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Archaeological records for the area in and around Tockholes reveal the presence of Tribal communities as early as 2,000BC.

The area is thought to have been inhabited by both Celtic and Anglo-Saxon settlers. Artifacts found in the area to support early settlement include a stone axe head, bronze spear head and later coins. There is a strong connection with early settlers nearby with Bronze Age barrows, stone circles, settlements and a variety of objects all being found over the surrounding countryside.

Despite running close to an ancient Roman route between Preston and Bolton, There is little evidence of any Roman settlement at Tockholes.

Darwen Tower is a prominent local landmark that lies to the east of Tockholes and The Roddlesworth Reservoirs and Tockholes forest plantation lie to the south with the M65 passing to the north and the A675 to the south.

Approximately two miles to the south are the ruins of Hollinshead Hall, the former Tockholes manor house and what may be an older Manor house can be found on the road from the centre of the village known as Top o't Low past Victoria Terrace and the Bethesda Chapel towards Abbey Village. This Manor house was still occupied during the 1930s though not by the original family.

Tockholes itself has quite a lot of history. During the time of the religious purges it was a centre for nonconformist followers to come to worship. The Chapel situated at the bottom of Long Lane was one of the earliest Congregational Chapels in Lancashire though not in the present building. When slavery was still practised in England, I believe one of the local farmers went to Liverpool and bought a slave to work on his farm but the villagers objected so strongly at this that he was made to declare him a free man and pay him his due wages.

The row of cottages in Silk Hall fold were built during the 17th century to accommodate silk weavers and the old weaving rooms are situated in the rooms at the top of the stone staircase the roof windows are still to be seen.