Tockholes

Coordinates: 53°42′22″N 2°30′29″W / 53.706°N 2.508°W / 53.706; -2.508

Tockholes is a village and civil parish which forms part of the Blackburn with Darwen unitary authority in the North west of England. Tockholes consists of the village of Tockholes itself and the Hamlet of Ryal Fold, and has a population of 454, increasing to 478 at the 2011 Census. It lies on the West Pennine Moors and is surrounded by the towns of Blackburn to the North and Darwen to the East and by the villages of Belmont to the south and Withnell to the West. Darwen Tower is a prominent local landmark that lies to the east of Tockholes and The Roddlesworth Reservoirs and Tockholes forest plantation lie to the south with the M65 passing to the north and the A675 to the south.

History

Early settlement

Archaeological records for the area in and around Tockholes reveal the presence of Tribal communities as early as 2,000BC. The area is thought to have been inhabited by both Celtic and Anglo-Saxon settlers. Artifacts found in the area to support early settlement include a stone axe head, bronze spear head and later coins. There is a strong connection with early settlers nearby with Bronze Age barrows, stone circles, settlements and a variety of objects all being found over the surrounding countryside. Despite running close to an ancient Roman route between Preston and Bolton, There is little evidence of any Roman settlement at Tockholes.