[3] The road that is now the A682 was built by the Burnley and Edenfield Turnpike Trust following a 1795 act of Parliament, to improve transport to Manchester.

In 1880 the tramroad was extended from Porters Gate to connect to the system at Hapton Valley Colliery, creating an almost 4.8-kilometre (3 mi) long route that reached the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Gannow in Burnley.

[6] Permission to construct the reservoir at Clowbridge—historically known as the Hapton Reservoir—on the Limy Water, was contained in the 1853 that act created the Haslingden and Rawtenstall Waterworks Company.

[7][8] 18 months after starting construction under the supervision of Thomas Hawksley, work was suspended as the company expended all its capital.

At the end of the 19th century a total population of 110 lived in 22 houses within the "gathering ground" of the reservoir, with Cronkshaw Hill farmhouse located very close to the shoreline.

[10] During World War II a Starfish site bombing decoy was constructed on Hameldon hill near Heights Farm, part of a network designed to protect Accrington.

Another change which took effect at the start of 1983, transferred part of Habergham Eaves lying west of Limey Lane into this civil parish.

[15] Along with Habergham Eaves and a small part of Burnley, the parish forms the Coalclough with Deerplay ward of the borough council.

[16] The ward elects three councillors, currently Gordon Birtwistle and Howard Baker of the Liberal Democrats, and Bill Brindle (Labour).