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The History of Huncoat A chronological list of dates Section Two : Post 1900

1900	Rose Terrace erected in Station Road.
1901	Census listed 25 farms.
1902	Railway Station moved to it's present site on the north side of the level crossing.
1903	Mitton Terrace erected in Burnley Lane.
1903	Perseverance Mill referred to in contemporary writings as "Highbrake Mill".
1904	Pleasant View terrace erected in Burnley Road.
1906	Pipers Row had been cleared to widen Highergate Road and the village stocks re-positioned on the site of the old cottage back gardens, and placed within iron railings. Pipers Row had got its name because a musical family had once lived there. (See 1844 and 1992).
1907	A tram service commenced from Accrington to Hillock Vale.
1908	Huncoat Primary School opened on 4th April (Methodist day school therefore ceased on 1st April).
1908	Foundation Stone of St.Augustine's Church laid on 4th July.
1909	On the on 29th September the Monument on top of the Coppice was ceremoniously unveiled to mark the gift of land to the town of Accrington by William Peel, hence its name of Peel Park.
1909	St.Augustine's Church consecrated on 30th November.
1909	The Ordnance Survey map of this date showed - * Rockdale in Burnley Road still bore that name (see 1931) * Waterside Cottage had been built by the canal * Altham Brick and Tile works by the canal had become Burnley Brick and Lime works * Huncoat Sewage works had been completed * Huncoat Fireclay works had been established on the north west side of the railway line just south west of the level crossing * Targets at the Rake Head firing range had become disused
1910	Willy Watkinson’s popular sweet shop occupied the northern end of Stone Hey cottages.
1910	The Baptist’s celebrated their 100th Anniversary on 16th May by laying six foundation stones for a new building on the old Methodist ground fronting onto Burnley Lane.
1911	The impressive new Baptist Church was opened on Good Friday.
1911	Census gave the population as 1500.
1911	The Lady Macalpine shelter was erected on top of the Coppice (see 2008).
1912	The railway station buildings were improved.
1913	The Ordnance Survey map of this date showed - * A mineral line or tramway connecting Huncoat Quarry to Rake Head Quarry * Ing Field behind the Coppice was now called Green Field * Whinney Hill Brickworks on the SE slope of Whinney Hill (later Marshall's main works) * Accrington Cricket Ground no longer included "Football" in it's legend
1916	Altham Brick and Tile works ceased operation during the First World War.
1921	Three brothers, Harry, Jack and John died in the First World War along with 41 other men of Accrington collieries. Their father Henry and his remaining son Geoffrey unveiled a memorial window in St Augustine’s Church in 1921. A memorial tablet was moved to the church from Highbrake House in 1939. The Bolton Family were proprietors of Huncoat Colliery and lived at Highbrake House. Geoffrey Bolton went on to became Chairman of the NW Coal Board after nationalisation in 1948. (See also 1948).
1922	Un-veiling Ceremony of the War Memorial on the Recreation Ground 29th April. 25 men of the village gave their lives in the First World War.
1926	Hillock Vale cotton mill ceased production.
1928	Huncoat ratepayers voted in favour of amalgamation with Accrington.
1928	Highbrake Hall gutted by a fire.
1928	The first bus service ran through the village in November.
1929	Huncoat transferred from Burnley Rural District Council to the Borough of Accrington on 3rd April.
1929	A library opened in the village on 8th July which was still going in November 1973.
1930	Broad Meadows Barn was demolished to widen Station Road and two cottages numbers 10 and 11 Highergate next to Hill House were demolished to ease the corner by Howard's Farm. Also, Bull (or Coop) Lane was straightened to become Lowergate Road.
1930	Semi derelict Hillock Vale mill damaged by fire.
1930	Between the two world wars the area of Huncoat alongside the railway line was very industrialised. Three collieries (Broadmeadows at Huncoat, Moorfield at Altham, and Whinney Hill), two coke works (see 1931) and Nori Brickworks were all linked together by a network of mineral lines connecting with the mainline railway both at Huncoat and Within Grove. A viaduct on eight piers spanned Clough Brook and the lane to Nearer Holker House.
1931	Blessing of Catholic Church in Altham Lane on 7th June.
1931	The Ordnance Survey map of this date showed - * The network of mineral railways associated with mining and brick making * Rockdale was now called Middleton House * Sunnyside House had been built on the south side of the knoll above Highergate * At this time Huncoat Bank (the war memorial knoll) recreation ground was divided into two fields by a fence and a well was marked by the roadside opposite to Old Hall Farm * Quarrying at Hard Farm on the top of Whinney Hill (later the landfill site) * Enfield Golf Course situated on the NE slopes of Whinney Hill within the curve of the mineral railway west of Nearer Holker House * Hapton Golf Course between Altham Lane and Castle Clough Wood (later part of the Power Station site and the A56 dual carriageway) * A football/recreation ground on Altham Lane opposite the Catholic church * A small reservoir in Cronker plantation * Waterside Tennis Courts now occupied the former Brick and Lime works site by the canal * Coke oven works had appeared by the colliery railway sidings at Broad Meadows and alongside the railway line in Altham Lane
1932	Whinney Hill colliery closed on 10th June.
1932	Last tram ran up Burnley Road to Hillock Vale.
1933	Perseverance Mill damaged by a fire on 30th January.
1933	Fish Lane was officially re-named Lynwood Road. It got its original name because of a farm called Fish House situated on the corner just above the school. It led into Scatchen Lane that went over Whinney Hill to Church.
1936	War Memorial on Huncoat Bank blown over and damaged in a January gale.
1939	The prefabs known as "Sawdust City" were erected in Woodside Road and Brownbirks Road.
1940	A wartime aerial photograph reveals the old Baptist terrace behind the White Lion still existed.
1941	Spinning and weaving stopped at Perseverance Mill. It was then used by the War Department for storage.
1941	Until the war Huncoat Station was very busy with freight traffic from the mill, brickworks and colliery and won an award for tonnage handled.
1945	6 more names were added to the war memorial after the Second World War.
1946	Three men injured by an explosion at Huncoat Colliery in December.
1947	Severe winter weather disrupted the whole area in February and March.
1947	Public Enquiry held in August about proposals to build the power station.
1948	The Mayor dug the first sod for the power station on 31st January.
1948	Brownbirks Lane re-made and re-named Bolton Avenue after the respected Bolton Family owners of Huncoat Colliery. (See 1921).
1949	Aerial photography records the power station being built and although Brown Moor Farm remains Blind Lane End Farm has gone. Other important features identifiable are hen houses at Mount Farm, the estate of Marshall Avenue being built, that only a small barn remained at White Riding and Hameldon Hall appeared to be in ruins. Also visible is the mineral line between Huncoat Quarry and Rake Head Quarry and the loading hoppers at Rake Head Quarry for the aerial ropeway with buckets which crossed over Burnley Road between house numbers 458 and 482. The mineral line viaduct across Clough Brook near the sewage works can also be seen. The aerial photographs also not only clearly showed 34 prefabs on the Woodside Road/Brown Birks Road site but that at least another 30 similar buildings occupied the area surrounding Oakfield Avenue as far as Lower Brown Birks.
1950	The beehive coke kilns at Broad Meadows known to have been long disused.
1951	Haweswater aqueduct laid through Huncoat running from Cumbria to Manchester. It crosses the River Calder just east of Cock Bridge and the River Hyndburn west of Brownsills in Mill Lane. It comes up the hill past Martholme Grange and over the canal at Moor Side House. Then it crosses the eastern slopes of Whinney Hill and goes under Enfield Road and the railway line west of Oak Bank. A pump house is located at the bottom of Within Grove playing fields opposite Haweswater Road. The pipes then run up the centre of the playing fields into Oakfield Avenue and under Burnley Road to the old reservoir site. The pipes are 4 feet in diameter buried underground. They supply water to Accrington before going through the hills 300 feet below Rising Bridge and Haslingden to Townsend Fold, Rawtenstall. The Huncoat Tunnel is 8ft.6ins diameter and takes 100 million gallons daily at 2mph.
1952	Plans announced for 218 Easiform Houses on Within Grove and flats in Burnley Road.
1952	Two 18th Century cottages known as the Corn Market behind the Black Bull were to be pulled down. These dated from times when the villagers had no right of way to Accrington Market because of jealously guarded trading customs. (See 1547). A new wall was built along the frontage but eventually the site became the car park for the pub.
1952	For a short time there were public toilets next to the derelict cottages of Ormerod Row. These used to stand between Flood Dyke Cottages and the Black Bull Inn on the crescent shaped parcel of land formed when Lowergate Road was cut through and straightened leaving a loop of the old lane on the west side.
1953	Huncoat Pithead baths opened on 13th January.
1953	The first block of Wimpey 3 storey flats in Burnley Road were completed in September. Also, plans were finalised to demolish 34 blocks of "Sawdust City" and erect 21 blocks of 2 storey "Gregory Flats".
1954	Approval given for conversion of a chapel in the cemetery into a crematorium.
1955	Perseverance Mill demolished.
1955	Hill House Farm was the home of Birtwell's Ice Cream.
1955	The Ordnance Survey map of this date showed - * One line of electricity pylons crossing Lowergate Road above the Black Bull * Brown Moor Farm still in existence on the southern perimeter on the new Power Station * The aerial ropeway from Redac Brickworks to Rake Head Quarry * The network of mineral railways associated with mining and brick making still thrived (Huncoat Colliery reached a peak of production in the 50's with 1,300 tons in one day) * The farm cottage Rabbit Hole still existed
1956	John Laing & Co. Ltd completed the 218 Easiform Houses on Within Grove.
1956	The Power Station was opened by the Mayor on 11th May.
1956	The Crematorium was opened by the Bishop of Burnley on 5th September.
1958	The tradition of combined churches Whit Monday walks ceased.
1958	Lower Brown Birks Farm was demolished by Accrington Corporation for the extension of Bolton Avenue. Creation of the Industrial Estate was approved on 4th November but no firms moved in for over four years.
1958	Highergate or Howard's Farm at the end of Burnley Lane was demolished. (Site later adopted for the Peace Garden).
1961	There was a major restoration of the Methodist Church in Station Road.
1962	A freak whirlwind hit Huncoat on 3rd August.
1962	The Ordnance Survey map of this date showed - * The house Greenfall had been built * Woodside Road had been built
1963	Aerial photography shows that the cemetery had swallowed up fields either side of the original curved driveway up to Burnley Road but did not yet extend to the corner of Bolton Avenue.
1963	First firm moved onto the Industrial Estate in March.
1965	The Baptist church in Burnley Lane was demolished because of dry rot and was subsequently in the 70’s or 80’s replaced by a bungalow called “Chapel House.” The old Baptist terrace behind the White Lion (Sunday School and Meeting Room) probably went at the same time. (see 1986).
1965	The Ordnance Survey map of this date showed - * Miry Lane, Green Field, Slate Pits and Windy Harbour Farms * Two parallel electricity pylon lines crossing Lowergate Road but moved 200 yards further north * Old Hall Farm and Ormerod Row were still in existence but Rabbit Hole had gone
1965	The aerial ropeway across Burnley Road to the Redac brickworks was dismantled during the 60's.
1966	Vale Court square of terraced houses at Hillock Vale was demolished during the 60's.
1968	Huncoat Pit closed on 9 February abandoning over a million tons of uneconomic coal.
1969	Huncoat Old Hall Farm was demolished.
1971	Leonard Fairclough concrete works opened on 22nd December.
1971	Redac (Huncoat) brickworks taken over by G.H. Downing and Co. Ltd.
1972	1,500 trees planted on the Coppice in April.
1973	Approval given in September for a two acre itinerants site at Sankey House Farm.
1975	Hillock Vale Motors operated a used car sales showroom on a site in front of the old weaving shed of Hillock Vale cotton mill.
1977	Rain Radar golf ball erected on Hameldon Hill.
1978	Grime Row cottages were restored, improved and re-named Peter Grime Row.
1979	The Ordnance Survey map of this date showed - * Old Hall Farm had gone * Wedgewood Road had been built
1980	The Council approved plans for a permanent Gypsy caravan site by Sankey House Farm off Whinney Hill Road.
1983	M65 opened through Huncoat
1984	Huncoat power station closed down.
1985	Accrington Easterly by-pass road opened on 18th July significantly changing the local geography.
1986	The Huncoat Festival was held to celebrate the village's 900th Anniversary. A plaque was placed on the stone bench near the stocks and two of the Baptist Union foundation stones were re-laid in Spouthouse Lane.
1988	Power Station cooling towers demolished 16th October.
1988	Speculative Zeri Project proposed to make Huncoat into a Winter Sports Centre.
1989	Burnley Road reservoir became redundant during the 80's and was drained.
1990	St Augustine's original mission rooms sold and replaced by Mapleford Residential Home.
1990	The main Power Station buildings were demolished in September.
1992	The new Pipers Row was built on the footprint of Hill House Barn. (See 1844 and 1906).
1992	Waverley Chase housing estate (Sutton Crescent) built on Old Hall Farm land.
1992	Woodlands housing estate (Winterly Drive) built on Spout House Woodlands.
1992	Huncoat (Redac) Brickworks closed at the end of the year.
1996	Hyndburn Borough Council adopted the “Borough Plan” an overall vision of housing and employment development sites around Huncoat.
1996	Foxwood Chase housing estate built on old Burnley Road reservoir site.
1999	Huncoat (Redac) Brickworks demolished.
1999	Brocklehurst housing estate (Seathwaite Way) built off Burnley Road.
1999	Re-building of Waterside Bungalow commenced.
2001	Higher Hill House Farm rebuilt in Town Gate.
2001	Census put the population at 4,400.
2002	Western end of the old pit top landscaped and regenerated with tree planting and footpaths.
2002	Outline Planning application granted for new houses on the old Redac brick works site.
2002	The summer saw a large number of the Within Grove Easiform houses demolished.
2003	Public meetings held in the Spring as villagers became alarmed over plans to expand the capacity of Whinney Hill quarry landfill site with a consequential increase in heavy traffic on local roads.
2003	At a meeting of the Huncoat Forum in July the Chairman Geof Coglan first mooted the idea of a Peace Garden.
2003	By late Summer Hyndburn Borough Council and the Lancashire County Council had set up a "Working Group" to campaign for a Whinney Hill link road/village bypass.
2003	In the Autumn work began on re-claiming the old Redac brickworks site and planning permission was granted for 131 new houses.
2003	The White Lion closed as a pub.
2004	Levelling of the old Redac brickworks site was completed in the Spring.
2004	Lowergate House built on the site of Ormerod Row.
2004	Middle Hill House was demolished and re-building commenced.
2004	A new house called The Meadows under construction in Burnley Lane.
2004	In the Summer efforts were made to spruce the village up with the first "Huncoat in Bloom" initiative.
2004	Building started of Bluebell Way housing estates on the old Redac brickworks site. (Honeycombe Heath by Elite Homes and Briars Green by Betts Homes).
2004	There was controversy over plans to build new houses at Hillock Vale.
2004	The Autumn saw work begin to convert the old White Lion into flats but the process stalled and it laid derelict for 12 months.
2004	Huncoat Trail launched on 19th September.
2004	John Goddard's history book "Huncoat Uncoated" was published in September by Landy Publishing.
2004	There was controversy over plans to build a waste management facility on the old power station site.
2005	Lancashire County Council produced plans for the unpopular waste management facility in Huncoat. The plans also included an access road through greenbelt land from Burnley Road near the Griffin's Head. "Huncoat Voice" lobby group led protest marches against the plans and Greg Pope MP tried to secure an undertaking from the Government to re-consider a more direct road link from the M65 motorway. It was also revealed that the old power station site had been owned by speculators Omega Atlantic since 2001 who had been hoping to develop it into a business/distribution centre park.
2005	There was controversy over a proposal by the Mid Pennine Arts Group to erect a "Panopticon" landmark on the top of the Coppice.
2005	In August the artist Kerry Morrison began work as Artist in Residence on the Within Grove Project, an initiative to empower youth and residents of the estate to improve their environment.
2005	As the year closed two controversial planning applications were passed. Morris Homes were given permission to erect 51 two and three storey houses off South Street at Hillock Vale on land that used to be Leithards poultry farm. Whinney Hill quarry was earmarked for landfill until at least 2042. About 300 vehicles were visiting the 70 hectare site each day and it will eventually contain 15.6 million cubic metres of waste.
2005	A permanent Christmas Tree was planted on the corner of Altham Lane with Lowergate Road.
2006	January saw refurbishment work resumed on the old White Lion building.
2006	On the last day of January the Lancashire County Council deferred a decision on the waste management facility plans pending last ditch representations by residents to the Government and Highways Agency.
2006	In March some dangerous trees were cut down at Spout House woods but hundreds of new saplings were also planted to widen the woodland and protect it's future.
2006	Plans for a waste management facility on the old power station site received approval on 17th May despite earnest objections from residents.
2006	The idea of a Peace Garden on the corner of Burnley Lane and Lowergate was being developed by the Huncoat Forum.
2006	The Area Council began to explore options to refurbish the village stocks.
2006	The Within Grove Environment Project was gaining momentum with the involvement of the County Council's REMADE regeneration scheme.
2006	During the Spring and Summer Springtime Videos made a film of "Huncoat in Bloom."
2006	In July the Government Minister decided not to intervene in the planning process for the waste management facility meaning an end to any hopes of stopping it but no actual development was envisaged for several years.
2006	The conversion of the old White Lion pub into flats was finally completed in the Autumn.
2007	During the Spring repair work was carried out on the Haweswater aqueduct.
2007	Plans went before Hyndburn Borough Council for an expansion of industrial units on the ex Fairclough/Buchan site between Newhouse Road and Whinney Hill Road.
2007	G N Properties revealed plans for a commercial/employment development on the green fields south of the former Huncoat Power Station adjacent to Lowergate Road.
2007	Construction of Phase 1 of the Greenway Cycle route started in the Autumn and was completed by Christmas.
2008	In January new railings were erected around the stocks.
2008	Construction of Phase 2 of the Greenway Cycle route commenced in the Spring together with environmental improvements to the landscape at the bottom of Within Grove Estate.
2008	On 10th June 2008 the Lady Macalpine shelter on top of the Coppice was declared structurally unsafe by Hyndburn Borough Council and had to be demolished, having stood for nearly 100 years.
2008	In September Hyndburn Borough Council approved the controversial outline planning application by G N Properties for a commercial/employment development on the green fields south of the former Huncoat Power Station adjacent to Lowergate Road.
2009	Hyndburn Borough Council presented controversial outline plans for future housing and employment development in Huncoat in preparation for the “Core Strategy Development Plan” to replace the Borough Plan of 1996.
2009	In February 15 four year old Oak trees were planted alongside the Greenway off Bolton Avenue.
2009	In March the two Huncoat Councillors on Hyndburn Borough Council launched a new project to get a Community Centre built on land allocated between Yorkshire Street and Highbrake Terrace.
2009	The Within Grove East site was opened on Saturday 18th July 2009 by County Councillor Tim Ashton, cabinet member for Environment and Planning. The opening was part of a fun-day organised by the residents of the estate. Activities included bouncy castles, barbeque and tombola.
2009	In August work started on the REMADE scheme to upgrade Peel Park and the Coppice to “Country Park” status with improved access and refurbishment of the Peel Monument.
2009	During the Autumn more specific land allocation proposals were published by Hyndburn Borough Council in preparation for the “Core Strategy Development Plan” but locals still had concerns about green fields being included in the scheme.
2009	On 26th September the Coppice Centenary was celebrated with a civic procession to the summit to mark the restoration of the monument.
2010	Spring saw commencement of the renewal of the highway concrete fencing alongside Burnley Road and the building of a new water pumping station on the playing fields below Oakfield Avenue.
2010	On 30th March Hyndburn Borough Council decreed that all the land surrounding Spout House woodland including the playing fields should be removed from the housing allocation proposals in the “Core Strategy Development Plan” and preserved in posterity for recreation and amenity. Instead, consultation began to re-allocate the eastern section of the old pit top for future housing development.
2010	In the late Summer the Huncoat Forum’s plans for the Peace Garden began to be realised with the laying of a new paved path, and installation of new seating and the erection of the stone gate posts with peace doves carved upon them.
2010	News came out in October that a Government Inspector had upheld an appeal by Omega Atlantic against compulsory purchase of the land required for the planned waste technology park. This seemed likely to doom the project along with the associated Whinney Hill Link Road.
2011	On 15th April the Mayor of Hyndburn formally opened The Hollow children’s playground on Bolton Avenue.
2011	On 16th April the Mayor of Hyndburn formally opened the Peace Garden.
2011	In May the old block of shops on the corner of Within Grove and Bolton Avenue were demolished.
2011	By September the building of new bungalows was well advanced on the old shops site.

Section Three : Miscellaneous Facts

Back to Section One : Pre 1900

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