Affetside
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Affetside | ||
---|---|---|
Metropolitan county | ||
Region | ||
Country | England | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom | |
Post town | BURY | |
Postcode district | BL8 | |
Dialling code | 01204 | |
Police | Greater Manchester | |
Fire | Greater Manchester | |
Ambulance | North West | |
UK Parliament | ||
Affetside is a village in Greater Manchester, England. Historically in Lancashire, it is in the Tottington ward of Bury Metropolitan Borough Council and the Bury North parliamentary constituency, in the West Pennine Moors.
History
Toponymy
Affetside is derived from the
History
The village is on the
A day school opened in Affetside Chapel in 1879. As the building was shared, the congregation put out desks on Monday mornings and removed them on Friday in preparation for the Sunday service and did so until the school closed in August 2003.[3]
The village lost 15 church and school members in the
In 1955 Tottington Urban District Council suggested demolishing sub-standard cottages in the village and rehousing the occupants in Tottington. The suggestion was overwhelmingly unpopular. A battle for piped water caused residents to form an action group and piped water was supplied to the village from 1976.
Local historian James Francis, and author of Affetside, an historical survey, believes the village's strength shows through its survival. He says:
- "The building of the local turnpike road was the death knell for the packhorse trains, but the Affetsiders showed great resilience in continuing to build up their village, and so the village did not collapse like others, less fortunate. For such a small village, with only about 150 people to still have a church and pub says a lot about the people who live there."[1]
Governance
For many years the road through the village was the boundary between the townships of
Geography
The village lies north west of Tottington, west of Greenmount and Hawkshaw and south of Edgworth.
Economy
The villagers travel to nearby towns for work. In 1921 the first (and last) Holcombe Hunt point to point steeplechase was run. An estimated 100,000 visitors arrived to watch. Families turned their houses into shops providing refreshments and farmers sold milk. The steeplechase course over jumps and two brooks was a success but subsequently the event was held at Nab Fold in Harwood.
Landmarks
Affetside Cross
The cross is a grade II
Affetside Cross was damaged in the 1890s by people mistakenly believing it concealed hidden treasure, and was repaired by the
Community
The Affetside Society is concerned with the appearance and amenities in the village. It lobbied Bury Metropolitan Borough Council to provide traffic calming measures to reduce the number of serious accidents caused by speeding vehicles.[6] In November 2011 the traffic calming work was approved by the council, with a 20 mph speed limit becoming permanent and traffic chicanes and road markings to be implemented in early 2012.[7] In 1981, the society planted daffodil bulbs, shrubs and trees along Watling Street to improve its appearance and built stone signs at each end of the village. It organises social events on the Millennium Green and distributes a newsletter to residents. The Millennium Green Trust, a registered charity, was formed to provide and oversee the "Millennium Green" in an initiative run by the Countryside Commission. It created a public open space on the disused bus turn-around next to the cross, which acts as a focal point for village activities. The village green is used for a spring boules competition, summer barbecues and the Christmas Carol service.
In January 2007, Bury Council considered making the village a conservation area to protect against what some see as misguided refurbishment and extension to old properties built in the pre-1800s Pennine vernacular. In May 2008, the council decided against the proposal after a community consultation in the village church.
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-904974-15-4.
- ^ "The Pack Horse at Affetside".
- ^ "Schoolday memories from Affetside". UK Newsquest Regional Press. 31 August 2006.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Historic England. "Old Cross (Grade II) (1162874)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ a b Affetside history, About Affetside, archived from the original on 14 February 2012, retrieved 2 December 2011
- ^ "Two in critical condition after crash in Affetside". The Bolton News. Newsquest Media Group. 27 April 2009.
- ^ "Victory for village residents in 20mph speed limit battle". The Bolton News. Newsquest Media Group. 23 November 2011.