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.

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.

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.

[7] 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.

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 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.

[19][20] The town is represented on Lancashire County Council in two divisions: Brierfield & Nelson West and Pendle Hill.

Licensed by Ofcom as a distinct community radio service, it aims to target the borough's Muslim population, a large number of which reside in Brierfield.