Affetside
Encyclopedia
Affetside is an upland village located in the West Pennine Moors
area, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury
, in Greater Manchester
, bordering Bolton
in North West England
. Historically, it was part of Lancashire
. It is also in the Local Council Ward of Tottington, and is situated in the Bury North Parliamentary constituency. The current MP is David Nuttall
word ofer meaning "border" or "boundary" and side or site, meaning "hillside". The literal translation of Affetside is the boundary on the hill, which seems appropriate as the hamlet at its highest point is 900 ft (277 m) above sea level with the boundary being that formed by the route of the old Roman road, now known as Watling Street and built circa 72AD, that ran from Manchester
(Mamucium) and Ribchester
(Bremetennacum
). Affetside is the only place in England with this name.
Affetside is a village which has been through at least a dozen name changes since the 16th century — Avesyde, Haffetside, Affaitsyde, Offyside, Affetsid, among them. And after all this confusion the village has reverted back to its original name which made its documented debut in 1504.
, whose council now officially administer the village and provide services for its residents.
Such a change may at first seem unimportant but the villagers know only too well what problems can occur from being split between two boroughs. No doubt they hope that any problems which arise in the future will be solved far more quickly, because Affetsiders remember a number of instances where the rival boroughs argued over just whose responsibility the problems were.
Trouble struck the village in 1955 when the Tottington
Urban District Council suggested that because certain cottage properties did not meet housing standards the residents should be rehoused in Tottington, adding that the Affetside cottages would then be condemned and demolished. This suggestion received an overwhelming objection. A similar battle for piped water has meant that residents realised they needed to form an action group with piped clean water finally being supplied to the village in 1976. The problem was partly the fault of the councils who could not decide whose responsibility it was to provide water.
and Tottington
. This continued after local government reform in 1894 when the road marked the meeting point of Turton and Tottington
urban district
s. Following further local government reorganisation in 1974, the boundary marked the meeting of Bolton
and Bury
Metropolitan Borough
s. In 1991 this anomaly was removed by extending the boundary of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury
to the west of Watling Street.
, west of Greenmount
& Hawkshaw
and south of Edgworth
.
at Affetside. As the crowds rolled in there were an estimated 100,000 visitors that day. Families turned their houses into shops advertising teas, whilst local farmers got in on the act selling milk to the thirsty spectators. The course, which ran over constructed jumps including two over streams, was a great success but it was decided that the event would be held in the future at Nab Fold, Harwood
.
and still stands today marking the supposed half way point between London
and Edinburgh
. Affetside cross still remains a mystery today; thought to date from medieval times and perhaps much earlier.
Its close proximity to the Roman road from Manchester Mamucium to Ribchester
Bremetenacum has caused many to mistakenly date it as Roman in origin and yet some date it much later. Present thinking considers it as a medieval route marker for Lancashire pilgrims on route to Whalley Abbey
. Some see it as a market cross from Jacobean
or Georgian
times or it may mark the point of a beacon due to its dominant position. The view which holds it is a market cross does not, on the surface, appear to make much sense as Affetside has had no record of ever having a market charter (although it is recognised that many markets did exist throughout Lancashire without a charter ever being granted), and as a market it would have been difficult to access in addition to being very remote and as such would have suffered from competition from adjacent areas with greater populations. The loss of the cross head is undated and furthermore it has never been proven that it ever had one.
The Cross is a listed grade II structure. The cross shaft is cut from a single piece of local gritstone, set into a plinth of 2 stones on 2 steps. The first step is circular, 2.28 m (7.5 ft) in diameter, and 0.1 m (4 inches) high. The second step is 1.6 m (5 ft 3 inches) in diameter, and 0.25 m (10 inches) high. The shaft is of a pillar form with a square base 0.34 m (1 ft) wide tapering to a column 1.43 m (4 ft 8 inches) high. At 1.34m (4 ft 4 inches) there is a collar surmounted by a bun shaped capital. Cut into the top is a socket that probably held the cross head or stone ball. There are other pilgrims crosses in the area, notably Holcombe Moor to the east, and at Bradshaw
, (which has now been removed) and the Pilgrims Cross theory appears to be the most plausible, as the route east to west was an old packhorse
trail and was a major route for the passage of goods and people.
The year 1879 saw the opening of the day school in the Affetside Chapel. As the building was shared there was no spare room for a permanent classroom so the villagers decided to put out desks on a Monday morning, ensuring they were removed on Friday night in preparation for the Sunday congregation. This procedure continued until closure of the school by Bury Metropolitan Council in August 2003.
World War I
brought great sadness to Affetside. If we consider the tiny population then we realise how the deaths of 15 young church and school members must have affected the whole village. The chapel congregation, wishing to have a memorial to these brave boys, decided to raise funds with which they purchased a new organ. The organ was unveiled in 1920 and is still played in the church today.
s" initiative run by the Countryside Commission
. The aim was to create a public open space on the old, disused bus turn-around in the centre of the village adjacent to the cross, which would act a focal point for village activities. This application was successful and the Village Green is now used for all types of village activities from a spring Boules
competition, summer BBQ's and the Christmas Carol service.
In January 2007 , Bury Mertropolitan Borough Council raised the idea of placing the village into a Conservation Area. The aim of this was to restrict householders General Permitted Development Rights, however, it would give protection from what some see as architecturally misguided refurbishment and extension of the cottages which has been happening since the turn of the Millennium. The majority of the cottages in the village are of a pre 1800s Pennine vernacular. In May 2008, Bury Metropolitan Borough Council decided against changing the status of the village to that of a Conservation Area after a Community consultation in the village church.
A local resident and historian, and author of the book; Affetside, an historical survey believes the village’s strength shows through its survival. He says:
West Pennine Moors
The West Pennine Moors cover an area of approximately of moorland and reservoirs in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England.The West Pennine Moors are separated from the main Pennine range by the Irwell Valley. The moorland includes Withnell, Anglezarke and Rivington Moors in the extreme west,...
area, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury
Metropolitan Borough of Bury
The Metropolitan Borough of Bury is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. Lying to the north of the City of Manchester, the borough is composed of six towns: Bury, Ramsbottom, Tottington, Radcliffe, Whitefield and Prestwich, and has a population of 181,900...
, in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, bordering Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
in North West England
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
. Historically, it was part of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. It is also in the Local Council Ward of Tottington, and is situated in the Bury North Parliamentary constituency. The current MP is David Nuttall
David Nuttall
David John Nuttall is a British Conservative Party politician. He is Member of Parliament for Bury North, having won his seat in the House of Commons at the 2010 general election.-Career:...
Toponymy
The name Affetside is said to be based on the Old EnglishOld English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
word ofer meaning "border" or "boundary" and side or site, meaning "hillside". The literal translation of Affetside is the boundary on the hill, which seems appropriate as the hamlet at its highest point is 900 ft (277 m) above sea level with the boundary being that formed by the route of the old Roman road, now known as Watling Street and built circa 72AD, that ran from Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
(Mamucium) and Ribchester
Ribchester
Ribchester is a village and civil parish within the Ribble Valley district of Lancashire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Ribble, northwest of Blackburn and east of Preston.The village has a long history with evidence of Bronze Age beginnings...
(Bremetennacum
Bremetennacum
Bremetennacum was a Roman fort which is now the village of Ribchester in Lancashire . The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The first Roman activity on the site was the establishment of a timber fort believed to have been constructed during the campaigns of Petillius Cerialis around AD 72/3...
). Affetside is the only place in England with this name.
Affetside is a village which has been through at least a dozen name changes since the 16th century — Avesyde, Haffetside, Affaitsyde, Offyside, Affetsid, among them. And after all this confusion the village has reverted back to its original name which made its documented debut in 1504.
Recent history
The village entered a new chapter in 1991 as it was made part of the Metropolitan Borough of BuryMetropolitan Borough of Bury
The Metropolitan Borough of Bury is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. Lying to the north of the City of Manchester, the borough is composed of six towns: Bury, Ramsbottom, Tottington, Radcliffe, Whitefield and Prestwich, and has a population of 181,900...
, whose council now officially administer the village and provide services for its residents.
Such a change may at first seem unimportant but the villagers know only too well what problems can occur from being split between two boroughs. No doubt they hope that any problems which arise in the future will be solved far more quickly, because Affetsiders remember a number of instances where the rival boroughs argued over just whose responsibility the problems were.
Trouble struck the village in 1955 when the Tottington
Tottington, Greater Manchester
Tottington is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England.Historically a part of Lancashire, Tottington's early history is marked by its status as an important Medieval fee, a type of Royal Manor which encompassed several townships...
Urban District Council suggested that because certain cottage properties did not meet housing standards the residents should be rehoused in Tottington, adding that the Affetside cottages would then be condemned and demolished. This suggestion received an overwhelming objection. A similar battle for piped water has meant that residents realised they needed to form an action group with piped clean water finally being supplied to the village in 1976. The problem was partly the fault of the councils who could not decide whose responsibility it was to provide water.
Governance
For many years the road through the village acted as the boundary between the townships of BradshawBradshaw, Greater Manchester
Bradshaw is suburb of the unparished area of South Turton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire, it lies on the southern edge of the West Pennine Moors.-History:...
and Tottington
Tottington, Greater Manchester
Tottington is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England.Historically a part of Lancashire, Tottington's early history is marked by its status as an important Medieval fee, a type of Royal Manor which encompassed several townships...
. This continued after local government reform in 1894 when the road marked the meeting point of Turton and Tottington
Tottington, Greater Manchester
Tottington is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England.Historically a part of Lancashire, Tottington's early history is marked by its status as an important Medieval fee, a type of Royal Manor which encompassed several townships...
urban district
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
s. Following further local government reorganisation in 1974, the boundary marked the meeting of Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
and Bury
Bury
Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
Metropolitan Borough
Metropolitan borough
A metropolitan borough is a type of local government district in England, and is a subdivision of a metropolitan county. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, metropolitan boroughs are defined in English law as metropolitan districts, however all of them have been granted or regranted...
s. In 1991 this anomaly was removed by extending the boundary of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury
Metropolitan Borough of Bury
The Metropolitan Borough of Bury is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. Lying to the north of the City of Manchester, the borough is composed of six towns: Bury, Ramsbottom, Tottington, Radcliffe, Whitefield and Prestwich, and has a population of 181,900...
to the west of Watling Street.
Geography
The village lies north west of TottingtonTottington, Greater Manchester
Tottington is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England.Historically a part of Lancashire, Tottington's early history is marked by its status as an important Medieval fee, a type of Royal Manor which encompassed several townships...
, west of Greenmount
Greenmount, Greater Manchester
Greenmount is a village in the district of Tottington amongst the West Pennine Moors, within the northern area of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England....
& Hawkshaw
Hawkshaw, Greater Manchester
Hawkshaw is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire, it has a population of around 1,000 people. The village has a small shop and 2 pubs called The Red Lion and The Waggon and Horses....
and south of Edgworth
Edgworth
Edgworth is a small village within the Blackburn with Darwen borough of Lancashire, England. It is north east of North Turton between Broadhead Brook on the west and Quarlton Brook in the south east...
.
Economy
Affetsiders have always found plenty of work, be it farming, coal mining, or working handlooms. However, like workers today, they often had to travel to nearby towns for jobs. Back in 1921 though, the villagers were very enterprising. It was the year of the first (and last) Holcombe Hunt point to point SteeplechaseSteeplechase (horse racing)
The steeplechase is a form of horse racing and derives its name from early races in which orientation of the course was by reference to a church steeple, jumping fences and ditches and generally traversing the many intervening obstacles in the countryside...
at Affetside. As the crowds rolled in there were an estimated 100,000 visitors that day. Families turned their houses into shops advertising teas, whilst local farmers got in on the act selling milk to the thirsty spectators. The course, which ran over constructed jumps including two over streams, was a great success but it was decided that the event would be held in the future at Nab Fold, Harwood
Harwood, Greater Manchester
Harwood is a suburb to the north-northeast of Bolton, Greater Manchester, bordering Bury in North West England.-History:The township was recorded as Harewode in 1212 and 1302. The manor which included Bradshaw, was part of the Manchester fee held by the Grelleys in the Middle Ages. In 1212 it was...
.
Landmarks
Affetside Cross has always prompted questions from people intrigued as to its history. In fact one curious person, believing it concealed hidden treasure, actually pulled it up late one night in the 1890s. However he was to be disappointed, finding nothing, not even a single Roman coin. Fortunately the Roman cross was repaired by the Lord of the ManorLord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
and still stands today marking the supposed half way point between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Affetside cross still remains a mystery today; thought to date from medieval times and perhaps much earlier.
Its close proximity to the Roman road from Manchester Mamucium to Ribchester
Ribchester
Ribchester is a village and civil parish within the Ribble Valley district of Lancashire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Ribble, northwest of Blackburn and east of Preston.The village has a long history with evidence of Bronze Age beginnings...
Bremetenacum has caused many to mistakenly date it as Roman in origin and yet some date it much later. Present thinking considers it as a medieval route marker for Lancashire pilgrims on route to Whalley Abbey
Whalley Abbey
Whalley Abbey is a former Cistercian abbey in Whalley, Lancashire, England. After the dissolution of the monasteries, the abbey was largely demolished and a country house was built on the site. In the 20th century the house was modified and it is now the Retreat and Conference House of the...
. Some see it as a market cross from Jacobean
Jacobean era
The Jacobean era refers to the period in English and Scottish history that coincides with the reign of King James VI of Scotland, who also inherited the crown of England in 1603 as James I...
or Georgian
Georgian era
The Georgian era is a period of British history which takes its name from, and is normally defined as spanning the reigns of, the first four Hanoverian kings of Great Britain : George I, George II, George III and George IV...
times or it may mark the point of a beacon due to its dominant position. The view which holds it is a market cross does not, on the surface, appear to make much sense as Affetside has had no record of ever having a market charter (although it is recognised that many markets did exist throughout Lancashire without a charter ever being granted), and as a market it would have been difficult to access in addition to being very remote and as such would have suffered from competition from adjacent areas with greater populations. The loss of the cross head is undated and furthermore it has never been proven that it ever had one.
The Cross is a listed grade II structure. The cross shaft is cut from a single piece of local gritstone, set into a plinth of 2 stones on 2 steps. The first step is circular, 2.28 m (7.5 ft) in diameter, and 0.1 m (4 inches) high. The second step is 1.6 m (5 ft 3 inches) in diameter, and 0.25 m (10 inches) high. The shaft is of a pillar form with a square base 0.34 m (1 ft) wide tapering to a column 1.43 m (4 ft 8 inches) high. At 1.34m (4 ft 4 inches) there is a collar surmounted by a bun shaped capital. Cut into the top is a socket that probably held the cross head or stone ball. There are other pilgrims crosses in the area, notably Holcombe Moor to the east, and at Bradshaw
Bradshaw, Greater Manchester
Bradshaw is suburb of the unparished area of South Turton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire, it lies on the southern edge of the West Pennine Moors.-History:...
, (which has now been removed) and the Pilgrims Cross theory appears to be the most plausible, as the route east to west was an old packhorse
Packhorse
.A packhorse or pack horse refers generally to an equid such as a horse, mule, donkey or pony used for carrying goods on their backs, usually carried in sidebags or panniers. Typically packhorses are used to cross difficult terrain, where the absence of roads prevents the use of wheeled vehicles. ...
trail and was a major route for the passage of goods and people.
The year 1879 saw the opening of the day school in the Affetside Chapel. As the building was shared there was no spare room for a permanent classroom so the villagers decided to put out desks on a Monday morning, ensuring they were removed on Friday night in preparation for the Sunday congregation. This procedure continued until closure of the school by Bury Metropolitan Council in August 2003.
World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
brought great sadness to Affetside. If we consider the tiny population then we realise how the deaths of 15 young church and school members must have affected the whole village. The chapel congregation, wishing to have a memorial to these brave boys, decided to raise funds with which they purchased a new organ. The organ was unveiled in 1920 and is still played in the church today.
Present day
The Affetside Society, one of two local amenity societies, concerns itself with the appearance and amenities of the village. It has succeeded in having a 30 mph (48 km/h) restriction through the village. As of June 2009 The Affetside Society has been successful in lobbying Bury Metropolitan Borough Council to reduce the speed limit further to 20 mph and to provide traffic calming measures through the Village in order to reduce the number of serious accidents and damaged property caused by speeding vehicles. This work should be carried out in late 2009 and early 2010. The traffic speeds will be monitored with a view to adding further to the speed calming measures. As of May 2010, traffic monitoring has been carried out and the Community are soon to be consulted on placement and design of traffic chicanes to act as a physical barrier for slowing vehicles. In 1981, the Affetside Society planted thousands of daffodil bulbs, shrubs and trees alongside Watling Street in order to improve the appearance of the village in addition to building two stone signs at each end of the village. The Society is still active in the Village by way of organising social events that take place on the Millennium Green. The Affetside Society also prints a newsletter that is distributed to all village residents. The second amenity society in the Village is the Millennium Green Trust, a registered charity, ( Registered Charity No.1073844 ) and was formed to propose and oversee an application to the "Millennium GreenMillennium Green
245 Millennium Greens were created in cities, towns and villages across England to celebrate the turn of the Millennium. Funded in part by the National Lottery via the Countryside Agency, they are permanent areas of green space for the benefit of local communities...
s" initiative run by the Countryside Commission
Countryside Commission
The Countryside Commission was a statutory body in England and Wales, and later in England only...
. The aim was to create a public open space on the old, disused bus turn-around in the centre of the village adjacent to the cross, which would act a focal point for village activities. This application was successful and the Village Green is now used for all types of village activities from a spring Boules
Boules
Boules is a collective name for games played with metal balls.Two of the most played boule games are pétanque and boule lyonnaise. The aim of the game is to get large, heavy balls as close to the 'jack' as you can. It is very popular especially in France, but also Italy, where it may often be seen...
competition, summer BBQ's and the Christmas Carol service.
In January 2007 , Bury Mertropolitan Borough Council raised the idea of placing the village into a Conservation Area. The aim of this was to restrict householders General Permitted Development Rights, however, it would give protection from what some see as architecturally misguided refurbishment and extension of the cottages which has been happening since the turn of the Millennium. The majority of the cottages in the village are of a pre 1800s Pennine vernacular. In May 2008, Bury Metropolitan Borough Council decided against changing the status of the village to that of a Conservation Area after a Community consultation in the village church.
A local resident and historian, and author of the book; Affetside, an historical survey believes the village’s strength shows through its survival. He says:
- "The building of the local turnpike roadTurnpike trustTurnpike trusts in the United Kingdom were bodies set up by individual Acts of Parliament, with powers to collect road tolls for maintaining the principal highways in Britain from the 17th but especially during the 18th and 19th centuries...
was the death knell for the packhorse trains, but the Affetsiders showed great resilience in continuing to build up their village, and so the village did not collapse like others, less fortunate. For such a small village, with only about 150 people to still have a church and pub says a lot about the people who live there."