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).

[18] The Member of Parliament for Burnley, the constituency into which the parish falls, is Oliver Ryan of the Labour Party, who was first elected in 2024.