Gisburn by munki-boy
Gisburn
Gisburn is a village and civil parish in the Ribble Valley district of Lancashire, though it was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. It lies along the A59, roughly eight miles northeast of Clitheroe and eleven miles west of Skipton, making it well connected while still retaining its rural character.
The name Gisburn appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as “Ghiseburne” and likely derives from Old English, possibly meaning “gushing stream” or relating to a personal name. The layout of the village, with houses facing the main road and long narrow plots stretching back to a rear lane, suggests that its development dates back to around the tenth century.
In the medieval period, Gisburn formed part of the Percy Fee and was later acquired by Sawley Abbey in the 12th century. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the manor passed into private hands and was purchased by the Lister family in 1613. The Listers played a key role in shaping the area and were eventually given the title Barons Ribblesdale.
A key feature of the village is the Church of St Mary the Virgin, a Grade II* listed building that contains Norman architectural elements and 14th-century stained glass. The churchyard is the burial place of Francis Duckworth, a well-known hymn tune composer who died in 1941.
Nearby is the Gisburne Park Estate, which originally served as a deer park. In the 18th century, it became a landscaped estate and now includes a private hospital, an equestrian centre, and a holiday park, all set within roughly 1,000 acres of grounds.
In the 18th century, Gisburn was a notable centre for Methodism. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, preached in the village in 1784. The original chapel was built in 1759, and a new one followed in 1871. It remained in use until its closure in 1948 due to falling attendance.
Today, Gisburn remains a thriving village with a blend of history and local life. Its wide main street still features some original cobblestones, and the village is home to a large auction mart. This site hosts regular livestock auctions and occasional Sunday markets, keeping Gisburn connected to its agricultural roots.
Created: 4 April 2025 Edited: 4 April 2025
Gisburn
Local History around Gisburn
There are some historic monuments around including:
Bomber Camp Romano-British farmstead and associated enclosureDownham lime kiln and associated lime yard 50m north of Smithfield FarmHellifield PeelLong Roods round barrowCastle Haugh Ringwork, NewsholmeTwiston lime kiln and associated tramway 250m east of Twiston MillSite of the Old HallLittle Painley bowl barrowNorthern part of Rimington lead mines, part of a medieval open field system and three limestone clamp kilns 120m south east of HollinsPaythorne BridgeStock medieval settlement and part of its associated medieval open field system.
