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| Old Facts  Map 1844 (Map courtesy of Lois Best) To the left of Long Lane is Hindley Ho.
Wigan Registration District, 1851. Census Street Index A-B. The red square is where the Clayhole is now. ( Westlake )
It is interesting to note that what is now Alder Lane was in 1844 named Owler Lane and Sandy Lane was Sand Hole Lane. At the bottom of Swan Lane where it meets Alder Lane was Boggart Ho. Wigan Registration District, 1851. Census Street Index A-B.
( See further down for Boggart Houses )
To the right of Swan Lane, the area was called Snapes. Apparently there was a farm here Snapes Farm occupied in 1909 by Margaret Johnson. Burial: 14 Jun 1905 All Saints, Hindley, Lancashire, England
Margaret Johnson - Age: 75
Abode: Snape Farm Swan Lane Hindley Green
Buried by: C.J. Buckmaster Vicar
Register: Burials 1905 - 1948.
This area called Snapes stretched across the areas of what is now the Edinburgh Drive estate and Taylor Rd estate to what was Cow Common. (The area around Carr Common Rd). Could it possibly be derived from the dialect of “Ceaw Common” ? Although in the 1841 Census Returns it was still called Carr Common.
1841 Census Return for Hindley 
This area of Hindley Green seems to contain lots of clay and at the top of Leigh road known as "The Bethel", is an area that has for a long time been known as "Top er't Sonds" or "Top of the Sands". This area became known as "The Bethel" because of the church that was originally founded here, Bethel United Methodist Church. Which was originally know as Hindley Common Church. (See Westlake)
DIARY OF LOCAL EVENTS
IN THE DISTRICT OF LEIGH
1852-1876
Below are shocking reports of mining and other disasters in the local area
1854
18 Feb Awful colliery explosion at Ince; 89 lives lost.
1856
29 Jan Explosion at Springfield Colliery, Westleigh, three lives lost.
4 Sep Fatal accident on the London and North-Western Railway, near Chequerbent.
19 Dec Inundation of the Westleigh Coal Company's Colliery. One man drowned.
1857
28 May Colliery explosion at Ince; seven persons killed and twelve injured.
25 Nov Colliery explosion at Golborne; four lives lost.
1858
17 Mar Serious fire at Messrs. P. Farnworth and Brothers' cotton mill, Bedford.
11 Dec Dreadful colliery explosion at Tyldesley Coal Co.'s Pit; twenty-five men and boys killed.
1859
9 Feb Boiler explosion at Dan-lane Mill, Chowbent; two men killed and several injured.
8 Aug Fearful and fatal explosion at Bury Lane Mills; death of Richard gill, Esq., Bury Lane.
24 Dec Fatal explosion at Howelbridge Colliery.
1860
26 Nov Disastrous accident on the London and North-Western Railway, near Kirkhall-lane crossing; two men killed. Verdict of manslaughter against Hindley, the platelayer.
1861
28 Feb Collier explosion at Worsley; eight lives lost.
1 Nov Colliery explosion at Shevington, near Wigan; thirteen lives lost.
1865
21 Jan Serious collision on the Bolton and Leigh Railway, near Bolton; three men killed.
12 Sep Terrible colliery explosion at the Kirklees Hall Co.'s Caledonia Pit, Hindley; eight persons killed.
9 Dec Destruction by fire of the cotton mill belonging to Mr. John Norbury, Chowbent.
1866
23 Jan Terrible explosion at Messrs. Evans' colliery; near Ashton-in-Makerfield; thirty lives lost.
1867
20 Aug Colliery explosion at Garswood Colliery, Ashton-in-Makerfield; fourteen lives lost.
1868
4 Jul Great fire on Chat Moss.
17 Aug Explosion at Swan Lane Colliery, Hindley; three lives lost.
26 Nov Colliery explosion at Messrs. J. Scowcroft and Co.'s pit, Hindley Green; sixty lives lost.
30 Dec Explosion at the colliery of Messrs. R. Evans and Co., Haydock; 25 lives lost.
1869
8 Jan Disastrous fire at Bedford Foundry.
13 Jan Fire at Kirkhall-lane Mills.
1 Apr Colliery explosion at Park-lane, near Wigan; twenty-eight lives lost.
21 Jul Colliery explosion at Haydock; fourteen lives lost.
1870
18 Aug Colliery explosion at Brynn near Ashton-in-Makerfield, 20 persons killed.
8 Oct Colliery explosion at Howebridge, two men killed.
1871
5 Sep Fearful colliery explosion at Brynn Moss, near Ashton-in-Makerfield; seventy lives lost.
14 Nov Colliery explosion at Messrs. J. Scowcroft and Co.'s pit, Hindley Green; six men killed.
1872
23 Jan Colliery explosion at Astley; four men injured.
28 Mar Frightful colliery explosion at Lovers'-lane Colliery, Atherton; twenty-six persons killed.
1873
7 Feb Serious railway collision near Atherton; two men killed.
31 May Explosion at Brynn Hall Colliery; five men killed.
2 Aug Terrible railway catastrophe at Wigan, twelve persons killed and thirty injured.
1874
18 Jul Colliery explosion at Ince; fifteen lives lost.
1876
3 Jan Destruction by fire of Howebridge Cotton Mill; damages £40,000. Total of 508 Deaths
74 of these from Hindley Green
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- List of Hindley Green Pits from around 1852 BANKFIELD COLLIERY........East of Hindley Green Station. H/Green/W/Leigh. BROAD OAK COLLIERY.....................................Thomas Street, Hindley Green. BUGLE HORN COLLIERY.........................................Swan Lane, Hindley Green. CARR COMMON COLLIERY.....................Carr Common Road, Hindley Green. CLOSE LANE COLLIERY...................................Off Leigh Road, Hindley Green. HINDLEY GREEN COLLIERIES........................Off Atherton Rd, Hindley Green. SWAN LANE COLLIERY...........................................Swan Lane, Hindley Green. TAYLOR PIT...............................................................Taylor Road, Hindley Green. LONG LANE FOUR FEET.............................................................. Hindley Green LONG LANE THREE FEET........................................................... Hindley Green PLANK LANE................................................................................... Hindley Green ABRAM COAL CO.............................................................Abram / Hindley Green
ALBION,R. and W. Jolley.................................................................. Hindley Green
Hindley Green Farms of the past Victoria Farm ( Atherton Rd ) Marsh Farm ( Langfords Atherton Rd ) Frodsham Farm ( Wigan Lower Rd ) Belvadere Farm ( Off Coupland Rd ) Owens Farm ( Smiths Lane ) Charnock Farm ( Long Lane ) Parsonage Farm ( Arnside Rd ) Birch Farm ( Long Lane ) Yewtree Farm ( Bexhill Drive ) Ash Tree Farm ( Atherton Rd ) Close Lane Farm ( Close Lane ) Ivy Farm ( Walsh Row ) Six Acres Farm ( Off Leigh Rd ) Alder Farm ( Alder Lane ) Greens Farm ( Scowcroft Lane ) Hall Farm ( behind Hindley Green Hall, Leigh Rd ) demolished in the late 1940s to make way for Turner Bros. ( Jim and Annie Sykes, were tenants there from 1926 to 1943 )
Violent behaviour obviously existed, although not much of it seemed to be reported in this quarter of the century
1852
28 Aug Brutal attack and highway robbery in the "New Road," Bradshawgate.
1853
28 Oct Serious colliery riots in Wigan.
1856
20 Sep Edmund Astle, M.D., formerly a medical officer of the Leigh Union, committed for trial for manslaughter.
1867
1 Jun Dreadful murder in Leigh; Henry Farington deliberately shot his wife.
26 Aug Henry Farington convicted of the murder of his wife at Pennington, at the Liverpool Assizes and sentenced to death.
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Today we are seeing churches closed all over the district.
Below are the Churches that were established in this area between
1852 and 1875
Churches
1852
6 Mar Meeting to promote the erection of a new church
(Christ Church)
17 Oct Opening of the New Wesleyan Chapel, Westleigh.
19 May Foundation stone of Christ Church, Pennington, laid by Lord Lilford.
1855
21 Apr Foundation stone of Methodist Free Church, Hindley Green, laid by Mr. Edwin Diggle, son of Jas. Diggle, Esq.
3 May Opening of St. Joseph's New Catholic Church, Bedford.
7 Oct Methodist Free Church, Hindley Green, opened.
1859
6 Mar Opening of the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Tyldesley.
15 Jun Foundation stone laid of St. Mary's Church, Lowton, by Ralph Leigh, Esq., of Wigan, in behalf of the patroness, Miss Leigh, of Hale.
30 Jun Consecration of St. John's Church, Wingates, Westhoughton.
1860
16 May Opening of St. Mary's Church, Lowton.
3 Dec Foundation stone laid of the United Methodist Free Church, Plank lane.
1861
21 Apr Opening of the United Methodist Free Church, Plank-lane.
1862
20 Apr Opening of St. Peter's Mission Church, Westleigh.
1865
14 Apr Foundation stone of New Wesleyan Chapel, Chowbent, laid by James Hayes, Esq.
17 Jun Foundation stone laid of New Wesleyan Chapel, Bury Lane.
24 Sep Opening of new Wesleyan Chapel, Chowbent.
5 Nov Opening of the new Wesleyan Chapel, Bury Lane.
1866
23 Jul Foundation stone laid of United Methodist Free Church and Schools, Hindley Common.
1868
13 Jun Foundation stone of New Catholic Church, Tyldesley, laid by Dr. Goss, Bishop of Liverpool.
1869
Foundation stone laid of Primitive Methodist Chapel, Leigh.
15 May Foundation stone laid of St. Bartholomew's Church, Westhoughton.
1871
7 Apr Foundation stone laid of new Congregational Chapel, Gelborne.
22 May Foundation stone laid of the new Parish Church, Leigh, by the Bishop of Manchester.
19 Aug Foundation stone laid of new Wesleyan Chapel, Golborne.
1872
29 Mar Foundation stone of new Wesleyan Chapel, Bedford, laid by James Hayes, Esq.
Opening of new Independent Methodist Chapel, Golborne.
1874
17 Oct Foundation stone laid of the new Progressive Wesleyan Chapel, Atherton.
1875
20 May Foundation stone laid of new Congregational Chapel, Union-street, Leigh, by Henry Lee, Esq., J.P. of Manchester.
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We tend to blame most of our bad weather today on global warming.
It appears that 1852 to 1875 had their fair share as well.
1852
27 Dec Severe hurricane; much damage done in the neighbourhood.
1854
27 Jun Violent and destructive thunderstorm at Golborne.
1856
25 Jul Serious damage from a whirlwind at Westleigh.
1858
16 Jun Severe storm and whirlwind in the neighborhood; great damage to property.
1859
18 Jul Dreadful storms and destruction of property in the neighbourhood.
1869
29 Jan Shock of an earthquake felt in Leigh and neighbourhood.
1871
17 Mar Severe shock of an earthquake felt in Leigh.
20 Jun Terrific thunderstorm; great destruction of property in the district
Hindley Green and the Romans
It is believed that a roman road once ran through Hindley Green on the route from Wigan to Manchester.
During the development of a few houses in Carr Common Rd, on the north side of Wigan Road between Dangerous Corner and West-Leigh road, items of pottery and glass have been found. It is suggested there may have also been a camp in the vicinity.The Roman Road is thought to run just behind the houses here, parallel with the main road.
Fact Or Fiction ? The Green Boggart in Hindley Green In Lancashire there used to be mosses known by colour, such as the Green Moss (Astley) The White Moss (Skelmersdale), the Red Moss (Clitheroe) and naturally the appropriate Boggart was the Green,White, Red as the case might be.
JINNY GREENTEETH
Jinny greenteeth was supposed to be the wife of the Green Boggart. She seemed to spend most of her time lolling in the moss streams with her long green hair streaming in the current.
JACK O' LANTERN (the bog light) 
Jack o' lantern was the decoy used by the Boggart to entice unwary travelers into the Moss, Who, when they saw the lights thought they were travelling on firm and safe ground Until it was too late, and they were sucked into the moss.
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The green boggart would often get bored, and used to relive his boredom by playing pranks On people and there animals. One trick was to make himself very small and creep into the ear of a horse; frightening it so much it would gallop madly in any direction open to it. This madness in old times was known as "Takking Boggarts". He also used to visit houses where they had not taken the trouble to protect themselves with a charm or spell, he would make himself invisible and enter the house then all sorts of strange things he would make happen, such as pots and pans, crockery and ornaments would seem to fly off sideboards, chairs would move and water would throw its self onto the fire, and doors would open and shut themselves.
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The following story tells of a typical Boggart prank.
Up to a few years ago there used to be a row of houses in Swan Lane, Hindley Green, Which were called the boggart houses. Owd Moe, a boss of one of the Pits in the area, Maybe the Bugle Horn, Gawp'in Throstle, Snotty JIms or Crppins 2 inch, I am not sure, But he lived in swan lane. He had a big black cat, of which he was very proud, At night the cat had a habit of wandering the Boggart Houses. In one of these houses lived a bad tempered, dirty elderly man who was known as Sammy Stinker, He had no friends and lived alone. One day the Green Boggart, who was at a loose end and happened to be wandering about that part of the country, called at Stinker's house and asked for a drink of water. This of course was just an excuse to get into the house.
In spite of Sam's very rude refusals, the Boggart who had adopted the form of a human edged himself into the house. After a while he managed to overcome Sam's objections By using his Boggart blarney, and managed to get Sam to play a game of dominoes with him. This game lasted for several hours, and the Boggart told tales of the wonderful and magical things that he had done in his life time. The Boggart noticed that there was a beam running across the room with a fairly large hook Driven into it near one end from the hook hung a strong clothes line. After a while the boggart Suddenly said to Sam "Does tha know Sam, that ah wor a Boggart til aw ma mosses dreighd up?"
"now a didn't know" replied Sam.
The Boggart continued "ah've noan fergetten any o mi owd tricks, and Ah've a mahnd t'show thi some o' um". The Boggart indicated the hook and rope, and suggested to Sam that he could hang him (The Boggart) in a real hangman's fashion, provided that he could hang Sam afterwards. Sam thinking it was a real push-over told the Boggart to stand on a chair whilst he slipped a noose round his neck. He then made the other end of the rope fast to a wall bracket, leaving nearly a foot slack in the rope, still on the hook. When he had done this he snatched the chair from under the Boggarts feet and the Boggarts weight jerked the rope tight and left him dangling about six inches from the floor. When the body had been hanging several minutes, Sam had a good look at the boggart And was sure he was dead. He stood for a minute or two, then decided to go to the local pub, (The Aleck) he went to get his coat and hat from the back place. He returned to the front room and noticed to his horror that the Boggart was sitting by the table. "Well", said the Boggart, "its tha turn neaw Sam"
The Boggart strung Sam up with the rope on the hook and make no mistake, Sam was well and truly dead when the Boggert left the house. After a day or two the neighbors began to wonder about Sam, as no one seemed to have seen or heard him, so they decided to investigate. When they did they found Sam hanging peacefully dead. One thing they also noticed was that all the chairs had been placed in their proper position with their seats under the table. This puzzled them, because if Sam had hung himself he would have kicked the chair away, So they all agreed it was the Boggerts doing. One or two of them had said they had seen a big black shape mauling about the houses after dark many a time and this must have been the Boggert. The incident was for a long time the main topic of conversation in the taproom at the Alick, Especially as people kept reporting they had seen the big black shape mauling around Sam's, which had remained unoccupied since the incident.
Two characters by the names of Lazarus and Juddy who were regulars at the pub, kept on talking over the incident and they finally decided that they would do something about it. So one night they entered Sam's old house, first they made sure the that the rope and hook was in place, then they sat in the dark and waited. About midnight the men were disturbed there was someone coming into the house, and sure enough there was a black shape moving around the room. Grab him they shouted while Lazarus was getting the noose a terrible struggle started, accompanied by a lot of spitting and hissing and other noises that sounded like cursing in a foreign language. After a long and fierce struggle, in which Lazarus got very badly scratched, they managed to get the noose over the shapes head. They pulled as hard as they could on the rope. "That's getten him awreet, let him ger eawt o that". The two men then crept out of the house and went home to bed, where they had a few hours sleep, Then they had to go to their work at the pit.
During the following day owd Moe was making a great to do about his cat that had not been seen since the night before. That night Lazarus and Juddy paid their usual visit to the Alick's and started to brag as to how they had fought and hanged the boggart in Sam's house. They invited all the other men to accompany them and have a look at the hanging boggart. About a dozen or so went to the house and went inside. Hanging from the beam was, not the Boggart, But owd Moe's black cat. The other men laughed and said "Th owd Boggart's done it again." Owd Moe was furious when he found out and vowed Lazarus and Juddy would never work at his pit as long as he was alive. Lazrus and Juddy however, firmly believed that it was the Boggart they had hanged, But that due to some magic he had managed to get loose and hanged the cat in his place.
FINALLY
Old stories of boggarts and owd Hob and his followers, are all but long forgotten. In this modern day and age, dismissed as tales to scare the children. But today are our Boggarts of other planets? Or the gremlins that attack our machinery. We today as man in day gone by, have beliefs and who's to say what is true or fantasy. Beware the Boggart could still be there.
Old Facts submitted by residents. Submitted by Alan Roper of Hindley Green.
Cow & Calves Pub, Leigh Rd Hindley Green ( What is now Tattenham Works ) was known as “ Nurseries of Naughtiness or a “ House of ill repute”.
Unsworth & Wilcox Funeral Directors, Leigh Rd was once a Public house named “The Farmyard”
There were 4 Co-op buildings in Hindley Green. 1.What is now Wyndons Car spares. 2.On the corner of East St & Atherton Rd ( Now Barbers shop ) 3.Where Body Image tanning shop is now. 4.On the corner of Smith’s Lane/Leigh Rd. Other Shops in Hindley Green, in past days.
Where The Styling House is now was Tinker Lowes ( Iron mongers) Apparently there was always a very strong smell of paraffin when you passed the shop.
Williams Deacon Bank. Atherton Rd near to Palin St. Ernest Yates Grocer, corner of Palin St/Atherton Rd. The White House on Atherton Rd. ( Home of George Formby, famous Actor/Singer )
Hindley Green Athletic Field. ( Somewhere to the rear of School Row and right of Hawthorn Ave.
Local well known bobby (Bobby Cochrane) Lived in police houses 1940s/50s, situated in Swan Lane. Apparently according to Alan Roper, Bobby Cochrane had a knack of just showing up at the right time to catch youngsters misbehaving. Even though he suffered with arthritis he could still catch them and clip them round the ear, sometimes weeks after the incident. He always pushed a bicycle but never rode it.
Terraced row on Corner Lane, opposite the Bethel. named “Pike view” for obvious reason that they had a good view of Rivington Pike before the houses were built opposite.
More Old facts ( Here ) By Fred Hardman
http://www.wlct.org/Culture/Heritage/pforward.htm
Do you have any interesting old facts about Hindley Green
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