TANYARD FIELDS HINDLEY

Does anyone remember Tanyard Fields, Hindley? Think it was near Woodagger Close.

I think the tanyard fields used to be in the hindley baths area down to the old folks home.

dotnet

You are right, there used to be some very old cottages in that area, a friend of mine Lovaine Taylor used to live there.

If I remember correctly there used to be an old tannery building situated where the mornington high school playing fields met the tanfield school, around the baths area I think there was a pond called four acres and behind the tanfield school was another pond pond called saully, not sure about the spelling.

I was looking at an old map, there was a Woodagger Farm in the area.

Was the farm close to all saints church.

As far as I can remember, it was in the area of the present day Woodagger Close. I don't seem to be able to access the map at the moment.

I remember tanyard field, dont remember a farm though maybe before my time

The house on the corner of Atherton Road and the lane (track ) leading to the Tanyard used to be lived in by the Alkers. Wilf Alker played for the Latics in the 50's. In the field between the Tanyard and the houses were some pens--allotments as you call them now--the owners grew flowers mainly carnations and chrysanths.
Used to walk up the lane to the Hollins farm, sister-in law ( Aldred's )lived there.

I was brought up in Smithwood Ave in the mid late 50's, having moved from Liverpool road. I do remember playing in the fields, skating on the ponds (when they froze), collecting wood for the Nov 5th,etc all prior to the building of the new housing estate from the roundabout at the top of Lancaster Road all the way down to Long lane

Tanyard Fields was a dirt road from Atherton Road and was replaced by Borsdane Avenue. The tanyard was about 200 yards up from Atherton Road on the right hand side. It was a slaughter-house for horses, after killing, they were boiled and the flesh sold, the bones went to glue factories and when in production the smell was terrible. Up to the late 40's there were still a lot of horses around. After the first World War there was a Wigan Jubilee Flying Club and they purchased an old Avro 504 biplane, this was kept in a large shed behind Lucas's farm, where the petrol station is now. They put it across the road in the Tanyard Fields one day to try and fly it but it would not start, it never actually flew again and gradually vanished because of vandalism. So the Tanyard Fields could have been the name for Hindley AIRPORT. Wooddagger Farm was just of George Street, you turned up the side of All Saint's churchyard and the farm was about 40 yards from George Street. E.T.

When the Tanyard was being demolished the rats and mice deserted as one, you could not see them but the tall green crop just to the north of the solly pond waved about just like lapping waves on a lake.I remember another pond farther over than the solly and fouracre, it was called the peelers and it had some bonny fish in. also remember Wooddagger farm and the little cloggers shed down George Street.

The tanyard building was where the Tanyard school is now part way down borsdane avenue and not mornington road.we used to go up the little path from Thirlmere road onto Borsdane and play in the brick ruins of the tanyard and collect the large leg bones that were scattered around.when mornington road footie pitchs were laid many bones were found just a few inches under the soil.

by dave(c)...
<<As far as I can remember, it was in the area of the present day Woodagger Close. I don't seem to be able to access the map at the moment.>>

Try now Dave.

Ericturner has nailed it I think. Wood Dagger Farm was on George Street, just south of All Saint's Church. There was a slaughterhouse along the track that become Borsdane Avenue, which would account for the animal bones tommyenigma found.

1907 OS Map
Be patient, it is a large map and may take a while to display.

black staff - that's a great old map. My grandma lived in the alms houses on Thirlmere Road just south of All Saints Church (not shown on the map). Do you have a continuation of the map to show Hindley Green as well? I have an interest in a row of old slum houses just behind the Victoria Pub on the corner of Atherton Road & Long Lane - my Mum lived there as a girl.

I don't think the map that shows the Victoria pub is out yet, although it's shown as "in preparation," the Godfrey map reference is 94.10

Old Ordnance Survey Maps of Wigan

Thanks Dave

Brenda, do you mean Marsh Row? That, according to Google Earth, is about 170 yards down Long Lane from its junction with Atherton Road. There were some old houses there, if you've got Google Earth or Google Maps, copy and paste the coordinates underneath.

53°31'40.59"N 2°33'26.11"W

I never thought they were slums.

BrendaM... I do have an Hindley Green map, but it just misses the Victoria Pub, it concentrates mostly on the area south of Atherton Road.

Dave(c)'s link is a belting resource for old maps. The one in preparation will be called 'Hindley Green (North) 1906'. They are pretty cheep as well... £3 with pp included. You can also find a few Alan Godfrey maps at Waterstones in the local history section... but it depends on what is in stock.

Hi Dave & black staff - sorry - I'm not on the computer at home so don't see replies until Mondays.

No - not Marsh Row - our back yard looked out onto Marsh Row. This is different, right behind the Victoria Pub and the little chippy on Atherton Road. It must have been pulled down in the '40's I think. I remember there was a ginnel to the back and they put up garages for the council houses on Beechfield Ave & Cinnamon Ave.

I'll see if I can get a copy through Dave's link when it's published.

Thanks guys!

It seems like there were four houses numbered 1, 3, 5 and 7 from here.
Bit of a mystery that one! Was this a street off Long Lane, but included in the addresses for Long Lane?

Dave - you're a treasure! It wasn't the ones you listed, but further down where it says Long Lane (Hindley Green), 551 Atherton Road - back: 3 - Ainscow, Walter, wagon lowerer. That was my Grandad! (Only his name was spelled Ainscough, not Ainscow.) And further down it mentions Ivy Cottage Farm where my schoolfriend lived. We spent many happy hours running through the fields, collecting tadpoles and climbing trees! Many thanks, Dave

Brenda, this is the map, seems like it's just been published.

Many thanks Dave!!

The map (1908) arrived today, not been able to do a scan so tried photographing it, results not to good but should be recognisable. Green arrow pointing to the houses.

Interestingly, Marsh Row, in 1908 seems to have known as "Bow Wow Row," this is changed on the 1928 map which is on the reverse.

Wow Dave - That's it exactly! Look how few houses there were and the rest is mostly fields. I see in the corner Hindley Green Mills is there - that was the old Dunlop site that burned down in the '70's. I worked there in the office for five years both before it burned down, and after it was rebuilt. We were relocated to TBA down Leigh Road during the rebuilt. Found out later there was asbestos in the offices.

Funny story - after Dunlops was demolished, I paid the truck driver to dump a load of bricks in front of my house for a wall. When I got home that day, there were bricks and concrete all over the road! (Guess I didn't pay him enough?) We had to chip all the bricks clean before we could use them, and then had to go back and forth to the dump to get rid of the rubble. Nearly got murdered for that one - haha

... and "Bow Wow Row" too funny

My Grandparents lived at 3 Bow Wow Row my mother was born there in 1910. I don't know when it changed to Marsh Row. Shown as Marsh Row in the Hindley Directory of 1925.

my grandma and aunty and uncle lived here my gradma died 1952 happy days

Brenda was your Gran dad's name Roy and his sisters name Margaret? The Fosters lived in Ivy Cottage and I was lived in number 19 Long Lane and could see March row from my bedroom window. I used to play with a Roy Ainscow and Margaret his sister was a little older.

tricia

Hi Tricia,
No, my grandad's name was Walter. He's been gone now for over 30 years. I used to play with Frances Foster from Ivy Cottage Farm. I don't remember a Roy or Margaret Ainscow, though.
Brenda

Brenda, I know Frances Foster also. I used to play with her brother Colin and Sheila Foster her sister. I also used to work at Turner Bros with her dad Albert Foster. We lived in Long Lane very close to the Foster family. Many happy hours I spent in their house playing . In fact Colin became a solicitor and became our family solicitor.

Tricia

Hi Tricia,
I remember Frances's older sister and brother, Sheila and Colin, and also Judith, their younger sister. I've been trying to find out what happened to Frances - we were friends all through school, and then I got married and we lost touch. Her mum used to make Vimto ice-lollies and they were such a treat! I also spent many happy hours playing dress-up in the sawdust shed, climbing the trees and playing in the field! Happy memories