Chorley’s origins stretch back to the medieval era, with its name believed to derive from the Old English words ċeorl(meaning a freeman or yeoman) and lēah (meaning a woodland clearing)—together suggesting “the peasants’ clearing” [1]. The settlement, known as “Chorlegh,” first appears in written records around the 13th century, including a charter dating to approximately 1280 [2]. Although Chorley did not feature in the Domesday Book, by the later Middle Ages its farming estates were held by a variety of landowning families, with the de Trafford family emerging as prominent owners from the 15th century onwards [2].

Chorley’s importance grew when it received an official market charter from King Henry VII in 1498, authorising a weekly market that has been held ever since—traditionally on Tuesdays [3]. This boost helped establish Chorley as a key local trading centre. Over time, the town became more deeply integrated into regional industry. During the Industrial Revolution, it evolved into an important centre for cotton weaving, calico printing, and local manufacturing of mill machinery, all of which contributed significantly to its economic growth and urban character [4].

By the early 19th century, Chorley had evolved from a modest village into a bustling industrial township. The arrival of the Manchester & Birmingham Railway in 1842 dramatically improved connectivity, transforming the town’s economic prospects [5]. Meanwhile, its population surged—from around 4,500 in 1801 to approximately 12,700 by 1850 [6]. During the Industrial Revolution, Chorley became a prominent centre for cotton weaving, calico printing, and even local manufacture of mill machinery [4]. Astley Hall, an Elizabethan–Jacobean mansion, was later donated to the town as a World War I memorial, becoming a significant historical landmark surrounded by parkland [4].

In the 20th century, Chorley saw its traditional industries gradually decline. Coal mining remained important through much of the century—Ellerbeck Colliery, for instance, opened in 1876, was nationalised in 1947, and continued employing hundreds before finally closing in 1965 [7]. Cotton spinning endured for some time as well: Coppull Mill opened in 1906 and Mavis Mill followed in 1908, both employing hundreds of workers. These mills were acquired by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in the early 1940s amid industry consolidation, and while Coppull Mill still stands today (repurposed as an enterprise centre), Mavis Mill was demolished by the mid-20th century [8]. On the civic front, Chorley was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1881. The borough’s population remained relatively stable over the first half of the 20th century—around 30,315 in 1911, rising modestly to 31,315 by 1961 [9].

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