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Sabden is a medium to large sized village and civil parish in the Ribble Valley, and the Forest of Pendle, Lancashire. The village is located south of Pendle Hill, in a valley about 3 miles north-west of Padiham.

Toponomy
Sabden is believed to have been derived from old english Sappe Den meaning wooded valley.

History
The village was seven different parishes before 1904 and residents would move around to the one with the lowest rates. Farming was the mainstay early in its history with many small farms. There is still a good example of a vaccary wall at the roadside near the ancient Staincombe property. The water in the valley attracted the calico printing industry and Sabden bridge as it was known, became one of the best renowned centers for fabric prints in the UK if not the world. At one stage there were 7 mills in the village employing around 2000 people, this meant many workers had to travel to work daily. Many of the workers came from surrounding towns and villages on foot, many working a 12 hour shift or more. Strings of Lime gals were a common site in the 19th century making their way through Sabden going between the Burnley coal fields and the Clitheroe / Chatburn lime kilns. The Weavers Arms was a public house now long closed, it was on the Top Row. All the mills meant demand for transport of people, coal, raw materials and finished goods. This attracted a railway company, who issued shares, but thankfully the railway never came. Many of the houses were built for the mill workers by the mill owners. Wesley St was known as Long Row and Badger Wells Water did not run down the back, it went down Littlemoor. In 1847 there were two bridges at the bottom of Wesley St and no houses on the South side of Whalley road. The garages at the bottom of Wesley St were the first ten, five back to backs, that explains why it starts at number 12. Badger Wells Cottages was called Grimshaw Terrace, as it was built by a Grimshaw. Richard Cobden was a contributor to the village history. Yeppe Kneppe's grave hides high on the ridge towards Pendleton, above the coffin road to Whalley Abbey In more recent years David Waddington home secretary lived on the Whins (with an armed police guard)

Governance
Sabden became a civil parish in 1904, when it was formed from the township of Heyhouses, and parts of the parishes of Pendleton, Read, Wiswell, Goldshaw Booth, Higham with West Close Booth and Northtown.

The village was originally under the Burnley Council but is now in the single-member Sabden Ward of the Ribble Valley Borough Council.

Geography
Sabden is approximately 450 feet and higher above sea level and due to its position on Pendle Hill, it is usually 2°C colder than the surrounding settlements of Clitheroe and Whalley, Lancashire. The slightly staggered crossroads at the bottom of the Clitheroe road is at 500 feet, the highest point on a road is the Nick of Pendle at 993 feet; on land Spence moor at 1,462 feet. Sabden Brook, a tributary of the River Calder, Lancashire runs through the center of the village. To the south of the village lies Sabden wood, spread across Black hill to the east and White hill to the west. White hill aquired its name as it was cultivated with oats many years ago. The main rock type in Sabden is Lancashire gritsone, and the soil is mainly clay based.

Demographics
In the 2001 census, Sabden had a population of 1,371. However, new houses and flats have been constructed since 2001, and plans for multiple new plots at the mills of Watt street have meant that as of 2012/2013, the village's population will increase dramatically to an estimated 1800-2000 inhabitants.

Amenities
Sabden has two primary schools, St Mary's RC Primary School Sabden and Sabden County Primary School.

The village is in the catchment area of the Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, Ribblesdale School for Technology and Applied Learning and St Augustine's RC High School.

There are two pubs in the village, the Pendle Witch on Whalley road and the White Hart Inn on Padiham road. The Wellsprings Inn (Spanish and Mexican menu) is just over the nick towards Clitheroe, with panoramic views over the Ribble Valley Historically there was the Weavers Arms on the Top Row, just off Clitheroe road.

Pendle Ski slope is also at the Wellsprings.

Sabden also has two convenience shops, one containing a Post Office. There is a deli called Sandwitches, located on Whalley Road in the middle of the village as well as a hair salon. Brookside Garage Sabden is situated across from the White Hart on the car park, Watt street has the antiques center. Industry was more prominent in the past when Sabden had a furniture making company, 'Contrast', however as of spring 2012, the unused building (the remaining part of Cobden Mill) was demolished to make way for housing development. The large cotton manufacturers at Cobden Mill was named after Richard Cobden, prominent well traveled 19th century politician. 'Marbill' timber also relocated to a nearby village, and the derelict building will be used for further homes.