The name Cowpe is said to be a deviation of the Saxon name cowhope meaning cow pasture. A name plate on the railway arch at Waterfoot at one time gave the direction to Cowpe as "Coupe Road".

 

Construction  of the road through the Glen began in  1826 and was completed in 1828, prior to this  the main road through the valley was from the ford at Waterfoot, along Warth Lane, up Carr Lane, Hugh Mill, Heys Road and Brandwood Road, along Blackwood to Tunstead and Bacup. From Clay Road the road rose and climbed the hill a most important highway to Rochdale. In July 1838 a cloud burst caused torrential flooding with torrents of water pouring down the hillsides into the valley below. Some of the houses were swept away ad im Waterfoot one man was drowned.

 

 

 

 

 

Education was taught in the Boarsgreave School on Sundays and continued to be taught until 1874. Sometime after 1840 a National School was opened in the week time with Mr John Mellor as the schoolmaster. 

 

 

Mr James Livesey erected the first mill in Cowpe about 1780 the handloom weavers bringing their cloth their to be finished.The business being continued by his son in law Mr Richard Ashworth and his grandson Mr Edward Ashworth J.P of Staghills until 1897 when the mill was sold along with all the land to Bacup Corporation. About 1830 steam power was brought in and the work in the cottages came to an end. The mill was enlarged and existed until 1876 when it was burnt down. A new mill was built and was worked  by J.W. Kearns as a bleaching and dyeing works.