Anglezarke
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Anglezarke is a civil parish in the district of Chorley, Lancashire. It is dominated by a series of reservoirs that supply water primarily to Wigan, and a large expanse of moorland.
It lies in the West Pennine Moors in Lancashire, sandwiched between the moors of Withnell and Rivington, and is close to the towns of Chorley and Darwen.
The area of Anglezarke and Rivington was also the location of the 2002 Commonwealth Games Mountain Biking competition. In the early 1800's, both areas were within the Bolton Parish, itself part of the Hundred of Salford. Census information from the time gives population figures for Anglezarke of 162 in 1801, 181 in 1811 and 215 in 1821. Peaking at 1871 at 531, the current population is less than 50.
Anglezarke itself is most well known as a popular rock climbing destination for local climbers and is included in the guidebook Lancashire Rock published by the British Mountaineering Council.
History
Human activity around Anglezarke can be traced back to pre-historic man. Dotted across Anglezarke Moor are two pre-historic sites which are still clearly visible - Pikestones and Round Loaf, a landmark clearly visible from the route across Great Hill from White Coppice.
Mining
Most of Anglezarke's history, however, revolves around mineral mining. As early as 1690, lead was discovered in Stronstrey Bank, near White Coppice. The landowner, Sir Richard Standish formed a partnership with two farmers and a mining engineer, John Knowle. After several failures, a good quantity of lead was mined, but following her husband's death, Sir Standish's wife claimed all the profits. After losing the resultant court case she flooded the mines by diverting a stream. Despite this, the mines were expanded in the 1790s and not only lead was extracted, but also copper and galena.
A substance known as witherite (barium carbonate) was also discovered as early as 1700, and although there were some ill-fated attempts to use it for medicinal purposes its main use is as a coloured glaze for porcelain.
Lead production finally ended around 1830 but the remains of mining activity can still be seen at Lead Mines Clough.
Plane crash
During the Second World War a Wellington Bomber crashed on the moor killing all onboard. A memorial remains to this day, at Lead Mines Clough, next to Limestone Brook, which feeds Yarrow reservoir.
Buildings and Ruins
Echoing the declining population of the area, there are a large number of ruins in the area. Mainly farms, some of the properties were large, and extremely remote. Nowadays, they form familiar sites for local walkers and, more recently, geocachers. The following sites are all marked on the current Ordnance Survey range of maps.
Simms
Located on what was Rivington Lane (now a private track and popular footpath), the property received fresh water from Green Withins Brook (a tributary of the Yarrow), and was occupied by the Chairman of Horwich Urban District Council in 1928-29.
Old Rachel's
Considered a 'bogeywoman', many local people were afraid of Rachel and her family. The last occupant was the Evans family in the 1880's.
Hempshaws
Lower and Higher Hempshaw's are clearly visible from the Rivington to Belmont road. Little is known of their previous history, although the buildings were farm dwellings.
The ruins are located on the fledgling River Yarrow, approximately half a mile from source at Will Narr.
Waterman's Cottage
A prominent house on the Heapey end of Anglezarke Reservoir.
Moses Cocker's
A working farm on the Rivington to Belmont road.
Jepson's Farm
Jepson's Farm and Jepson's Gate are common walking waypoints en-route to Pikestones.
Manor House
Near to High Bullough reservoir, the property was one of several given up by a GM Dixon in 1922. Also vacated were the Foggs Buildings (location unknown), and the landmark farm near Great Hill; Drinkwaters. Mr. Dixon wrote to the Lord Mayer Alderman and Citizens of the City of Liverpool, stating "I give notice to quit all lands I hold under Liverpool Corporation on February End, 1923..... owing to the high rates and the heavy slump in prices especially Wool the chief thing on a hill farm."
See also
External links
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