Village Trail

0: Ladder Pit Garden

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This is a small garden project with huge potential. Neighbour’s from adjoining streets wanted to improve a communal piece of land and via the Bridgers, they obtained a grant from Wigan and Leigh Housing,

The local authority’s Beat It Team helped remove rubbish and clear most of the site. However the roots of shrubs remained, so the residents engaged Keith Sumner of Atherton Environmental Projects (AEP) and a very pro-active member of the Bridgers who cleared the roots for £40. This money was then donated by AEP to St Michael’s Primary School to help them develop their school garden. A celebration street party was held to ‘open’ the garden.

1: Old Manor Park

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Our first community garden came about following a request from a resident for help to improve a small stoned area at the entrance of a small development off the main road. This is now an established garden that is maintained by local residents and enhanced seasonal planting and by the “Rambling Rector” rose near this sign.

2: Colliers Corner

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This area is named Colliers Corner – In 2002 the area now known as Colliers Corner was an overgrown eyesore at a prominent junction in the village. The polluted stream at the rear of the site was invisible and invasive Japanese knotweed was destroying the native flora and fauna.

Atherton Environmental Projects, a local partnership group, invited the Bridgers community group to join them in clearing the site. During the clean up it was estimated that over 60 people were involved including, members of the Bridgers, Atherton Environmental Projects, Local Councillors, Wigan Youth Offending Team and Unpaid Work Team and also pupils and parents from St Michael’s Primary School.

3: Land Reclamation

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Work at this site has been ongoing for many years. Leigh Rd phase 1 which includes the grassed area adjacent Leigh Rd and the green hill was carried out in 1976, costing £19873 and creating 2ha of land for tree planting and 2.6ha for general open space. Information available suggests that Phase 2 was undertaken in 1991and brought back into use 3.5ha for playing field use and associated landscaping.

4: Chattering Fields

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“Chattering Fields” from the sounds of the wind in the trees and major “gas” pipeline that runs across the road and out into the fields. This site was a major eyesore and a prominent area on the street scene.

The area covers the whole of the land between the former railway station ticket office (now a house) on Leigh Road and boundary wall of the Church.

The land has now been regenerated by

• Clearing 26 bags of rubbish and litter hidden in the long grass, including block paving (that has been recycled) and a full set of pans! (not recycled)
• Strimming and regular mowing
• Boulders placed to create a visual link with Colliers Corner
• grasses planted to give a natural rather than manicured look
• Wildflowers planted with pupils from St Michaels School

5: Phil's Walk

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This path dedicated to our dear and sadly missed friend Phil, was built to provide a safe route for pupils from St. Michael’s Primary School regularly to the Sports Centre. Working together, over an amazing ten day period, the path was laid by volunteers just for the cost of the materials which was £2,000 and this included planning permission and a celebration party at the Sports Centre. Every person who helped was given a commemorative plaque at the party.

25 people including army cadets and volunteers of all ages came together and completed the path and planted over 1,000 crocuses on the verge under the trees and along side the walk A plaque was commissioned and a few weeks later the path was dedicated to Phil who had helped with the project. Family and friends from the group, joined, wife, Susan and Jenny, his daughter, for a short ceremony when resident, old friend and local resident and folk singer John Eatock from the band “Fivepenny Piece” sang, Wild Mountain Thyme, his voice carrying over Chattering Fields and Phil’s Walk in harmony with the open space before we met at the Scout HQ for lunch.

6: Briar Wood

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The Scout and Guides Headquarters is a building that is used for many community activities and it has ample parking, disabled access and facilities, a kitchen for the preparation of refreshments and a canopied outdoor area. At the rear of the building is a regenerated woodland area. The transformation of the site began in 2001 when the Scouts approached Keith Sumner, from Atherton Environmental Projects, to ask for his advice in reclaiming the land that had not only become overgrown but was being used for fly-tipping.

7: Floral Shield

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8: St Michael and All Angels Church

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Ralph Fletcher who believed in a commonality of interests, commissioned the building of the Church in 1875, but defrayed the furnishings to the congregation. That principle of commonality continues today within the church and community.

Each year The Bridgers gift the hanging baskets displayed outside the porch, selecting baskets and plants to complement the architecture and history of the building.

Over the last 50 years the beautiful gardens have been maintained by Howe Bridge resident and congregation member Fred Jones, who has ensured year round colour and interest with a complementary mixture and variety of appropriate and seasonal perennial and bedding plants. This year, members of the congregation and the Bridgers have been asked to support Fred with digging and weeding etc.

9: The Village

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Howe Bridge mining village was built and developed in the model village concept that an improved environment and society was an important influence in moulding character, and that education, health–care and religion were the foundations of community building. The architectural detail in the construction of the dwellings in Howe Bridge provided visual sense of identity and singularity, and resulted in the development of pride in the community. A whole village was built at Howe Bridge in the 1870's, for the miners at the nearby coal mines. In the 1960’s the cottages were turned over to the local authority, Atherton UDC, and in 1974 became owned by Wigan Council. There are rows of brick built cottages, with shops and a school and a club. The tall building in the photo was the miners' bath house.

10: Bolton and Leigh Railway

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. . . was the first public railway in the historic county of Lancashire, England. It opened in 1828 for goods.

The company obtained its Act of Parliament on 31 March 1825 to build a line "from the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal at Bolton to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Leigh", allowing steam haulage and stationary steam-hauled inclined planes. George Stephenson was appointed as the chief engineer.

The single-track line built to carry goods, mainly coal and raw cotton to the cotton mills from the Port of Liverpool, was 7½ miles (12 km) long. The first section opened on 1 August 1828 between Derby Street Bolton and William Hulton's Collieries at Pendlebury Fold near Chequerbent. Fletchers sidings near Bag Lane provided a connection for Fletcher's collieries at Howe Bridge in Atherton. The railway opened two years before the Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&MR). The route was surveyed and prepared by George Stephenson, but engineered by Robert Daglish, a local man who built a locomotive for the Orrell Colliery Railway. The railway was single track with two rope worked inclines using stationary steam engines, one 20 horse power at Daubhill and one 50 horse power at Chequerbent. The first locomotive, Lancashire Witch was built by George and Robert Stephenson; originally intended for the L&MR it was delivered temporarily to the B&LR as it opened first, and later returned to the L&MR for use in its construction. While with B&LR it was used to haul trains up the 1 in 33 gradient at Daubhill. After the Rainhill Trials it was replaced by Timothy Hackworth's Sans Pareil. The line was completed to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Leigh by end of March 1830.

The railway operated from Bolton Great Moor Street to Leigh. In 1829, the 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long Kenyon and Leigh Junction Railway (K&LJ) was incorporated to link the Bolton & Leigh Railway with the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, joining it at Kenyon Junction near Warrington. The Act of Parliament (10 George IV. Cap.36) receiving Royal Assent on 14 May 1829. At first, the railway was freight only, but a passenger service started on 13 June 1831.

11: Mines Rescue Station

Built by the Lancashire and Cheshire Coal Owners Association and opened on 2nd April 1908 this building became the first of its kind to serve a group of collieries anywhere in the world . It is situated on the North side of Lovers Lane, Howe Bridge about 40 yards from the junction with Leigh Road (A579).

By 1915, there were 46 Rescue Stations covering all the coalmining regions in the Country. By this time, the Howebridge Station had been operational for 7 years and was well established.

12: Atherton Cenotaph

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The memorial was designed by Mr. Arthur John Hope, who became a senior partner in the architectural firm of Bradshaw, Gass and Hope of Bolton in 1902. Mr Hope was a local resident and lived at The Woodlands, Atherton.
Amongst other projects in which the company was involved were the Manchester Royal Exchange, various town halls and the extensions to Manchester College of Technology. The Atherton Cenotaph was constructed in Darley Dale stone, which it is understood is fairly unique in our area. Upon each side of the central column are four vertical plaques containing the names of the fallen of the First World War. Around the base of the structure are four further horizontal plaques containing the names of the fallen of the Second World War.

13: L.U.T Depot

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On this site was the offices workshops and garages of the Lancashire United Transport (LUT) which was a tram, bus and trolleybus operator based at Howe Bridge in Atherton. It had the distinction of being the largest independent bus operator in the UK until its acquisition by Transport for Greater Manchester in 1976

14: Howe Bridge Cemetery and Crematorium

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Set in a preserved area of countryside, Howe Bridge Crematorium has a feeling of peace and tranquillity. This is reflected in the spacious chapel, constructed from natural brick and honey coloured timber.Fitted with a modern music, and loop system there is also an organ for a more traditional style.

The chapel seats 86 with standing space for many more and can cater for all faiths. Large windows frame the building on either side, allowing wide views of the wonderfully colourful gardens of remembrance outside.

15: St Michael and All Angels School

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The school has its origins in 1869, though the present building opened in 1888. It serves the village of Howe Bridge which was built by the Fletchers (see site 10) were the mine owners. They gave money to pay for the school along with public subscriptions.

There is still local pride in the village, though the mines closed over 30 years ago. The attractive Victorian school building is now part of a conservation area which encompasses the old village.

16: Howe Bridge Sports Centre

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Howe Bridge Sports Centre offers a range of sporting activities to the people of Howe Bridge and proves popular with residents from across the whole borough. Facilities at the centre include

25 metre swimming pool
Teaching pool
6 badminton courts
Multi-purpose sports hall
3 squash courts
Profiles Health & Fitness Suite
Aerobic Studio
1 grass football pitch
Licensed bar
Meeting and conference facilities

17: Atherton Cemetery

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The first municipal cemeteries opened in Wigan and Leigh in 1856. Atherton and Ince cemeteries followed a year later whilst Howe Bridge on Lovers Lane (Site 15) opened in 1974.

Atherton Cemetery is on the north west side of Leigh Road between the town centre and Howe Bridge. The main gate is at the town end at the corner of Leigh Road and Liscard Street.

This cemetery opened for business in 1857 with the Nonconformist burial of 70 years old Ann Smith on February 15th. There are two mortuary chapels in the cemetery, one Church of England, the other Nonconformist; both remain in situ but neither are in use as chapels. There is free parking on Liscard Street.

Many Athertonians of note are buried within the grounds including Edward Thomas Ormerod, famous for his invention that saved the life of many coal miners. The invention was detachable hook, which checked the rewinding of a mining cage. The hook can be seen carved on his tombstone in the cemetery.

18: Central Park

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Industrial communities need relaxation and one way is to provide parkland and openspaces. Central Park was made in 1912 on land leased from Lilford covering 10 acres and subject to a rent of £56.15s per annum Spaces in Lodge Lane and Devonshire Place were found in other parts of the township. When the cotton industry declined and with it the number of mills it became difficult to maintain the welfare grounds so Central Park became even more important to residents of the south of the town in and around Howe Bridge. The park, play area and playing fields are maintained by Wigan Leisure and CultureTrust. Recently local Councillors funded the planting of 18 Liquid Amber trees which can be seen alongside the pathways.

19: Scouts & Guides HQ

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20: Gardners Bowling Club

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As work on Colliers Corner progressed work on improving the bowling green on the other side of the stream and its surrounding landscape commenced. Aided by a grant obtained by The Bridgers, volunteers and residents erected lighting, seating, cleared the overgrown land between the stream and the green to create access and purchased bowls for use by the community. An annual competition takes place for a trophy with teams being made up of professional and non-professional bowlers.

21: Welcome to Howe Bridge

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Howe Bridge mining village was built and developed in the model village concept that an improved environment and society was an important influence in moulding character, and that education, health–care and religion were the foundations of community building.

The original mining village can be see on both sides of Leigh Road (the main arterial route from Atherton to Leigh ) it is well worth walking through the streets and viewing the unique architecture and seeing the more modern improvements to the village supported by the community Group … the Bridgers.

22: Gadbury Fold

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A major art installation which depicts the mining heritage of Atherton has been unveiled at Morris' Gadbury Fold development.

The sculpture, created by renowned artist, Andy DeComyn, is entitled ‘The Last Shift’ and depicts three life-size miners descending into the pit for the last time. It pays tribute to the history of the area and the way that miners, and their families, shaped the modern towns of the area.

The sculpture is a result of a partnership between the site’s developers, Morris Homes and Taylor Wimpey, the artist, and the council under the terms of the planning approval for the site.

The design, one of four initial ideas created by Andy, was chosen by a public vote with local residents.

Janet Solan, sales manager for Morris, said: “We were delighted when Atherton residents chose ‘The Last Shift’ as the work of art for the development. It’s a beautiful piece that captures the heritage of the area and creates an attractive focal point for the scheme.”

Sculptor Andy DeComyn took inspiration from Atherton’s rich history. He said: “The inspiration came from the mass closing of the pits, many of which were in the Wigan area. The sculpture depicts the last three men to emerge from the mine prior to closure. Their grim expression reflects their regrets of losing their livelihood, but with their dignity intact. It stands as a memorial to the mining industry.”

23: Climbing New Heights

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Atherton has an innovative and dramatic gateway feature, after residents and school children chose a major new piece of art for the top of the Atherleigh Way.

The inventive and exciting 7m tall steel sculpture, called ‘Climbing New Heights’, comes from artist Clare Bigger. Her ‘Spirit of Wigan’ work has greeted people arriving off the M6 at the Landgate Roundabout north of Ashton for several years - and now the junction of Gibfield Business Park, the Atherleigh Way A579 and the A577 features another of her eye catching designs.

24: The Mosaic

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From November 2003 until May 2004 Wigan Council ran a “Cleaner Greener Competition” the ten newly formed Township Forums carried out as many environmental projects in their area as they could.

The town’s ‘Green Partnership’ carried out many landscape improvements several litter picks and a lot of tree planting. All the work in Atherton was carried out by volunteers and they produced a strong portfolio of the work completed.

The judges of the competition were the North West Regional Director of EnCams (formerly the Tidy Britain Group) the Chief Executive of Groundwork Wigan and Chorley and the Councils Local Agenda 21 Co-ordinator.

Atherton’s Township entry was judged and won second prize which was £7,500 which had to be used on further Environmental projects. The site of the mosaic had been chosen as an area that needed to be improved during the campaign but lack of finances prevented the site being improved.

The site was in very poor condition with broken flags weeds and a huge tree trunk behind an unkempt advertising hoarding.

The site is an important area within the street scene – it is a prominent gateway site for Atherton and it was agreed that the project would have maximum impact on both residents and visitors. Therefore it was agreed to use the money to create a piece of art work and involve local school children in the project.

The announcement was made in May 2004 that Atherton had won £7,500 and the site was chosen.

Initially the group considered replacing the broken flags with new ones or with grass – after further discussion it was decided that a large mosaic would be the most eye-catching project to take forward. The group wished to involve local children to create ownership of the mosaic.

Planning permission was obtained and the primary and High schools in Atherton were asked to take part. It was decided that the theme of the mosaic would be water as Atherton has 7 brooks flowing through the town.

25: The Old Pit Bath House