- Oswaldtwistle
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Coordinates: 53°44′36″N 2°23′37″W / 53.7434°N 2.3935°W
Oswaldtwistle Ossy, Ossie 
Oswaldtwistle
Oswaldtwistle shown within LancashireArea 0.830119 sq mi (2.15000 km2) [1] Population 12,532 - Density 15,096 /sq mi (5,829 /km2) OS grid reference SD740275 - London 182 mi (293 km) District Hyndburn Shire county Lancashire Region North West Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town ACCRINGTON Postcode district BB5 Dialling code 01254 Police Lancashire Fire Lancashire Ambulance North West EU Parliament North West England UK Parliament Hyndburn List of places: UK • England • Lancashire Oswaldtwistle (
/ˈɒzəl.twɪzəl/ "ozzel-twizzel") is a town within the Hyndburn borough of Lancashire, England. It lies on the course of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, 3 miles (4.8 km) east-southeast of Blackburn and is contiguous to Accrington.Contents
History
Oswaldtwistle Library
The name is derived from "Oswald" and "Twistle". The word "twistle" is an old English word meaning "brooks meet". Legend has it that St.Oswald, King of Northumbria passed through, giving the area its full title of Oswald's Twistle, which in time came to be Oswaldtwistle. However, it is more likely derived from the name of the Anglo-Saxon who farmed the land.
Sir Robert Peel, 1st Baronet, who, as a factory-owner, effected wide developments in the cotton industry, was born at Peelfold, within the township, in 1750. Another historical figure associated with the textile industry was James Hargreaves, inventor of the Spinning Jenny.
Economy
The centre of Oswaldtwistle is home to a: Lloyds TSB, Betfred, Oswaldtwistle Clinic, Age Concern, Travis Perkins building merchants as well as a Co-Op supermarket, which was a Gateway, Solo and a Somerfield before becoming a Co-Op. Also there is a Tesco Express and a SPAR. Other stores include an appliance repairs/sales, numerous takeaways, numerous barbers (M & F), estate angents, off licences, bakers, butchers, funeral directors and many more shops.
Power-loom riots
Main article: Power-loom riotsThe people of Oswaldtwistle were involved in the power-loom riots of 1826. The mechanisation of the textile industry (with the introduction of looms powered by steam engines from the 1820s onwards) resulted in redundancies, low wages, and starvation. On 26 April a large number of angry cotton workers attacked the White Ash factory in Oswaldtwistle, about a mile from Hargreaves' workshop, destroying looms and other equipment. The riots went on for three days, extending to all cotton towns in central Lancashire.
Landmarks
Oswaldtwistle Moor
Oswaldtwistle MoorOswaldtwistle Moor (adjacent to Haslingden Moor) is an extensive area of moorland to the south of Oswaldtwistle, with Haslingden Grane bordering the moor's southern edges, Belthorn to the west and Haslingden to the east. The area forms part of the West Pennine Moors. Plans were made in 2007 to build a wind farm consisting of twelve wind turbines on the moors. This attracted both support and opposition, but the plan was approved by councillors in 2010.[2] Further developments have yet to take place, and the plan remains controversial.
Oswaldtwistle Mills
Oswaldtwistle Mills is a notable attraction; a textile mill converted into a craft fair and with an exhibition about life in the mill a hundred years ago. It is also home of the world's largest pear drop made by Stockley's Sweets.
Civic Theatre
Rhyddings ParkAlso of note is the 474 capacity, recently refurbished, Civic Theatre, known as the "Friendly Theatre" and the brand new Civic Arts Centre. Past performers at the Civic Theatre include: Ken Dodd, Rick Wakeman, Steve Harley, The Houghton Weavers, Marty Wilde & Derek Acorah.[3]
The ground floor has recently been refurbished and in August 2010 opened as the Civic Arts Centre. The first production performed at the Arts Centre was Romeo and Juliet. There are workshops and drama sessions most evenings, plus photography projects and new plays being written and performed. Civic Arts Centre
Rhyddings Park
Rhyddings Park is the only formal park within Oswaldtwistle. It was originally the grounds of a private house belonging to a local mill owning family. It has been a public park since 1909. More information about Rhyddings Park can be found on the website of its active community group,[4] Map location of Rhyddings Park
Notable people
The former Oswaldtwistle fire station being pulled down, November 2008- Jackie Bray, England international footballer, born in Oswaldtwistle
- Joel Byrom, footballer, Stevenage midfielder
- Raymond "Ossie" Clark, fashion designer, nicknamed "Ossie" after the town
- James Hargreaves, creator of the spinning jenny
- Gordon Birtwistle, Lib Dem MP for Burnley since May 2010
- Eddie Paynter, England international test cricketer, born in Oswaldtwistle
- Christopher Rigby, Published quiz book author with Miles Kelly Publishing, born in Blackburn, lives in Oswaldtwistle
Twinned town
See also
References
- ^ Lancashire Profile lancashire.gov.uk
- ^ Plans for wind farm on Oswaldtwistle Moor The Citizen
- ^ Venue Information: Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre hyndburnentertainment.com
- ^ The Friends of Rhyddings Park
External links
Ceremonial county of Lancashire North West England Portal Unitary authorities Boroughs or districts Major settlements Accrington • Adlington • Bacup • Barnoldswick • Blackburn • Blackpool • Brierfield • Burnley • Burscough • Carnforth • Chorley • Clayton-le-Moors • Cleveleys • Clitheroe • Colne • Darwen • Earby • Fleetwood • Garstang • Great Harwood • Haslingden • Kirkham • Lancaster • Leyland • Longridge • Lytham St Annes • Morecambe • Nelson • Ormskirk • Oswaldtwistle • Padiham • Penwortham • Poulton-le-Fylde • Preesall • Preston • Rawtenstall • Rishton • Skelmersdale • Wesham • Whitworth
See also: List of civil parishes in LancashireRivers Canals Topics Categories:- Geography of Hyndburn
- Towns in Lancashire
- West Pennine Moors
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