| Calder Vale | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
 St John's Church | |
  Calder Vale Location in Wyre Borough Show map of the Borough of Wyre Calder Vale Location in the Forest of Bowland Show map of the Forest of Bowland | |
| Population | 2,148 (2011.Ward) |
| OS grid reference | SD535455 |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PRESTON |
| Postcode district | PR3 |
| Dialling code | 01995 |
| Police | Lancashire |
| Fire | Lancashire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | |
| |
Calder Vale is an English village, located on the edge of theForest of Bowland inLancashire.[1] It lies on theRiver Calder in a deep valley with only a singlecul-de-sac providing vehicular access. The nameCalder is thought to be derived from the Old Norsekaldr, which means "cold".
The village was founded byQuakers Jonathan andRichard Jackson,[2] and in 1835 a cotton-weaving mill — the Lappet Mill — was built, powered by the River Calder. The mill andmill pond still exist and Lappet Mill is still working as a cotton mill. One of its main products is the red, black and white checked cloth used for Arab headscarves and it was said thatYasser Arafat's headdresses were made at the Mill.[3] The Jackson brothers also built many of the terraced houses still in occupation close to the mills.[4]
The church of St John the Evangelist lies high above the village, linked to it by a half-mile woodland footpath (compared with a three-mile journey by road). It wasconsecrated on 12 August 1863.[5] It serves the adjacent village ofOakenclough, in addition to Calder Vale.
The village also contains a primary school, Calder ValeChurch of England School, which was built concurrently with the church.[6] It is a small school consisting of two teachers and about thirty pupils, and it is situated next door to St John's Church, the two being very closely linked.
There is also a village hall and aMethodist chapel in the village centre. The village also hasScouts andBrownies, a Women's Institute, which meets monthly in the village hall, and a Village Club.
There is a post office within the village hall.
Every Sunday in May, the villagers get together and organise the "BlueBell Teas",[7] at which cakes, sandwiches and local produce are sold for charity, and for the upkeep of the village hall and mission room. On the second Saturday of June every year, there is a village festival.
The elected Member for Wyre Borough Council's Calder Ward is Councillor David Meirion Williams.[8]
The village falls in theelectoral ward of Calder. This ward stretches south-east to Barnacre. The total ward population at the 2011 census was 2,148.[9]
