Westhoughton

Coordinates: 53°32′56″N 2°31′44″W / 53.549°N 2.529°W / 53.549; -2.529
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Westhoughton
Metropolitan county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBolton
Postcode districtBL5
Dialling code01942
PoliceGreater Manchester
FireGreater Manchester
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament
WebsiteOfficial website
List of places
UK
England
Greater Manchester
53°32′56″N 2°31′44″W / 53.549°N 2.529°W / 53.549; -2.529
Farmer cutting off the cow's head – picture in the Waggon and Horses pub

Westhoughton (/wɛstˈhɔːtən/ west-HAW-tən) is a town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England,[1] 4 miles (6 km) southwest of Bolton, 5 miles (8 km) east of Wigan and 13 miles (21 km) northwest of Manchester.[2]

Within the boundaries of the

textile manufacture. It had a population of 24,974 at the 2011 Census.[3][4]

Westhoughton incorporates several former villages and hamlets which have their own distinctive character, sports traditions and amenities, including Wingates, White Horse, Over Hulton, Four Gates, Chequerbent, Hunger Hill, Snydale, Hart Common, Marsh Brook, Daisy Hill and Dobb Brow.[5]

History

Toponymy

The name Westhoughton is derived from the Old English, halh (dialectal "haugh") for a nook or corner of land, and 'tun' for a farmstead or settlement – meaning a "westerly settlement in a corner of land". It has been recorded variously as Halcton in 1210, Westhalcton in 1240, Westhalghton in 1292, Westhalton in 1302 and in the 16th-century as Westhaughton and Westhoughton.[6][7]

The people of Westhoughton are sometimes known as "Howfeners" (from Houghton) or "Keaw-yeds" (cow heads) or "Keawyedners" (a combination of the two), and the town is known as "Keawyed City". Supposed folklore ("re-invented" in the

Edwardian period) describes a farmer who found his cow with its head stuck in a five barred gate, and, rather than damage the gate, cut the cow's head off, as the cow cost less than the gate.[8] The village of Tideswell in Derbyshire shares this same legend.[9]

Banastre Rebellion

In 1315, a group of men led by Sir William Bradshaigh of

Sir Robert de Holland of Upholland, chief retainer of the powerful Earl of Lancaster. The campaign came to be known as the Banastre Rebellion and ended with the deaths of most of the main protagonists.[10]

Civil War

On 15 December 1642, during the

Royalists
from the Wigan garrison under Lord Derby and were forced to surrender. The three captains and 160 men were taken prisoner.

It is believed that

massacre at Bolton in 1644.[6] Civil War activity is also known to have occurred around the site of Hunger Hill and a sword claimed to be from the time of the Civil War was discovered in the garden of one of the cottages at Pocket Nook in Chew Moor during the 1950s.[citation needed
]

Industrial Revolution

The original Pretoria Pit Memorial in Westhoughton Cemetery

On 25 March 1812, a group of

Luddites burned Rowe and Dunscough's Westhoughton Mill. Twelve people were arrested on the orders of William Hulton, the High Sheriff of Lancashire.[11][12] James Smith, Thomas Kerfoot, John (or Job) Fletcher and Abraham Charlston, were sentenced to death for their part in the attack. The Charlston family claimed that Abraham was only 12 years old; but he was not reprieved.[11] The men were publicly hanged outside Lancaster Castle on 13 June 1812.[13] It was reported that Abraham cried for his mother on the scaffold.[12] By this time, however, hanging of those under 18 was rare and of those under 16, in practice, abolished.[14] Nine others were transported to Australia.[15] The riots are commemorated by a blue plaque
on the White Lion public house opposite the mill site.

In 1891, the Rose Hill Doubling Mill had 8,020 spindles and Higson and Biggs' Victoria Mill had 40,000 spindles. Bolton Road Mill housed 564 looms weaving shirtings and Perseverance Mill had 600 looms manufacturing

calico printer at the Green Vale Print Works.[16]

The

Pretoria Pit Disaster was the third worst in British mining history, after the 1866 Barnsley Oaks Disaster in Yorkshire, which killed 361 miners,[18] and the 1913 Senghenydd Colliery Disaster in Glamorgan, which killed 439.[19] A memorial erected in 1910 is Grade II listed.[20]

In 1896, the Wigan Coal and Iron Company's Eatock Pits employed 484 underground and 89 surface workers whilst the Hewlett Pits, at Hart Common, employed 981 underground and 182 on the surface.[21]

Governance

Lying within the boundaries of

Poor Law in that area.[22] In 1872, a Local board of health was established for the township, but was superseded in 1894 by the creation of Westhoughton Urban District which shared local government responsibilities with Lancashire County Council. In 1898, most of Over Hulton became part of the urban district.[23] Westhoughton Town Hall was built in 1903 to a plan by Bradshaw and Gass, architects of Bolton replacing the Local Board Offices at the junction of Market Street and Wigan Road.[24]

Under the

civil parish of the newly created Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester.[25] It is represented by six councillors elected in two borough wards – Westhoughton North and Chew Moor and Westhoughton South – on the metropolitan borough council.[26]

Westhoughton civil parish gained

mayor
.

Parliamentary representation

For 98 years between 1885 and 1983, the

William Tyson Wilson
was one of 29 successful Labour Representation Committee candidates.

The constituency had by-elections in 1921, 1951 and 1973 due to the retirement, ill-health or death of the sitting MPs. The last MP for Westhoughton was Roger Stott (Labour) who, on abolition of the Westhoughton constituency, was elected MP for Wigan in 1983.

The 1983 redistribution of seats reflected

Boundary Commission for England proposed recreating a Westhoughton constituency to incorporate Westhoughton, Blackrod, Hindley, Atherton, and parts of Horwich and Leigh[28][29]

Geography

Westhoughton covers an area of 4,341 acres (1,757 ha) and has an average breadth of over 2 miles (3.2 km) from north-east to south-west, and an extreme length of nearly 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from northwest to south-east. The highest ground at over 480 feet (150 m) is to the north east with the land sloping downwards to the south-west. The lowest point at about 120 feet (37 m) is in the extreme southerly corner. Borsdane Brook separates the township from

Glazebrook.[6] The town incorporates several former villages and hamlets including railway stations including Wingates, White Horse, Over Hulton, Four Gates (or Fourgates), Chequerbent, Hunger Hill, Snydale, Hart Common, Marsh Brook, Daisy Hill and Dobb Brow.[5]

Local Nature Reserves are located at Hall Lee Bank Park, Cunningham Clough, and Eatock Lodge at Daisy Hill.[30]

Demography

Population changes in Westhoughton since 1801
YearPopulation±%
1801 3,059—    
1811 3,810+24.6%
1821 4,211+10.5%
1831 4,500+6.9%
1841 4,527+0.6%
1851 4,547+0.4%
1861 5,156+13.4%
YearPopulation±%
1871 6,609+28.2%
1881 9,197+39.2%
1891 11,077+20.4%
1901 14,377+29.8%
1911 15,046+4.7%
1921 15,592+3.6%
1931 16,018+2.7%
YearPopulation±%
1939 14,636−8.6%
1951 15,004+2.5%
1961 16,260+8.4%
1971 17,761+9.2%
2001 23,056+29.8%
2011 24,974+8.3%
Sources:[31][32][33][34][35][4][3]

Education

See also: List of schools in Greater Manchester

The long established St John's, Wingates CE Primary & Fourgates County Primary schools were closed in 2004 following amalgamation to form The Gates CP School. Westhoughton CP School closed in 2008. An earlier round of reorganisation saw the closure of Hart Common Primary School and opening of St George's on The Hoskers, and the closure of the tiny County Primary at White Horse which is now a private nursery.

School Type/Status Ofsted Website
Eatock Primary School, Daisy Hill Primary 105202 Official site
Sacred Heart R.C. Primary School Primary 105243 Official site
St George's C.E. Primary School Primary 131038 Official site
St James C.E. Primary School, Daisy Hill Primary 105209 Official site
St Thomas' C.E. School, Chequerbent Primary 105234 Official site
The Gates Primary School Primary 133926 Official site
Washacre Primary School Primary 105199 Official site
St Bartholomew's C of E Primary School

originally Westhoughton Parochial C.E. Primary School

Primary 105237 Official site
Westhoughton Primary School (closed 2008) Primary 105180 Official site
Westhoughton High School Secondary 105252 Official site

Religion

The parish church of St Bartholomew

Westhoughton's old chapel of 1552 was replaced by a brick-built church in 1731 and the

Nicholsons of Malvern built its two manual organs with 1,256 pipes, ranging from 1/2 inch to 16 feet (4.9 m) made of tin, spotted metal and hammered lead.[41]

Other Anglican churches include St John the Evangelist, in the Parish of Wingates, and St James the Great, in the Parish of Daisy Hill. St James' is a Grade II* listed building.[42]

The Roman Catholic Sacred Heart parish church fell into disrepair; it was demolished and replaced by a new building incorporating a church hall.

Stone from which John Wesley is said to have preached

John Wesley preached a sermon at Barnaby's Farm in Wingates in 1784. Services were held in cottages opposite the farm before the first Methodist church was built in 1835. Another Methodist Church was built in Dixon Street in 1871. Houses occupy the site of Westhoughton Independent Methodist Church, where Wesley once stood, but the stone, from which he preached, was moved to Grove Lane Chapel, now Westhoughton Methodist Church's church hall. The final service was held by the Independent Methodist Church in 2001 and the church was subsequently demolished.[43] Daisy Hill Methodist Church was closed and demolished in the late 1980s. The new, Methodist church was built adjacent to Grove Lane Chapel, which now serves as church hall.[44]

The industrial north west was a focus for non-conformism, and until the 1990s the

Pentecostal church, a United Reformed Church, The Bethel, and an independent church on Tithbarn Street.[46]

Landmarks

Snydle water tower

Snydle water tower was built by Westhoughton Council in 1914 and lay derelict for many years with its tank removed and the tower open to the sky. It has been restored and converted into a private dwelling that is visible from the M61 motorway.

The Church of England School built in 1861, opposite St Bartholomew's church, is a Grade II listed building[47] as are houses at 110 and 112, Market Street.[48] The school, which was known as Westhoughton Parochial School, has been renamed St Bartholomew's Church of England, Primary School.

The red brick and terracotta town hall and Carnegie library were built between 1902 and 1904 to the designs of Bradshaw & Gass.

Transport

The

B5239
. The motorway separated the townships of Hunger Hill and Chew Moor from the rest of Westhoughton and the Bolton Road was completely severed. A new link road, Snydle Way, was built between Chequerbent and a spur to the old Bolton Road, via a roundabout at M61 junction 5. Snydle Way, a broad, dual carriageway, was built to full four lane motorway standard, with a broad centre verge allowing widening to six lanes. The original intention was that it would form the beginning of a new motorway, running southwest, linking the M61 with the M6. Although the route was fully allocated and all planning and public consultation completed, the project was shelved due to financial constraints.

Manchester Victoria run via Atherton. Formerly there were stations at Chequerbent (closed 1952)[49] Dicconson Lane and Hilton House both closed in 1954.[50]

In the late 1980s, a railway station planned for Dobb Brow was not built.[51] Lostock and Horwich Parkway stations, to the north, also serve the town. The annual usage of Daisy Hill and Westhoughton stations was more than 500,000 passengers in 2013/14, greater than many major UK towns.[52]

Electric trams
to Bolton served Westhoughton until 1947 after 23 years of service. On 19 December 1924, the Bolton to Deane service was extended to Westhoughton).

Westhoughton is served by bus services to

Diamond Bus North West and Stagecoach. The Blackrod – Little Lever service is operated by Diamond Bus North West and Bolton to Westhoughton by Arriva North West
, continuing to Wigan by Diamond Bus North West.

Media

Westhoughton Library, Library Street

The weekly Horwich and Westhoughton Journal was published (by The Bolton News) from 1925 until 1980, and had an editorial and revenue office in Market Street.[53]

The town's

Pretoria Pit Disaster
and a large, encased model, of the original St Bartholomew's Parish Church, built from match-sticks.

Notable residents

See also:
List of people from Bolton

Freedom of the Parish

The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Parish of Westhoughton.

Individuals

  • Peter L. Finch: 5 March 2019, Former Mayor of Westhoughton and Mayor of Bolton.[62][63]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Greater Manchester Gazetteer". Greater Manchester County Record Office. Place Names T to W. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
  2. ^ AA Route Planner Archived 28 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine. URL accessed 29 May 2007.
  3. ^ a b "Area: Westhoughton (Parish), Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Area: Westhoughton (Parish), Key Figures for 2001 Census: Key Statistics". Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
  5. ^ a b Westhoughton Township Boundaries, GenUKI, archived from the original on 30 July 2010, retrieved 6 January 2012
  6. ^ a b c d Farrer, William; Brownbill, J, eds. (1911), "Westhoughton", A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5, Victoria County History, British History Online, pp. 20–25, archived from the original on 24 October 2012, retrieved 31 August 2010
  7. ISBN 0-86360-003-4
    )
  8. ^ Bolton Museum & Archive Service (January 1919). "Westhoughton Keaw Yed (cow head) re-enactment circa 1919". flickr.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  9. ^ "A Derbyshire Poem: The Drunken Butcher of Tideswell". Peak District Online. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  10. ^ "Mabs Cross Legend and Reality". Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  11. ^ a b Spatacus schoolnet – The Luddites Archived 15 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine URL accessed 22 May 2007.
  12. ^ a b Cotton Times – Luddites: War against the machines – Page 2 Archived 25 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine. URL accessed 22 May 2007.
  13. ^ Capital Punishment U.K. – Public executions 1800–1827 Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine. URL accessed 22 May 2007.
  14. ^ The execution of children and juveniles Archived 10 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine. URL accessed 22 May 2007.
  15. ^ Westhoughton Calendar of Events Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerks. URL accessed 22 May 2007.
  16. ^ Westhoughton. 5 miles W.S.W. from Bolton (p73), Grace's Guide, archived from the original on 2 December 2013, retrieved 22 November 2013
  17. ^ The Pretoria Pit Disaster Archived 26 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerks. URL accessed 22 May 2007.
  18. ^ The Barnsley Oaks Colliery Archived 4 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine. URL accessed 22 May 2007.
  19. ^ The Senghenydd Coal Mining Disaster Archived 31 May 2004 at the Wayback Machine. URL accessed 22 May 2007.
  20. ^ Historic England, "Memorial to those killed in the Pretoria Pit Disaster approx. 127m north west of St. Bartholomew's Church (1162905)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 10 November 2013
  21. ^ Wigan Coal & Iron Co. Ltd., Durham Mining Museum, archived from the original on 23 September 2015, retrieved 7 February 2011
  22. ^ Workhouse, workhouses.org.uk, archived from the original on 29 June 2011, retrieved 28 November 2010
  23. ^ Westhoughton UD: Historical Boundaries Archived 15 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Vision of Britain. URL accessed 26 February 2008.
  24. ^ ""Places of interest" at bolton.gov.uk". Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  25. ^ "Greater Manchester Gazetteer". Greater Manchester County Record Office. Place Names T to W. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
  26. ^ Bolton Metropolitan Borough Councillors Archived 10 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine. URL accessed 22 May 2007.
  27. ^ Town Council Election Results 2007 – Blackrod, Horwich, and Westhoughton Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. URL accessed 22 May 2007.
  28. ^ Westhoughton map Archived 2 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine Boundary Commission for England
  29. ^ Initial Proposals – Greater Manchester Archived 29 October 2012 at the UK Government Web Archive Boundary Commission for England
  30. ^ "Local Nature Reserves". Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  31. ^ Tatton, Pauline. Local population statistics 1801–1986: abbreviated tables compiled from census statistics for Bolton. Bolton Libraries.
  32. ^ Great Britain Historical GIS Project. "Westhoughton Ch/CP/Tn: Total Population 1881–1961". A Vision of Britain through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  33. ^ Great Britain Historical GIS Project. "Westhoughton USD: Population 1891". A Vision of Britain through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
  34. ^ Great Britain Historical GIS Project. "Westhoughton UD: Population 1901–1961". A Vision of Britain through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2008.
  35. identity cards issued to the inhabitants of Westhoughton in that year, which were required under the National Registration Act 1939. The 1941 census did not take place because of the Second World War
    .
  36. ^ St Bartholomew's Church, Westhoughton Archived 21 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine (Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerk Project). URL accessed 26 October 2006.
  37. ^ Historic England, "Tower of Church of St Bartholomew, School Street (1356786)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 10 November 2013
  38. ^ Historic England, "Sundial approx 17 m to south of Church of St Bartholomew (1067274)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 10 November 2013
  39. ^ Bradshaw Gass & Hope website Archived 8 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine. URL accessed 26 October 2007.
  40. ^ "Blessing for church that's risen from ashes". The Bolton News. Newsquest Media Group. 30 October 1995. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2007.
  41. ^ Completed Projects Archive: St Bartholomew's Church, Westhoughton Archived 15 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Nicholsons of Malvern. URL accessed 26 October 2006.
  42. ^ Historic England, "Church of St James (1067273)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 10 November 2013
  43. ^ ""Places of interest – John Wesley in Wingates" at bolton.gov.uk". Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  44. ^ ""Westhoughton Methodist Church, Bolton Methodist Circuit" at homepages.tesco.net". Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  45. ^ Westhoughton, GenUKI, archived from the original on 18 October 2012, retrieved 6 February 2012
  46. ^ ""Westhoughton Pentecostal Church" at ukchurch.org". Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  47. ^ Historic England, "Westhoughton Church of England Primary School (1162908)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 10 November 2013
  48. ^ Historic England, "110 and 112 Market Street (1162880)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 10 November 2013
  49. ^ "Subterranea Britannica: SB-Sites: Chequerbent Station (2nd site)". Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
  50. ISBN 0711009511
    .
  51. ^ "BEN OPINION: Top priority on the trains". The Bolton News. Newsquest Media Group. 28 October 2000. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
  52. ^ "Network Rail". Archived from the original on 7 November 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  53. ^ Bolton Library and Museum Services. "Bolton Newspapers". boltonlams.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  54. ^ Bolton Council. "Westhoughton Library". bolton.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 30 November 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  55. ^ Westhoughton Local History Group. "Meeting Place: Westhoughton Library". westhoughtonhistorygroup.org.uk. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  56. ^ "Mayor to unveil plaque in honour of Jaws star". The Bolton News. Newsquest. 19 July 1996. Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  57. ^ "Town council claims Jaws star 'not a true Howfener'". The Bolton News. Newsquest. 13 August 2009. Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  58. ^ "TheCricketer". Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  59. ^ "History of Westhoughton". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  60. ^ "John Bruton". englandstats.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  61. ^ "Obituaries". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack (1986 ed.). Wisden. p. 1218.
  62. ^ "Freedom of town for long-serving Peter". Horwich Advertiser. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  63. ^ "Awarding of the Civic Medal and The Honorary Freedom of the Parish of Westhoughton – Bolton Council". Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westhoughton.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Westhoughton&oldid=1219563910"