The history of human habitation in the area goes back to the late stone, bronze and Iron Ages. Earthworks and two prehistoric stone circles are shown on Ordnance Survey maps, one at on the moors to the east of the village; both are in a poor state of repair. A flintdagger 15 cm in length found on the moor is now in Towneley Museum.
Governance
Worsthorne forms part of the Worsthorne with Clivigerward, which is currently represented on Burnley Borough Council by three Conservative councillors. In 2002 the ward elected a British National Party councillor, which generated considerable media comment at the time; the seat returned to the Conservative Party when it was next contested.
Landmarks
The village had a close association with the Thursby family, benefactors of the Burnley area, and has a number of listed buildings. These include Jackson's House in the centre of the village, which was built in about 1600, and the Church of St. John the Evangelist which dates from 1833–1839. The original plans for the church, drawn up by architect Lewis Vulliamy, can be seen on the Incorporated Church Building Society website. It has a 61 ft clocktower, stained glass windows and wrought ironwork. The churchyard has the grave of a packmaster, a person whose job was to lead packhorses across the moors in special sunken trails that allowed the horses to walk unhitched since the walls of the trail prevented them from straying. An earlier landmark used to be Worsthorne Methodist Chapel, on Chapel Street off Ormerod Street, next to where the former Old Hall stood, but it was demolished in the 1980s, an old people's home now sits on this site. The connected Sunday School building is now a children's nursery. There is a former cotton mill in Gordon Street, a relic of the time when the area, especially Burnley, was the world centre of cotton weaving. There are two public houses in the village: the Crooked Billet and the Bay Horse Inn.
Education
The village has a primary school with about 180 pupils in the 4–11 age range, serving Worsthorne, Hurstwood, Brownside and Pike Hill. The school houses seven classes in modern buildings and has extensive playing fields and grounds. Students are organised into four houses, Gorple, Extwistle, Brownside and Ormerod. The houses are named after the four roads running into Worsthorne, which meet in the village square. The original village school house, now converted into residential housing, stands in the square.
Transport
A regular bus service runs between Worsthorne, Burnley and Stoops.
Footballer Brian Miller lived there for many years before passing away in 2007. Miller played and managed Burnley F.C. throughout his career at the football club.
