Description
Haslingden, a town, a municipal borough, a township, and an ecclesiastical parish in the old parish of Whalley, Lancashire. The town stands adjacent to the East Lancashire branch of the L. & Y.R., near Rossendale Forest, 4 miles S by E of Accrington, and 18 N by W of Manchester. Its name is probably derived from hazel brushwood, which formerly abounded on the hills and glens around it. The older part of the town is on an acclivity, irregularly built, with Church Street for its principal thoroughfare; while the newer part declines toward the valley, presents an improved appearance, and has Dearden Gate for its principal thoroughfare. It has a post, money order, and telegraph office under Manchester, and a station on the L. & Y.R. The town-hall in George Street was built in 1852, and is used for petty sessions and for county courts. A police station adjoins it. The Haslingden Institute in Dearden Gate was built in 1861, and comprises a good library, newsroom, class, and billiard rooms. St James' Church was rebuilt in 1780 on the site of a previous church which existed in 1296; has a tower, rebuilt in 1828 and repaired in 1857; comprises nave, chancel, and aisles; and contains a carved oak pulpit and chancel-screen, an eagle lectern, and a much-admired octagonal font upwards of 300 years old. During the repairs some relics of the patron saint, St James, were dug up. The church of St Stephen is in Haslingden Grane, and was built in 1865 in the Early Decorated style. St John's Church was erected in 1885-86. St Peter's, Laneside, was consecrated in 1893. There are Congregational, Baptist, Primitive, United and Free Methodist, Wesleyan, Sweden-horgian, and Roman Catholic chapels. The workhouse is situated in the borough of Bawtenstall, at Pike Law, with accommodation for upwards of 500 inmates. Weekly markets are held on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and fairs are held on 2 Feb., the second Tuesday in March, 8 May, 4 July, 2 Oct., and the first Tuesday in Dec. The chief employments are in cotton factories, sheeting and fulling mills, iron foundries, size-works, a brewery, and stone quarries. Several mansions and handsome villas are in the neighbourhood. There are Liberal, Conservative, and Liberal Unionist clubs. The town was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1891, is divided into six wards, and is governed by a mayor, 6 aldermen, and 18 councillors. Population of the municipal borough, 18, 225. Acreage of township, 4342; population, 16, 030. The Duke of Bucclench is lord of the manor.
The old parish of Haslingden is now divided into the four ecclesiastical parishes of St James' with a population of 10, 000; St John's, Stonefold (1439); St Stephen's, at Grane (1355); and St Peter's, Laneside (4060). The livings are vicarages in the diocese of Manchester; net value of St James',, £450 with residence. Patrons, Hulme's Trustees. Gross value of St John's, £70. Patron, the Vicar of Haslingden. Net value of St Stephen's, £150. Patron, the Bishop of Manchester. .The church of St Peter's, Laneside, built in 1890. forms a new parish in the district, in the patronage of the Vicar of Haslingden. Under the Local Government Act, 1894, the several townships comprising the borough were made into one township.
