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- 1 To start this walk there is space to park on Pole Lane opposite the entrance to the Taylor’s Green Development. Follow the footpath sign on the lamp post going to the right and walk straight up the road into the new estate.
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- 2 Turning off Pole Lane opposite the old Graveyard, walk up towards the top of the Cul-de-sac.
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- 3 Continue up along the footpath.
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- 4 Towards the top of the path you will find the boundary wall of Taylor’s Green Colliery, also later the home of Knowles’ Pipe Works.
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- 5 Keeping to the right of the boundary wall you will find a footpath marker showing the way.
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- 6.The road ahead splits and you should take the right hand lane to go on to Pawson’s Farm.
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- 7. The left hand lane bears a gate with the warning signs.
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- 8. Once into the right hand lane there is a stile on your right with a stunning view across to Cranberry.
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- 9. Further along there is a clear view of Cranberry Fold to the right.
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- 10. Continue along the lane and Pawson’s Lower Barn Farm will come into view.
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- 11. As you reach the farm there is a footpath marker and you take the gate below the sign.
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- 12. You may have trouble opening the gate because of the depth of the grass, but persevere.
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- 13. A trifle overgrown, but persist – it is worth it.
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- 14. Just before you turn right at the fence, Blacksnape becomes apparent at the top of the hill.
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- 15. Having turned right the path straightens and goes towards a stile.
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- 16. The stile has suffered a little but is passable. After the stile you turn left up the lane.
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- 17. Having turned left after the stile the lane takes you to Roman Road.
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- 18. As you walk up the lane there are fine views across Darwen to your left.
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- 19. The two iconic towers of Darwen are clearly visible from here – India Mill Chimney and Darwen Tower beyond.
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- 20. At the top of the lane you meet Roman Road and turn left down the road.
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- 21. Your first view of Blacksnape looking down the road puts you well out into the countryside and there are footpath signs all the way down which will take you down to Hoddlesden.
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- 22. Take time to look at the buildings as you walk down the lane. Look for the alterations to the window configuration which give a clue to the ones which belonged to the hand loom weavers. Check out the random stone walls.
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- 23. Number 21 is a fascinating cottage with the stone canopy over the door.
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- 24. Who put the bench facing this way? And have you noticed the stone stile over the wall behind it?
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- 25. Manor House Farm and Cottages, all modernised.
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- 27. The site of the former Red Lion Inn, now turned into private accommodation.
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- 26. Opposite is the entrance to Hattons Farm and once again there is a stone stile over the wall, with Darwen Tower beyond.
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- 28. Further down is another collection of cottages on your right.
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- 29. Further down is the site of the former Punch Bowl Inn, the start of another walk for later.
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- 30. Further down the road, the last house on your left was the site of the Independent Sunday School, built to support the Independent Chapel on Pole Lane where you started this walk.
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- 31. The playing fields at Sett End are the next thing you will see on your left. The main entrance with its plaque telling of the official opening you will pass after turning left at the roundabout.
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- 32. On your right you will see the last cottages of Blacksnape, some of which display evidence of the extended downstairs window indicating the location of a hand loom weaver.
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- 33. On your left you will pass a WW2 blast shelter with the doors bricked up. Not many of these left now – a relic of the past.
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- 34. The roundabout will then appear before you, at which point you turn left.
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- 35. After turning left at the roundabout the old TV mast from the 1960s will be on your right. This improved the TV signal for many Darwen folk back then.
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- 36. At the next mini roundabout you will see the main entrance to the Sett End Playing Fields and the sign for Pole Lane. Look to the right of the right hand gate pillar to see the dedication stone for the opening of the facility.
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- 37. The dedication stone for the playing fields. Now continue down Pole Lane.
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- 38. On the way down Pole Lane you will come across a number of weavers’ cottages on your right.
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- 39. This will include Stork Street, surprisingly not the shortest street in Darwen which happens to be up Bolton Road.
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- 40. At the very end of the walk you will find on your right the cottages with the date stone of Wesley Cottage 1808.
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- 41. Before leaving the walk check out the old Pole Lane Independent Chapel site whose burial ground is accessible through the gate in this photo. There is a blue plaque on the gable end wall of the house which gives some explanation.
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- 42. The blue plaque for the Pole Lane Independent Chapel. We hope you enjoyed this walk.
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