Sabden was a farming valley from the 13th century onwards, and you can still see the remains of 'vaccary walls' from this time in some areas. From the 19th century the farms prospered as they supplied milk, wool and meat to the nearby developing towns of East Lancashire. Sabden also developed its own industries, with calico printing, cotton spinning and weaving all taking place at the Union, Victoria and Cobden mills. Union mill carried on weaving until 1964, and today it houses Pendle Antique Centre; whilst Victoria mill became a carpet factory in its later life. Richard Cobden was an important figure in the 1840's Free Trade movement and he founded Sabden Primary School in the village in 1836 - one of the first in the country to be independent of any church.Sabden is known for the 'deerstones' a series of large millstone grit boulders supposedly showing the Devil's footprints from when he jumped from Hameldon Hill to Pendle, carrying an apron full of stones - hence 'Apronful Hill' near to the Nick of Pendle!