Alden Valley

Alden Valley, Helmshore
  • Alden
Alden from Stake Lane
Alden Valley, Helmshore
Shown within Rossendale
Alden Valley, Helmshore
Location within Lancashire
OS grid referenceSD772197
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townROSSENDALE
Postcode districtBB4
Dialling code01706
PoliceLancashire
FireLancashire
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament

The Alden Valley is a small valley on the eastern edge of the West Pennine Moors, west of Helmshore in Rossendale, Lancashire, England. In the 14th century it was part of the Earl of Lincoln's hunting park. By 1840 it was home to about twenty farms, largely involved in cattle rearing, although most inhabitants were also involved with the production of textiles, which quickly developed during the Industrial Revolution into the building of textile mills. These have now been demolished and the valley is dominated by sheep grazing, with three working farms and a number of smallholdings.

To the north and north-west is Musbury Tor, to the south-west at the head of the valley is Scholes Height, to the west is Musden Head Moor and Burnt Hill. To the south is Bull Hill and the Holcombe Moor, to the south-east is Beetle Hill. Alden Brook forms from several streams draining Wet Moss on the north-western slopes of Scholes Height, which join after flowing through several gullies at an area known as Alden Ratchers. It is the last of the River Ogden's tributaries to join before it joins the River Irwell.