Coordinates: 53°49′52″N 2°35′49″W / 53.831°N 2.597°W / 53.831; -2.597

Longridge
Longridge  Longridge shown within Lancashire
Population	7,546  (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	SD606374
Parish	Longridge
District	Ribble Valley
Shire county	Lancashire
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	PRESTON
Postcode district	PR3
Dialling code	01772
Police	Lancashire
Fire	Lancashire
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Ribble Valley
List of places: UK • England • Lancashire

Longridge is a small town and civil parish in the borough of Ribble Valley in Lancashire, England. It is situated at the western end of Longridge Fell, a long ridge above the River Ribble, several miles north-east of the city of Preston. Its nearest neighbours are Grimsargh and the Roman town of Ribchester (Bremetennacum), 3.5 miles to the southeast. The parish of Longridge had a population of 7,546 recorded in the 2001 census, ^[1]

[edit] History

The Battle of Preston started from Longridge, Cromwell halting there before taking on Monarchist forces from Scotland.^{[citation needed]}

Longridge initially developed outwards from an area around St. Lawrence's Church, at the boundary of the townships of Dilworth and Alston and to the south of the modern-day town centre. Though there was a thoroughfare called 'Market Place', there was no development around that area. Most of the development of the town occurred after 1800.^[2] After this time, development occurred at a much faster pace, with expansion northwards including a mill to the north of Kestor Lane.

The demand for stone from Longridge's quarries led to the opening of the Preston and Longridge Railway in 1840 to carry the stone away, for use in such places as Lancaster Town Hall and Liverpool Docks. The arrival of the railway led to the opening of several cotton mills and the town grew considerably larger from the mid-nineteenth century. The mills and quarries have now all closed, although stone quarried in the town was used to construct the M55 motorway in the 1970s. One of the quarries was used as Longridge motor-racing circuit between 1973 and 1978. Longridge railway station closed to passengers in 1930, and the railway was dismantled in 1967.

[edit] Modern Longridge

The appearance of the town centre has changed little from when it was first built. Many of the buildings are built of locally quarried Limestone and despite more modern developments the town centre remains largely as it was when it was first developed. The town itself has expanded since the closure of the quarries with the building of new housing estates, as well as social housing.

The town is home to 11 pubs, several restaurants, a public library, and a number of primary and high schools. It is also home to an Air Training Corps squadron, 143 (Longridge) SQN.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• History of Longridge
• Longridge Town Council Website
• Longridge News, The Town Newspaper

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