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Accrington Tourist Information

Church Street. © Stan Walker

Lancashire

Accrington is a small town in Lancashire with a population of around 35,000 people. It lies neatly between Blackburn to the west and Burnley to the east, on the western edge of the Pennines.

Accrington has a long history and is recorded as being on the King's Highway which was used by the kings and queens of England when they hunted in the local forests of Blackburn. Surrounded by the Lancashire hills and moors, Accrington has plenty of dark tales of witchcraft and historic tales based around Pendle Hill.

Accrington was at the centre of the cotton and textile trade during the Industrial revolution and had several mills and dye works. In 1842 a general strike was organized in protest at working conditions, but little changed.

Accrington's main claim to fame is that it produced the hardest and densest bricks in the world! Such was the fame of its building bricks, they were exported and used to build the Empire State Building and were used closer to home in the foundations of Blackpool Tower.

During World War I the town was chosen as an experiment to recruit volunteers as groups of friends to fight together and give moral support. Known as the Accrington Pals, the recruits joined up and fought as part of the 11th East Lancashire Regiment. The town suffered a huge loss of its young men at the Battle of the Somme and the local cenotaph in Oak Hill Park records the names of the 865 Accrington men who died in World War I and a further 173 lives lost in World War II.

Present Day Accrington

Accrington is situated on the River Hyndburn, although it was diverted underground through culverts long ago. The town has a local railway station on the East Lancashire line with frequent trains between Blackpool and York.

There is a local hospital and several schools including Accrington Academy, a Sports College.

Like many other north west towns, Accrington's town centre has changed over the years with the building of pedestrianised shopping precincts and continuing plans for regeneration. However, its local landmarks remain including the stone railway viaduct, the Town Hall and Market Hall, giving the town a semblance of originality and character.

Things to do in Accrington

Accrington is well known for having the largest collection of colourful Tiffany glass in Europe. Joseph Briggs, a local man from Accrington, worked as the art director for Tiffany's and designed some of the fabulous pieces himself. His collection was donated to the town and can now be visited at the Haworth Art Gallery.

Beyond Accrington, visitors may enjoy a visit to the scenic Ribble Valley, the Trough of Bowland or the Lake District. There are many historic places of interest nearby such as Clitheroe Castle and Whalley Abbey.

Famous residents of Accrington include cricketers Graeme Fowler and David Lloyd, Terylene inventor John Rex Whinfield and Coronation Street stars Julie Hesmondhalgh and Vicky Entwhistle.

Images of Accrington

Town Hall opened in 1858 in memory of Sir Robert Peel who was born in the area. © Stan Walker

Backburn Road with the Town Hall on the right. © Stan Walker

The Market Hall opened in 1900. © Stan Walker

Directions

Show map of Accrington...

more attractions and things to do in Accrington ...
more towns near Accrington...

* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

Nearby Attractions

Haworth Art Gallery (2 Miles)* Originally called Hollins Hill, the Gallery is a Tudor-style Edwardian house designed and built for William Haworth and his sister Anne in 1909 by Walter Brierley, FSA of York. It is now Accrington's art gallery.
Gawthorpe Hall (3 Miles)* Gawthorpe Hall was built between 1600 and 1605 for the Shuttleworth family who had already been at Gawthorpe for over 200 years.
Rossendale Museum (5 Miles)* Rossendale Museum is housed in a 19th century mill owner's residence built in 1840 for the Hardman family, overlooking their woollen mill at New Hall Hey
Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery (5 Miles)* Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery is housed in a beautiful Arts and Crafts style building, it offers a lively programme of exhibitions and events for all the family.
Queen Street Mill Textile Museum (6 Miles)* Steam Powered Weaving is brought to Life at Queen Street Mill Textile Museum, the world's last 19th century steam powered weaving mill.
Ribchester Roman Museum (8 Miles)* Ribchester Roman Museum is located in the picturesque village of Ribchester which is set in the beautiful countryside of the Ribble Valley.
Samlesbury Hall (9 Miles)* Built in 1325 Samlesbury Hall is steeped in fascinating history, retaining its original typical black and white exterior, the Hall is almost equidistant between Blackburn and Preston, yet retaining a rural feel.
Smithills Hall and Estate (12 Miles)* Visitors to Smithills Hall can enjoy history in the surroundings of a building that stretches from the 14th century to the glorious period of the Arts and Craft revolution of the late 19th century.
Rochdale Art Gallery (13 Miles)* Touchstones is an exciting arts and heritage centre that has something special for everyone. The site consists of Art Galleries, Museum, Local Studies Centre and Tourist Information Centre.
Bolton Museum, Aquarium and Archive (13 Miles)* Bolton Museum has many collections of exhibits from fine art to Egyptian archaeology. There is an aquarium where you can see snakes and a piranha fish which is 23 years old.

Nearby Towns

Burnley (5 Miles)* Burnley is a typical Lancashire market town 21 miles north of Manchester and close to the M65.
Rawtenstall (5 Miles)* Rawtenstall, pronounced Rotten-stall by the locals, is a pretty Lancashire town in the Rossendale Valley.
Clitheroe (7 Miles)* Clitheroe is a delightful market town in Lancashire, on the border of the beautiful Ribble Valley. Located on the banks of the River Ribble, Clitheroe makes an excellent base for exploring the nearby Pendle Hill and the Forest of Bowland.
Ribchester (8 Miles)* Ribchester is a pretty little village containing not only a Roman fort, but also a fascinating museum, friendly locals much to see and do.
Colne (9 Miles)* Colne is a former cotton town which is fortunate enough to be located in a very attractive semi rural area. The town is dominated by Pendle Hill, which is famous for the Pendle Witches.
Brinscall (10 Miles)* Brinscall is one of the showpieces of Lancashire. Its idyllic hillside location and charm makes it a favourite place for visitors.
Heywood (13 Miles)* The town of Heywood, three miles west of Rochdale, has its origins in the 13th century, but the area owes much of its charm and character to Robert Peel, (the father of Sir Robert Peel, originator of Britain's first police force).
Rochdale (13 Miles)* Visit the borough of Rochdale and you will find a wealth of fascinating heritage and beautiful countryside that makes this a great area to explore.
Littleborough (13 Miles)* Despite its name, Littleborough is one of the larger settlements in the borough, yet retains its village atmosphere. It gained importance, because it stood at the junction of two ancient routes over the Pennines.
Chorley (13 Miles)* The South Lancashire town of Chorley situated at the foot of the West Pennine Moors is served by motorway links to the M61 and nearby M6. This ever popular market town is the birth place of Henry Tate the sugar magnet.

Also near Accrington

Bed and Breakfast:
	The Maple Lodge	1 Mile
	One 3 One Guest House	5 Miles
	Number 678 Guest House	5 Miles
more bed and breakfasts near Accrington...

Self Catering:
	Hindle Pastures	11 Miles
	Twenty Chapel Cottages	11 Miles
	Pennine Cottage	11 Miles
more self catering near Accrington...

Campsites:
	Dale Hey Farm	8 Miles
	Riverside Caravan Site	17 Miles
	Brown Bank Caravan Park	19 Miles


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