Withnell is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Chorley, Lancashire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 3,631, reducing to 3,498 at the 2011 Census. Withnell is about 5mi north-east of Chorley itself and about 5mi from Blackburn. It constituted an urban district from 1894 to 1974. It was originally called 'Withinhull' around 1160, later appearing as 'Withinhulle' in the 1332 Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire, meaning 'a hill where willow trees grow'. It borders the villages of Brinscall and Abbey Village which are part of the parish.GeographyWithnell Local Nature Reserve, designated as by Chorley Borough Council, roughly traces the path of a now disused railway cutting for around 600yard. Since 1966, a large number of wildflowers, native trees and heathers have been planted in the 12acre site. The public are free to walk through the reserve.Amenities in Withnell include St. Joseph's Catholic school and church, and St Paul's Church of England churchThere was formerly a Post Office, closed on 8 May 2008 as part of the Post Office Network Change Program. A newsagent continued to operate from the old Post Office premises, but closed a couple of years later and was converted to private housing. There is a GP surgery for Withnell and surrounding villages, a village grocer's shop, a fish and chip/Chinese takeaway, beauty parlour and a car sales garage.
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