65 
In 1811, the Townships of Burnley, Habergham-Eaves, and 
Worsthorn contained 53 families, or about 270 inhabitants, and 
by an inquisition held at Blackburn, June 25th, 1650, it was 
found that the families had increased to 300. This would give 
a population of about 1500 inhabitants. The population of 
Burnley within the limits of the present borough has been esti- 
mated by the Census Commissioners as s follows : — 
DBO T  eecsie cree 4840 
ify Rae GGa9 eee os ee increase, 1799, or 37 per cent. 
HOOT eelaele nett OUR is faceleeres 5 3429, or 52 - 
WBS resend cele NBO 4 oe ecize wed? 2136, or 21 - 
GAS eos cme UTD 20 5 6 wee cng tie + 5316, or 43 - 
USB cic cre ctu says 24745... cece ee re 7225, or 41 i 
BG. oc aici BESO. fusicisic's ee ne 9636, or 38 - 
HOV LE Sben Teck AQSES). Shaiec ests 6477, or 19 
The present population of the eons may be estimated at 
47,000, showing an increase for the last five years of 6,142, or at 
the rate of 30 per cent for ten years, so as to make the com- 
parison uniform with the table given above. The total increase 
of population from 1801 to 1876, a period of 75 years, is 42,160, 
or 871 per cent. 
The rise and progress of the trade of Burnley is essentially 
identified with the rise of the cotton trade. The Peels came 
here in the early history of the cotton trade. They established 
cotton spinning, weaving, and printing at Bridge-end and at 
Lowerhouse. While mentioning Lowerhouse, we cannot help 
remarking on the singular success attained by the owners of 
those works. From the families connected with them haye 
sprung a Prime Minister of England, in the person of the late 
Sir Robert Peel; two High Sheriffs, in the persons of Mr. James 
Dugdale and Mr. John Dugdale, who have served this office in 
the counties of Warwickshire and Montgomeryshire respectively ; 
and one member of Parliament, in the person of the late lamen- 
ted Mr. Richard Shaw. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which 
was opened for traffic in 1801, gave a great impetus to the trade 
of the town. The first steam engine was erected at Bridge-end, 
in a mill belonging to the Peels, which was burnt down in 1798. 
In 1824, cotton had obtained a complete ascendancy as the staple 
trade. Formerly the manufactures of Burnley were confined en- 
tirely to woollens, but at this period only one fulling mill re-— 
mained as a memorial of the ancient staple, and that ceased to 
work in 1825. At this time 25 firms were engaged in the cotton 
trade; the number of spindles in motion was about 60,000, 
besides a number of Jenny spindles. The quantity of yarn spun 
weekly was about 80,000lbs., chiefly from 20’s to 40’s. There 
were from 25,000 to 30,000 pieces of calico manufactured per 
week in the town and immediate neighbourhood. There was 
also a considerable manufactory of coarse woollens, belonging to 
