Hoddlesden, ENG - Postcode - BB3 3LU

Hoddlesden, England

In the English county of Lancashire, you'll find the settlement of Hoddlesden in the Blackburn with Darwen borough. In 2011, 1,239 people called the village home.  Situated east of Darwen, it is part of the East Rural borough ward. There are a few tiny settlements to the north (Eccleshill, Yate, and Pickup Bank), the West Pennine Moors to the east (Haslingden Grane), and Blacksnape to the south-west.

Once home to weaving and coal mining businesses, the community is now primarily a residential area for those who work in nearby Blackburn and Darwen.

From 1901 to 1936, the area was served by a tram service run by the respective governments of the two cities. A railway line, a spur off the Ribble Valley Line north of Darwen, provided service to Hoddlesden as well, When the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway first opened its line in 1876, local residents petitioned for passenger service but were ultimately unsuccessful. After 1950, Hoddlesden was no longer serviced by that particular branch.

History of Hoddlesden

As with many other English towns, Hoddesdon can trace its roots back to the Anglo-Saxon period. Early on, Hoddesdon was a Saxon settlement. Hodda's dun, which translates to "Hadda's hill," was most likely the name of this landmark. Hoddesdon was a sizable community with a population of around 300 in 1086, when the Domesday Book was compiled. Even though it may look large to us, villages back then were far smaller than they are now. There were fewer than 100 people living in certain Hertfordshire villages.

As expected, Hoddesdon developed into a thriving commercial center throughout time. (Back then, stores were few, so most people just went to the market to buy and sell goods). When the town of Hoddesdon first began holding a market and yearly fair in 1253, it was with the blessing of King John himself. (Fairs were like markets in the Middle Ages, although they occurred once a year instead of every week). After that, the small town of Hoddesdon, which at the time only had a population of a few hundred, became a bustling market center.

Hoddesdon, like the rest of England, was hit hard by the Black Death in 1348–49, but it bounced back quickly. Hoddesdon was situated on a major route between London and the north in the Middle Ages, providing a boon to its residents. During the Middle Ages, the Church was responsible for operating all of the healthcare facilities. Hoddesdon boasted a medical facility.

The town of Hoddesdon thrived in the 16th and 17th centuries thanks to its abundance of inns. But plague struck Hoddesdon, as it did every town in those days. Affected Hoddesdon in 1603, 1612, 1625, and 1666.

The Rye House Plot occurred in Hoddesdon in 1683. As they passed Rye House, located approximately 1 mile east of the town center, the conspirators intended to kill King Charles II and his brother the Duke of York (later James II). The monarch and his brother unexpectedly traveled through the area, foiling the plot. Hoddesdon was a bustling stagecoach stop in the 18th century. Many travelers on their way to or from London stopped in Hoddesdon.

Only 1,227 people called Hoddesdon home during the first census, which was taken that year. However, it expanded greatly in size during the nineteenth century. During the nineteenth century, Hoddesdon went through a number of transformations. It was in 1835 that construction began on the Hoddesdon Clock Tower. The town of Broxbourne was eventually connected to the railroad system in the year 1840. With the arrival of the railroads, the stagecoaches that once traveled through Hoddesdon became obsolete. During the nineteenth century, brewing was a significant economic factor in Hoddesdon.

Hoddesdon's conveniences advanced greatly in the 20th century. As early as 1913, Hoddesdon saw the construction of its first movie theater. Gas-powered streetlights were switched out with electric ones in 1923. In 1937, the public library first opened its doors.

Meanwhile, in 1921, Hoddesdon built a memorial to the war dead. In 1935, Hoddesdon's borders were expanded to include the communities of Broxbourne and Wormley. In 1974, the bypass first opened to traffic.

The 2007 event was the inaugural Carnival of Lights in Hoddesdon and Broxbourne. The majority of the population of modern-day Hoddesdon commutes to work in nearby London. Twenty thousand people call Hoddesdon home nowadays.