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Accrington: Church Kirk

Difficulty Easy

Walking time 45 minutes

Length 2.4km / 1.5mi

Route developer: Elaine Leigh

Route checker: Roy Mawdsley

Start location Acorn Health Centre
Route Summary A short circular walk taking in the Leed Liverpool Canal and St James church.
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

Blackburn Road, on which the Acorn Health Centre is situated, is well served by buses.

Description

[1] Stand with your back to the main entrance of the Acorn Centre on Blackburn Road.  Cross Blackburn Road at the crossing in front of you.  Turn left, walk up Blackburn Road to Tanpits Road which is the 3rd Road on the right.

[2] Turn right and walk down Tanpits Road following the road as it bends to the left.

[3] On reaching the main road, Henry Street,  turn right and cross at the crossing. Cross the road, turn left  and then turn first right down Bank Street. At the Church Clock  turn left onto a wide pedestrianised pavement.  Turn right onto Church Street and follow the road down, passing the Cross Keys public house on your left.  At the end of the road you will see St James' Church (A).  Take the footpath to the right of the church grounds, which has a black gate across it, access for pedestrians just to the left of the gate.

[4] At the end of the path you will reach the Leeds Liverpool canal.  Turn left onto the tow path, along this stretch you pass the way half way point of the canal.  Walk under the bridge and then up the steps. Cross over the bridge,and turn left to rejoin the canal towpath.  Walk along the canal (B).

[5] The canal bends to the right, pass this a little further on you will come to a small path amongst a grassy patch, just next to Leonie House.  Turn right onto the path and then left onto Bridge Street.  Follow it down to Blackburn Road.

[6] Turn left.  Walk past Baptist chapel on your left (Ernest Street).   Cross the road just before the Stag pub and walk down Tanpits Road, then along Blackburn Road back to the Centre.

Alternatively cross the road at the Baptist Church and walk down Blackburn Road to Acorn Centre.

POI information

A. St James Church at Church Kirk

The origins of the church go back to the year 642 when St Oswald King of Northumbria invaded the Kingdom of Mercia.  During the march south, whenever the army halted for any length of time, a small church or kirk would be built.

Later, in the 9th century, a stone church was built.  It was again rebuilt during the Norman period.  The tower of the present church dates back from about 1250 AD, making it more than 700 years old.

B. Leeds to Liverpool Canal

The canal stretches over 127 miles, took 46 years to built and was completed in 1816.  It was a great commercial success and profitable long after most inland waterways had lost their business to the railway companies.  Regular commercial traffic ended in 1963.  Nowadays the canal is used for leisure activities such as walking and cycling, and is home to a wide range of wildlife including water voles, which are a protected species.

Notes No details available.
Acknowledgements No details available.
  • Acorn Centre, Blackburn Road, Accrington.
    Acorn Centre, Blackburn Road, Accrington.
    By - Frances Riley
  • Church Clock, Bank Street.
    Church Clock, Bank Street.
    By - Frances Riley
  • St James Church, Church Kirk.
    St James Church, Church Kirk.
    By - Frances Riley
  • Leed Liverpool Canal, Church Kirk Bridge.
    Leed Liverpool Canal, Church Kirk Bridge.
    By - Frances Riley
  • Leeds Liverpool Canal, looking back at Church Kirk Bridge.
    Leeds Liverpool Canal, looking back at Church Kirk Bridge.
    By - Frances Riley
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