On this walk we used our imagination to see what Littleborough was like before it was developed. Having been built on seven modest hills we visited the site of six, the seventh, Shore Hill, didn’t play much part in the first development of Littleborough, being a little too remote.
Starting from the library we headed towards Hare Hill road, probably the only recognisable hill left, and then owned by the Newall family.
Turning down towards the Centre we came to Bare Hill Street, which in the 1800’s was exactly as named, bare of any houses or farms, probably just grass and bush.
Crossing the road we visited Will Hill, still named as such, but brought down to its present level to provide infill for road building.
Into the Centre, James Hill ran from the Centre of Littleborough between the A58 and the river to Box Street. At the turn of the 19th century this area was covered with market gardens and became a notorious part of Littleborough, said to be full of drunkards and disreputable lodging houses.
The old Seed Hill building was built in 1818, and the current one in 1903.
Chapel Hill extended over the land now occupied by the Parish church and school between Lodge street and Todmorden road and stopped short of Newall Street.