Slaidburn is a small rural village situated at the confluence of the Croasdale Brook and the River Hodder on the B6478 road from Clitheroe to Long Preston in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The character of the village is that of a post medieval settlement, with some 17th century houses, and a number dating to the 18th century. Most of the houses date to the early 19th century; later development was limited by the isolated rural position of Slaidburn so that the housing stock established by the early 19th century has always been sufficient to meet the settlement’s housing needs.
One of the village’s few late-19th century buildings is the former Reading Room in Town End which was built in 1888 (see
SD7152 : WKW 1888). In the days before lending libraries were established, people were able to come here to read books and newspapers on the premises. By this time, Welsh slate had begun to appear in the village, coinciding with the major improvement scheme by William King-Wilkinson. His initials can be seen on many buildings in the centre of the village, including this one
Link (Slaidburn Conservation Area Appraisal, Ribble Valley Borough Council).