Golborne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Golborne
High Street, Golborne
Golborne
Population	24,169 (2011 census)
OS grid reference	SJ606978
Metropolitan borough	Wigan
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WARRINGTON
Postcode district	WA3
Dialling code	01925 01942
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Leigh and Atherton
List of places UK England Greater Manchester 53°28′33″N 2°35′39″W / 53.4758°N 2.5943°W / 53.4758; -2.5943

Golborne is a friendly town located in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, inside the county of Greater Manchester, England. It sits about 5 miles south of the large town of Wigan and 6 miles north of Warrington. The busy city of Manchester is only 14 miles away to the east. Golborne shares much of its daily life with the nearby community of Lowton. Together, both places are home to over 24,000 people.

Long ago, Golborne was part of the historic county of Lancashire. Today, modern drivers know it because of the wide A580 East Lancashire Road running close by. In the past, Golborne became famous for deep underground mining and making cloth in busy factories. Many families worked on local farms, and several of these farms still exist today.

Discovering the Long History of Golborne

People have lived in the area around Golborne for hundreds of years. The town's story began with natural waterways, brave leaders, and small farming settlements. Over time, it transformed from a quiet countryside spot into a buzzing industrial town.

What Does the Name Golborne Mean?

The special name Golborne comes from two words in Old English, which was spoken many centuries ago. The first part comes from golde, meaning golden, and the second part comes from burna, which means a stream. Together, they mean a "stream where marsh marigolds grow."

These bright yellow flowers, also related to the calendula family, loved to bloom along the banks of the Millingford Brook. In old records from the year 1187, scribes wrote the name as Goldeburn. By 1201, people called it Goldburc, and later it appeared as Goldburn and Golburne. By the 16th century, people spelled it much like we do today.

Early Settlements and Old Legends

Historians know that people lived here during the time of the famous Domesday Book, which was written in 1086. Back then, leaders split the land into two parts called moieties. One half belonged to the Lords of Lowton, and the other half belonged to the Golborne family under King Henry III. Later on, other families like the Fleetwoods and the Leghs took charge.

An ancient writer named the Venerable Bede wrote a famous book called Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum. In this text, he wrote about a sacred water well near Golborne dedicated to Saint Oswald. Some old stories claimed that King Penda of Mercia fought Oswald at the Battle of Maserfield in the year 642 nearby. However, most historians today believe the real battle happened further away near Oswestry.

Golborne also has tales about a daring adventurer named Colonel Blood. He lived at Holcroft Hall, which is a farm today. Blood once tried to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London during the reign of King Charles II. Instead of punishing him, the king thought the attempt was remarkably bold and pardoned him. Blood had married Maria Holcroft at the local church, even though her father did not approve.

During the English Civil War in 1648, soldiers fought a clash known as the Battle of Red Gap near the town. Scottish soldiers supported King Charles I and marched south. A military leader named Oliver Cromwell led his troops into battle. Even though Cromwell had fewer soldiers, his army won several running fights between Preston, Wigan, and Warrington.

Growing Through the Industrial Revolution

Boundary sign on Wigan Road (A573)

During the Industrial Revolution, Golborne changed very quickly. Great machines arrived, and workers began digging deep into the earth for coal. The town built a large coal mine known as a colliery. People from neighbouring communities like Abram and Ashton-in-Makerfield came here to work.

Mining was very tough work, and underground accidents could happen. In March 1979, an electrical spark caused an underground explosion that took the lives of ten brave workers. The community showed great courage during these hard times. The mine eventually closed down in 1989.

Local people call the site of the old mine the "Bonk." Today, this ground has transformed into the largest public park in Golborne, where families play and walk dogs. To replace lost mining jobs, town leaders built business spaces like Stone Cross Industrial Park and Golborne Enterprise Park.

Local Government and Changing Boundaries

The way Golborne manages its local services has changed over the years. In 1894, the government created an urban district for Golborne. It later grew in 1933 by taking in parts of the Leigh Rural District, including the village of Kenyon.

In 1974, a major law called the Local Government Act 1972 reorganized many towns. The government divided Golborne. The sections of Culcheth and Newchurch formed a new parish named Culcheth and Glazebury in the Warrington area of Cheshire. The main town of Golborne joined the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan within Greater Manchester.

Understanding the Town Population

As Golborne changed from a quiet village into an industrial centre, its population grew rapidly. The following numbers show how many people lived in the town across the twentieth century.

Famous Sights and Community Landmarks

Golborne contains several historical sites and special places where residents gather to remember the past.

• St Thomas' Church: Built in 1829, this lovely parish church features an active clock tower that chimes every hour across the town.
• Peter Kane Square: Located right in the centre of town, this square features a memorial clock honouring world champion boxer Peter Kane.
• Colliery Memorial Stone: Located on Kidglove Road, this large stone honours all the men and women who worked at the local mine.
• War Memorial Cenotaph: Standing at the junction of Legh Street and Barn Lane, this monument honours local service members.

Getting Around Golborne: Transport and Travel

The busy railway called the West Coast Main Line passes directly through the town. For many years, trains passed by without stopping because the stations had shut down. Nearby stations like Newton-le-Willows, Wigan North Western, and Warrington Bank Quay connected travellers to inter-city trains going to Glasgow Central, Edinburgh Waverley, and London Euston.

The old stations were once called Golborne South and Golborne North. Regional leaders, including the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, supported bringing trains back to the town. Transport planners prepared the site so modern trains could serve local passengers again.

Golborne also relies on a busy network of buses. Buses operated by the Bee Network carry people to Leigh and Wigan. Additional routes run by Arriva Merseyside and Warrington's Own Buses link local neighbourhoods to Earlestown and Warrington.

Inspiring People from Golborne

Many talented individuals from Golborne have achieved great things in arts, sports, and entertainment.

Danny Tickle, 2008

Arts and Entertainment

• Brian Simpson: A dedicated public servant who served as a Member of the European Parliament.
• Philip McGinley: A talented television and theatre actor known for exciting dramatic roles.
• Natasha Hodgson: A creative performer and writer who helped make the stage show Operation Mincemeat.
• Chris Washington: A popular comedy performer who previously worked as a postman.

Sports Champions

• Billy Hibbert: An early football star who played 178 matches for Bury.
• Peter Kane: A local blacksmith who became a world champion flyweight boxer in the 1930s.
• Johnny Hart: A skilled football player and manager for Manchester City.
• Fred Else: A goalkeeper who made hundreds of appearances for teams like Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers.
• Bert Llewellyn: An energetic striker who played over one hundred games for Wigan Athletic.
• Jimmy Pennington: A dependable professional footballer who played 161 league games.
• Paul Hart: A tough central defender who played many matches for Leeds United and Blackpool.
• Nigel Hart: A defender who appeared in over 140 games for Crewe Alexandra.
• Thomas Billington: An internationally famous professional wrestler known as the Dynamite Kid.
• Davey Boy Smith: A famous power wrestler who competed on world stages alongside his cousin Thomas Billington.
• Danny Tickle: A rugby league player who made appearances for clubs including Hull and the Wigan Warriors.
• Matty Hughes: A versatile footballer who made over 270 competitive appearances.
• Andy Ackers: A professional rugby league player who has competed in top divisions.
• Charlie Hughes: A young football defender who quickly broke into senior football.

Related Reading

• Listed buildings in Golborne
• List of mining disasters in Lancashire

See also

In Spanish: Golborne para niños