Accrington: historic town trail

By car.  There is a car park at the rear of the Pals Centre and also across the street at The New Era Centre.

By Bus.  There is a bus stop on Paradise Street, or from the bus station up Church Street to the mini roundabout  and then turn right onto Paradise Street.

By Train.  The station is next to the Tesco Superstore, almost opposite Paradise Street.

[1] From the Paradise Street entrance turn right and follow the road round up onto Wellington Street.  Follow to its junction with Spring Gardens.Cross the road at a safe position, the road can be busy.

[2] Turn left and walk up Spring Gardens, past the Police Station on your right, to the end.To shorten the walk follow the road as it swings round to the left down Grange Lane to its junction with Cross Street, then turn right to continue the walk at point [5].  Grange Lane is left just as you reach the block where the police station is situated.

[3] Turn left on to Abbey Street and take the first left on to Black Abbey Street ( opposite the Esso garage).  (A) The Old Coaching Inn built in 1885 is on the Corner.

[4] Go down Black Abbey Street and follow to its junction with Cross Street.

[5] At Cross Street turn right and follow to the end.  Then turn left onto Warner Street and follow to its junction with Church Street.  At the entrance to The Victorian Arcade (B) turn right and walk through the arcade to the exit at Church Street and turning left head toward Church Street Gardens to pick up the route again in the gardens.

[6] Cross the road (this can be busy) and enter Church Street Gardens, walk up the steps into the grounds of St James Church Yard, and follow the path as it bends to the left up to St James Street.

[7] Turn right (at Forbes Solicitors) and walk down the street past the library and take the first left onto Willow Street.

[8] Walk along the street past the old Mechanics Institution (now the Hyndburn, Rossendale and Ribble Valley Registration Office) to the end and turn left onto Eagle Street.

 [9] Walk up Eagle Street and take the first left on to Cannon Street (opposite Tesco) and follow to its junction with St James Street.

[10] Turn right up St James Street and take the first left on to Paradise Street , walk down the road back to the Pals Centre and the start of the walk.

A. The Old Coaching  Inn, built in 1885 was originally The old Red Lion coaching inn.  In 1815 the first stage coach passed through Accrington from Manchester to Clitheroe.  The coach would halt at the Red Lion's doorway, passengers would alight and go inside for refreshment. The horses would have to be changed around the back of the premises.

B. The Victorian Arcade  This Grade-II listed arcade is believed to be the first indoor shopping arcade in the country.  It  was built by Edmund Riley and was originally intended as a theater. But the presence of the River Hyndburn under its foundations made it an unsafe proposition and an arcade to provide ‘shopping in the dry’ was agreed.  The Post office was situated here and the sign is still visible near the Church Street entrance.

C. St James Church  The church Is over 460 years old.  The worship is what used to be known as 'Lancashire Low' , offered with quiet devotion.  In 1763 the building was enlarged and has been altered at various dates in the early 19th century.

D. Library  The library was opened by the Mayor of Accrington, Alderman T E Higham, on 18th Jan 1908.  The original tiles are still in the entrance.  Note the carvings of some of the great Poets and Authors on the outside of the building.

E. Mechanics Institution  Today the building has been renovated and the Registration Office ceremony room is situated on the ground floor and can seat approximately 54 people.  In the 1980s the top floor was purchased and converted into the local studies library.

F.Cannon Street Baptist Church  The church was founded in 1872 and opened in March 1874 at a cost of  £12,000 , paid for by collections and other fund raising events.  Unfortunately it had to close in 2006.

G. Conservative Club  Built 1890-91, it was once the largest Conservative club in the country. The club had one of the finest ballrooms and dance floors in the area, and was Churchills night club for a few years.