Barley earned its livelihood from agriculture until the 18th century when textiles were manufactured and handlooms were installed in attics of many smallholdings as an extra source of income. Barley's brooks - an effective source of waterpower - attracted cotton factories. There was a small mill at Narrowgates and one at Barley Green, which is now the site of the water treatment plant. At his height Barley Green Mill worked 200 looms until floods destroyed the building in 1880. A cotton twist mill at Narrowgates was built by William Harley to spin cotton warp thread. Weavers' cottages were built adjacent to the mill and are still occupied to this day.

The Whitehough area is now the Camp School established in 1938 and run by the local Education Authority. Today Barley acts as a magnet for the many tourists who wish to discover the area and enjoy the fine recreational facilities provided. A small visitor centre, cafe and picnic site can be found at the village car park.

The lion head of Pendle, with its tail resting in Mellor and its forepaws gripping Barnoldswick, stands sentinel at the eastern portal to Lancashire. Friendly and welcoming on a fine clear day, menacing and towering on those darker rainswept days, legend and myth mixed up with fact have conspired to impress this hill deep in the northern mind. In the early days of settlers, Pendle gave shelter and life to farmers and workers in stone and bronze, who later moved from their hilltop to clear and settle the valley floors. Signs of that early life are to be seen in the number of mounds and ring-banked cairns scattered over the high ground. The summit, 557 m above sea level, is marked by a triangulation point that stands on the site of an old fire-beacon, which in turn was said to stand upon an ancient burial mound. It was from this summit, in 1652, that George Fox had his great vision that moved him to found the Quakers, or Society of Friends, one of the earliest meeting places being founded at Twiston.

Pendle Hill also has associations with the Pendle Witches. Legend has it that in the early 1600's, on the slopes of Pendleside, lived two peasant families that were divided by hate, and which possessed supernatural powers. Both families were led by old women, old Demdike and Chattox. Both were accused of misdeeds and sent for trial at Lancaster by Roger Nowell of Read Hall. Both Demdike and Chattox were found guilty along with other Pendle witches, including Alice Nutter from Roughlee Old Hall. The hangings took place on 20th August 1612. In Newchurch the "Eye of God" is to be found on the tower of St Mary's Church to ward off evil. The church is said to house another of the Pendle Witches, the family grave of Alice Nutter. Chattox was alleged to have desecrated graves in this churchyard to collect skills and teeth! Should you like a souvenir too, please use Newchurch's own Witches Galore shop in the village!

Both Upper and Lower Black Moss Reservoirs provide drinking water to Nelson when needed. Upper Black Moss, completed in 1894, can hold 45 million gallons, has a surface of 12.78 acres. The lower reservoir was completed in 1903 and can hold 65 million galoons and covers 17.87 acres.