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It is said the original church in Newchurch would have been built of wood and was erected about 1510-12 AD. It was then named " sedenays" or "seetonhayes" and dedicated to St Nicholas. Formerly burials and christenings had to be carried out in Clitheroe. In 1560-1 the old chapel was demolished and a new church erected hence the name Newchurch. Registration began in 1564. In 1824-25 the church was once again rebuilt.
Old Street was known as Kirkgate or Th' Owd Gate and many of the people living there in the 1860's were known by nicknames some as follows- The owd leechwoman, Mary Washerwoman, Little Sexton Dash, Jimmy Clogger, Josey Clogger, Black Mick, Owd Britannier, Kirk Johnny.
Number 58 Church Street was once the home of a hatter from Denton, Manchester, by the name of John Schofield born in 1800. He used a rampant lion has his trademark in the lining of every hat he made.
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Kirk Fair was a very notable event in the district. Things were dated so many weeks before or after the fair all the holidays were dominated by it. It was fixed for the first Monday after the 24th June. The fair consisted of shooting galleries, roundabouts, shows of fat women, wild beasts, marionettes, stalls etc. Followed by a pot fair for the next 10 to 14 days.
The first school was built at Boothfold in 1701. John Kershaw of Boothfold left in his will instructions to his executors that they were to build a school and use the income from his lands in Heald, Bacup to pay the master. The school was in use until 1787 when it was converted into cottages. The school being transferred to the top of Bridleway and was rebuilt in 1830. Becoming known has Newchurch Grammar School. It was rebuilt again in 1890 later moving to Miller Barn Lane.
Memories of Newchurch by Richard Ashworth J.P
A tale is told and I think a true one about a man known as " Owd Wambs" a big, rough pushing sort of man, but good hearted. It was during the times of the bull baiting. The bull had been got ready and was inside a barn. Up comes " Wambs" shouting, "where is he lads, where is he? . The door was opened a little bit and his companions pushed him inside. The bull made for him, but "Wambs" managed to get hold of its tail, all the time shouting " Let me out, let me out" and at length he finnished up by saying " By God lads, its last time round its last time round". This passed into a a kind of proverb and when anyone was at the last extremity they said " I am like Owd Wambs with the bull, its last time round. An old woman lived at the Kirk about 1830-1840 known as Owd Jeffry wife every year she comforted herself about the middle to end of January by saying " Thank the Lord Parliament met, we shall have longer deeleet ( daylight) now". She feverently believed the House of Commons passed a law to that effect.
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