Village History Trail

This trail was originally devised by the pupils and teachers at Glusburn Community Primary School.

Starting the trail with your back to Glusburn School, walk left along Colne Road and stand facing the Glusburn Institute. Note the details of the date, the clock and the original uses of the building. It was built as a religious, social and educational centre for the people of the village, most of whom worked in the mill at that time. The Horsfall family, gave the building to the people of Glusburn in the mid 1970 's.

The Parish Council are now the Custodian Trustees of the Institute and it is run by a Management Committee. Cross over the road and go into the Institute Car Park. This was established as a park with a bowling green in 1904. In the late 1970 's part of the land was taken as a car park. The remainder was kept as a green area. The low housing bordering this green, was built to accommodate Maltese workers brought over to work in the Mill in the 1950 's. Quite a number of these girls have married local men and remained in the area.

Now the buildings are owned by Anchor Housing and are used as Sheltered Accommodation for the Elderly. Note also from this point, the 1998/9 addition to the Institute, to provide a second staircase (to comply with fire regulations) and to raise the height of the roof above the stage. Go to the far end of the Car Park and look at the Post Office. This was originally the Red Lion Public house but as a Baptist, Sir John Horsfall did not approve of alcohol and so changed the pub into a Temperance Hotel. This meant there was no public house in the village, the Dog & Gun is actually in Sutton and the White Bear in Cross Hills. Note also the housing on the hill, Sunnybank Villas. These were built for the Managers in the mill whereas the terraced housing was for the ordinary mill workers.