HISTORIAN Jack Nadin turns the pages of Padiham’s past in a new book, that tells of local characters and life through the ages.

History of Padiham gives an in-depth insight into the town, from its early days, looking at the mills, workhouse, churches, schools and how essential servies, such as water, gas and electricity were introduced to the locals.

One character who lived more than 400 years ago, was Padiham’s own witch, Margaret Pearson, who stood trial in 1612, the same year as the famous Lancashire witches, but happily did not share the same fate for her crime of bewitching a horse.

Rather, she was committed to be pilloried on four market days at Padiham, Clitheroe, Whalley and Lancaster and to spend a year in jail.

By 1650 the population of Padiham had grown to 1,106 and fairs were held yearly on April 29 and September 27.

One ceremony in 1867 lasted from Monday to Wednesday and all the mills and workplaces stopped to mark the occasion.

Stalls were set up along Church Street and people enjoyed all the fun of the fair, with hobby horses, swing boats and shooting galleries lined along the banks of the River Calder.

Rushbearing being a religious ceremony, the local chapels and churches competed for the best day out and it is recorded that 500 Wesleyans, Baptists and Unitarians all went to Windermere, in 1867, while 340 Hapton Wesleyans enjoyed a day out to Blackpool.

Even the miners employed by theHapton Coal Company were treated to a trip to Blackpool, the fares being paid for by their employers.

Padiham was not supplied with electricity until December 1926, even though its little sister Hapton had become the first village in England to be lit by electricity as far back as 1888.

Lancashire Electricity Power Company began work on power station A in 1924 and the supply to Padiham UDC was switched on two years later.

The council set up an electricity committee to look after customer accounts, connections and the general running of the business, but there wasn’t much work at first – for only 90 people were prepared to have electricity installed in their property.

Demand in the 1930s was almost entirely taken up by domestic lighting and industrial power – Padiham UDC had only 25 cookers to supply and nine water heaters and boilers.

In 1957, formal consent was given to build a new power station B and towards the end of 1959 the contractors had constructed banking alongside the river, to stop flooding which had been a major problem in the past.

The actual buildings were completed by the end of 1960 at a cost of £2.5m.

Gas was being used at Padiham by the turn of the 1800s. In 1845 a meeting took place at the Swan Inn, to decide whether to form a gas and water company and it was agreed “this thriving little town should have street lights just like many other towns”.

The resultant Padiham Gas, Light and Coke Company was bought out by the Local Board in 1875.

In 1895 the gas works were on Station Road, in fact, the stretch it stood on was once known as Gas Street.

There are only scant details of the town’s early postal service, but the Starkie Arms appears to have supplied a mail service in early times.

Grocer John Simpson was postmaster from 1853 and 10 years later a mail omnibus service was started to and from Burnley, running twice a week.

In 1879, premises at 82, Burnley Road were listed as being the post office and then as a sub office in 1896.

The main office was lat 8-10 Church Street and also served as the register office for births, deaths and marriages.

The registrar, printer and postmaster was Michael Servetus Holland, a position he held for 42 years.

  • The History of Padiham by Jack Nadin, priced £9.95, is available from Jack, of 33, Prestwich Street, Burnley, or Padiham Post Office. Jack will also be signing books at Padiham town hall this Friday, from 2-3pm.