Littleborough from Cleggswood Hill
ROADS (from Packhorse Ways to Motorways)
As is well known, the Romans built a network of roads across the country with the recognised nearest Roman Road operating from Oldham to near Huddersfield, passing close to Delph climbing to Castleshaw roman Forts and higher still, Slack Roman Fort above Huddersfield. Whilst Blackstone Edge, Littleborough has the so called "Roman Road" doubts remain if it actually was built by the Romans. They are many who suggest a Roman road running via Castleton, near Clegg Hall and rising up over the Edge from close by the Moorcock Inn. it has not been universally recognised.
For many years transport between major settlements, for example, between Rochdale and Halifax relied on Packhorse Roads or Ways, most constructed by Parish labour and formed of a single line of heavy stones just suitable for trains of packhorses and their Jaggers. When carts became more prevalent then some of the Packhorse roads were widened possibly by extra stones laid alongside or as a parallel line of stones. In the early 18th Century there was real concern that the terrible state of the nations roads was holding up development as Industrialisation developed. The result was the development of a a Network of Toll Roads operated by Turnpike Trusts which are covered on individual pages - see here for details.
When Turnpike Trusts were abolished the roads generally became the responsibility of local authorities, more often Counties or County Borough's.
Besides the Turnpike Trusts there were other important local roads maintained by the parish rate and or developed by later local authorities - see below
as well as other Toll and Private roads detailed in separate sections summarised here
Nowadays, one of the most important roads to cross the Pennines from Lancashire to Yorkshire. the M62 which climbs up to the summit through Littleborough
M62 - The ultimate cross-Pennine route between Greater Manchester and points west and West Yorkshire and points east is the M60 which climbs in earnest from Junction 21 in Milnrow as it heads for first he deep cutting through Castle Hill (north east of Tunshill Golf Course) before exiting onto the impressive Rakewood Viaduct. It is here where the M62 enters Littleborough. Beyond the viaduct the M62 curves east through another cutting before entering Longden End Clough as it climbs up to the summit just beyond Windy Hill and Junction 22. This is the section with 4 lanes up to the summit. The road beyond is cut into the side of Higher Booth Hollins Hill, at the southern end of Syke Moor. For a detailed history of the M62 search here
Pictures - above left Rakewood Viaduct under construction. above centre -a very quiet day in 2010 looking down onto Rakewood Viaduct and Cc cutting through Castle Hill (Milnrow) Above Right - Longden End Clough with '6' lane motorway looking west towards Rakewood Viaduct (centre left) and higher Booth Hollins Hill on right.
EARLY NON-TURNPIKE ROADS
A number of other roads in Littleborough were developed by private individuals or companies more often charging tolls and these are listed below. Other roads, for example. Littleborough to Warden and Whitworth, were classed as the King's Highways. The road to Milnrow via the old Wild House Lane may have been a similar Highway as it features on 18th Century Maps, One road whose build is uncertain is Smithy Bridge Road (previously Halliday Lane) as it does not appear on the 1793 nor the 1818 map but appears in part on the 1829 map. However, on the 1786 Yates map a road appear to leave Little clegg, crosses the Rich and ends up on the 'earlier' Blackstone Edge Turnpike east of Paddock Head. the map is unclear about how it crossed the road as the completed oh Halliday Lane appeared to be the responsibility of the County Bridge Master who was later responsible for Littleborough and Yea Bridges over the Roch. (Yea Bridge (pictured middle far right below) was near to Calliard's Mill on Halliday Lane).
OTHER TOLL and PRIVATE ROADS to and around HOLLINGWORTH LAKE
There became a small network of Toll Roads leading to and around Hollingworth Lake as well as around Clegg Halls which are covered in the following sections:-
THE HOLLINGWORTH TO RAKEWOOD TOLL ROAD
LITTLEBOROUGH to HOLLINGWORTH PRIVATE TOLL ROAD
MR ENTWISTLE’S TOLL ROADS SERVING CLEGG HALL
TRACKS AND ROADS AROUND HOLLINGWORTH LAKE
THE HOLLINGWORTH TO RAKEWOOD TOLL ROAD
Around 1818 James Wild constructed a toll road for Messrs Midgeley and Rhodes next the weir (approx where the Wine Press is) to the bottom of Hollingworth Brow (now called Bear Hill) which superseded a foot-road. Messrs Midgeley and Rhodes paid the Canal Co £1 pa for the privilege of taking the road over the dam. The road was extended at the same time to Rakewood. Tolls were collected irregularly so having fallen into dis-repair it was taken over by the Canal Co circa 1836. John Taylor of Higher Fold collected the Tolls on behalf of the Canal Co from 1840 or 41 but collection was still irregular. Henry Blackburn from Milnrow recalled that when travelling during the period 1842 to 1847 the toll bar or chain was located at the bottom of Hollingworth Brow where two gas retorts remain. On 13th April 1892, by agreement with the Proprietors of the Rochdale Canal Co, the Littleborough UDC advised that “This road is open to the public” subject to various conditions including weight limits .
The picture to the right shows the toll road at Bear Hill. The road continues to Rakewood but is hidden by the Horse
LITTLEBOROUGH to HOLLINGWORTH PRIVATE TOLL ROAD
Circa 1831 or 1832 a Mr Smith speculatively built a toll road from opposite the Falcon Inn (now littleborough square) to Hollingworth Lake including a bridge over the River Roch, then crossing the canal at Ben Healey Bridge. Toll bars were located at the Fisherman’s Inn and opposite the Falcon Inn. Later Mr Johnstone Head, constable, of Rochdale, erected two lime kilns (with separate access road) near the canal bridge, and commenced to burn stone, which was brought to the place in boats. Whether prior knowledge enabled Messrs Smith and Johnstone to gain material compensation for their losses is now uncertain but just a few years later the surveyors for the Manchester and Leeds Railway duly arrived and preparations began for making the line”. When the railway was built the road to Littleborough was severed but no thought appears to have been given to how traffic from Hollingworth Lake was meant to reach Littleborough or even the station itself. The result was a dirt road developed between Ben Healey bridge and the canal warehouse. A foot-crossing of the railway remained as a reputed ‘Right of Way’.
In the 1870s the owner of the toll road suggested that the Littleborough Local Board take it over but nothing of consequence happened. The Toll Road to Hollingworth Lake was adopted by the Littleborough Local Board in 1882 and Littleborough Square was completed in 1888.
The picture left shows the lower end of the road looking towards Littleborough Station and large Goods shed. Another picture is available on Timepix.
MR ENTWISTLE’S TOLL ROADS SERVING CLEGG HALL
In 1801 a Mr Entwistle built at considerable expense a private road for horses and carriages for use of his tenants only through his farms in Hundersfield and Butterworth commencing at Smallbridge and ending at the Highway at Winnian or Union Flash in Butterworth. He issued a Public Notice “That as the said road is cut and made entirely through Private Property – ‘All Persons presuming to go or to travel the same without leave or by Agreement in Writing or paying a toll as required at the Toll Houses (Foot Passengers excepted) will be prosecuted with the utmost severity of the Law’, John Entwistle, Foxholes, Oct 13th, 1801”.
The road between Clegg Hall and Little Clegg was known locally as Mr Entwistle’s Road and originally extended beyond Bellfield Mill to Newbarn on Milnrow Road over land marked on the 1786 map as XX Entwistle Esq., presumably the same Mr Entwistle. The link to Smallbridge thus being an extension to the earlier network of private roads. The stretch of the old road from Clegg Hall to the River Beale at Bellfield Mill is still extent but is now an overgrown and largely unused green lane..
TRACKS AND ROADS AROUND HOLLINGWORTH LAKE
In addition to the Hollingworth and Rakewood Toll Road, the Rochdale Canal had a number of gates situated around Hollingworth Lake which were locked for a day each year. In April 1953, H Percival recalls some 6 gates located:
1. near the Beach Hotel; .
2. opposite the landing stage;
3. corner of road to Littleborough;
4. near road to Higher Cleggswood;
5. next to Bear Hill House;
6. Bridge at top end of lake – closed Sept 1939 but re-opened 1940.
Gates 1, 4, 5 & 6 were still extant when his note was made.
The Rochdale Canal Co also erected a brass plaque ‘in the road’ between Yell Lane and the first house (built on the site of the old L&Y Hotel) “RGC – NO RIGHT OF WAY- NORTH WEST OF BOUNDARY STONES – FIXED IN LINE 41 YDS – SOUTH WEST OF THIS POINT”