Barnoldswick (colloquially known as Barlick) is a town (population approx. 10,000), in West Craven, in the Pendle district of Lancashire, England. It is located 10 miles north of Burnley, and 8 miles south-west of Skipton.

History

Barnoldswick dates back to Viking times. It was listed in the Doomsday Book as Bernulfsuuick, meaning Bernulf's Town (uuic being an archaic spelling of wick, meaning settlement).

A Cistercian monastery was founded there in 1147 by monks from Fountains Abbey. However they left after six years, before construction was complete, driven out by crop failures and locals unhappy at their interference in the affairs of the local church. They went on to build Kirkstall Abbey. They returned after another ten years to build the isolated church of St Mary-le-Gill close to the Barnoldswick to Thornton in Craven road.

For hundreds of years Barnoldswick remained a small village, however the arrival of the canal, and later the (now closed) railway, spurred the development of the existing woolen industry, and helped it to become a major cotton town.

Barnoldswick was historically administered as part of the West Riding of Yorkshire (although Blackburnshire in Lancashire sometimes claimed the area). In 1974 it was transferred into Lancashire by the Boundary Commission. This change remains a matter of much controversy.

Today

Despite being a small town it is home to Silentnight , the bed manufacturers, and to Rolls Royce's largest factory. Tourist attractions include the Bancroft Mill Heritage Centre, Letcliffe Country Park and Greenberfield Locks .

It remains the largest town in Britain not to be served by an A road .

External links

• One Guy from Barlick, a local history site.
• Barnoldswick History Weblog
• Barnoldswick at Pendle.net
• Paul Kabrna's look at Barnoldswick
• Lancs Links Barnoldswick Minisite
• Barnoldswick Online
• Unite Craven Campaign
• Historic map of town, provided by Lancashire County Council.