Longridge Heritage Plaques

Longridge Heritage Committee was formed in 2000. The aim of the Committee is to publicise, celebrate and conserve the heritage of Longridge.

The group have therefore stuck to their promise and have been able to fund seven blue heritage plaques, which were officially launched on 26 September 2006.

The plaques have been placed on the following buildings:

• The former Co-operative Building 

Completed 1880 Enlarged 1888. main premises of Longridge Industrial Co-operative Society 1880-1985. The Ballroom upstairs accommodated 700 people and served as a hub for the social life of the town.

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• The Townley Arms c. 1849 (formerly The Station Hotel)

Owned by the Fleetwood, Preston and West Riding Junction Railway Company as their terminus building. Originally known as the Station Hotel. Before the station was built tickets were issued here. By 1851 it had been renamed The Towneley Arms and became a useful asset to the town with stabling and a large garden.

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• 43 Berry Lane (currently occupied by the Youth and Community Centre)

This building has had many uses since it was built c.1889. It has been a mineral water factory, a laundry, a greengrocers and fishmongers. Development of the Bond Minicar started here. It housed the Fire Brigade from 1939 until 1967. Since 1967 it has been occupied by the Youth and Community Service.

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• Newtown and Doctors Row

A hamlet of handloom weavers and nail makers cottages with shops, alehouses and its own water supply. Constructed around a Doctors House mainly between 1825 and 1835.

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• The Longridge Restaurant (formerly The Quarryman's Arms)

This building housed the Quarryman's Arms and served workers in the adjacent quarries until 1871. Later it was converted into cottages. In the early 20th century it housed a cafe and later became a restaurant.  In 1990 the building was acquired by restauranteur Paul Heathcote.

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• Club Row

This terrace of 20 properties was erected between 1794 and 1804. Thought to be the oldest surviving example of properties built by a building society in the world. Each had a basement room for a handloom, a coalhouse and a 'Necessary'. The 20 men who clubbed together to form the building society were local yoemen, handloom weavers and stonemasons.