Crawshawbooth is a small village located on the edge of the

Pennines The Pennines (), also known as the Pennine Chain or Pennine Hills, are a range of highland, uplands mainly located in Northern England. Commonly described as the "Vertebral column, backbone of England" because of its length and position, the ra ...

in England, just north of the market town of

Rawtenstall Rawtenstall () is a town in the borough of Borough of Rossendale, Rossendale, Lancashire, England. The town lies 15 miles (24 km) north of Manchester, 22 miles (35 km) east of Preston, Lancashire, Preston and 45 miles (70 km) south east of Lanca ...

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...

, and south of Loveclough. It is situated in the

Rossendale Valley The Rossendale Valley is in the Rossendale area of Lancashire, England, between the West Pennine Moors and the main range of the Pennines. The area includes the steep-sided valleys of the River Irwell and its tributaries (between Rawtenstall an ...

, which was once an ancient royal hunting ground. The majority of the surrounding land consists of farms and moorland.

Etymology

The name "Crawshawbooth" is derived from two elements: "Crawshaw" and "booth". The first element, "Crawshaw", refers to a family name associated with the village. It is believed that the name originates from the

Old English Old English ( or , or ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. It developed from the languages brought to Great Britain by Anglo-S ...

words "crawe" meaning "

crow A crow is a bird of the genus ''Corvus'', or more broadly, a synonym for all of ''Corvus''. The word "crow" is used as part of the common name of many species. The related term "raven" is not linked scientifically to any certain trait but is rathe ...

" and "sceaga" meaning "grove" or "

woodland A woodland () is, in the broad sense, land covered with woody plants (trees and shrubs), or in a narrow sense, synonymous with wood (or in the U.S., the '' plurale tantum'' woods), a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunli ...

". Over time, the name evolved and eventually became associated with the area. The second element, "booth", refers to a small dwelling or temporary shelter historically used by farmers or traders. This term reflects the village's historical connection to the

agricultural Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created f ...

and

trading Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market (economics), market. Traders generally negotiate throu ...

activities that took place in the region. The combination of "Crawshaw" and "booth" signifies the historical presence of a dwelling or settlement belonging to the Crawshaw family.

Geography

Crawshawbooth is located within the

, an area known for its scenery and history. The village is surrounded by farmland and stretches of

moorland Moorland or moor is a type of Habitat (ecology), habitat found in upland (geology), upland areas in temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands and the biomes of montane grasslands and shrublands, characterised by low-growing vegetation on So ...

. The

topography Topography is the study of the forms and features of land surfaces. The topography of an area may refer to the landforms and features themselves, or a description or depiction in maps. Topography is a field of geoscience and planetary sci ...

of Crawshawbooth is characterised by rolling hills, giving rise to panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The area is crisscrossed by footpaths and trails, making it a destination for walkers and outdoor enthusiasts. The village is also intersected by several small rivers and watercourses, including Limy Water and the Folly Clough.

History

There are a number of English Heritage properties in the Crawshawbooth area. Crawshaw Hall is a Grade II* listed mansion built in 1831 by John Brooks, a local calico printer and quarry owner. His son Sir Thomas Brooks was created a baronet in 1891 and the following year raised to the peerage as Baron Crawshaw. Sir Thomas was appointed

High Sheriff of Lancashire The High Sheriff of Lancashire is an ancient office, now largely ceremonial, granted to Lancashire, a county in North West England. High Shrievalties are the oldest secular titles under the Crown, in England and Wales. The High Sheriff of Lanca ...

for 1884–85. The property descended in the Brooks family until it was sold in 1976. It has been a medical centre and nursing home since 1987. The

Religious Society of Friends Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally, others referred to them as Quakers ...

(Quakers) Meeting House in the village is one of the oldest in the world (it was built in 1716). The village has many historical aspects such as Victorian-style housing and huge chimneys from the early Victorian Era. There was also a large cotton and shoe making industry in the Victorian Era. Goodshaw Chapel was associated with the Larks of Dean. St. Mary and All Saints Church, commonly known as "Goodshaw Chapel", dates from 1542. Over the years, it underwent several renovations, with notable work carried out in 1780 and 1828. This stone church features a rectangular structure with a small western turret housing a single bell. It offers seating for 912 individuals, including 357 free seats. The church's historical records include baptisms dating from 1732, marriages from 1838, and burials from 1755. St. John the Evangelist's Church, Crawshawbooth was constructed in 1892 at a cost of £12,000. Originally a

chapel A chapel (from , a diminutive of ''cappa'', meaning "little cape") is a Christianity, Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. First, smaller spaces inside a church that have their o ...

of ease for St. Mary's, it has a seating capacity for 600 worshippers. The church was designed by the architects

Paley and Austin Sharpe, Paley and Austin are the surnames of architects who practised in Lancaster, England, Lancaster, Lancashire, England, between 1835 and 1946, working either alone or in partnership. The full names of the principals in their practice, whi ...

. It currently is in disrepair and abandoned for the foreseeable future.

Amenities

The village is home to Crawshawbooth Primary School, which is situated outside of the main village. Other amenities include several shops and restaurants. These include a fish and chip shop, an Indian restaurant, a Chinese takeaway, and an Italian restaurant. Additionally, there is a newsagents, a dry cleaner, and a public library. The village is also known for its butchers. Pubs in the village include the Black Dog and Masons Arms, the White Bull Pub and Lizzies Bar. The main road in the village is lined with a number of Victorian houses. The towns of

and

Burnley Burnley () is a town and the administrative centre of the wider Borough of Burnley in Lancashire, England, with a 2021 population of 78,266. It is north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River B ...

are nearby, as is the hamlet of Loveclough. Crawshawbooth was also home to the See Gallery who mounted exhibitions of local nationally and internationally known artists including, amongst others, Ray Lowry, Liam Spencer and Dave Pearson.

Notable residents

* Raleigh Croshaw (ca.1584–1624) an English merchant and immigrant to the

Colony and Dominion of Virginia The Colony of Virginia was a British colonial settlement in North America from 1606 to 1776. The first effort to create an English settlement in the area was chartered in 1584 and established in 1585; the resulting Roanoke Colony lasted for th ...

* Thomas Brooks, 1st Baron Crawshaw (1825–1908) a British peer. *

Marshall Brooks Marshall Jones Brooks (30 May 1855 – 5 January 1944) was a nineteenth-century sportsman who was the British Amateur High jump champion in 1874 and 1876, world record holder for the High jump on three occasions, as well as a rugby union inter ...

(1855–1944) sportsman, high jump champion, rugby union international and JP * Jimmy Dickinson (1899–1971) footballer with almost 200 club caps *

Ted Robbins Edward Michael Robbins (born 11 August 1955) is an English comedian, actor, broadcaster, radio DJ, television presenter and radio personality. Career He has performed as a warm-up artist for numerous pre-recorded comedy shows that have been fil ...

(born 1955) a comic, actor, TV presenter and radio broadcaster *

Phil Neville Philip John Neville (born 21 January 1977) is an English association football, football manager and former player who is the current head coach of Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers. He is also the co-owner of Salford City F.C., Salford ...

(born 1977) footballer, played for

Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional football club based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. They compete in the Premier League, t ...

Everton F.C. Everton Football Club () is a professional association football club based in Liverpool, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Founded in 1878, the club was a founding member of the Football Lea ...

and

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

References

External links

Crawshawbooth Public Library

The See Gallery

Crawshawbooth Directory
{{authority control Villages in Lancashire Geography of the Borough of Rossendale