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FOULRIDGE PARISH COUNCIL |
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A Brief History of the Village
Foulridge: A taste of local history
Introduction
The Leeds-Liverpool Canal is 127 miles
long, over 200 years old and a prized relic of our industrial heritage. When it
was first built in the 18th century it was an efficient carrier of
industrial and commercial goods. It rivaled the railways until after the First
World War, when road transport and the decline of traditional industries
decimated the canal’s trade. Today the canal and the towpath are used as a
picturesque recreational area where visitors can enjoy many activities including
boating, cycling, fishing, canoeing or a gentle stroll along the towpath and the
many short walks, which begin from Foulridge.
FOULRIDGE A TASTE OF LOCAL HISTORY Foulridge derives its name from two Anglo-Saxon words, ‘fola’ (foal) and ‘hryeg’ (ridge) suggests that it was established by Angles and took its name from the ridge where they grazed their foals (possibly) Pasture Head It was once a hat-making community and evidence of weaver’s cottages can be seen surrounding the Village Green. Foulridge is a delightful village and a picturesque place to moor and visit. The Wharf and nearby lime kiln have been restored, with a car park being provided for visitors
There are a number of stories about
Oliver Cromwell’s association with the village. One tradition claims that he
gave the village its name be exclaiming ‘What a foul Ridge’, though documented
spellings of the village’s name go back to the early 13th century
(400 years before Cromwell). One legend which may have a basis in fact is that
Cromwell Street takes its name from Cromwell’s Croft, on which it was built, and
it is quite likely that Cromwell’s troops were billeted in the croft.
Foulridge, in common with most of the district, overwhelmingly supported
Cromwell during the Civil War and the village had its own resident roundhead
officer, Major William Barcroft of Noyna.
Robert Whitworth, the Canal Company engineer, designed the Mile Tunnel also known as Foulridge Tunnel. It took 5 years to complete and cost over Ł20,000 (one of the most expensive items on the entire canal). It remains one of the engineering achievements of the Georgian Age. Constructing the tunnel was a dangerous task and several ‘navvies’ died With no towpath, horse drawn barges had to be ‘legged’ through the tunnel. Leggers lay on the boat’s bow deck and ‘walked’ along the tunnel walls pulling the boat with them. Legging ceased officially after a legger died of suffocation in 1886, due to poor ventilation. A tug was introduced shortly after, though some boatmen continued to leg their boats through the tunnel to save the expense of towage. Diesel boats eventually reduced the need for the tug, which was withdrawn from service in 1937. The traffic was then controlled by tunnel keepers using a telephone, and from 1957 to1963 by traffic lights operating on a time switch. Pleasure craft now using the tunnel have to follow a timetable which regulates when the tunnel can be entered
The Foulridge Cow dates from 1912 when
she fell into the canal at the Colne end of the tunnel and swam the length of
the tunnel be fore she was rescued and later revived with alcohol! Buttercup,
as she came to be known, is remembered in pictures at the nearby Hole in the
Wall public house in Foulridge.
Foulridge Wharf and Warehouse were built in 1815, a year before the canal opened in its entirety. In the heyday of the canal, the Wharf bustled with boats loading and unloading their cargoes.
The railway bridge (now demolished) once
carried the Colne/Skipton line and was the only mainline railway crossing the
canal in Pendle. Apparently the ground was so marshy here that the foundation
piles had to be sunk to the same depth beneath the ground as above. Through the
bridge were stables, now demolished, with more stables at the wharf. The boat
horses could be exchanged and rested here. For about forty years after 1880,
steamers towed unpowered boats between Liverpool and Lancashire. Those
continuing onto Yorkshire would obtain the services of a horse marine, (a 'horse
marine' was a man paid by the canal company to lead the boat horse) and a horse
at Foulridge for the rest of their journey. Today Foulridge Canal Cruises
operates from the old wharf and continues a long tradition of leisure. Cruises
can be enjoyed on board the 'Marton Emperor.'
Tailor's Cross, is now situated next to the Cenotaph on Skipton Road. Two romantic traditions are attached to the Tailor's Cross, which date to the Civil War period. One tells of a Royalist tailor who refused to make uniforms for Cromwell's troops. The brave tailor was shot by the troops and his remains were placed over it as a warning to his fellow 'snips.' If you look closely on the cross you can see a crude carving of what looks like a pair of scissors or shears. A different legend refers to the cross as the Maidens Cross. It tells of Margaret Burnard, who waited beside the cross for her betrothed, Robert, to return from the Civil War. He died at the Battle of Marston Moor, but Margaret refused to accept his death and returned each evening to their agreed meeting place. Margaret herself, was killed by Royalist soldiers and her body was buried at the spot where she had so often waited in vain.
In 1766 the main reason for the canal
was thought to be to improve the supply of lime and limestone, which was used
for both agricultural fertiliser and to make motar, much needed to expand the
size and height of weavers' houses. Limestone was transported by the canal from
Craven and burned with coal in limekilns to produce lime, which was then used in
the surrounding villages. In Foulridge there is a fine example of one of these
restored limekilns.
The summit of the Leeds and Liverpool canal is at Foulridge and is fed from various reservoirs in the area. These are areas of distinct beauty with unlimited recreational activity. LOWER FOULRIDGE RESERVOIR also known as Lake Burwain is the largest reservoir and was constructed in1793 to supply water to the newly construction Leeds and Liverpool canal. It was deepened in 1832 and covers an area of approximately 108 acres and its greatest depth is 33 feet. Today the reservoir is also used as a recreational facility; Burwain Sailing Club was reformed in 1952 and has five sailing classes of dinghies as well as windsurfing. It is also a popular spot for course fishing. The commonly used name of Lake Burwain may have an interesting story to tell as 'Burwains' means burial ground or cairn, thereby suggesting that at one time there may have been an ancient burial mound showing evidence of ancient occupation on the site. FOULRIDGE UPPER RESERVOIR was formerly known as Carr's reservoir because the Carr family (of Langroyd) owner the lane on which it was constructed and they had the boating and fishing rights. It was also known as the 'new' reservoir as it was not construction until 1886, more than 70 years after Foulridge Lower Reservoir. SLIPPER HILL RESERVOIR covers approximately 13 acres with a greatest depth of 28 feet, and was opened in 1793. It is more commonly known as Old Ebby's after the man who farmed Slipper Hill Farm and looked after the reservoir at the end of the last century.
WHITEMOOR RESERVOIR WAS BUILT IN THE
1840's. Unlike the other canal reservoirs, in times of drought water from
natural springs on the hillside of Whitemoor were used to augment the Colne
Water supply to Foulridge..
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