Plaques to commemorate Rishton’s historic past are set to be placed around the town.

They will remember occasions such as a visit by the Queen in 1968, a street parade for the Festival of Britain in 1951 and the Great Egg Smash of 1957 when a lorry load of eggs was spilled on the road during an accident.

The plaques will also acknowledge the home of Britain’s last hangman Harry Allen and one of the recruiting stations of the Accrington Pals.

Over the past few months, members of Rishton’s Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) have been looking to complete a town trail complete with guide booklet.

Wendy Singleton said: “We’ve got all the plaques ready now, but we haven’t yet sought the permission of the properties they relate to, so we are still waiting on that. 

“We have 11 plaques in total and one of them commemorates the enlisting station for the Accrington Pals which is at the Conservative Club.

“One marks the house of Harry Allen in Tottleworth, who was Britain’s last hangman and another marks the old pit-head of Rishton Colliery.”

While the booklets are still being worked on, the plaques are now finished, identifying several points of interest in the area. 

The exact locations for most of the plaques have not yet been determined – as the group is waiting until the necessary permission is obtained.

Harry Allen, who died in 1992, executed a number of famous prisoners including James Hanratty in 1962.

Wendy said: “Another plaque marks the opening of the original railway station in Rishton which was at the site where the railway line goes under Blackburn Road.

“Another commemorates the Queen’s visit as she passed through Rishton in the 1960s.” Not all of the plaques commemorate serious or civic events. Some are more light-hearted. 

For example, one commemorates an event known locally as Rishton’s Great Egg Smash when a lorry containing crates of eggs overturned on the road, much to local children’s delight.

Wendy added: “There’s another one which goes back to the Festival of Britain in the 1950s when Rishton had a carnival through the streets, complete with one lady who appeared as Lady Godiva, wearing only a body-stocking.”

NAG board meetings take place at the Rishton People’s Centre in School Street on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6.15pm.

>> The exact locations for the plaques will be announced in due course and they will commemorate the following:

The old Rishton Railway Station
The original pit-head for Rishton Colliery which was on Walmsley Street
The Accrington Pals recruiting station at the Rishton Conservative Club
The Rishton stretch of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal
The 1951 Festival of Britain which included a street parade through Rishton
The Great Egg Smash of 1957
The Queen passing through Rishton in 1968
Harry Allen, the last hangman, who lived in Tottleworth
The Hermitage, thought to be the first school in Rishton
Arthur, John and William Lewis, three brothers killed in the First World; War - the plaque for this will be at the top of Station Road
The Roebuck Inn, on High Street, thought at one time to have had its cellar used as a police lock-up