Brownside (Burnley)

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brownside burnley fairies

Brownside is a suburb of Burnley, but its name has long excited local speculation about brownies. ‘The derivation of Brownside is generally given as from ‘brownie’ – the place having been said to be frequented by those suppositional creatures. The ford at Brownside was alleged to be their favourite resort. The bridge that now crosses the stream was erected in 1829. A woman named Stanworth, who lived at Bottin, was wont to assert that on occasion of fetching the doctor to her father from Burnley, after midnight, she saw a brownie sitting behind a hedge and taking it quite coolly. It was in size equal to a man, but devoid of clothing’ (Anon ‘Legends’ 1880). The picture above shows a pedestrian bridge over the Brun.

brownside map fairies

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