A free woodland festival will take place this month to honor the 200th anniversary of a famous local rebellion. The community event celebrates the historic Lancashire handloom weavers uprising, which originally began at Whinney Hill in Accrington.
Event Details
Organizers have arranged a lively afternoon of entertainment to honor the workers and celebrate the beautiful nature that now fills the area. The special anniversary festival will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Families can enjoy live music from a local dialect singer, alongside tapestry workshops, woodland crafts, and historical speeches. The afternoon will also feature a monument unveiling by the Great Harwood town crier.
Historical Background
History shows that local handloom weavers originally rose up in 1826 against high food prices, low wages, and poverty. The introduction of cheaper power looms in local mills had left many families facing starvation. On the morning of April 24, 1826, thousands of people gathered at Whinney Hill to create a desperate plan of action.
The famous site was later used to manufacture the world-renowned Accrington NORI bricks from 1887 until the 1960s. Trees were eventually planted on the land in the late 1980s to transform the former industrial space into a beautiful community woodland. A local environmental charity now looks after the site to protect wildlife and maintain accessible footpaths for visitors.
Attendance Information
Anyone wishing to attend the festival should meet at the Accrington Cricket Club car park on Thorneyholme Road at 12:30 PM. The group will enjoy a walk through the scenic landscape to Whinney Hill Pond, where the main festivities will begin at 1:30 PM. The event has been supported by funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of a wider year of anniversary activities.
Residents can find more information about the day by visiting the official Prospects Foundation website or by contacting Brandon at brandon.cherry@prospectsfoundation.org.uk.
