Clitheroe

Clitheroe, a municipal borough in Lancashire, on the left bank of the Ribble, 35 miles N. of Manchester, and 225 NNW. of London by rail. It lies on a low eminence of carboniferous limestone, at the base of Pendle Hill, which is 1831 feet high. Clitheroe has cotton and paper mills, and extensive lime-quarries are wrought in the neighbourhood. Its ruined castle, founded by Robert de Lacy in the later part of the 12th century, was dismantled by the parliamentarians in 1649. The free grammar-school dates from 1554. About 4 miles southwest of Clitheroe lies Stonyhurst College (q.v.). Clitheroe has been a borough since about 1280. Till 1832 it returned two members to parliament; till 1885, one. Pop. (1851) 7244; (1891) 10,815. See Whitaker's History of Whalley and Clitheroe (1801; 4th ed. 1872-76).