a parliamentary and municipal borough and market-town of England, county of Lancaster, and parish of Whalley. It stands on the E. bank of the Ribble, at the base of Pendle hill (which rises to 1800 feet above the level of the sea), 21 miles S.E. of Lancaster, and 217 from London. From the reign of Elizabeth to the passing of the Reform act, it returned two members to parliament; but at the latter period it was deprived of one of its members. The parliamentary borough includes besides the municipal boroughs the townships of Chatburn, Downham, Mearley, Twiston, Whalley, Wiswell, Worston, Pendleton, and Little Mitton, and in 1851 contained 11,480 inhabitants. Electors (1851-2), 448. The municipal borough is governed by a mayor, four aldermen, and 12 councillors; and had (1851) 7244 inhabitants. Clitheroe possesses two churches, three chapels, free grammar-school, mechanics' institute, moot-hall, and jail; and has extensive printworks, cotton manufactories, and lime kilns. Market-day Tuesday.