Pennington, Greater Manchester facts for kids

Pennington is a neighborhood in Leigh, a town in Greater Manchester, England. It used to be one of six old "townships" that made up the larger area of Leigh. In 1875, Pennington joined with two other townships, Westleigh and Bedford, to create the town of Leigh we know today. Pennington covered most of what is now Leigh's town center.

History of Pennington

What's in a Name?

The name Pennington likely comes from old English words. It might mean "a farm or small piece of land that paid a penny in rent." Or, it could mean "a settlement linked to a person named Pinna." Over time, the name has been spelled in different ways. Some old spellings include Pininton (in 1246) and Penyngton (in 1443).

The Old Manor House

For a long time, Pennington was mostly a single large estate, called a manor. There was also a small village around it. In the early 1200s, some land in Pennington was given to a place called Cockersand Abbey.

Later, a family named Bradshaw became the main landowners in 1312. They lived at a place called Pennington Hall until 1703. Records from 1579 mention a watermill near the manor house. This mill was used to grind corn, but it was sadly destroyed in a fire in 1829.

Pennington Hall was rebuilt in 1748 by Samuel Hilton. It was later sold in 1807 to the Gaskell family.

Growing with Industry

After the year 1800, the area of Pennington became very important for making textiles. This industry grew from people weaving cloth by hand in their homes. This was known as a "cottage industry."

How Pennington Was Governed

Local Government Changes

Historically, Pennington was part of a larger area called the Hundred of West Derby. This was a legal division in southwest Lancashire. Pennington was also one of six townships that formed the ancient church parish of Leigh. These townships existed even before the parish did.

In 1837, Pennington became part of the Leigh Poor Law Union. This group helped look after people who were poor. There were workhouses in Pennington and nearby areas. These were later replaced by a larger workhouse in Atherleigh in the 1850s.

In 1863, Pennington set up its own Local Board of Health. This board helped manage local services. Then, in 1875, it joined the Leigh Local Board of Health. Finally, in 1894, Pennington officially merged with Westleigh, Bedford, and part of Atherton. Together, they formed the Leigh Urban District, which was a new way to govern the growing town.

Pennington's Landscape

Land and Features

The township of Pennington covered about 1,482 acres of land. Much of this land is fairly low, less than 75 feet above sea level. However, it gets a little higher north of the Pennington Brook. This brook is a small stream that flows across the township from west to east. The highest point in Pennington is just over 100 feet high, located in the southwest part of the area.

Pennington also reached into what is now Leigh town center. The main parish church, St Mary the Virgin's Church, was right on the border with Westleigh. The ground in Pennington is made up of certain types of rock and soil. These include pebble beds and areas of soft soil near the Pennington Brook.

Getting Around Pennington

Roads and Waterways

An old main road, called a turnpike road, passed through Pennington. This road connected Bolton to St Helens. A more modern road, the A580 "East Lancashire" Road, opened in 1934. It runs through the southern part of Pennington.

The Bridgewater Canal also crosses a small part of the township. This canal was an important waterway for moving goods.

Train Travel

Pennington also had a train station. It was first called Bradshaw Leach Station, but later became Pennington Station. This station was on a railway line that connected Bolton, Leigh, and Kenyon. It also connected to another line called the Tyldesley Loopline.

Learning in Pennington

Old Schools

A grammar school, which is a type of older school, was set up in Pennington. It was located near the main church.