Map - Brierfield, Lancashire (Brierfield)

Brierfield is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Pendle, in Lancashire, England. It is 2.5 mi north east of Burnley, 1 mi south west of Nelson, and 0.5 mi north east of Reedley. The parish had a population of 8,193, at the census of 2011.

The parish adjoins the Pendle parishes of Reedley Hallows, Old Laund Booth and Nelson, the Burnley parish of Briercliffe, and the unparished area of the town of Burnley.

The building of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, the Blackburn to Addingham turnpike road, and the railway from Preston to Colne, led to the town developing during the 19th century.

Before the new transport links were constructed, the town was just a scattering of farmhouses forming part of Marsden township known as Little Marsden, which also covered a large part of what was to become Nelson. The land here was considered part of the manor of Ightenhill. The village of Marsden was centred on St Paul's Church just over the boundary with Nelson. Brierfield was likely one of Marsden's town fields, along presumably with Limefield and Mansfield, located within Brierfield parish, and Scholefield and others in Nelson. The older roads in the area connected Marsden with Burnley (Walverden Road), and Haggate (Halifax Road). A branch from latter at Marsden Heights (King's Causeway) descends the valley to cross Pendle Water into Pendle Forest. Chamber Hill next to the river here, was the site of an ancient property known as 'Chamber in Pendle', which belonged to the Radcliffe family of Winmarleigh and descended to Sir Gilbert Gerard in the late-16th century.

Considered part of the Burnley Coalfield, it is thought that coal was being mined in the vicinity in the early-17th century. Marsden Colliery, also known as Brierfield Pit, off Lob Lane (now Clitheroe Road) close to the canal, was begun around 1811 by the Executors of John Hargreaves company. It was the first colliery in the area to use endless chain haulage powered by a stationary steam engine which would be widely adopted during the 19th century. As Marsden was nearing the end of its reserves in 1872 an explosion in a disused section killed two men and caused an underground fire. Operations were wound down and the pit closed early in 1873.

The Ecroyd family of Edge End constructed Lomeshaye Mill as a water-powered worsted spinning mill on Pendle Water in 1780. And Jewel Mill over the river in Reedley Hallows is also thought to have been started, also for worsted production, at around the same time.

In 1838 the area's first cotton mill was constructed for Henry Tunstill on the east bank of the canal, next to the coal mine, and powered by a steam engine. After Henry's death in 1854, his sons formed Tunstill Brothers, and proceeded to erect a new six-story spinning mill at the site. Two further, adjoining four-storey buildings were added in 1868 and 1873 and the old mill demolished. Additional weaving shed space was added at the south end of the mill in 1876 and 1906. The last member of the family to run Brierfield Mills was Harry Tunstill who was involved in many other companies and was released as a director in 1928. The company was listed in a directory for 1948 and accredited with 79,284 mule spindles, 13,100 ring spindles, and 2800 looms, but failed in 1956. Smith & Nephew took over the mill for the production of surgical bandages in 1957.

New mills were established along the banks of the canal and people flocked to the area to work in the cotton industry, many coming from the lead mining areas of the North Riding of Yorkshire as the lead seams were worked out. The cotton industry continued to be the main employer, until well into the 1960s, and in October 2006 that BSN (formerly Smith & Nephew) ceased production of woven cloth, at Brierfield Mills. After years of disuse, Pendle Council purchased the mills in March 2012, intending to use it as the flagship regeneration project.

The town's war memorial features a large roaring bronze lion. The town is known for its part in the movement of the Quaker. A meeting house is still in use on the south eastern boundary of the town, and the bridge over Pendle Water at the foot of the town is called Quaker Bridge.

The town's small cinema, Unit Four, closed down on 3 July 1997. It was showing Batman and Robin, The Fifth Element, Con Air, and Beavis and Butt-Head Do America. The last film shown was Con Air, that day at 8.20pm. One reason it closed down was due to the opening of the new cinema in Burnley, Hollywood Park, which opened one month prior. It was later replaced by the branch of Dixy Chicken, as well as Maria's World Food Store.