Created by Darwen Days, this timeline aims to illustrate the rich history of Darwen, a once industrious mill town in Lancashire, UK. See our website at www.DarwenDays.co.uk, where you'll find over 20,000 individual photos of Darwen history with links to our YouTube, Twitter and Facebook profiles. Whether you're a local Darrener or one who has moved out of town to foreign climes, Darwen Days is the place where you can spend hours trotting down Memory Lane.
Whitehall Cottage is the oldest known building in Darwen, made in 1675, but a lot of work was done to the property in the 17th and 18th century. A chunk of the chimney is dated 1557.
Pole lane Chapel & school opened 6th May 1793
Rioters smash looms at bowling green mill during the Cotton famine 25th April 1826
The foundation stone for St James Church Lower Darwen was laid 22nd February 1827
The foundation stone was laid for what would become Holy Trinity/St. Peter's Church today.
Consecration of St James Church Lower Darwen 15th March 1829
Holy Trinity/St. Peter's Church was consecrated today.
The foundation stone for St Stephens church Tockholes was laid 23rd February 1832
The Belgrave meeting house opened for worship 21st October 1847
Edwin Ainsworth Ltd has been based in Church Bank Street since 1871, but it was originally in a row of cottages in Ainsworth Street which also included stabling for 12 horses. It was founded on 10th March 1856 by local businessman James Ainsworth and like many undertakers at the time it was much more than just a funeral service.
A once profitable textile business situated in India Mill was ruined this year by the Lancashire Cotton Famine.
Darwen Cemetery was opened today.
The foundation stone for St Paul’s church Hoddlesden was laid 27th July 1861
The Wesleyan Chapel opened on Railway Road 1st January 1864
The foundation stone for The New Methodist church on Blackburn road was laid 8th January 1864
St Johns' Church was consecrated today.
The foundation stone for what would become the Co-operative building on School Street was laid today. When the building was complete, it cost £9k in total to build.
The Co-op building on School Street was opened today.
The foundation stone for lower Darwen united Methodist Free Church was laid by R. Eccles
The Dirty Darren Medley first appeared in the Darwen News on 9th March 1878
James Huntington died today.
The Unitarians chapel Bolton road opened on 28th September 1878
Darwen football club played their first match under flood lights today. 21/10/1878
The foundation stone for the congregational chapel Hoddlesden was laid 8th June 1879
Belgrave British School opened 8th November 1879
The Foundation Stone was laid for the Market hall
In a town where steep hills come as standard, this new fangled transport must've been a welcome relief.
St James School opened 9th January 1882 Built on Walmsley Street
The Market Hall was officially opened today.
The foundation stone for The Church of the sacred heart & St Edward Roman Catholic Church was laid 19th August 1882
1874 Major typhoid epidemic in Darwen reported in the nationally newspapers . also a report in the New York Times
1854 Local Board of Health established in Over Darwen
St Barnabas C. of E. church on watery Lane officially opened 7th August 1884
St Joseph’s schools Bolton Road opened
The foundation stone for The Duckworth United Methodist Chapel was laid 11th May 1887
The Duckworth United Methodist Chapel opened 23rd August 1888
Bull Hill Hospital, a place of birth for thousands of Darreners (who refer to themselves as 'Bull Hill Babies') opened today.
St Aidan's Mission opened on Highfield Road today.
Highfield church school Edmund Street officially opened 3rd January 1891
The school chapel was opened on Bright Street today.
Bolton Road Congregational Chapel openedthis year.
The Darwen Moors officially became free to the public on the 5th September 1896
The foundations were laid for the construction of the Jubilee Tower.
The Darwen branch of the YMCA was established this year.
Darwen Tower was officially opened today, built to celebrate Queen Victoria's Jubilee.
The First Darrener lost their life in the Boer War today.
The Electricity Works on Robin Bank openedtoday.
Poor quality housing and inadequate sewerage facilities blamed.
The Darwen Gazette was launched. The Gazette building boasted the 'finest printing presses in the North of England' and could produce 24,000 copies an hour.
The Town Hall clock was started today.
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