To many, Clitheroe is nothing more than a quaint little town in the heart of Lancashire’s Ribble Valley. But there’s so much more to Clitheroe than meets the eye. From a rich history of castles, conflicts, and conquests, to vast and stunning natural scenery: Clitheroe is a place with so much to offer. So, join us on a deep dive into this vibrant northern town, and find out what truly makes Clitheroe ‘Clitheroe’… ›

Here’s the A-Z of Clitheroe:

A – Anarchy

In 1138, during the civil wars known as ‘The Anarchy’, Clitheroe was host to a battle between a force of Scots and English knights. Whilst not much is known about the battle itself, the aftermath was said to be grizzly. It was a resounding victory for the Scottish army, who reportedly rampaged around the nearby land pillaging, enslaving, and killing. English sources from the time claim the River Ribble ran ‘red with blood’.

B – Bikes

Cycling seems to be a rather popular sport in and around Clitheroe, and what better a place for it? Not only was Clitheroe the starting point for the second stage of the 2015 Tour of Britain, but the town is surrounded by some great roads and a lovely scenic backdrop, making it a great place for biking! For a biking base camp, visit The Buck Country Pub down on Kiln Lane, Paythorne for the perfect pint – their beer garden is the perfect place to soak in the sunshine after a cycle around the town!

C – Clubs

Hosting an event? Well look no further than Clitheroe Golf Club to be your venue! Founded in 1891, the golf club has a long history of incredible service, and has been visited by golfing legends like Joe Carr, Michael Bonallack, Jimmy Rothwell, and Walter Hagan. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to hold a dinner for your charity, an awards ceremony, or a smaller, more intimate family function, the club offers plenty of options to choose from. The golf club can cater for up to 120 guests for a formal sit-down meal or up to 160 people for a buffet and informal function. Designed by legendary Scottish golf course architect James Braid, it also offers stunning scenery and spectacular views – it really is a venue too perfect to miss!

D – De Lacy

The De Lacy family are an important part of Clitheroe’s history. Sons Walter and Ilbert De Lacy left Normandy in the mid-11th Century to join William the Conqueror on his conquest of England. The two men were awarded vast grants of land by William for their services to him, with Ilbert gaining territory in modern-day Lancashire and West Yorkshire. His son, Robert, built Clitheroe’s own castle sometime in the 12th Century, and so it is in part thanks to him that the town we know today was born.

E – Experience Different

If you’re on the look-out for somewhere a bit different, head down to Shackletons, an award-winning and family-owned, home and garden retail experience based out of the Ribble Valley of Lancashire. If you’re looking for an exceptional choice and outstandingly good value, you certainly won’t find anything else quite like it. They are on a mission to help you live a life less ordinary.

F – Famous Folk

Clitheroe has produced lots of famous folk. In the world of sport there’s Pentathlete Samantha Murray, who won the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, and later went on to win gold at the 2014 Pentathlete World Championships, UFC Champion Michael Bisping, and footballer Adam Barton, who plays centre midfield for Curzon Ashton. Perhaps most famous is Captain James King, a central figure in Captain Cook’s voyages around the Pacific and notable alumni of Clitheroe Royal Grammar School.

G – Ghosts

With such a long and varied history, it’s no surprise that the Clitheroe Castle grounds are a hotspot for paranormal activity. Back in 2021, the town was visited by a group of ‘Spectre Detectors’, led by paranormal investigator Elaine Kelly, who claim to have photographed two ghostly figures on the castle steps.

H – Hole

The famous hole in Clitheroe Castle’s wall, and the origins of it, has been the focus of much speculation for centuries. Local legend has it that the Devil hurled a boulder from Pendle Hill at Clitheroe Castle which, on impact, caused the large hole over the keep’s entrance. Others tell of a dragon living under the hillside where the castle would be built. Apparently, this dragon’s cave was turned into the castle dungeons and, in order to escape captivity, the dragon burst through the castle wall, took flight, and then disappeared off into the night never to be seen again. In reality, it’s likely this hole is the result of Cromwell’s 1649 orders to damage castles across the country in order to prevent them from being inhabited in the future.

I – International

Back in 1977, Clitheroe formed international links with the small French town Rivesaltes. These two towns are known as ‘twin towns’ and together aim to promote cultural and commercial ties. Rivesaltes is famed for producing fortified wine and is twinned with many other towns and cities across the globe, including Chennai in India, Yangon in Myanmar, and Calgary in Canada.

J – Jet Engines

During WW2, Clitheroe was a hotbed for jet engine development, a field which was pioneered by Sir Frank Whittle, the engineer and RAF officer credited with inventing the turbojet engine. The Clitheroe residential area ‘Whittle Close’ is named in his honour, having been built on the site of a former jet engine testbed facility.

K- Keep

Perhaps Clitheroe’s most famous landmark, the keep at Clitheroe Castle dates back to the 12th Century. Perched imposingly above the town on a limestone hill, the castle casts a striking shadow over the surrounding areas – all the more impressive as it is England’s second smallest stone-built keep.

L – Local

Clitheroe is known for its independent businesses. Visit the Brown Cow at Chatburn for a truly lovely local, with quizzes and free food on Sundays, the pub, run by  Laura and Phil Smithies, is often filled to the rafters with three generations. Clitheroe’s main high street is also packed with independent shops including Purdie Oak, located on Castle Street just below the castle gates, specialists in wallets, luggage, handbags, and other great gifts, along with haberdashery store The Cotton Mouse on Moor Lane, which is owned by local Alexis MacDowall. Not only do they stock a vast and vibrant range of fabrics, buttons, ribbons, and trims, but they also offer sewing classes, lessons and ‘sewcial’ sessions.

M – Mills

Like most Lancashire towns Clitheroe was once a bustling mill town and remnants of its past still remain. Holmes Mill, based in the heart of Clitheroe, has been transformed into a unique celebration of Lancashire food, drink and entertainment. Featuring beer and food halls, a hotel, bowling, and even a cinema, this former textile mill is the perfect place to indulge, unwind and explore.

N – Norman

Clitheroe Castle is Norman in origin, dating back to the 12th Century. Built for the de Lacy family, and old and prominent Norman family, the castle’s rich history has garnered deserved attention: from being garrisoned during the rebellion of Prince John in the 1190s to being occupied by militia in 1649, who refused to leave due to a dispute over unpaid wages. It seems fair to say that the castle’s history is just as intriguing as its original Norman inhabitants.

O – Origins

When and how did Clitheroe come about? The answer is more complicated (and less certain) than you might have expected. Nothing was explicitly recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book, that’s certain, but references to a castle near Barnoldswick have been used to argue that some form of wooden fortress may have existed on the site before the Castle we know today, which was built c. 1186. Nobody quite knows when or how the town came about either. The earliest mention of Clitheroe as a town can be found in a 1283 Charter, though the exact date of when such a settlement formed is, unfortunately, a mystery.

P – Park

If you’ve been inspired to visit Clitheroe, you can stay at the Three Rivers Holiday Park, tucked away in the heart of the beautiful Ribble Valley countryside. Always providing a very warm Lancashire welcome, the park is set in 22 acres of ancient woodland in the heart of the Ribble Valley. Their new self-catering suites at Three Rivers Woodland Park are perfect for couples, families or larger parties of up to 24.

Q – Quarry

Clitheroe’s rocky landscape and scenic views mean that the town and area surrounding is a geological and ecological haven. Salthill Quarry Local Nature Reserve is just one example of Clitheroe’s stunning natural beauty. Not only does it boast such a dynamic ecosystem of wildflowers, insects, and birds, but the former limestone quarry became famous for the fossils discovered there. It’s hard to believe that this quarry one lay at the bottom of the ocean millions of years ago!

R – Rocky

The name ‘Clitheroe’ is thought to come from the Anglo-Saxon for ‘Rocky Hill’. The rocky nature of Clitheroe’s geography seems tied to its identity throughout the years: not only does Clitheroe Castle stand proudly atop a 35-metre limestone knoll, but Clitheroe Royal Grammar School’s old Latin motto ‘In Saxo Condita’ translates directly to ‘Founded on Rock’.

S – Shackletons Home & Garden

Located just off the A59 outside Chatburn, Shackletons provide the UK with everything you need to rejuvenate your décor. Founded by two brothers, David and Paul Shackleton, the two started as landscape gardeners before purchasing the garden centre in 2000. The site has had many evolutions in that time, adding new departments for the complete home and garden retail experience. Each supplier has its personality and appeal – they all share the same passion for design, so you’ll be sure to find a remarkable piece that’s just right for your home.

T – Trade Unions

1902’s Labour MP for Clitheroe David Shackleton is not only historic as the third ever Labour MP to enter parliament, but he was also an instrumental figure in the trade unionist movement. A cotton worker since the age of nine, Shackleton was a staunch trade union supporter, rising to chairman of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in 1906. His work with unions was important in securing further rights for working people in the early 1900s, particularly for industrial areas like the north, where wages were low, and exploitation of employees was high.

U – UFC

UFC World Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping is perhaps one of Clitheroe’s most notable residents. Back in 2016, he defeated Luke Rockhold by way of knockout in the first round, giving him the title of UFC’s Middleweight Champion. He later made history in 2019 for being the first English fighter to be inducted into The UFC Hall of Fame.

 

V – Voting

Many would agree that the way constituencies like the Ribble Valley conduct their elections nowadays is relatively fair, but it certainly wasn’t always this way… Up until the 1832 Reform Act, Clitheroe was a ‘Rotten Borough’, a constituency with a tiny electorate and vast parliamentary overrepresentation. Clitheroe had two MPs before the Reform Act compared to rapidly industrialising urban areas like Manchester and Leeds which had none. Even worse was the lack of a secret ballot, so those that could vote (pretty much only the wealthy) would typically vote under the influence of their local landowners. The system was entirely corrupt, and it would take many decades of protest and reform for places like Clitheroe to finally secure fairer elections.

W – We Are Not Alone

Written by Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond, perhaps best known as two of the creators and stars of BBC’s Ghosts, this 2022 sci-fi comedy film follows a group of alien invaders, stationed in Clitheroe, try to conquer earth and maintain control of their human subjects. Where best to start the quest for total global domination than Clitheroe, eh?

X – X-ceptional

Clitheroe is well-known amongst locals for its x-ceptional festivals all year round. The town held the first ‘Ribble Valley Jazz Festival’ in over 40 years back in spring 2010, and since 2011 the annual summer Clitheroe Food Festival has welcomed hundreds of exhibitors from all across Lancashire. 2023’s Food Festival is looking to be held on the 12th August, promising great food, drink and entertainment for all. Later in the year, Clitheroe’s annual Christmas Markets make it the perfect town to visit over the holiday season, offering delicious food from across the Ribble Valley. With its sparkly streets and vibrant decorations, Clitheroe truly makes Christmas the most wonderful time of the year.

Y – Yo Ho!

Born in Clitheroe in 1750, Navy officer Captain James King is one of Clitheroe’s most famous residents. At an early age, King attended Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, one of Lancashire’s oldest schools (dating all the way back to 1554). It’s fair to say the school has evolved quite a bit since King’s days: it now welcomes both boys and girls for one. At sea, King served under Captain James Cook, another famous northerner, on his third and final voyage around the world. King helped lead the ships on the remainder of their journey after Cook’s death in 1779. Thanks to completing Cook’s account of the trip, King is the reason we know so much about this third voyage around the Pacific in the first place.

Z – Zoom

Clitheroe offers such a wide variety of transport that you can practically zoom from one northern town to another. The historic Clitheroe Railway Station, along the Ribble Valley line, allows you to zip between Blackburn, Manchester and Rochdale, whilst bus services connect you to Preston, Burnley, Skipton and beyond! Such a seemingly isolated little town gives access to so many places across the north.

It’s all too easy to overlook Clitheroe and pass it off as another quaint little northern town, but Clitheroe really does have so much to offer. With a vast, endlessly interesting history, stunning surrounding landscapes, winding streets bursting with character, hundreds of quirky independent businesses, and, of course, the world-famous castle, it is clear that Clitheroe truly is the beating heart of the Ribble Valley. And for that, it’s hard not to love it.

 

NorthernLife Mar/Apr 23