[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

A quick answer, Pat - the 'new' factory was built on farm land. The farm would most likely be there before the factory, and probably gave its name to the factory. Broad Oak gets several mentions in the index of 'Old Homesteads of Accrington' but I haven't time to look. In the library is an index/list of al of Accrington's farms. It was compiled by Retlaw, so we may be hearing from him soon
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In the 1790 survey of New Accrington, Oak is valued at 35 pounds & 15 shillings, Broad Oak Works is not mentioned, how ever on the Broad Oak Works Estate Plan circa 1810, most of the names of the lands are the same as the 1790 Oak survey.
Broad Oak Farm was in existance for many many years and was known as a Fold, of which there were several in Accrington. A Fold is a small settlement which can be sealed of from invaders, in the olden days the Scots were regular visitors to Lancashire.