Horwich
1241991
224296312
2008-07-08T05:47:54Z
TR Wolf
953096
[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 224175779 by [[Special:Contributions/89.240.197.44|89.240.197.44]] ([[User talk:89.240.197.44|talk]])
{{otheruses}}
{{infobox UK place|
|latitude= 53.593
|longitude= -2.559
|official_name= Horwich
|population= 19,312 ([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]])
|os_grid_reference= SD639114
|london_distance= 177 miles (285 km) [[Boxing the compass|SE]]
|civil_parish= Horwich
|metropolitan_borough= [[Metropolitan Borough of Bolton|Bolton]]
|metropolitan_county= [[Greater Manchester]]
|region= North West England
|country= England
|post_town= BOLTON
|postcode_area= BL
|postcode_district= BL6
|dial_code= 01204
|constituency_westminster= [[Bolton West (UK Parliament constituency)|Bolton West]]
|static_image=[[Image:Horwich Parish Church.jpg|240px]]
|static_image_caption=<small>Horwich Parish Church</small>
|website= [http://www.horwich.gov.uk/ www.horwich.gov.uk]
}}
'''Horwich''' (pronounced "Horrich") is a town and [[civil parish]] within the [[Metropolitan Borough of Bolton]], in [[Greater Manchester]], [[England]].<ref name=GMRO>{{cite web|author=Anon|url=http://www.gmcro.co.uk/guides/gazette/gazframe.htm|date=2003-07-31|title=A select gazetteer of local government areas, Greater Manchester County|publisher=[[Greater Manchester County Records Office]]|accessdate=2008-05-02}}</ref> It is {{convert|5.3|mi|km|1}} southeast of [[Chorley]], {{convert|5.8|mi|km|1}} northwest of [[Bolton]] and {{convert|20.1|mi|km|1}} northwest from the city of [[Manchester]].
[[Historic counties of England|Historically]] a part of [[Lancashire]], it lies at the southern edge of the [[West Pennine Moors]] with the [[M61 motorway]] close to the south and west, and [[Blackrod]] to the southwest. According to the [[United Kingdom Census 2001]], Horwich has a population of 19,312.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadAreaSearch.do?a=3&c=Horwich&i=1001&m=0&enc=1&areaSearchText=Horwich&areaSearchType=16&extendedList=true&searchAreas=Search |title=Horwich CP (Parish) |author= United Kingdom Census 2001 |publisher=neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref>
==History==
Horwich's origins began as a [[Chase (land)|hunting chase]] in [[middle ages|mediaeval]] times for the [[Baron]]s of [[Manchester]]. Horwich continued as such until the 17th century, although the amount of woodland was reduced for house building and for fuel.<ref name=abouthorwich>Smith, M.D., (1988) ''About Horwich,'' Nelson Brothers (ISBN 0-9508772-7-1)</ref><ref name=moreabouthorwich>Smith, M.D. (in collaboration with E.M. Brownlow), (1999) ''More About Horwich,'' St. Michael's on Wyre: Wyre (ISBN 0-9526187-4-5)</ref>
During the 16th and 17th centuries other occupations began to take place in Horwich - [[Agriculture|farming]], [[Spinning (textiles)|spinning]], [[weaving]] and [[Croft (land)|crofting]]. In 1770, two brothers, John and Joseph Ridgway moved their [[bleaching]] works from [[Bolton]] to Horwich.<ref name=abouthorwich>Smith, M.D., (1988) ''About Horwich,'' Nelson Brothers (ISBN 0-9508772-7-1)</ref><ref name=moreabouthorwich>Smith, M.D. (in collaboration with E.M. Brownlow), (1999) ''More About Horwich,'' St. Michael's on Wyre: Wyre (ISBN 0-9526187-4-5)</ref>
It is not known when Horwich's first [[chapel]] was built, but in 1565 the Commissioners for Removing Superstitious Ornaments took various idolatrous items from Horwich Chapel. This chapel was replaced with a larger one in 1782 to accommodate the increasing population. The second chapel itself was replaced with an even larger church in 1831, which is still standing. Until 1853 Horwich was a chapelry in the historic ecclesiastical parish of [[Deane, Bolton|Deane]], after that date Horwich became an ecclesiastical parish of its own right.<ref name=abouthorwich>Smith, M.D., (1988) ''About Horwich,'' Nelson Brothers (ISBN 0-9508772-7-1)</ref><ref name=moreabouthorwich>Smith, M.D. (in collaboration with E.M. Brownlow), (1999) ''More About Horwich,'' St. Michael's on Wyre: Wyre (ISBN 0-9526187-4-5)</ref>
In the 17th and 18th centuries there were a number of [[non-conformists]] in Horwich. In 1719 they built their own "new [[chapel]]" and named so to distinguish Horwich's ([[Anglican]]) "old chapel". This building is still known today as New Chapel. In the 18th and 19th centuries other non-conformist churches and chapels were built in Horwich.<ref name=abouthorwich>Smith, M.D., (1988) ''About Horwich,'' Nelson Brothers (ISBN 0-9508772-7-1)</ref><ref name=moreabouthorwich>Smith, M.D. (in collaboration with E.M. Brownlow), (1999) ''More About Horwich,'' St. Michael's on Wyre: Wyre (ISBN 0-9526187-4-5)</ref>
===Horwich Works===
{{main|Horwich Works}}
In 1881 Horwich still had a small population with 3,761 inhabitants and around 900 houses, this hadn't changed much in the last fifty years. In the next 10 years Horwich was transformed into a town of 12,850 people in 1891.<ref name=abouthorwich>Smith, M.D., (1988) ''About Horwich,'' Nelson Brothers (ISBN 0-9508772-7-1)</ref><ref name=moreabouthorwich>Smith, M.D. (in collaboration with E.M. Brownlow), (1999) ''More About Horwich,'' St. Michael's on Wyre: Wyre (ISBN 0-9526187-4-5)</ref>
In the spring of 1884 the [[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]] (L&YR) started work to build a new large [[locomotive]] works in Horwich when the company's works at [[Miles Platting]] became too small. By November 1886 Horwich Locomotive Works became up and working when the first locomotives were taken in for repair. The first newly built locomotive (Number 1008) left the works in 1887. This locomotive is now preserved at the [[National Railway Museum]].<ref name=abouthorwich>Smith, M.D., (1988) ''About Horwich,'' Nelson Brothers (ISBN 0-9508772-7-1)</ref><ref name=moreabouthorwich>Smith, M.D. (in collaboration with E.M. Brownlow), (1999) ''More About Horwich,'' St. Michael's on Wyre: Wyre (ISBN 0-9526187-4-5)</ref><ref name=railwaytowncountry>Simmons, Jack, (1986) ''The Railway in Town and Country,'' Newton Abbot: David and Charles (ISBN 0-7153869-9-9)</ref><ref name=railwayworkshops>Larkin, Edgar J. and Larkin, John G., (1988) ''The Railway Workshops of Great Britain, 1823-1986,'' London: Macmillan Press (ISBN 0-3333943-1-3)</ref>
In both the [[First World War|First]] and [[Second World War]]s Horwich Works played an important part with the manufacture of [[tank]]s, [[munition]]s, etc.<ref name=abouthorwich>Smith, M.D., (1988) ''About Horwich,'' Nelson Brothers (ISBN 0-9508772-7-1)</ref><ref name=moreabouthorwich>Smith, M.D. (in collaboration with E.M. Brownlow), (1999) ''More About Horwich,'' St. Michael's on Wyre: Wyre (ISBN 0-9526187-4-5)</ref>
The original company which owned Horwich Locomotive Works was amalgamated in the early 20th century with other railway companies until they were eventually [[nationalised]] in 1948 by the [[Transport Act 1947]] and becoming [[British Railways]]. In 1962, British Railways transferred control of all its main works to a central body called British Railways Workshops Division, with its headquarters in [[Derby]]. In 1970 this Workshops Division was renamed [[British Rail Engineering Limited]] (BREL).<ref name=abouthorwich>Smith, M.D., (1988) ''About Horwich,'' Nelson Brothers (ISBN 0-9508772-7-1)</ref><ref name=moreabouthorwich>Smith, M.D. (in collaboration with E.M. Brownlow), (1999) ''More About Horwich,'' St. Michael's on Wyre: Wyre (ISBN 0-9526187-4-5)</ref><ref name=railwaytowncountry>Simmons, Jack, (1986) ''The Railway in Town and Country,'' Newton Abbot: David and Charles (ISBN 0-7153869-9-9)</ref><ref name=railwayworkshops>Larkin, Edgar J. and Larkin, John G., (1988) ''The Railway Workshops of Great Britain, 1823-1986,'' London: Macmillan Press (ISBN 0-3333943-1-3)</ref>
The last steam locomotive constructed at Horwich Works left on November 27, 1957 and the last diesel built there left on December 28, 1962. Horwich Works was reduced to repairing engines and finally maintaining railway wagons. On February 18, 1983 [[BREL]] announced that the works was to close at the end of the year. Protest marches and spirited trade union resistance failed to alter the decision and so at 1 pm on Friday, December 23, 1983 Horwich Works closed after 97 years.<ref name=abouthorwich>Smith, M.D., (1988) ''About Horwich,'' Nelson Brothers (ISBN 0-9508772-7-1)</ref><ref name=moreabouthorwich>Smith, M.D. (in collaboration with E.M. Brownlow), (1999) ''More About Horwich,'' St. Michael's on Wyre: Wyre (ISBN 0-9526187-4-5)</ref><ref name=railwaytowncountry>Simmons, Jack, (1986) ''The Railway in Town and Country,'' Newton Abbot: David and Charles (ISBN 0-7153869-9-9)</ref><ref name=railwayworkshops>Larkin, Edgar J. and Larkin, John G., (1988) ''The Railway Workshops of Great Britain, 1823-1986,'' London: Macmillan Press (ISBN 0-3333943-1-3)</ref>
==Governance==
Horwich was once a [[Township (England)|township]] in the historic ecclesiastical [[parish]] of [[Deane, Greater Manchester|Deane]], in the [[Salford (hundred)|Hundred of Salford]] of [[Lancashire]].<ref name=GMRO>[http://www.gmcro.co.uk/guides/gazette/gazzg.htm "Official British Place Name Archives - Horwich"], ''[[Greater Manchester County Records Office]]''. URL accessed March 28, 2007.</ref>
In 1837 Horwich joined with other [[Township (England)|township]]s (or [[civil parish]]es) in the area to form the [[Bolton]] [[Poor Law Union]] and took joint responsibility for the administration and funding of the [[Poor Law]] in that area.<ref name=GMRO>[http://www.gmcro.co.uk/guides/gazette/gazzg.htm "Official British Place Name Archives - Horwich"], ''[[Greater Manchester County Records Office]]''. URL accessed March 28, 2007.</ref>
In 1872 the Horwich [[Local board of health|Local Board of Health]] was established for the area of the township, and was superseded by the creation of Horwich [[Urban District]] of the [[Administrative counties of England|administrative county]] of Lancashire in 1894. Under the [[Local Government Act 1972]] Horwich Urban District was abolished in 1974 and its area became a [[successor parish]] of the newly created [[Metropolitan Borough of Bolton]] in [[Greater Manchester]].<ref name=GMRO/>
On the [[9 January]] [[1974]] Horwich was granted a [[Municipal charter|Town Charter]] by the [[Earl Marshal]], which officially gave Horwich the status of a [[town]], which included a town [[mayor]] and [[town council]]. On the [[6 December]] [[1974]] the [[Earl Marshal]] also granted and assigned an official [[Coat of Arms]] for the town. Horwich had been using an unofficial Coat of Arms.<ref name=coatarms>[http://www.horwich.gov.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=41 Horwich Coat of Arms]. URL accessed March 29, 2007</ref>
In March 1990 the towns of Horwich and [[Crowborough]] ([[East Sussex]]) entered into a unique and historic twinning arrangement when they became the first towns within the [[United Kingdom]] to sign a [[Town twinning|Town Twinning]] [[Charter]]. The charter was signed by the mayors of Horwich and [[Crowborough]] at a ceremony in the Public Hall, Horwich on the 22nd March 1990 and in the [[Town Hall]], Crowborough on the 27th March 1990.<ref name=towntwinning>[http://www.horwich.gov.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=38 Horwich's Town Twinning]. URL accessed March 29, 2007</ref>
==Geography==
The landscape of the area is dominated by [[Winter Hill]], [[Rivington Pike]] and the [[West Pennine Moors]].
1.5 km south of the town centre is Red Moss, a 47.2 hectare (116.6 acre) [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSIs) which was designated in 1995 because of its biological interest. Red Moss is the best example of lowland raised [[mire]] in Greater Manchester and is one of [[List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Greater Manchester|21 SSSIs in the area]].
<ref>{{cite web | title=Red Moss citation sheet | work=Natural England | url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1006538.pdf | accessdate=2007-03-03}}</ref>
==Demography==
Until the late 1700s Horwich was a very small rural community. In the 1800s the [[population]] increased slowly with the introduction of various industries. However, the biggest change was with the building of the locomotive works in 1885 which completely changed the town out of recognition.<ref name=abouthorwich>Smith, M.D., (1988) ''About Horwich,'' Nelson Brothers (ISBN 0-9508772-7-1)</ref><ref name=moreabouthorwich>Smith, M.D. (in collaboration with E.M. Brownlow), (1999) ''More About Horwich,'' St. Michael's on Wyre: Wyre (ISBN 0-9526187-4-5)</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
|-
!colspan=11 |Population changes of Horwich
|-
!Year
!Population
!style="background-color: #FFFFFF;" |
!Year
!Population
!style="background-color: #FFFFFF;" |
!Year
!Population
!style="background-color: #FFFFFF;" |
!Year
!Population
|-
|'''1801''' || 1,565
|rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFFFFF;" |
|'''1851''' || 3,952
|rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFFFFF;" |
|'''1901''' || 15,084
|rowspan="5" style="background-color: #FFFFFF;" |
|'''1951''' || 15,549
|-
|'''1811''' || 2,374
|'''1861''' || 3,471
|'''1911''' || 16,285
|'''1961''' || 16,078
|-
|'''1821''' || 2,873
|'''1871''' || 3,671
|'''1921''' || 15,661
|'''1971''' || 16,465
|-
|'''1831''' || 3,562
|'''1881''' || 3,761
|'''1931''' || 15,680
|'''1991''' || 18,514
|-
|'''1841''' || 3,773
|'''1891''' || 12,850
|'''1939''' †|| 14,995
|'''2001''' || 19,312
|-
|colspan="11" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"| ''Sources: (a) Local Statistics.<ref name=ptattonboltonstats>Pauline Tatton, ''Local population statistics 1801-1986'', Bolton Central Library Archives, Le Mans Crescent, Bolton, BL1 1SE.</ref> (b) A vision of Britain through time.<ref name=vobhorwichudpop>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10221043&c_id=10001043&add=N Horwich UD: Total Population]. URL accessed 29 November 2007.</ref> (c) ''Neighbourhood Statistics''.<ref name=NatStatsHorwichCPpop2001>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790582&c=Horwich&d=16&e=15&g=349458&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 UK Census 2001 - Horwich CP (Parish)]. URL accessed 29 November 2007.</ref>
|-
|colspan="11" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|† The 1939 population is estimated from the National Registration figures.<ref name=natreg1939>[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~framland/acts/1939%20Registration.htm National Registration Act, 1939]. Rootsweb.com. URL accessed [[5 June]] [[2007]].</ref> The 1941 census did not take place because of the [[World War II|Second World War]].
|}
==Economy==
Horwich is home to a [[British Aerospace]] factory at [[Lostock,_Bolton|Lostock]], this was originally built about 1937 as a [[shadow factory]] for the [[de Havilland]] [[Airscrew]] Company manufacturing aircraft [[propellers]]. It once employed thousands of people but today under the [[MBDA]] nameplate it employs around 500.
==Transport==
The town is situated off junction 6 of the [[M61 motorway]]. The two main roads which run through the town are the [[Great Britain road numbering scheme#Other "A" roads|A673]] and the [[Great Britain road numbering scheme#"B" roads|B6226]].
Horwich Railway Station closed to passenger traffic on 27th September 1965<ref>The Directory of Railway Stations, R V J Butt, Patrick Stephens Company 1995, ISBN 9781852605087</ref>; 34 years later [[Horwich Parkway railway station|Horwich Parkway Railway Station]] opened in 1999, next to [[Reebok Stadium]]. [[Manchester Airport]] is 1 hour away by train.
The nearest railway station to much of Horwich (including the town centre), however, is [[Blackrod railway station|Blackrod]].
Frequent buses operate between Horwich and Bolton. The 575 is operated by [[Arriva North West & Wales|Arriva]] and [[First Manchester]], with Arriva services continuing to [[Wigan]]. [[Stagecoach North West]] provide services 125 and 126 between [[Preston]] and [[Bolton]] via [[Chorley]], [[Adlington]] and Horwich.
==Education==
<div style="font-size: 95%">
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="16%"|School or College !! width="6%"|Type/Status !! width="5%"|OfSTED !! width="14%"|Website
|-
| '''Chorley New Road Primary school'''
| [[Education_in_the_United_Kingdom#Primary_School|Primary]]
| [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=105178&providerCategoryID=4096 105178]
| [http://www.cnr.org.uk/ www.cnr.org.uk]
|-
| '''Claypool Primary School'''
| Primary
| [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=105195&providerCategoryID=4096 105195]
| [http://www.claypool.bolton.sch.uk/ www.claypool.bolton.sch.uk]
|-
| '''Horwich Parish CofE Primary School'''
| Primary
| [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=105233&providerCategoryID=4096 105233]
| [http://www.hpces.co.uk/ www.hpces.co.uk]
|-
| '''Lord Street Primary School'''
| Primary
| [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=105179&providerCategoryID=4096 105179]
| <!---no website available--->
|-
| '''St Catherine's CofE Primary School'''
| Primary
| [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=132785&providerCategoryID=4096 132785]
| [http://www.st-catherines.bolton.sch.uk/ www.st-catherines.bolton.sch.uk]
|-
| '''St Mary's RC Primary School'''
| Primary
| [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=105250&providerCategoryID=4096 105250]
| <!---no website available--->
|-
| '''Lever Park School'''
| [[Special school|Special]]
| [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=131692&providerCategoryID=65536 131692]
| [http://www.leverpark.bolton.sch.uk/ www.leverpark.bolton.sch.uk]
|-
| '''[[Rivington and Blackrod High School]]'''
| [[Education_in_the_United_Kingdom#Secondary_School|Secondary]] <br />& [[Sixth form]]
| [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=105261&providerCategoryID=8192 105261]
| [http://www.rbhs.co.uk/site/the_school/index.html www.rbhs.co.uk]
|-
| '''[[St Joseph's RC High School and Sports College, Horwich|St Joseph's RC High School and Sports College]]'''
| Secondary <br />& Sixth form
| [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=105262&providerCategoryID=8192 105262]
| [http://www.st-josephs.bolton.sch.uk/ www.st-josephs.bolton.sch.uk]
|-
| '''Horwich Campus of Bolton Community College'''
| Further education
| [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=130495&providerCategoryID=524288 130495]
| [http://www.bolton-community-college.ac.uk/venues/horwich.htm www.bolton-community-college.ac.uk (Horwich Campus)]
|-
| '''Alliance Learning'''
| Work-based learning
| [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=50387&providerCategoryID=268435456 50387]
| [http://www.alliancelearning.com/ www.alliancelearning.com]
|-
|}
</div>
==Notable people==
{{seealso|List of people from Bolton}}
*[[Vernon Kay]] - TV Presenter
*[[Bernard Wrigley]] - Actor/Comedian
*[[Paul Mariner]] - England Footballer
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.horwich.gov.uk/ www.horwich.gov.uk], Horwich Town Council.
* [http://www.1471atc.org.uk/ www.1471atc.org.uk], 1471 (Horwich) Air Cadets.
* [http://www.horwichcarnivalraces.co.uk/ www.horwichcarnivalraces.co.uk], Horwich Carnival Races.
* [http://www.horwichrmicc.co.uk/ www.horwichrmicc.co.uk], Horwich Cricket Club.
* [http://www.horwichcc.co.uk/ www.horwichcc.co.uk], Horwich Cycling Club.
* [http://www.horwichheritage.co.uk/ www.horwichheritage.co.uk], Horwich Heritage.
* [http://www.horwichrmiharriers.co.uk/ www.horwichrmiharriers.co.uk], Horwich RMI Harriers.
* [http://www.bolton.org.uk/horwich.html www.bolton.org.uk], Photos of Horwich.
{{Greater Manchester}}
[[Category:Towns in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:West Pennine Moors]]
[[Category:Geography of Bolton]]
[[de:Horwich]]
[[ro:Horwich]]