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Coordinates: 53°46′12″N 2°25′07″W / 53.770110°N 2.418703°W / 53.770110; -2.418703

Rishton
Rishton  Rishton shown within Lancashire
Population	7,350 (2001 census)[1]
OS grid reference	SD725305
District	Hyndburn
Shire county	Lancashire
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BLACKBURN
Postcode district	BB1
Dialling code	01254
Police	Lancashire
Fire	Lancashire
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Hyndburn
List of places: UK • England • Lancashire

Rishton 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 1894 to 1974.

Rishton was the first place that the cloth calico was woven on an industrial scale.^{[citation needed]} Its name means "village (or farm) amid the rushes".^[2][3]

Geography[link]

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.^[4]

Schools[link]

In Rishton there are 3 primary schools. These are 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 1 high school, Norden High School and Sports College, which serves children from Rishton and neighbouring towns.

Population[link]

The 2001 census recorded a population of 7350, in 2,973 households. 97% of the population were in the White British ethnic group.^[1][5]

Local government[link]

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 is one of the 16 wards on Hyndburn Council, and is represented by three councillors, out of a total of 35 for the district. As of 2011, the ward has three Labour councillors, Harry Grayson, Ken Moss and Clare Cleary.^[6]

Leisure and tourism[link]

The facilities at Cutwood Park, between Blackburn Road and the reservoir include a football pitch and a children's playground.^[7]

Local pubs/clubs[link]

• The Rishton Arms, at the end of Station Road and locally known as The Station because of its proximity to the railway station.
• The Roebuck, High Street
• Walmsley Arms, High Street
• The Conservative Club, Cliff Street
• Free Gardeners Working Men's Club, Parker Street
• Rishton Sports & Social Club, Walmsley Street (re-opened December 2010, formerly the Legion Working Men's Club, closed down October 2009, closed again early 2012)
• Rishton Workmen's Club, Commercial Street

Sport[link]

Cricket[link]

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 professional include, former England Coach Duncan Fletcher, Sky Sports' very own 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 a right-arm offbreak bowler Kumar Dharmasena.

See Rishton Cricket Club

Sailing[link]

Sailing has taken place on Rishton Reservoir since the start of the 20th century.^[8] East Lancashire Sailing Club is based at the reservoir, and is a RYA training establishment.

Golf[link]

Rishton Golf Club is located off Petre Crescent and is a 9 hole course.

Churches[link]

• Rishton Christian Fellowship, Commercial Street.
• Rishton Baptist Church, Commercial Street^[9]
• Rishton Methodist Church, Albert Street^[10]
• St Charles Borromeo RC Church, St Charles Road^[11]
• St Peter and St Paul Church (Anglican), Blackburn Road^[12][13]
• Primitive Methodist Church, School Street^[14]
• United Methodist Church, Mary Street^[14]

Transport[link]

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.^[15] In 1997, the Blackburn Southern By-pass section of the M65 motorway opened, bypassing the A678.^[16]

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.^[17] Rishton Reservoir, which provides water to the canal, was built in 1828.^[18] The East Lancashire Railway, which was opened in 1848, crossed the reservoir on a viaduct until 1858; it is now on an embankment.^[19]

Rishton railway station, south-west of the town centre, is on the East Lancashire Line. As of 2008 the route is operated by Northern Rail, 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 Lancashire United.

Notable people[link]

• Martin Dobson - Burnley and Everton F.C. footballer
• Ernest Marsden - assistant to Ernest Rutherford
• Brett Ormerod - Blackpool footballer
• George Tomlinson - Education Minister to Clement Attlee's Government and MP for the Farnworth constituency in Bolton^[20]
• Christine Walkden - gardener

References[link]

External links[link]

• http://www.rishton.net