The Green Trail – Darwen Heritage Centre

WHAT TO SEE IN DARWEN

The Green Trail

The photographs in this section show you what to see on this trail starting on the Green where you will find the Darwen Spitfire which was created by apprentices at local engineering firm WEC Group Ltd. It takes you on a journey through two of the town’s listed parks, partly on an old pack horse trail to some of the oldest buildings in the town. Past some of the Industrial Heritage sites of Darwen before returning to the starting point.

The Green Trail is based on a leaflet which can be accessed by logging on to the Visit Blackburn website and then search for Heritage Town Trails. Click on the link found and then choose Darwen Town Heritage Trail 2. The original green plaques which are numbered can be seen on some of the features and the leaflet carries further information about these. I have included a suggestion to extend the walk to take in the WW1 Tribute created by the Friends of Darwen Cemetery and you must judge whether time permits in your case.

: You can download this map as part of the Darwen Town Heritage Trail 2 leaflet from the Visit Blackburn website. Follow the instructions in the Introduction to locate the leaflet.

: Start point for the trail is on the Green. The sculpture of the Spitfire was created by WEC Group Ltd to represent the Spitfire purchased with monies collected by the people of Darwen in the Second World War. The Spitfire Fund was started by the then Mayor of the Borough of Darwen, John Gregory.

: Also on the Green is the former White Lion Public House which carries the first Green Plaque, numbered ‘1’. One of the oldest pubs in Darwen, dating from before 1799. Now renamed ‘Essence’ the front wall still carries the original Lion casting.

: The former Provident Co-operative Society building is also on the Green, now home to the Italian Restaurant and the Level 1 nightclub. The Darwen Weavers, Winders and Warpers Association had their headquarters upstairs in this building. The building was opened in 1900 to rival the Industrial Co-operative movement in Darwen but closed shortly after the end of the First World War. For a while in the mid-twentieth century the upstairs rooms housed the Preparatory School. Part of the modern Leisure Centre can be seen to the right.

: From the Green walk up the left hand side of the former Provident Co-op building and enter Borough Road where you will pass the former Industrial Co-operative Bakery which was opened in 1901. I wonder if there was any particular reason for the location of this building just a year after the impressive Provident Co op building appeared on the Green. Nothing quite like competition

: As you reach the top of Borough Road you will be faced by the Main Entrance to Bold Venture Park. The left hand gate pillar carries the original Green Trail Plaque Number2. This is one of three Grade II Listed Parks in the town and was opened in 1889 as the second public Park created by the Borough of Darwen following incorporation in 1878. The Borough Council felt it was important to provide leisure facilities where the public could exercise away from the smoky conditions of the Industrial parts of the town. These gates were erected in the Memory of John Gregory, the Mayor responsible for the Spitfire fund, and replaced the originals which were taken for salvage during WWII. Enter the Park.

: As soon as you enter the Park you are faced with the Darwen War Memorial, unveiled in 1921 by Mrs Chadwick who lost three sons in the Great War. If you have time, then you can explore the Park after looking through the remaining photos of the Park in the Green Spaces Section of this website. For this trail go round the left side of the lake and leave the Park by one of the two entrances on Belgrave Road.

: On leaving the park turn right up Belgrave Road and take the street on the left after Arlington Road, named Radfield Road. Walk along Radfield Road until you have veered to the right around the first bend then bear left to take the bridle path behind the houses. There you will find Radfield Head and this is this now forms part of an ancient pack horse trail – The Limersgate.

: Once on the bridle path look out for Radfield Head which has a date stone near to the top of the gable end which reads 1721.

: At the end of the lane turn right and you will see the gateposts of Jennet House Farm ahead. Follow the lane to the right of these gateposts until you reach the corner of the farm then turn left to go round the back of the farm.

: There is no date stone to be found on Jennett House Farm, but the present owners think that parts of it may date back to as early as the late 16th Century or early 17th. Possibly two or maybe even three separate properties over time but now all one with a large extension. The lower windows retain some of the early leaded patterns.

: Kebb’s cottage is the next property on the trail and bears the Green Plaque Number 4. The front wall of this building has been rebuilt in the 19th century with the typical arched doorway and watershot style of faced stone. The remainder of the walls are random stone which was probably sourced from the many quarries along this route. Pass along the front of this building and enter the lane which will take you down to Bold Venture Bungalow and Rock Villa.

: Bold Venture Bungalow was built in the 19th century by a local stonemason who had been in South Africa and the influence of the savannah style verandah has been put to good use here.

: Before continuing on the route take a moment to look at Rock Villa which is just up the hill to the right of Bold Venture Bungalow. It carries a date stone of 1864 with various masonic style implements.

: From Rock Villa retrace your steps past Bold Venture Bungalow and turn left down Bury Fold Lane passing Bury Fold on your right. Soon you will come to Low Hill House with its Blue Plaque. This house was built in 1812 and was the home of Samuel Crompton, the inventor of the Spinning Mule until 1817 when Eccles Shorrock purchased it.

: After Low Hill House retrace your steps back up Bury Fold Lane then turn left into Bury Fold. The house you are looking for is at the top of the lane into Bury Fold.

: This is the house known as Bury Fold House and it was originally a single farmhouse dated 1675. The original Green Plaque numbered 4 can be seen low down near the centre doorway. The property has been extensively renovated and extended to create three separate properties. Leave Bury Fold by the top exit and turn left to go down the hill to Printshop Cottages.

: Your first view of printshop is as you arrive at the bottom of the hill. This was originally built in 1791 as a water powered carding and spinning mill and there was a mill pond on the opposite side of the building. This was taken over by Robert Livesey around 1810 and changed its purpose to Calico printing. Eccles Shorrock then converted it into cottages from 1835 onwards.

: Having passed the mill on your right hand side, follow the path around to the left past the cottages and take a look at the wonderful cottage garden on the end. As you start to climb the hill take a glance over the wall to see the end of the former mill and the back of the cottages. From here just follow the road and do not make any turns until you see the Lych Gate for Whitehall Park in front of you.

: This is the Lightbown Lych Gate into Whitehall Park donated in 1907 by Mrs T Lightbown. Whitehall Park was the first Park to be created in Darwen in 1886. There are many sights to see in the park and if you have time do explore the Park. There are plenty of photos of the Park in the Green Spaces section of this website. If time is short, turn left in the Park and you will end up at the main gates.

: This is the main gate to Whitehall Park and was created to Commemorate the Coronation of George V in 1911. Just outside the gate is Queen’s Road and if you walk up Queen’s Road a short way you will find a row of cottages behind a gate on your right. This is probably the oldest property in Darwen with a date stone which reads R H 1557. This is Whitehall House, originally a single cottage which was extended in the early 19th century to produce the row of cottages you now see. This should be viewed only from the road.

: After Queen’s Road retrace your steps to the Main Gate of Whitehall Park and turn right up Cemetery Road. A short distance up on your left you will see the site of an ancient monument. This was the reversing triangle for the Southern end of the Darwen Steam Tram Route, and it is where the steam trams would turn round to go back down the hill. The original Green Plaque numbered 7 is on the edge of the Monument Plaque.

: As an extension to the original Green Trail, if you find time is on your side, then a visit to the Western Cemetery to see the Friends of Darwen Cemetery tribute to those who fell in the Great War is well worth the trouble. From the Tram Reversing Triangle continue up the hill until you find the Brown Sign and the entrance lodges to the Cemetery. Enter the Cemetery and walk past the Cross of Sacrifice and continue up the hill. From here the trail makes its way down the main road to the centre of town once more.

: From the last feature you visited walk down Bolton Road towards the town centre. On the right hand side you will eventually see this sign which is for Darwen’s newest Park, created in 1982. It was created on the site of the former mill lodges which used to serve Darwen Paper Mill, India Mill and Darwen Mill. One of the lodges has been turned into a duck pond and there are the remains of an industrial period with the sluices connecting to the River Darwen, and a bridge bearing the base stones from the Bowling Green Mill chimney. Further pictures can be seen in the Green Spaces section of this website. The cylinder behind is from the New Waterside Paper Mill and bears the original Green Plaque numbered 8. The cylinder dates back to 1888 and was used in the paper glazing process.

: St Joseph’s RC Church is next, opened in 1885 it was the first built Roman Catholic Church in Darwen. The tower on the North Side was a later addition. The church carries the original Green Plaque numbered 9 on the outside wall of the South Entrance. Continue down Bolton Road.

: After St Joseph’s Church you quickly arrive at India Mill and India Mill Chimney. Both are listed buildings and the Chimney, built in 1867, is Grade II*. For the best impression of the height and Victorian skills in engineering you should go to the base of the chimney and gaze in wonder at the enormity of the task in creating the structure. It is said that the base stone is a single piece of sandstone taken from a local quarry. The chimney itself is built in the style of an Italian Campanile or bell tower in Venice and stands 300 feet in height. Originally there was a cast iron ornamental rail around the top, but this was taken down during the Second World War for salvage.

: Outside Indian Mill on the main road is a Cross Compound Steam Engine, the sort which was used to drive the looms and spinning machines in the cotton mills in Darwen. This one came from the Bowling Green Mill which was across the road and is now a housing development. Some people think that this must have come from India Mill, but it is around half the size of the engines used in India Mill. Just behind the engine, running from the Chimney to the Mill is the former engine house.

: Slightly further down Bolton Road is a Wallpaper Surface Printing Machine which would carry different colours in each tray and could print 12 separate colours. This machine was donated from Crown Wall Coverings Ltd. The original Green Plaque numbered 11 can be seen at the foot of the machine.

: Continue down Bolton Road and cross the road to the gate leading to the former Belgrave Chapel and Graveyard. The original Green Plaque numbered 12 is above the gateway. The Chapel is now converted into apartments and the graveyard can be assessed from the front of the Chapel. From here, follow the main road along the one way system through town and you will come to the Green once more.

What To See In Darwen

Listed Buildings in Darwen & Hoddlesden

Blue Plaques

Town Centre Trail

Tower & Moors

Parks

Industrial Heritage Trail

Listed Buildings in Tockholes