Editing Accrington (section)

== Early landowners==

This section outlines the contributions of landowning families, including the de Lacy, Walmsley, Peel, Hargreaves and Haworth families, to the development of Accrington.

=== De Lacy family ===

The '''de Lacy family''' were the first recorded landowners in Accrington,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/download-package/accrington-treasures/page/4/|title=Accrington Treasures|accessdate=22 March 2023|publisher=Hyndburn Borough Council}}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> instrumental in the town's establishment as a regional center for agriculture and trade.

=== Walmsley family ===

The '''Walmsley family''' acquired the manor of Accrington in the 16th century<ref>{{cite book|last=Whitaker|first=Thomas Dunham|title=An History of the Original Parish of Whalley, and Honor of Clitheroe|year=1872|publisher=George Routledge|pages=315–316}}</ref> and owned several mills, contributing to the expansion of Accrington's textile industry.

=== Peel family ===

The '''Peel family''' were key figures in the 18th and 19th centuries,<ref>{{cite book|last=Holt|first=Richard|title=Sport and the Working Class in Modern Britain|year=1990|publisher=Manchester University Press|isbn=978-0-7190-2650-8|pages=53–54}}</ref> with Sir Robert Peel, 1st Baronet, establishing textile mills in the area, significantly boosting Accrington's economy.

=== Hargreaves family ===

The '''Hargreaves family''' built the Broad Oak Print Works in 1778,<ref>{{cite book|last=Baines|first=Edward|title=History, Directory & Gazetteer, of the County of York: With Select Lists of the Merchants & Traders of London, and the Principal Commercial and Manufacturing Towns of England; and a Variety of Other Commercial Information: Also a Copious List of the Seats of the Nobility and Gentry of Yorkshire|year=1822|publisher=Edward Baines|pages=33–34}}</ref> which became one of the largest textile printing establishments in the region.

=== Haworth family ===

The '''Haworth family''' were prominent landowners in Accrington, with James Haworth establishing Haworth Mill in the early 1800s. The family's investments in local industry contributed to the town's economic development.

=== Peel, Yates and Co. ===

'''Peel, Yates and Co.''' was a partnership between the Peel family and the '''Yates family'''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Whittaker |first1=Joseph |title=An Historical and Descriptive Account of the Town and Parochial Chapelry of Oldham |year=1859 |publisher=J. Galt |location=Oldham |pages=48–49}}</ref> The Peel family, led by Robert Peel (1750–1830), and the Yates family, led by William Yates (1769–1849), established Peel, Yates and Co. in 1795.<ref name="The Cotton Industry">{{cite book |last1=Aspin |first1=Chris |title=The Cotton Industry |year=1981 |publisher=Shire Publications |location=Aylesbury |pages=27–28}}</ref> The company owned and operated several cotton mills in Accrington, including the Woodnook Mill, which employed around 800 people during its peak operation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Peel,_Yates_and_Co |title=Peel, Yates and Co |publisher=Grace's Guide |accessdate=22 March 2023}}</ref>

=== Duckworth family ===

The '''Duckworth family''' were landowners and industrialists in Accrington during the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6174346.100-years-looking-back-family/ |title=100 years of looking back for family |work=Lancashire Telegraph|date=1997-05-09 |accessdate=22 March 2023}}</ref> They invested in the local textile industry, owning several mills, such as the Broad Oak Mill and the Spring Hill Mill.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spinningtheweb.org.uk/m_display.php?irn=72&sub=broad&o=578 |title=Broad Oak Mill, Accrington |publisher=Spinning the Web |accessdate=22 March 2023 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Duckworth family's mills employed hundreds of workers.

=== Birtwistle family ===

The '''Birtwistle family''' were involved in the cotton industry in Accrington, owning and operating cotton mills during the 19th century.<ref name="The Cotton Industry"/> Members of the family, including John Birtwistle (1807–1884), owned mills like the Church Bank Mill and the Wellington Mill, employing over 1,000 workers between the two establishments.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oneguyfrombarlick.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=8023 |title=John Birtwistle, entrepreneur |publisher=One Guy From Barlick |accessdate=22 March 2023}} {{dead link|date=March 2023}}</ref>

=== Holden family ===

The '''Holden family''' contributed to Accrington's development through their involvement in various industries, such as coal mining and brick manufacturing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6003626.brick-works-true-legacy-nori/ |title=Brick works the true legacy of the Nori |work=Lancashire Telegraph|date=2000-11-10 |accessdate=22 March 2023}}</ref> The family-owned Accrington Brick and Tile Company, established by Joseph Holden