[Retlaw]

Old and New Accrington refers to the two villages that became Accrington. The boundries are clearly marked an old maps.
It came about because of copyholds in the early days, when some one dropped a clanger and all deeds had to be sent to London for examination.
Those with clear title were known as the Old Copyholders and the others became the New Copyholders. That part on Friar Hill was part of the Old Copyhold. Old accrington was centered around Bull Bridge and New Accrington was centered around St James Church.
Walter