Christian Holiday House, Pendle — Close to Where the Quakers Began
This Christian holiday house, Pendle, is a comfortable two-bedroom terraced property in Earby, a former mill town just a few minutes’ walk from its own high street of independent shops, cafés, and pubs. Open countryside starts right at the edge of town, and Skipton, the Yorkshire Dales, and Pendle Hill are all within about twenty minutes by car. Earby itself sits within the historic West Riding of Yorkshire, even though it’s been governed from Lancashire since 1974, and the town still marks its Yorkshire roots with real local pride.
Pendle Hill, named in passing above, is one of the most significant sites in English religious history. In 1652, the itinerant preacher George Fox climbed to its summit and experienced a vision of “a great people to be gathered,” a moment now generally regarded as the founding spark of the Quaker movement, the Religious Society of Friends. Within thirty years, that vision had grown from one man on a hillside into tens of thousands of followers across Britain, and Pendle Hill is still known among Quakers today as the starting point of what they call “1652 Country.”
Barnoldswick, a few minutes away, holds a quieter piece of monastic history. In 1147, Cistercian monks from Fountains Abbey settled there to found a new monastery, enduring several hard winters before abandoning the site in 1152 to establish Kirkstall Abbey near Leeds instead. The parish church they left behind, St Mary-le-Gill, still stands about a mile from their original site, largely rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries, with box pews, a three-decker pulpit, and burials recorded there since the 12th century.
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal, England’s longest single canal at over 127 miles, passes close by too, crossing the Pennines via Barnoldswick and the Greenberfield locks. It’s a level, well-surfaced towpath in both directions, making it an easy afternoon’s walk or cycle regardless of the weather higher up on the moors.
Skipton, known as the Gateway to the Dales, makes an easy day out around its castle, one of the best-preserved medieval castles in England. Built by the Clifford family from 1310 and held by them for over 350 years, it was the last Royalist stronghold in the North during the Civil War, surviving a three-year siege before Lady Anne Clifford restored it afterwards. The Yorkshire Dales National Park itself, established in 1954 and covering over 800 square miles, begins not far beyond the town.
The hills around here carry a darker history too, as the setting for the 1612 Pendle witch trials, one of the best-documented witch trials in English legal history thanks to a detailed account published by the court clerk at the time. Ten people from the villages around Pendle Hill were hanged at Lancaster Castle, and the story is still traced today along a heritage trail through the area.
The wider North West and Lake District region is worth a browse for anyone planning a longer trip, and the Pendle Radicals trail is a good starting point for exploring the George Fox story on the ground before you go. Between the Dales on one side and the Quakers’ own hillside on the other, it’s a genuinely rich, unpretentious base for a short break, in a part of the country that doesn’t always get the credit it deserves.
Perfect for:
- Clergy and church history enthusiasts keen to visit Pendle Hill in person
- Families wanting an easy base for the Yorkshire Dales without Dales prices
- Walkers keen to explore the Pendle Way or the Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath
- Groups needing space, with a double, bunk room, and sofa bed for up to 5
- Anyone happy with a straightforward town base rather than a rural retreat
Location
34 Shuttleworth Street, Earby, BB18 6QN
How to get there:
By road: Just off the A56, between Skipton and Colne.
By rail: Around 20 minutes by bus from Colne or Skipton railway stations.
By bus: 2 minutes’ walk from Earby Bus Station.
Nearest Towns:
Barnoldswick, Skipton and Colne.
Local Area
34 Shuttleworth Street is located in the small former mill town of Earby, just a few minutes’ walk from the high street with its selection of independent shops, cafés and pubs.
Countryside walks and open views can be reached within a short walk from the front door. Barnoldswick is only a few minutes away by car or bus, while Skipton, the Yorkshire Dales and Pendle Hill can all be reached in around 20 minutes by car.
Facilities
The house is a comfortable, modern two-bedroom terraced property with a private yard and on-street parking outside.
Sleeps up to 5 guests, with one double bedroom, one bunk bedroom, and one sofa bed in the lounge.
- Bathroom with walk-in shower
- Fully equipped kitchen with washing machine, hob, oven, microwave and fridge freezer
- Comfortable lounge with Fire TV and dining table
- Free Wi-Fi
- Travel cot available
- Bed linen and towels provided
- Central heating
- No extra charge for electricity
Additional Photos
Click to enlarge
Costs
£75 per night weekdays and £80 per night weekends. 15% discount for stays of 5 days or more.
Shuttleworth Street is also available via Airbnb; the above prices are discounted for HolyHols users.
Availability
Available all year round. Minimum two night stay.
Arrival and Departure times: Arrive after 3.00 pm, depart by 10 am.
Booking arrangements: All bookings considered subject to availability. Minimum 2 nights.
Pets: Well-behaved and clean pets welcome downstairs for a small supplement.
Contact the Owner
If you are interested in making a booking, or you would like further information, please get in touch using the following details:
Name: Eddie Swales
Phone Number: 07504 247107
Email Address: eddie.swales@gmail.com