Rishton

Rishton /ˈrɪʃtən/ is a small town in the Hyndburn district of Lancashire, England, about 2 miles (3 km) west of Clayton-le-Moors and 4 miles (6 km) north east of Blackburn. It was an urban district from about 1894 to 1974. The population at the census of 2011 was 6,625.[1]

For other uses, see Rishton (disambiguation).

Rishton

Rishton High Street
Rishton
Shown within Hyndburn
Rishton
Location within Lancashire
Area0.44 sq mi (1.1 km2) [1]
Population6,625 (2011) [1]
• Density15,057/sq mi (5,814/km2)
OS grid referenceSD725305
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBLACKBURN
Postcode districtBB1
Dialling code01254
PoliceLancashire
FireLancashire
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament

History

Its name means “village (or farmstead) where rushes grow”.[2][3]

In late 1776, a handloom weavers shop in Rishton, belonging to Thomas Duxbury may have been the first place that the cotton cloth calico was woven for sale in Great Britain.[4]

Rishton Colliery 53°45′58″N 2°24′50″W on the Burnley Coalfield was begun by P.W. Pickup Ltd in late November 1884 and mining continued until 1941. A tramroad from the pit connected to a coaling wharf on the canal. The National Coal Board used it as a pumping station from 1955 until 1970.[5][6]

Governance

The two tiers of local government are Hyndburn Borough Council (a non-metropolitan district with borough status) and Lancashire County Council. Prior to the creation of Hyndburn district in 1974, Rishton had been an urban district, with its own council. It is not within a civil parish. Rishton currently has six elected representatives, all of whom are Labour: Graham Jones MP, two County Councillors (Miles Parkinson and Jenny Molineux) and three Borough Councillors (Michael Miller, Jeff Scales, Kate Walsh).

Geography

Rishton is situated in an area of low moorland north east of Blackburn and north west of Accrington. Its elevation above sea level varies from 250 feet (76 m) in the east, where Norden Brook flows into the River Hyndburn, to 785 feet (239 m) on Rishton Height, north west of the town.[7]

Geology

Around 0.7 miles from the town is a former sandstone quarry, known locally as Star Delph Quarry. Its use as a sandstone quarry ended in 1897. Part of the quarry contains rocks formed around 314 to 315 million years ago in the Carboniferous period, These rocks contain an imprint from where the roots of a Lepidodendron, which are known as Stigmaria. This quarry is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and so it is protected by law with those that damage the site facing fines. The exposed rock layers are Fletcher Bank Grit, this is a subgroup of the Millstone Grit.

Demography

The 2001 census recorded a population of 7,350, in 2,973 households. 97% of the population were in the White British ethnic group.[8][9]

The 2011 census recorded a population of 6,625 - a decrease of 9.8% from ten years earlier. 96% of the population were in the White British ethnic group. 74.8% of residents identified only as English , while 11.2% identified only as British, and 10.9% identified as British and English. A majority of residents identified as Christian (76.6%), with 16.4% identifying as irreligious, as well as small minorities of Muslims (0.8%) and Buddhists (0.6%) existing in the town.[1]

Transport

The main road through Rishton is the A678 Blackburn to Burnley Road; there is also the B6535 (formerly A6064), which connects the town to Great Harwood.[10] The Blackburn Southern Bypass section of the M65 motorway opened in December 1997, bypassing the A678.[11]

In the 19th century, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was a major transport route in the area. The section of the canal through Rishton was completed in 1810.[12] Rishton Reservoir, which provides water to the canal, was built in 1828.[13] The East Lancashire Railway, which was opened in 1848, crossed the reservoir on a viaduct until 1858; it is now on an embankment.[14]

Rishton railway station, south west of the town centre, is on the East Lancashire line. As of 2018, the route is operated by Northern, and consists of one train per hour between Blackpool South and Colne. Bus services are more frequent, and include the Hyndburn Circular routes and Route 152, both operated by Blackburn Bus Company.

Sport

Cricket

Rishton has over the years been famous for its cricket team, based at Rishton Cricket Club. Notable professionals who have played for the club include Viv Richards in 1987. Other former professionals include former England coach Duncan Fletcher, Michael Holding (former West Indies international), Aussie fast bowler Jason Gillespie, former South African cricket captain Allan Donald and Sri Lankan right-handed batsman and right arm offbreak bowler Kumar Dharmasena.

See Rishton Cricket Club

Football

Rishton United FC provides junior and senior football for over 20 teams for both children and adults. The football club is currently developing its own ground known as the Primtetime Project located next to the canal behind Hyndburn Academy. This will see the club have its own grass pitches and in time, clubhouse and parking. The club has teams ranging from nippers (U7s) through to U16s and men's senior teams.

Golf

Rishton Golf Club is located off Petre Crescent, and is an eleven-hole course.

Sailing

Sailing has taken place on Rishton Reservoir since the start of the 20th century.[15] East Lancashire Sailing Club is based at the reservoir, and is a RYA Recognised Training Centre.

Culture

Leisure and tourism

The facilities at Cutwood Park, between Blackburn Road and the reservoir include a football pitch and a children's playground.[16]

Churches

Education

There are three primary schools in Rishton: St. Peter and St. Paul's Church of England Primary School, St. Charles' Roman Catholic Primary School and Rishton Methodist Primary School. There is also one high school: Norden High School and Sports College.

Notable people
gollark: Do we just have *way* more depressed people than average?
gollark: He used to be owner.
gollark: CONTEXT for new people: Project COMPARTMENTAL SLATS was the internal codename of the plan to demote lyricLy.
gollark: I am NOT giving permission to appear in this, RocketRace.
gollark: no.

See also

References
  1. UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Rishton Built-up area (1119882908)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  2. Mills, A.D. (2011) [first published 1991]. A Dictionary of British Place Names (First edition revised 2011 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 391. ISBN 9780199609086.
  3. Simpson, David (2002). Northern roots: who we are, where we came from and why we speak the way we do. Sunderland: Business Education Publishers. ISBN 978-1-901888-35-5. OCLC 59292921.
  4. Abram, W.A. (2014) [first published 1877]. A History of Blackburn: Town and Parish. Blackburn: Heritage Publications. p. 181. ISBN 9781291783230.
  5. Rishton Colliery, Northern Mine Research Society, retrieved 7 April 2018
  6. Lancashire and Furness (Map). 1 : 2,500. County Series. Ordnance Survey. 1931.
  7. "Townships: Rishton, A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 6". University of London & History of Parliament Trust. 1911. pp. 344–348. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
  8. "2001 Census: Key Statistics: Key Figures: Area: Rishton (ward)". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
  9. "2001 Census: Key Statistics: Ethnic Group (KS06): Area: Rishton (ward)". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
  10. "Ordnance Survey New Popular Edition Map: Sheet 095". Ordnance Survey. 1947.
  11. Yeadon, Harry L. (2005). The Motorway Achievement: Building the Network: The North West of England. Chichester: Phillimore & Co. ISBN 978-1-86077-352-5.
  12. Clarke, Mike (2003). The Leeds & Liverpool Canal : a history and guide. Lancaster: Carnegie Publishing. p. 120. ISBN 978-1-85936-013-2. OCLC 54881773.
  13. Clarke, Mike. "The Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Hyndburn" (PDF). Hyndburn Borough Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2011.
  14. Clarke, Mike (2003). The Leeds & Liverpool Canal : a history and guide. Lancaster: Carnegie Publishing. pp. 161, 191. ISBN 978-1-85936-013-2. OCLC 54881773.
  15. Clarke, Mike (2003). The Leeds & Liverpool Canal : a history and guide. Lancaster: Carnegie Publishing. p. 241. ISBN 978-1-85936-013-2. OCLC 54881773.
  16. "Cutwood Park". Hyndburn Borough Council. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  17. Watkinson, David (18 June 2007). "Three arrested over church vandalism". Lancashire telegraph.
  18. stringer, phil. "St Charles Borromeo, Rishton – Roman Catholic". Genuki UK & Ireland Genealogy. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  19. Blackburn Diocese: WHALLEY Deanery
  20. GENUKI: St Peter and St Paul Church of England, Rishton, Lancashire genealogy
  21. GENUKI: Rishton, Lancashire genealogy
  22. Ruth follows in George's steps

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