arrived from Bury, and stopped. L&YR employees attempted to take tickets from the ELR's passengers, but were refused, as
13144-460: The station building with wires, and by default set at 'stop' when released. The coloured lanterns used as portable signals were painted red on one side (stop), green on another (go slowly), and clear on the third (proceed). The line was standard gauge and most sections used rails in 15-foot (4.6 m) lengths, each weighing 75 lb/yard (31.1 kg/m), fixed to wooden sleepers 9 feet (2.7 m) long and 3 feet (0.91 m) apart. In
13268-583: The station. He blamed the Managing Director of the L&YR, Captain Law, and Mr Blackmore, superintendent of the Bolton line, for ordering the line to be blocked with the baulk of timber. Hacking also mentions an approaching up-train from Bolton, which on encountering the blockage apparently moved across to the down line to bypass it – in the face of oncoming traffic. Expressing his shock, he claims to have ordered
13392-552: The stoppage of Dewhurst's Mill. The same report described the economic problems of the village: 1 in 5 people in Bamber Bridge and Walton-le-Dale and the surrounding area were now reduced to pauperism. A petition against the recognition of the Confederate States of America was presented to the House of Commons on Monday, 29 June 1863, by a villager, a Mr Barnes. No mention is made of his first name or whether he represented any organisation. The trade unionist George Woodcock
13516-534: The two companies meant that the Clifton Junction to Salford line was vested jointly in both companies. Amalgamation had been discussed since the early 1850s and in 1859, by an act of parliament, the ELR was absorbed by the L&YR. Following the Beeching Axe parts of the ELR's network were closed. The original MB&RR line between Clifton Junction and Bury closed in 1966 (although Radcliffe Bridge station
13640-410: The valleys leading to Greater Manchester, the others being Accrington and Rossendale and Burnley . West Lancashire in the south-west is rural with the exception of Skelmersdale , which forms part of Wigan urban area . The North West Green Belt covers a large part of the south and centre of the county, including all of the non-urban areas in the boroughs of West Lancashire and South Ribble and
13764-472: The village was first owned by the East Lancashire Railway , then the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway following incorporation in 1847. In March 1859, a Hurricane engine bolted off the rails at Bamber Bridge, ran across the level crossings and caught the end of a house, knocking down the gable end. The accident did not end with any death or injury, even though a woman was washing in the kitchen of
13888-504: The village. The seasonal X8 service to Keswick operates once in each direction on Saturdays between April and October. Bamber Bridge is an unparished area within South Ribble District . Following boundary reforms in 2015 it has been split between two wards on the borough council , both of which are represented by two councillors. Bamber Bridge West is currently represented by Paul Foster and Caleb Tomlinson. Bamber Bridge East
14012-567: The west of the county are the Fylde coastal plain and West Lancashire coastal plain , which lie north and south of the Ribble Estuary respectively. Apart from the coastal resorts these areas are largely rural and devoted to vegetable crops. Further north is Morecambe Bay . In the northwest corner of the county, straddling the border with Cumbria, is the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape, characterised by its limestone pavements and home to
14136-505: Was at Bury, and the locomotive superintendent there was Sylvester Lees. He was appointed in 1846, and following the 1859 amalgamation continued in office until his death on 22 March 1865. To succeed Lees at Bury, the LYR appointed John Jacques and Henry Critchley as outdoor and indoor locomotive superintendent respectively: both took up their duties on 24 April 1865. Critchley died in September 1867 and
14260-837: Was born in Bamber Bridge on 20 October 1904. He was a voluntary official of the Bamber Bridge branch of the Weavers' Association after a spell of tuberculosis . He won a TUC scholarship to Ruskin College , Oxford in 1929. He was awarded the CBE in 1953 and appointed a member of the Privy Council in 1957. He was General Secretary of the TUC in 1960 and a member of the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers' Associations in 1965 and served as chairman from 1969 to 1971. He died on 30 October 1979. During
14384-479: Was causing difficulties for the LYR as a whole, and on 1 November 1875, William Barton Wright was appointed chief locomotive superintendent for the LYR, combining the outdoor and indoor roles of both works. The following day, Jacques and Roberts (together with Yates and Hurst) were told that they would now report to Barton Wright. Jacques was given the opportunity to resign with six months salary, whilst Roberts became works manager at Bury. He remained in this post until
14508-480: Was closed in 1958), but the line between Bury and Rawtenstall continued to serve passengers until 1972 and freight until 1980. This section is now used by the East Lancashire Railway , a modern heritage railway opened in 1987. The trackbed between Clifton and Radcliffe now forms a part of the Irwell Sculpture Trail . The connection from Stubbins to Accrington was closed in 1966. The ELR line across
14632-570: Was divided into the following age groups; 0–17 years, 19.9%; 18-64 years, 60.5%; and; over 65 years, 19.6%. Ethnicity . According to census returns, the ethnic make-up of the village was; White, 94.8%; Mixed, 1.8%; Asian or Asian British, 2.2%; Black, Black British, 0.7%, and; Chinese or other ethnic group, 0.3%. Religion . The percentage of people listing themselves as; Christian, 63.1%; Buddhist, 0.3%; Hindu, 0.7%; Muslim, 1.3%; Sikh, 0.2%; Other religions, 0.04%; No religion, 34.1%. Bamber Bridge has two Anglican churches, both are parish churches in
14756-658: Was further partitioned into Lonsdale North, the detached part north of the sands of Morecambe Bay including Furness and Cartmel , and Lonsdale South. Since the Victorian era , Lancashire has had multiple reforms of local government. In 1889, the administrative county of Lancashire was created, covering the greater part of the county. Multiple county boroughs were outside the county council control: Barrow-in-Furness , Blackburn , Bolton , Bootle , Burnley , Bury , Liverpool , Manchester , Oldham , Preston , Rochdale , Salford , St. Helens , and Wigan . The area served by
14880-418: Was rebuilt as a 2-4-0 saddle tank engine . These were among the last locomotives to be built in Bury. Other manufacturers to supply the ELR were Sharp, Roberts and Company , Stothert, Slaughter and Company , and Beyer, Peacock and Company . The ELR livery for passenger locomotives was dark green with red brown frames, and polished domes and safety valves. In 1857 (two years prior to the amalgamation with
15004-442: Was reported that the spinning-master and engineer had stayed on after the mill had closed at 6:00 pm to repair some machinery on the third floor. A spark from a lamp is said to have dropped on some cotton waste, igniting it. Nobody was killed or injured, but between 16,000 and 17,000 spindles and 270 looms were destroyed and 250 people lost their jobs. On 7 June 1862, The Times stated that 600 hands had been thrown out of work with
15128-472: Was succeeded by William Hurst on 18 September 1867. When Hurst was transferred to Miles Platting locomotive works in January 1868 (as outdoor locomotive superintendent alongside William Yates, indoor superintendent), R. Mason was appointed to take his place at Bury. He in turn died on 15 October 1873, and was replaced by George Roberts. Having four locomotive superintendents (two at Miles Platting and two at Bury)
15252-408: Was then part of Cheshire, it is by no means certain. It is also claimed that the territory to the north formed part of the West Riding of Yorkshire . The county was established in 1182, and came to be bordered by Cumberland , Westmorland , Yorkshire, and Cheshire. It was divided into the hundreds of Amounderness , Blackburn , Leyland , Lonsdale , Salford and West Derby . Lonsdale
15376-619: Was thus created, its purpose to build a railway from Bury to Clifton, where it would connect to the Manchester and Bolton Railway. The company also promoted the idea of extending the line northwards to Rawtenstall . On 4 July 1844 their local bill was granted royal assent as the East Lancashire Railway Act 1844 ( 7 & 8 Vict. c. 60). The act authorised the company to raise £300,000, and also to borrow £100,000 (£38 million and £13 million respectively in 2024). The land between Clifton and Bury , partly owned by
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