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History

In The Heart Of Westhoughton

Waggon & Horses

The area of Westhoughton has played a big part in many historical events including the Spanish Armada of July 1588 and the Civil War of 1642. Both these events have been captured in the medium of stained-glass. We have the Lighting of The Beacon on Rivington Pike, which actually signalled the approach of the Spanish Armanda. Then we have scenes of the Royalist Victory and after the battle.

Stained Glass Windows

We’re proud to have such huge pieces of Westhoughton history commemorated in our building.

Some of our other pieces of stained-glass includes The Abbot of Cockersand Abbey and the Ancient Seal of Cockersand Abbey, The Tutoring of HRH the Prince of Wales by Rev. William Leigh, Prisoners Being Led Away To Lathom House, Apprehensive Villagers, the Old White Lion Inn, Arrival of the Scots Greys, Army of the Great Pretender. We also have some incredible portraits of the Earl of Derby, who was the General of the King’s Forces in the Civil War, Prince Rupert (1682) and Bonnie Prince Charlie who visited Hulton Hall in 1745.

We wanted to celebrate the buildings’ stained glass and that’s why we have themed our coffee liqueur menu after our different windows!

Timeline Of Waggon & Horses' Stained Glass Windows

By 1250

In the Reign of Henry III

Land was being granted to “God and the Abbey of Cockersand in return for prayers for the souls of the ancestors and descendents of the families concerned” The monks administered the estate from their grange at Brinsop and also a grange by Conware (Corner Brook). The abbot of Cockersand was a good landlord, and made many improvements, it is said he erected at chapel on Westhoughton Common, which is the site where the present church of St Bartholomew now stands, in the centre of the town.

1588

The Lighting of the Beacon on Rivington Pike

The beacon at Rivington Pike was lit on 19th July 1588 to signal the sighting of the Spanish Armada. Westhoughton shared in the cost of watching the Beacon of Rivington Pike (Armada year)…from the tenth daie of July until XXXth of September.

1642

Civil War Royalist Victory at Westhoughton

During the English Civil War in 1642, a battle was fought on Westhoughton Common between Lord Derby’s Cavalier forces and Parliamentarians. The Parliamentarians under Captains Bradshaw, Venables and Browne ran into a force of some thousand Royalists from the Wigan garrison under Lord Derby and were forced to surrender.

1642

After the Battle

Captain Risley Browne, Lieutenant Peter Rylands and 160 men were taken prisoner. Prisoners were led away to Lathom House.

1682

Prince Rupert of the Rhine

Prince Rupert of the Rhine, Duke of Cumberland, was a German-English army officer, admiral, scientist and colonial governor. He first came to prominence as a Royalist cavalry commander during the English Civil War. It is believed that Prince Rupert of the Rhine gathered his troops in Westhoughton before the attack and ensuing massacre at Bolton in 1644.

1745

Bonnie Prince Charlie at Hulton Hall

A stained glass window depicts the arrival of ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie‘ in 1745. There were eyewitness accounts of the retreat of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s forces, north from Manchester via Four Lane Ends in Hulton (via the present A6 Road).

1812

The burning of Westhoughton factory

The burning of Westhoughton Mill is one of the most important events in Westhoughton’s history and was one of the first terrorist acts in Britain. During 1811 and 1812 Luddites, impoverished by the consequences of steam-driven machinery had attacked powered mills throughout the North and Midlands. The mill was set on fire using straw from the White Lion and fire from one of the cottages on Mill Street.

1812

Aftermath of the Fire

To deter violence, the Government passed tough new laws making such damage punishable by death. By 1812 unrest throughout the north was rife and punishment was harsh. The Scots Guards were summoned from Bolton and The Riot Act was read.

Today

“It’s getten it yed fast in’t gate. I’st a’t’ get it eaut some road."

THE story of how a cow in Westhoughton got its head caught in a barred gate, and to release it the farmer cut off its head is well-known, of course, and that is why Westhoughton is known to some as Keaw Yed City.

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