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Brierfield





UK Information

  Official Name Brierfield
  map Type Lancashire
  Country England
  Region North West England
  Population 8000
  Os Grid Reference SD850361
  Latitude 538216
  Longitude -22293
  Post Town NELSON
  Postcode Area BB
  Postcode District BB9
  Dial Code
  Civil Parish
  Shire District Pendle
  Shire County Lancashire


Brierfield is a small town (population approx. 8,000) situated in Lancashire , England , in the district of Pendle . It is located two and a half miles north-east of the town of Burnley , one mile south-west of the town of Nelson , and half a mile north-east of Reedley .
There are three which is planned to open in September 2006 , under the headmastery of Michael Tull .

The building of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, the Blackburn to Addingham Turnpike road and the railway line from Preston to Colne led to the town of Brierfield developing during the early 19th century. Before these new transport links were constructed, there was just a scattering of farmhouses forming part of the township of Marsden, which also covered what was to become Nelson. The construction in 1832 of the first Cotton Mill just off Lob Lane (now Clitheroe Road) close to the Marsden Coal Pit led to the massive growth of the settlement during the mid-1800s. New mills were quickly established along the banks of the canal and people migrated into the area to work in the cotton industry, many coming from the mining areas of North Yorkshire as the lead seams were worked out. The cotton industry continued to be the main employer until well into the 1960s, and it was only in 2006 that BSN (formerly Smith & Nephew) finally ceased production of woven cloth at Brierfield Mills.

The town is quite well known for its war memorial, featuring a large pewter lion roaring. The town is well known for its part in the Quaker movement. A Quaker meeting house can still be found today in Brierfield.

The town used to have a small iniative which aims to improve the social and economical wellbeing of Brierfield residents.

Mordor , the evil land in '' The Lord Of The Rings '', was reportedly based on the town of Brierfield. J. R. R. Tolkien would often visit the neighbouring town of Fence , where there is a clear aerial view of Brierfield. At the time he was writing the book, Brierfield would have been covered by a large amount of thick, black smoke coming from the factory chimneys. He realised that this was how he envisaged Mordor, and therefore based it on Brierfield.

Several members of celebrated 60's pop act The Hollies came from Brierfield, including long-time Drummer Bernie Calvert .


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