Burnley

Lore & Background

The name Burnley is believed to have been derived from Brun Lea, meaning 'meadow by the River Brun'. Stone Age flint tools and weapons have been found on the moors around the town, as have numerous tumuli, stone circles, and some hill forts. Limited coin finds indicate a Roman presence, but no evidence of a settlement has been found in the town. Following the Roman period, the area became part of the kingdom of Rheged, and then the kingdom of Northumbria. There is no definitive record of a settlement until after the Norman Conquest of England. In 1122, a charter granted the church of Burnley to the monks of Pontefract Abbey. In its early days, Burnley was a small farming community, gaining a corn mill in 1290, a market in 1294, and a fulling mill in 1296. During the Industrial Revolution it became one of Lancashire's most prominent mill towns; at its peak, it was one of the world's largest producers of cotton cloth and a major centre of engineering.

In Their Own Story

The rain lashed against the corrugated tin of Maine Road's terraces as fog rolled off the River Irwell, erasing the boundary between pitch and stands. It was a Tuesday night in the late seventies, the air thick with the scent of wet wool, damp earth, and stale beer. A Burnley striker, mud streaking his face, locked eyes with a City defender near the corner flag—no global superstars here, just lads from neighbouring towns who knew every shortcut between Turf Moor and Gorton. When the referee finally blew the whistle, the roar that erupted wasn't for a goal, but for sheer local defiance. In that moment, the league table vanished; only the three points and the pride of the North West mattered.

Reader's Guide

Burnley has retained a strong manufacturing sector, and has strong economic links with the cities of Manchester and Leeds, as well as neighbouring towns along the M65 corridor. In 2013, in recognition of its success, it received an Enterprising Britain award from the UK Government as the Most Enterprising Area in the UK. For the first time in more than 50 years, a direct train service now operates between the town's Manchester Road railway station and Manchester's Victoria station and onward to Headbolt Lane via the restored Todmorden Curve, which opened in May 2015.

Did You Know?

• Burnley held a market for more than 700 years.
• At its peak, Burnley was one of the world's largest producers of cotton cloth.
• The Burnley Loom was recognised as one of the best in the world.
• Burnley received an Enterprising Britain award in 2013 as the Most Enterprising Area in the UK.