Bamber Bridge is a village about three miles southeast of Preston. The town has a train station on the East Lancashire Line with services to Colne and Preston.
In this part of Lancashire, people are known as Brigg lads and lassies. The breakfast of choice is a thick wedge of pork pie with draught beer.
1. The Battle of Bamber Bridge
A clash between black and white US soldiers in a small town in 1943 marked one of the few instances during World War II that racial tensions erupted among service members on foreign soil. The incident also shed light on the racial segregation policies of the US military at the time.
The discovery of bullet holes in the walls of Ye Olde Hob Inn in Bamber Bridge prompted the town to rediscover what happened there 78 years ago. The town and its residents threw themselves into commemorating the event, in partnership with the Preston Black History Group.
Bamber Bridge offers lots of family friendly activities for kids to enjoy including local dance, drama and music classes, sports clubs, arts & crafts groups, STEM clubs and more. There are also lots of parks to explore like Yarrow Valley Country Park, Worden Park, Cuerden Valley Country Park and Langroyd Country Park as well as waterfalls, rivers, streams, forests, lakes, woodlands and nature reserves. You can also discover some great hiking areas such as Ryal Fold, Tockholes, Brinscall and White Coppice.
2. Withy Grove Park Walk
Bamber Bridge is home to a public park and leisure centre with a playground. The large facility is one of the most advanced in the borough and provides equipment for kids of all ages to enjoy.
The area offers plenty of hiking areas with great places to explore like Sunnyhurst Waterfalls, Hatch Brook, Old Brooks Waterfall, and Lead Mines Clough Waterfall. You’ll also find some interesting hills and round cairns like Jepsons Gate Cairn.
There are many lakes close to Bamber Bridge with great locations like Anglezarke Reservoir, Lister Mill Pond, White Coppice Quarry, and Big Lodge Water. The area is also dotted with great bluebell woods and some geological features.
If you want to shop, you’ll be glad to know that there are some great shopping centres in the area. You’ll also find a variety of restaurants and cafes in Bamber Bridge. There are also a number of historic buildings and monuments in the area.
3. Bamber Bridge Museum
Bamber Bridge Museum is a heritage centre offering hands-on experiences to visitors of all ages. It tells the story of the village’s history and culture through a collection of exhibits and interactive displays.
It is also a venue for local events and celebrations including exhibitions, concerts and workshops. It is located in the centre of Bamber Bridge and can be easily reached via a short walk from Station Road.
Bamber Bridge train station is situated on the East Lancashire Line and offers hourly direct trains to Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley and other stations in between. The unmanned station has no ticket office and basic shelters offer protection from the elements. The station is accessible for wheelchair users, with step-free access to both platforms and tactile paving on the platform edges.
4. Bamber Bridge Golf Club
Bamber Bridge Golf Club is a popular local golf course with a great atmosphere and great facilities. The course is a great challenge for golfers of all abilities and there is also a superb restaurant and bar on site.
The nearby countryside has some of the best ancient sites and historic monuments including Church of Saint Stephen at Tockholes, Quernmore Burial, Jubilee Tower, Pikestones Chambered Long Cairn, Jepsons Gate Cairn, and Black Coppice Chambered Cairn. The area also boasts some great hiking areas like Anglezarke, Lead Mines Clough, High Bullough Wood, Stronstrey Bank, Lister Mill Quarry, and White Coppice Wood. The area also has some unmissable waterfalls like Sunnyhurst Waterfall, Hatch Brook Waterfall, Sheep Pen Waterfall, Old Brooks Waterfall, and Bold Venture Waterfall.
There are plenty of family-friendly activities and places to visit close to Bamber Bridge, including local dance, drama and music classes; fun physical pursuits like bowling, paintballing and go karting; and quieter indoor pursuits like STEM clubs and arts & crafts groups. There are also plenty of great schools and colleges in the area.
