Why you should move to Edgworth village near Blackburn

Perched on the edge of the West Pennine Moors, Edgworth blends rugged countryside, historic mill heritage and a close-knit village feel, making it one of Lancashire’s most quietly desirable rural settlements

The village of Edgworth feels a world away from the borough of Blackburn with Darwen in which it sits – and that’s a massive part of its appeal. Surrounded by the rugged West Pennine Moors, Edgworth looks more like a rural BBC period drama set – and it retains that community feel which is so prevalent in stories from times gone by.

Central to this strong sense of community is The Barlow, a community run venue which brings the village together. A large standalone red-brick building, it was originally donated to the village by the Barlow family, to promote health, education and well-being. The building was handed over to the community by the local council in 2013 and today it continues to serve the area through events and performances, hosting community groups and offering a welcoming place for people to meet.

Away from The Barlow and the bowling green and cricket club which sit either side of it, the village offers sweeping views of the West Pennines – and several breathtaking walking routes that show off the best of the nearby lush countryside.

The wider village includes hamlets of Quarlton, Entwistle, Turton Bottoms and Whittlestone Head, and the local favourites Wayoh and Entwistle reservoirs.

The village was part of the 19th century industrial revolution, although the textile mills from that period have, for the most part, disappeared. Industry has been replaced by several small housing developments.

But these have not taken away the village feel, particularly at the crossroads of Blackburn Road, Bolton Road, Bury Road and Broadhead Road, where you can find most of the village’s amenities, including two local stores, one which houses the post office, a butchers and pub (there are several others in the village), with the village pharmacy 100 yards down the road.

Marcus Milton, 57, grew up in Edgworth and left for 10 years, returning in 1998.

He says: ‘When I had a relationship and we decided we were going to have a family, we moved back up here because it’s such a wonderful place to bring children up.

‘I’ve lived in Bolton, a bit of time in London and a bit of time abroad and then ended up coming back up and my parents still lived up here. It is a fantastic place to bring up a family.’

He cites the community spirit and willingness of local businesses to support the village as one of its major plus points.

‘We are very, very lucky that the managing director or director of Appliances Online has just invested a huge amount of money in the local cricket club.

Marcus Milton

‘The demographic of the village has changed. It’s younger. It was very working class, but now there are quite a lot of professional people.

‘The majority of people get involved in the community in some way or other. We’ve got loads of volunteer situations that people get involved in.

‘We’ve just done something for the local pre-school nursery Scallywags, down at the school. We’ve raised just shy of £10,000 for them. The bowling club and the cricket club does a lot of fundraisers for different things.

‘Edgworth is very fortunate to have a number of small shops still. We’ve also got one of the best primary schools in the area.’

Jade Bentley

Jade Bentley, 36, moved to the village from Whalley with her parents when she was 14. She now manages the Black Bull pub with her dad, Stephen.

She is passionate about the community in the village, and how people and local businesses support each other.

She says: ‘My favourite thing is how it’s such a tight community. Everyone knows everyone. There’s not much animosity in the village; everyone is really polite.

‘The village does a lot of charity stuff. Like Gill Ramwell, for example. She does a lot for Homeless Aid UK – we donate hundreds of meals a month. The village comes together to support what other members of the village want to do. A lot of people keep the area nice, all pitching and do their bit to keep it looking nice and pleasant.

‘We all support the local businesses, the butchers, the Post Office and the ice cream shop, which is a big hit, especially with the kids. Then you’ve got the cricket club, which has got the park.

‘As a community, we’re not here to tread on each other’s toes; we work together to make it work for everybody, and everybody’s really respectful about that.’

Edgworth, Lancashire, UK..

WHAT TO BUY

Traditional stone cottages, converted farmhouses and terraces linked to former mill activity form much of Edgworth’s core stock, particularly around the older lanes.

Away from the double-roundabout centre, newer housing has popped up, introducing detached and semi-detached to the area. The overall effect is a varied but consistently characterful mix of property types.

Terraced properties still dominate and these were the most sold property in the village over the past 12 months, selling for an average price of £271,367. Detached properties sold for an average of £621,667, with semi-detached properties fetching a similar average price of £619,167. Prices have enjoyed strong growth over the past 12 months.

Families are also attracted by the strong standard-rated primary school.

The four-way crossroads is attractive to commuters, with the road network offering fast access to Blackburn, Bolton and Bury, and beyond to Manchester.

Prices are typically higher than in surrounding urban Bolton suburbs, reflecting the landscape, setting and limited supply of housing.

Detached homes with views or period features are particularly sought after, while cottages and terraces are highly prized due to their village-centre locations.

For potential buyers seeking long-term roots, Edgworth offers rugged rural tranquility with accessibility to urban Lancashire and Greater Manchester.