The 'Two Lads' Farm in Belmont Lancs

[pat fowles]

Has anyone any info, or ever heard of 'Two Lads' farm. I assume it must have been near Winter Hill and the Two Lads cairns. The only info I have is that John Lowther b1820 was given a farm called 'The Two Lads Farm' in Belmont when he was 19yrs old. Many Thanks

[Jan1954]

Hi Pat,

I have been studying an OS map of the area but, although many of the farms are named, I cannot see one called "Two Lads". However, the map that I am looking at is a modern one and the farm could have been renamed.

Perhaps an email to the Lancashire Archives may bear fruit.

If they provide the name of what it is called now, I can consult the OS map again to explain exactly where it is.

[Peter Goodey]

...or Bolton Archives

[bettyespana]

Bolton History Centre is very helpful in these matters.
Le Mans Crescent
Bolton
Telephone: 01204 332185 or 01204 332179

The Bolton History Centre is in place of the original Archive Centre.I have visited there & found them so helpful.

Good Luck
Betty

[pat fowles]

Thanks Peter and Betty. I'll give the archives a try.

[pat fowles]

Dear Daft Bat...Any chance you could look at that map again as I have more info now. On 1881 censusthe farm I am after is down as 'eighteen acre'. It is listed between 'Hole Bottom' and 'Pinchulme'. After Pinchulme is Harpers farm and then Clamps?. Thanks a million.

[Coromandel]

Jan1954 (a.k.a. Daft Bat) isn't online at the moment; I hope she won't mind me butting in on this one. 'Eighteen Acres' can be seen on some old Ordnance Survey maps on the Old Maps site. Here's how to find it:

1. Go to old-maps.co.uk/maps.html (put www. in front).
2. Put in the coordinates 366120 and 413033 then press 'Go'.
3. From the list of old maps on the right of the screen, choose the first one (1849).
4. Wait for the map to load.
5. Click 'Enhanced Zoom' and again wait for the map to load.
6. You should be able to see 'Eighteen Acres' near the centre of the map (south of Ouzel Hall and near Holden's Plantation). You can zoom in and pan around with the tools at the bottom of the map screen.

Here's a description of a walk in that area, with photos and a modern map:

http://
justramblingon.co.uk/country-walks/rivington/winter-hill-to-walker-fold-woods/

[Peter Goodey]

It is listed between 'Hole Bottom' and 'Pinchulme'

Also apparently near the Sportsmans Arms! Useful things, pubs, particularly if they are still in existence!

[Jan1954]

Jan1954 (a.k.a. Daft Bat) isn't online at the moment; I hope she won't mind me butting in on this one. 'Eighteen Acres' can be seen on some old Ordnance Survey maps on the Old Maps site.

Not at all - and that is a great website that you have found.

Checking the website map against a current OS map, the OS does not have any farms named as either Eighteen Acres or Two Lads. However, on the side of what is now called Crooked Edge Hill (just north of Wilderswood) and which is called Wilder's Moor on the map on the website that Coromandel found, there is an unnamed building. Pinpoint co-ordinates are: 53.614 degrees N and 2.532 degrees W

Maybe that could have been the farm.

[Coromandel]

And here's another walk which goes right past some ruins near Holden's Plantation:

http://
justramblingon.co.uk/country-walks/rivington/wilderswood-to-noon-hill/

See in particular the photo captioned 'Here, although the main path goes straight on alongside Holdens Plantation, we took the alternative one that forks to the left a little through the edge of the ruins....' (Click on the photo to enlarge it.)

Is it wishful thinking to suppose this might be what's left of Eighteen Acres?