Wednesday 29th April 2026

Wednesday 29th April 2026

Walk to include the route of the 1826 Weavers Uprising from Hoddlesden to Helmshore

This was the second of two walks following the route that the handloom weavers may have taken during the uprising. The aim of today’s walk was to follow the route of the weavers on 25 April 1826, the second day of the uprising, and to visit two of the sites they attacked that day. Our walk was again informed by the research of Tony, our resident historian, who had prepared detailed handouts and enlightened us at the main sites.

Describing the background, we were informed that a crowd of protesters had set off for Low Moor in Clitheroe, to where the troop was dispatched. The loom breakers saw their opportunity, met at Earcroft, marched through Darwen unopposed, destroyed 22 looms at Bowling Green Mill and 16 in storage at Bobbin Hall belonging to James Garden, before about 300 marched up the hill to Hoddlesden. Our walk was to ‘virtually’ meet the 300 rioters at James Garden’s house in Hoddlesden before returning on a similar route to them to Middle Mill in Haslingden.

We set off from Helmshore Museum car park on a perfect walking day of blue sky and sunshine and a light breeze. We followed the river path to Holden Wood where it was believed that one of the captains of the rioters lived. We crossed the main road by the cemetery and walked along the side of Mary’s Wood, up to Heap Clough and followed the path through the fields parallel to Grane Road and up by the woodland with Jamestone Quarry on our right to join the Rossendale Way where we turned left. We were now walking above Clough Head and around Nab Hill along part of the West Pennine Way.

We stopped for coffee at the ruins before continuing along the path, descending to cross Grane Road and heading along the path opposite with Pickup Bank Height to our left. We made our way to Shorrock Fold before turning right to follow the farm track down to observe the ruin of James Garsden’s home where 20 rioters entered the house and destroyed power looms in the house and barn. The rioters set off from here to Helmshore crossing the moor to avoid the main toll road and collecting other protesters along the way. We therefore retraced our steps back to Sharrock Fold and crossed the moor into Hoddlesden where we had our lunch in Queen Square near two weaving cottages.

After lunch we followed the path to join the narrow road leading up to Pickup Bank Height then over the moor, crossing Broadhead Road and along the pack horse route. We headed above Calf Hey Reservoir along the Rossendale Way. We passed Close Bottom where cotton weavers had lived and ascended the path to the chimney on Musbury Heights where the scrubbing mill for Park Quarries was located.

We headed into Helmshore, to Middle Mill where 400 people had assembled and after shattering the mill door, had smashed 106 looms. The rioters had ignored the reading of the Riot Act but dispersed when 30 troops arrived. Unlike at Chatterton, the magistrate, Reverend Gray, refused the soldiers permission to open fire on the crowd to disperse them, but 23 people were arrested.

We also dispersed, back to the Museum car park having enjoyed an excellent walk covering 11 historic miles encompassing varied terrain and thanks to Tony’s interest and enthusiasm.