History of Burnley in Timeline
Burnley is a town in Lancashire, England, serving as the administrative center for the Borough of Burnley. Located at the meeting point of the River Calder and River Brun, it's positioned 21 miles north of Manchester and 20 miles east of Preston. As of 2021, Burnley has a population of 78,266.
2 hours ago : Burnley Mounts Incredible Comeback from 3-0 to Draw with Brentford in Thrilling Match.
Burnley staged a remarkable comeback, recovering from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game against Brentford. The premier league match was intense, ending in draw. Liverpool and everton remain in the lead.
1901: Textile industry at its height
By 1901, Burnley's textile industry reached its peak with 700,000 spindles and 62,000 looms in operation.
1901: Sale of Towneley Hall to Burnley Corporation
In 1901, Lady O'Hagan sold Towneley Hall, along with 62 acres of land, to Burnley Corporation.
1905: Establishment of Burnley Golf Club
In 1905, Burnley Golf Club established a private course above the town in Habergham Eaves.
1909: Burnley Girls' High School Established
In 1909, Burnley Girls' High School was established on Ormerod Road.
1910: Power looms peak
By 1910, Burnley had approximately 99,000 power looms.
1911: Burnley Building Society was the largest in Lancashire
By 1911, the Burnley Building Society, established in Burnley in 1850, had grown to become the largest in Lancashire and the sixth largest in the kingdom.
1911: Population peak
In 1911, Burnley reached its peak population of over 100,000 residents.
1913: Burnley wins FA Cup
1916: Judicial review of cinema censorship
In 1916, a judicial review determined that the Burnley Justices' delegation of authority to censor films shown in local cinemas was unlawful.
1920: Weavers' Association membership
By 1920, the Burnley and District Weavers', Winders' and Beamers' Association had more than 20,000 members.
1920: Burnley wins Football League
In 1920-21, Burnley Football Club won the Football League.
1926: Calder Vale Rugby Club founded
In 1926, Calder Vale Rugby Club was founded.
1926: Memorial to the fallen was erected
In 1926, a memorial to the fallen was erected in Towneley Park, funded by Caleb Thornber, to commemorate the sacrifice of the men lost in war.
1927: Greyhound racing and speedway at Towneley Stadium
From 1927 until 1935, Burnley held greyhound racing and speedway at Towneley Stadium.
1932: Joyce Taylor-Papadimitriou Born
In 1932, the molecular biologist Joyce Taylor-Papadimitriou was born in Burnley.
1935: Greyhound racing and speedway at Towneley Stadium
From 1927 until 1935, Burnley held greyhound racing and speedway at Towneley Stadium.
1935: Labour Party representation
The constituency had been represented by MPs of the Labour Party since 1935.
October 1940: Luftwaffe bomb falls near Thompson Park
On 27 October 1940, the only known Luftwaffe bomb to fall within Burnley landed near the conservatory at Thompson Park.
May 1941: Bombs hit Rossendale Avenue
On 6 May 1941, a stick of eight bombs fell around Rossendale Avenue, causing minor damage.
1941: Starfish site bombing decoys established
In early 1941, a network of five Starfish site bombing decoys was established in the rural areas near Burnley to protect Accrington.
September 1942: P-38 Lightning crashed near Cliviger
In September 1942, a P-38 Lightning aircraft from the 14th Fighter Group USAAF crashed near Cliviger.
January 1943: Halifax crashed
In January 1943, a Halifax bomber from No. 51 Squadron RAF crashed on Black Hameldon Hill.
1944: Education Act 1944 Affected Burnley
In 1944, the tripartite system of Education established by the Education Act 1944 affected Burnley with the establishment of technical high schools and secondary modern schools.
February 1945: B-24 Liberator crashed
In February 1945, a B-24 Liberator from the 491st Bombardment Group USAAF crashed on Black Hameldon Hill.
1945: Sir John Stuttard Born
In 1945, Sir John Stuttard, who later became Lord Mayor of London, was born in Burnley.
1945: Ada Nield Chew Died
In 1945, suffragette Ada Nield Chew died in Burnley.
1951: The Man in the White Suit Filmed
In 1951, Ashfield Road in Burnley was used as a film location in the film The Man in the White Suit.
1955: Royal visit to Burnley
In 1955, The Queen and Prince Philip visited Burnley and the Mullard valve factory at Simonstone near Padiham.
1956: Burnley Technical High School Formed
In 1956, Burnley Technical High School was formed by the merger of Heasandford Technical High School for Girls and Towneley Technical High School for Boys.
1959: Burnley wins Football League
In 1959-60, Burnley Football Club won the Football League.
1960: Burnley wins FA Charity Shield
In 1960, Burnley Football Club won the FA Charity Shield.
1960: Burnley FC wins the Football League
In the summer of 1960, Burnley FC won the old first division to become Football League champions.
1961: Whistle Down the Wind Filmed
In 1961, parts of the British film Whistle Down the Wind were filmed in Burnley.
1961: Second Royal visit
In summer 1961, The Queen made a second official visit to Burnley to mark the 100th anniversary of the town's borough status.
April 1971: Bank Hall Colliery closed
In April 1971, the Bank Hall Colliery, Burnley's largest coal mine, closed, resulting in the loss of 571 jobs.
1971: Controversy Over First Gay Club
In 1971, the granting of a license to The Esquire, Burnley's first gay club, caused considerable controversy.
1972: County borough status abolished
In 1972, under the Local Government Act 1972, Burnley's county borough status was abolished, and it was incorporated with neighbouring areas into the non-metropolitan district of Burnley.
1973: Burnley wins FA Charity Shield
In 1973, Burnley Football Club won the FA Charity Shield.
1974: Borough Lost Control of Schools
In 1974, the borough lost control of its schools and Education Authority to Lancashire County Council.
1979: Unmanned weather radar
In 1979, the Met Office's first unmanned weather radar in the UK began operating on Hameldon Hill.
1980: Burnley connected to the motorway network
In 1980, Burnley was connected to the motorway network with the construction of the first and second sections of the M65.
1980: Construction of Whittlefield motorway aqueduct
In 1980, the Whittlefield motorway aqueduct was constructed, believed to be the first time a canal aqueduct was built over a motorway in the UK.
February 1981: Closure of Hapton Valley Colliery
In February 1981, the last deep coal mine in Burnley, Hapton Valley Colliery, closed.
1981: Labour control of Lancashire County Council
From 1981, Lancashire County Council was under Labour control.
1981: Comprehensive Education Completed
In 1981, the move to comprehensive education was completed in Burnley.
1982: Closure of Queen Street Mill
In 1982, the last steam-powered mill in Burnley, Queen Street Mill, closed.
1988: Burnley National Blues Festival Started
In 1988, the Burnley National Blues Festival began, eventually becoming the Burnley International Rock and Blues Festival.
1992: Closure of BEP Factory
In 1992, BEP, one of Burnley's three largest manufacturers, closed its factory.
1992: Coal Clough wind farm built
In 1992, the Coal Clough wind farm was built amidst local controversy.
1992: Rioting on the Stoops and Hargher Clough council estates
In summer 1992, Burnley gained national attention due to rioting on the Stoops and Hargher Clough council estates.
1995: Burnley's employment growth ranking
Between 1995 and 2004, Burnley's employment growth ranked 55th out of England's 56 largest towns and cities.
1995: Opening of multiplex cinema
In 1995, a 9-screen multiplex cinema opened, operated by Reel Cinemas.
1996: Hetty Wainthropp Investigates Filmed
From 1996 to 1998, numerous locations in Burnley were used in the BBC comedy drama Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.
July 1997: Closure of Prestige Factory
In July 1997, Prestige, one of Burnley's three largest manufacturers, closed its factory.
1998: Hetty Wainthropp Investigates Filmed
From 1996 to 1998, numerous locations in Burnley were used in the BBC comedy drama Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.
1999: Queen Street Mill Featured in 'Fred Dibnah's Industrial Age'
In 1999, Queen Street Mill was featured in the BBC documentary Fred Dibnah's Industrial Age (E2).
June 2001: Violent disturbances
In June 2001, Burnley received national attention after a series of violent disturbances due to racial tensions during the 2001 England riots.
2001: Calder Vale Rugby Club renamed Burnley Rugby Club
In 2001, Calder Vale Rugby Club was renamed Burnley Rugby Club.
2001: Sale of Charter Walk Shopping Centre
In 2001, Great Portland Estates sold the Charter Walk Shopping Centre to Sapphire Retail Fund, which was 50% owned by the Reuben Brothers.
2001: Queen Street Mill Featured in 'What the Victorians Did for Us'
In 2001, Queen Street Mill was featured in Adam Hart-Davies' What the Victorians Did for Us (E1).
2001: Establishment of Crow Wood Leisure Centre
In 2001, the private Crow Wood Leisure Centre was established on the edge of Burnley.
2001: 2001 United Kingdom census
The 2001 United Kingdom census recorded a resident population of 73,021 for the Burnley subdivision of the Burnley Built-up area.
2002: Closure of Michelin Factory
In 2002, Michelin, one of Burnley's three largest manufacturers, closed its factory.
2003: Burnley bus station wins UK Bus Award
In 2003, Burnley bus station, designed by Manchester-based SBS Architects, won the UK Bus Award for Infrastructure.
2003: Neil Hodgson Won World Superbike Championship
In 2003, Neil Hodgson, born in Burnley, won the World Superbike Championship.
2003: Plan Devised to Replace Secondary Schools
In 2003, a plan was devised to replace all the secondary schools in Burnley as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme.
2003: Opening of skate park
In 2003, a £235,000 skate park opened at Queens Park.
2004: Burnley's employment growth ranking
Between 1995 and 2004, Burnley's employment growth ranked 55th out of England's 56 largest towns and cities.
2004: Queen Street Mill Featured in 'North and South'
In 2004, Queen Street Mill was used for scenes in the BBC dramatisation of Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South.
2004: Funding Secured for School Replacements
In 2004, funding was secured to replace all the secondary schools in Burnley as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme.
2004: Opening of the Lancashire Digital Technology Centre
In 2004, the Lancashire Digital Technology Centre opened on the former Michelin factory site, providing support for start-up technology companies.
2004: Plans for second shopping centre 'The Oval'
Since 2004, plans have been in place to construct a second town centre shopping centre in Burnley, originally called 'The Oval'.
2005: Government funds invested
Between 2005 and 2010, approximately £65m of government funds was invested into poorer neighbourhoods in Burnley.
2005: Burnley Youth Theatre moves to new space
In 2005, Burnley Youth Theatre moved into a second, purpose-built performance space.
2005: Towneley Hall Featured in Casanova
In 2005, Towneley Hall featured in the BBC comedy drama Casanova.
2006: Sir John Stuttard Became Lord Mayor of London
In 2006, Sir John Stuttard, born in Burnley, became Lord Mayor of London.
2006: Completion of Panopticons project sculpture
In 2006, a sculpture was completed as part of the Panopticons arts and regeneration project by the East Lancashire Environmental Arts Network (ELEAN).
2006: Singing Ringing Tree installed
In 2006, the Panopticon Singing Ringing Tree was installed on the hills at Crown Point.
2006: New Schools Opened
In 2006, the new schools opened in Burnley (in the buildings of their predecessors).
2006: Opening of St Peter's Centre
In 2006, the £29m St Peter's Centre, offering swimming, squash courts, and a fitness suite, opened.
2007: Burnley's deprivation ranking
As of 2007, Burnley was the 21st most deprived local authority (out of 354) in the United Kingdom.
2007: Canal Embankment Featured in 'Locks and Quays'
In 2007, the canal embankment in Burnley featured in the ITV documentary Locks and Quays (S2 E9).
2007: RIBA National Award
In 2007, the sculpture in Burnley was one of 14 winners of the National Award of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for architectural excellence.
2007: Hameldon Hill wind farm
Since 2007, the three turbines of the Hameldon Hill wind farm have stood on its northern flank.
2007: Sir John Stuttard Lord Mayor of London
Sir John Stuttard, born in Burnley in 1945, served as Lord Mayor of London until 2007.
2008: Shuttleworth College Moved
In 2008, Shuttleworth College moved into new buildings.
2008: Thomas Whitham Sixth Form Opened
In 2008, Thomas Whitham Sixth Form opened its Burnley campus on Barden Lane.
2009: Conservative Party term in power
Between 2009 and 2013, the Conservative Party had one term in power in Lancashire County Council.
2009: Burnley College Moved to New Campus
In 2009, Burnley College moved to a new £80 million campus off Princess Way in partnership with the University of Central Lancashire and achieved 'outstanding' status in that year's OFSTED inspection.
2009: Queen Street Mill Featured in 'The Victorians'
In 2009, Queen Street Mill was featured in Jeremy Paxman's The Victorians.
2009: Sir John Thursby Moved
In 2009, Sir John Thursby school moved into new buildings.
2009: YMCA opens large charity shop
In 2009, the YMCA claimed to have opened the largest charity shop in the UK, temporarily occupying the former Woolworths store.
2009: Opening of first purpose-built mosque
In 2009, the first purpose-built mosque in Burnley opened.
January 2010: Shop Direct call centre closure
In January 2010, Shop Direct announced the closure of its Burnley call centre, resulting in the loss of 450 jobs. Shop Direct owns Littlewoods, Additions Direct, Very, Empire Stores and Marshall Ward.
May 2010: Drop in burglary rate
In May 2010, the NPIA Local Crime Mapping System reported a 49.5% drop in Burnley's burglary rate on the previous year.
October 2010: Mohiuddin International Girls' College Opened
In October 2010, the Mohiuddin International Girls' College opened in the former Burnley College site.
2010: Installation of 3D screens at Reel Cinemas
As of 2010, the 9-screen multiplex cinema operated by Reel Cinemas had 3 3D screens.
2010: Government funds invested
Between 2005 and 2010, approximately £65m of government funds was invested into poorer neighbourhoods in Burnley.
2010: Gordon Birtwistle elected as MP
From 2010 to 2015, the constituency was represented by Gordon Birtwistle, a Liberal Democrat.
2010: Blessed Trinity, Hameldon and Unity Moved
In 2010, Blessed Trinity, Hameldon and Unity schools moved into new buildings.
2010: Keith Coventry Won John Moores Painting Prize
In 2010, Keith Coventry, who was born and educated in Burnley, won the John Moores Painting Prize.
2010: Queen Street Mill Featured in 'The King's Speech'
In 2010, Queen Street Mill textile museum was used for a scene in the Oscar-winning film The King's Speech.
2010: Sapphire Retail Fund collapse
In 2010, Sapphire Retail Fund collapsed.
March 2011: Addington Capital buys Charter Walk Shopping Centre
In March 2011, Addington Capital bought the Charter Walk Shopping Centre following the 2010 collapse of Sapphire Retail Fund.
2011: 2011 United Kingdom census
According to the 2011 United Kingdom census, the Burnley Built-up area had a population of 149,422.
2011: David Fishwick Opened Burnley Savings & Loans
In 2011, Burnley businessman David Fishwick opened Burnley Savings & Loans, trading under the slogan 'Bank of Dave'.
2011: Gardner Aerospace site closure
In 2011, Gardner Aerospace, a parts manufacturer for the Eurofighter Typhoon, closed its site in Burnley, resulting in the loss of 120 jobs.
2011: Release of fresh plans for a smaller retail scheme
In early 2011, fresh plans were released for a considerably smaller retail scheme in Burnley.
2012: GCSE and A Level Results
In 2012, 59% of students at the end of Key Stage 4 achieved A*-C grades or above at GCSE, and Burnley College reported a 99.8% A Level pass rate.
2012: Key Stage 2 Attainment
In 2012, 82% of children at the end of Key Stage 2 achieved Level 4 or above in English and 81% in Mathematics.
2012: Launch of Reedley Hallows Brewery
In 2012, Reedley Hallows Brewery was launched by the former Head Brewer at Moorhouses.
Apr 2013: ONS annual population survey
The ONS annual population survey for April 2013-March 2014 showed that 63.1% of adults between 16 and 64 were economically active.
September 2013: University Technical College Lancashire Opened
In September 2013, University Technical College Lancashire opened in Burnley.
2013: Conservative Party term in power
Between 2009 and 2013, the Conservative Party had one term in power in Lancashire County Council.
2013: Apprenticeship Courses Provided Over 1000 Places
In 2013, Burnley College provided over 1000 local apprenticeship places within businesses across Pennine Lancashire.
2013: Burnley awarded Enterprising Britain award
In 2013, Burnley received the Enterprising Britain award from the UK Government, recognizing it as the 'Most Enterprising Area in the UK'.
2013: Opening of the Woodland Spa
In 2013, Crow Wood opened its own day Spa, the Woodland Spa.
2013: Vince Cable praises Burnley's economy
In 2013, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable praised Burnley's booming economy due to manufacturing and its proximity to the aerospace industry.
Mar 2014: ONS annual population survey
The ONS annual population survey for April 2013-March 2014 showed that 63.1% of adults between 16 and 64 were economically active.
September 2014: Burnley High School Opened
In September 2014, Burnley High School, a free school, opened in Burnley.
2014: Lava & Ignite Nightclub Closed
In 2014, Lava & Ignite, a leading nightclub in Burnley, closed its doors.
2014: Vince Cable praises Burnley's economic performance
In 2014, Vince Cable remarked that if the rest of Britain performed like Burnley, there would be no recession.
2014: The Woodland Spa named Day Spa of the Year
In 2014, the Woodland Spa was named Day Spa of the Year at the Professional Beauty Awards.
May 2015: Direct train service opens
In May 2015, a direct train service began operating between Manchester Road railway station and Manchester's Victoria station, continuing to Headbolt Lane via the restored Todmorden Curve.
May 2015: Reinstatement of direct train service to Manchester
In May 2015, a direct train service to Manchester and Wigan Wallgate was reinstated, providing a direct route to Manchester Victoria for the first time in over fifty years.
2015: Gordon Birtwistle elected as MP
From 2010 to 2015, the constituency was represented by Gordon Birtwistle, a Liberal Democrat.
2016: Burnley at top of a list of the 74 largest UK cities and towns faring worst
In 2016, a study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation put Rochdale, Burnley and Bolton at top of a list of the 74 largest UK cities and towns faring worst compared with UK trends.
2016: Cinema and restaurants due to open
The site earmarked for retail units in Burnley is now planned for a cinema and restaurants and is due to open in 2016.
2017: Conservative Party controls Lancashire County Council
Since 2017, the Conservative Party has controlled Lancashire County Council.
2019: Antony Higginbotham elected as MP
In the 2019 general election, Burnley elected Antony Higginbotham, its first Conservative Party MP in over 100 years.
2020: Wajid Khan becomes mayor
In 2020, Wajid Khan of the Labour Party became the mayor of Burnley, a ceremonial role that rotates annually.
July 2021: Rainbow Plaque Unveiled at Burnley Library
On 30 July 2021, a rainbow plaque was unveiled at Burnley Library, marking the 50th anniversary of a meeting organized by the Campaign for Homosexual Equality regarding the gay club, The Esquire.
2021: Burnley population in 2021
In 2021, the town of Burnley had a population of 78,266.
July 2023: First Pride Parade
In July 2023, Burnley celebrated its first ever Pride parade, featuring local charities, organizations, youth groups, and trade unions, led by Elektra Fence from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
2024: Burnley Football Club promoted to English Premier League
At the end of the 2024-25 season, Burnley Football Club was promoted from the English Football League Championship to the English Premier League.
2024: Oliver Ryan elected as MP
In the 2024 election, Burnley elected Labour MP Oliver Ryan.
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