Barley Bank was originally the home of Darwen Cricket Club, with football being played on a pitch in the north-west corner of the ground.

Spectator facilities included a 1,200-seat covered stand on the western touchline with an embankment running the remainder of the length of the pitch on that side.

During the football season, a temporary stand was erected on the eastern side of the pitch, with tents in the south-east corner of the ground used for dressing rooms.

[1] The ground's record attendance of 14,000 was set for a friendly match with local rivals Blackburn Rovers on 18 March 1882.

The club joined the Lancashire League and moved to Anchor Ground, taking Barley Bank's main stand with them.