Burnley
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| Burnley | |
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| Population | 73,021 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Burnley |
| Shire county | Lancashire |
| Region | North West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BURNLEY |
| Postcode district | BB10-12 |
| Dial code | 01282 |
| Police | Lancashire |
| Fire | Lancashire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | Burnley |
| European Parliament | North West England |
| List of places: UK • England • Lancashire | |
Burnley is a large market town in the north-east of Lancashire in north-west England with a population of 89,542[1] (2001 census). To the west of Burnley lies Padiham, Accrington and Blackburn with Nelson and Colne to the north. The surrounding Borough of Burnley has a population of around 90,000. The local radio station for Burnley and its surrounding area is 2BR. Burnley is the main town in the Burnley-Nelson urban area which has an estimated population of 149,796.[2]
To the north west of Burnley lies the imposing and visually dramatic Pendle Hill, home of the Pendle Witches, whose summit stands 557m (1827ft) above sea level.
The town nestles in a natural three forked valley (of considerable logistical importance) surrounded by pleasant countryside which evolves into wild moorland at higher altitudes.
The member of parliament for Burnley is Kitty Ussher (Labour).
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[edit] History
Burnley's origins lie in prehistoric times. The town was granted a market over 700 years ago. Burnley grew up as an industrial town in the 19th century, with its economy being based upon textiles, especially cotton. Most of the cotton mills, and some of the engineering firms have now closed, although some mills remain as a reminder of Burnley's industrial history. Burnley became incorporated as a municipal borough in 1861, and became under the Local Government Act 1888 a county borough, outside the administrative county of Lancashire. From a population of over 100,000 in 1911, the town's population declined to today's figure[3] Under the Local Government Act 1972 Burnley's county borough status was abolished, and it was incorporated with neighbouring areas into a non-metropolitan district of Burnley.
Burnley received national attention in June 2001 following a series of violent disturbances arising from racial tension between elements of its white and immigrant communities; see the Burnley Task Force report (pdf) for more information. The population of Burnley includes around 6,500 people of South Asian heritage [4], with over half of this group residing in the Daneshouse with Stoneyholme ward [5], which is in the top 1% of the most deprived wards in Britainneeds up to date citation. The town has seen some success for the far right-wing British National Party in local elections in the borough, where it holds 7 of the 45 seats.
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[edit] Burnley Football Club
Main article: Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club, nicknamed the Clarets, are founder members of the Football League, and were founded in 1882. They have played at Turf Moor since 1883 and currently compete in the English Championship (previously Division 1).
[edit] Nightlife
Burnley has a lively nightlife, drawing clubbers from all over the north-west. The town is dominated by the club Lava-Ignite; Lava is usually an over-25s-only bar, with Ignite catering for over-18s. Other major bars and nightclubs include Fusion (electro, retro, ghetto, house and techno), Calamity Jane's (cowboy-themed), Smackwater Jacks, Posh, The Hellbound Rockclub @ Graffiti Club and Sanctuary Rock Bar. Burnley also has a small gay scene, centred on the Garden Bar in St James Street. There are also chain-owned bars, such as Wetherspoons and Walkabout.
Burnley is a venue for one of the UK's largest Blues festivals, the Burnley National Blues Festival. This two day event occurs annually, and takes place across the many pubs in Burnley, with the festival drawing fans from all over the country. (The neighbouring town of Colne hosts the annual Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival on the August Bank Holiday weekend, which is bigger and more well known than the Burnley festival, drawing in fans from across the world).
It is also one of the 10 most important Northern Soul Music Towns [See 'The Northern Soul Top 500' by Kev Roberts]
[edit] Shopping
The town's main shopping street is St James Street, onto which Charter Walk shopping centre opens. The town centre is home to a good number of major high street multiples, including Marks and Spencer and W H Smith, and a healthy mix of other shops, including specialist food shops, independent record shops and an independent bookshop. A large council-run market is open six days a week. On the edge of the town centre, three retail parks house big box stores.
A second town centre shopping centre, 'The Oval', housing 32 further units anchored by a department store rumoured to be Debenhams, was expected to be built in 2009 but did not receive planning permission. Debenhams have recently pulled out of the project.
[edit] Transport
Burnley has four railway stations, Burnley Manchester Road, Burnley Central, Rosegrove and Burnley Barracks. Manchester Road station has an hourly service west to Preston and Blackpool North and east to Leeds and York , whilst Burnley Central Station provides an hourly service west to Blackpool South and Preston, and east to Nelson and Colne.
The main bus operator in Burnley is Burnley & Pendle, although Northern Blue operate some local services and Tyrer Bus operate some tendered town services.
The town also has good bus links into Manchester: the X43/X44 Witch Way service (operated by Burnley and Pendle) runs from Nelson to Manchester, via Burnley and Rawtenstall, using a fleet of specially branded double decker buses with leather seats. The town's futuristic bus station, made out of steel and glass, won the prestigious Bus Industry Award for Infrastructure in 2003.
[edit] Burnley Sport and Play Development Unit
[6]The Development Unit is one of 14 in Lancashire. It is one of only 2 in the County to hold the QUEST quality Charter Mark accreditation.
[edit] Places of interest
- Queen Street Mill and the Weaver's Triangle
- Towneley Hall
- Turf Moor
- Pendle Hill
- Gawthorpe Hall
- The Burnley Way - an interesting rural walk around Burnley's outskirts
[edit] Education
The borough of Burnley has five 11-16 secondary schools:
- Blessed Trinity RC College
- Hameldon Community College
- Shuttleworth College
- Sir John Thursby Community College
- Unity College
These opened in September 2006 as part of the first wave of a nationwide 10-15 year programme of capital investment funded by the Department for Education and Skills called Building Schools for the Future. The schools currently occupy the buildings of Burnley's seven previous secondary schools; over the next four years all are to be completely rebuilt. Burnley Schools' Sixth Form, which forms a sixth element of the BSF programme, offers sixth form provision on the site of the former Barden High School.
Burnley College is the borough's main tertiary education provider, offering vocational and professional training, adult education, and a small number of degree courses, as well as some GCSE courses and a full range of A levels.
Burnley also has its own Access Point, providing Matrix accredited, career related information, advice and Guidance (IAG), and basic training to local people. This service is provided by Burnley Borough Council and aims to raise the standard of education and employability of local people. Access Point provides bespoke adult learning programmes, including literacy, numeracy and ESOL with embedded work related skills. They also provide other forms of basic, accredited work related training, such as Food Hygiene or Health and Safety training.
Burnley Grammar School was founded in 1559 and provided academic education for the town and surrounding area for over 400 years. Many scholarships to senior universities were gained over this time until late 20th century education reforms dispensed with the idea of merit based secondary and tertiary education and the school was disbanded about 1990.
[edit] Burnley and Jhelum (Pakistan) Twinning
In Year 2006, Ch.Najeeb, Mayor of Burnley officially announced twinning between Jhelum and Burnley. The official website of Jhelum is Apnajhelum.Com which means Myown Jhelum.
We Pakistani's Welcome community of Burnley and surroundings to visit our area, work with us and create a perfect friendship.
[edit] Famous people from Burnley
- Paul Abbott,writer of many t.v programmes including Coronation Street,Clocking Off and Shameless.
- James Anderson, England and Lancashire cricketer.
- Walter Bennett, local historian and author of the four volume History of Burnley.
- Rachel Brown, England and Everton Women's footballer / goalkeeper
- Dunstan Bruce, vocals/percussion, Chumbawamba
- Alice Barry, actress who has had minor roles in Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights and is seen as Lillian "Bo Selecta" Tyler in Shameless.
- Bernie Calvert, bassist with The Hollies.
- Chris Casper, manager of Football League Two side Bury.
- Terry Comer, an original band member and bassist in Ace
- Bobby Elliott, drummer with The Hollies.
- John Falconer, professional poker player.
- Ron Greenwood, former manager of the England football team.
- Julia Haworth, actress who plays Claire Peacock in ITV's popular soap opera, Coronation Street.
- Eric Haydock, bassist with The Hollies.
- Malcolm Hebden, actor who plays Norris Cole in ITV's popular soap opera, Coronation Street.
- Hannah Hobley, actress who plays Chantelle Garvey in ITV1's sitcom Benidorm (TV series).
- Silas Hocking, author and clergyman.
- Neil Hodgson, 2003 World Superbike champion.
- Lee Ingleby, actor.
- Jody Latham, actor famous for playing Phillip "Lip" Gallagher in Shameless
- Tony Livesey, Sport Editor on BBC1's North West Tonight and presenter of the breakfast show on BBC Radio Lancashire.
- Shahid Malik, Member of Parliament for Dewsbury.
- Sir Ian McKellen, actor.
- Richard Moore, actor who plays Jarvis in ITV's popular soap opera Emmerdale.
- Danbert Nobacon, vocals/keyboard, Chumbawamba.
- Alice Nutter, vocals/percussion, Chumbawamba.
- Stella Reid, actress.
- Lisa Riley, actress.
- Peter Salmon, television producer and executive.
- James Yorke Scarlett, commander of the Heavy Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava.
- Lou Watts, vocals/keyboard, Chumbawamba.
- Boff Whalley, lead guitarist and vocals for Chumbawamba
- Craig Heap, Commonwealth Games Gold Medal Winning Gymnast
- Shami Ahmed, British millionaire founder of the Joe Bloggs clothing brand (not born, but raised in Burnley).
[edit] Curiosity
- In various Len Deighton thrillers the hero is unnamed and comes from Burnley. In the film version of The IPCRESS File, however, he is called Harry Palmer and is played by cockney Michael Caine.
- Parts of Juliet Bravo were filmed in the town: for example, Burnley Fire Station was the location of Social Services in the first series.
- A particularly popular drink in Burnley is surprisingly Bénédictine, as several regiments from Burnley were stationed in the French area where it is made during World War I, and having acquired a taste for the drink brought back to Lancashire. It is usually taken with a small amount of hot water and is referred to as "Bene and Hot". This is often drunk in working men's clubs, usually after 10:30pm, and it is believed that it can help settle the stomach before sleep. This trivia was mentioned in Series 4 of the television programme QI, and thus explains one of Burnley F.C.'s more obscure and lesser known nicknames: 'The Benedictines'.
[edit] Bibliography
- Walter Bennett, The History of Burnley, 4 vols., Burnley Corporation, 1946-1951
- Ken Bolton & Roger Frost, Burnley, Francis Frith, 2006 ISBN 1-84589-131-7
- Mike Townend, Burnley, Tempus Publishing, 2004 ISBN 0-7524-1566-2
- Mike Townend, Burnley Revisited, Tempus Publishing, 2006 ISBN 0-7524-3996-0
[edit] Notes
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