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Pictures of Colne

in the county of Lancashire

Colne, Lancashire, taken from Holt House playing fields

About Colne

This traditional Lancashire market town lies beneath Colne Edge close to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. It was established as a settlement centuries ago, pre-dating Roman times.

Following the Norman Conquest the Forest of Trawden was planted near-by, this was eventually used for hunting by Norman Lord's and Barron's. The forest is well known for numerous reservoirs dotting its landscape, they are mostly used for water supply, but some are now available for leisure activities such as boating and fishing.

A weekly market was held in the churchyard at the top of a hill, the church is known to have existed here since early in the 12th-century, and oddly, because the market was established through practice the town, unlike other market town's, was never given a charter. The market was always a busy affair drawing crowds from all around the area, these near neighbours also poured into Colne for its annual fair which took place on St.Bartholomew's day, the 24th of August.

Two mills were in existence by this time, one a fulling mill, the other a corn mill, these gave employment and when coal began to be mined it brought more people to the town. By the time of the 15th-century wool was at the centre of the economy and several trades and small industries had begun to flourish, including brewing.

Today, Colne is a lively place which still has a thriving outdoor market (although no longer held in the churchyard) and many interesting shops. Visitors to the town will enjoy seeing some fine buildings, these include historic St.Bartholomew's Church, the imposing Municipal Town Hall and The British and India Museum with its fine collection of memorabilia from the 17th-century when India became part of the British Empire. On show are uniforms, regalia and other items to do with British rule of India, as well as photographs of Queen Victoria with her Indian servants. The museum has a wealth of colourful interest for every member of the family. Colne Market Hall is a "must see" it is a modern day building of glazed colonnades and canopies, this has recently been the subject of costly refurbishment by the local council.

Worth a mention is that this was the home town of Wallace Hartley who in the 20th-century was band master on the ill-fated Titanic, and that the town is the venue to an annual Rhythm and Blues festival, drawing visitors from all over the country.

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal links a ribbon of picturesque villages, nearby Colne is Foulridge were visitors can see shapely Holinhurst Bridge just north of Foulridge Wharfe. The canal flows through a lovely scenic landscape, along its banks are pleasant walks, enjoyable as much for the colourful narrow boats and sailing craft seen on the canal, as it is for its wealth of wildlife habitation.

With excellent facilities both in and outside of Colne, good hotels, inns and restaurants, plenty to see and do, Colne makes the perfect base to stay while exploring the beautiful moors known as Bronte Country, or the sprawling towns of Burnley, Clitheroe and Blackburn. Colne is also within easy reach of Keighley Moor and the arduous Pennine Way.


Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Colne

Wycoller Country Park(3.3 miles, 5.4 km, direction E)Pictures
Forest of Burnley Country Park Millennium Site(4.8 miles, 7.7 km, direction SW)Pictures
Pendle Hill(5.3 miles, 8.4 km, direction W)Pictures
Towneley Hall Art Gallery & Museum(5.8 miles, 9.4 km, direction S)Pictures
Gawthorpe Hall(6.1 miles, 9.9 km, direction SW)Pictures
Sawley Abbey(7.7 miles, 12.3 km, direction NW)Pictures
The Ribble Valley(8.7 miles, 14.0 km, direction W)Pictures
Hardcastle Crags & Gibson Mill(8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction SE)Pictures
Clitheroe Castle(9.0 miles, 14.5 km, direction W)Pictures
Skipton Castle(9.9 miles, 16.0 km, direction NE)Pictures
Whalley Abbey(10.2 miles, 16.4 km, direction W)Pictures
Cliffe Castle Museum(10.7 miles, 17.3 km, direction E)Pictures
East Riddlesden Hall(12.2 miles, 19.6 km, direction E)Pictures
Janet's Foss(14.6 miles, 23.6 km, direction N)Pictures
Healey Dell(14.9 miles, 24.0 km, direction S)Pictures

All attractions in Colne
All attractions in Lancashire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Colne

Padiham, in the county of Lancashire (6.8 miles, 10.9 km, direction SW)
Padiham is a thriving Lancashire town lying on the Calder River. It is most famous as the home of Gawthorpe Hall, a noted...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Haworth, in the county of West Yorkshire (9.5 miles, 15.3 km, direction E)
Haworth is famous the world over for its connections with the Bronte sisters, the famous novelists.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Skipton, in the county of North Yorkshire (10.1 miles, 16.2 km, direction NE)
Long considered "The Gateway to the Dales" which lye to the north, moors extend southwards, and the tranquil countryside of the Ribble Valley is to the west.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Todmorden, in the county of West Yorkshire (10.2 miles, 16.3 km, direction S)
Todmorden lies on the historic border between Yorkshire and Lancashire in an area of the Calder Valley ringed by the hills of the Pennines.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Waddington, in the county of Lancashire (10.3 miles, 16.5 km, direction W)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Hebden Bridge, in the county of West Yorkshire (10.3 miles, 16.5 km, direction SE)
This beautiful old town grew up close to the River Hebden at the point where a stone bridge was built as part of a pack-horse route in the 16th century.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Accrington, in the county of Lancashire (10.7 miles, 17.1 km, direction SW)
Some of the town's loveliest architecture comes from the Victorian era, this can be seen in the elegant Victorian Market Hall with its clock and rich display of sculpture.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Keighley, in the county of West Yorkshire (10.8 miles, 17.5 km, direction E)
This is an industrial town in West Yorkshire. It lies in a fold between the fine countryside of Airdale and Keighley Moors.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Oswaldtwistle, in the county of Lancashire (12.2 miles, 19.7 km, direction SW)
This is a large, typical Lancashire village lying close to the urban sprawl of Blackburn and Accrington.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Hurst Green, a Picturesque Village in the county of Lancashire (12.6 miles, 20.3 km, direction W)
This pretty Lancastrian villages the setting for historic Stoneyhurst, a noted school which was founded in the 16th-century.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Harden, in the county of West Yorkshire (12.6 miles, 20.3 km, direction E)
Harden lies in the famous countryside area between Cullingworth and Bingley surrounded by rivers and meadows. It is a favoured commuter base for those working in nearby Bradford.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Slaidburn, in the county of Lancashire (13.4 miles, 21.6 km, direction NW)
An eye catching place with a pretty village green and a scattering of stone cottages set in an idyllic spot on the banks of the River Hodder.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Malham, in the county of North Yorkshire (14.2 miles, 22.9 km, direction N)
High on the moors and dales of Yorshire, lies the wild and desolate place of Malham..
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Bolton Abbey, in the county of North Yorkshire (14.7 miles, 23.7 km, direction NE)
The Bolton Abbey Estate covers 30,000 acres of beautiful countryside in the Yorkshire Dales.There are medieval buildings to explore and 80 miles of moorland, woodland and riverside footpaths.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Ribchester, a Picturesque Village in the county of Lancashire (14.8 miles, 23.9 km, direction W)
A picturesque village in the Ribble Valley
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in Lancashire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Colne Station(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
M65 Junction 14(0.5 miles, 0.9 km)
M65 Junction 13(1.8 miles, 2.9 km, direction SW)
Nelson Station(2.1 miles, 3.4 km, direction SW)
Leeds Bradford International Airport(20.9 miles, 33.6 km, direction E)
Manchester Airport(34.6 miles, 55.7 km, direction S)
Colne to London(183.7 miles, 295.6 km, direction SE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Colne

Hotel NameApproximate distance from Colne center
Oaks Hotel(3.7 miles, 6.0 km, direction SW)
The Sparrow Hawk(5.0 miles, 8.1 km, direction SW)
The Keirby Park Hotel(5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction SW)
The Alexander Hotel(5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction SW)
Higher Trapp Country House Hotel(7.2 miles, 11.6 km, direction W)
Rendez-vous At Skipton(9.1 miles, 14.6 km, direction NE)
Herriots Hotel(9.5 miles, 15.2 km, direction NE)
Woodlands Grange(9.6 miles, 15.4 km, direction E)
Eaves Hall Country Hotel(9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction W)
Sparth House Hotel(9.9 miles, 15.9 km, direction SW)
All hotels in Colne

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