Oswaldtwistle Public Park
Early History The public park known as Rhyddings or formerly Riddings was part of an old estate lying East of the main road and North of Fielding Lane (both old roads). There is some historical information about who owned it at various times, but I cannot put my finger on it just now. There was a medieval manor house at the Eastern end. The estate extended westwards as far as Catlow Hall Street. It is visible on the first edition OS 6” map from the mid-1840s. You can find it on MARIO, the Lancashire County map archive. To the South East beyond High Street was Broadfield pit (two pits are marked). The landlord was Sir Robert Peel bt. But the pits were operated by the Simpson family. Initially it was under James Simpson of Methven, but after his death it was under his nephew Thomas. There was a tramway from Broadfield going North down the hill across Birch Crescent and High Street then near Hawthorn Avenue. It then passed West of the grounds of Paddock House. It then turned East to go...