The Parish of Over Darwen in the County of -- Lancashire --

OVER DARWEN, a township and village in the parish, polling district, lower division, and poor law union of Blackburn, 4 miles S. of Blackburn. Number of acres 5,010. A court leet is held. There are two episcopal chapels: St. James’s, date prior to 1687, value of curacy per annum £125; and Holy Trinity, built 1828, value £74. The other chapels are two Independent, and one each of Wesleyans, Primitives, and Catholics. The manufactories are cotton spinning and weaving, paper making, calico printing, &c. In 1833 there were 10 steam engines. Population 1801, 3,587; 1811, 4,411; 1821, 6,711; 1831, 6,972. There are national and sunday schools. Coal is plentiful. Gas works were erected 1839: and a Mechanics’ Institute commenced 1839.

“A Statistical Sketch of the County Palatine of Lancaster (1841)”, by Edwin Butterworth, facsimile reprint 1968, by the ‘Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society’. With grateful thanks to the Society.