1. Home
  2. England
  3. Greater Manchester
  4. Wigan
  5. Lancashire
  6. Atherton Wood

Atherton Wood

Wood, Forest in Lancashire

England

Atherton Wood

Leigh Spinners Mills, Leigh A double mill built for cotton spinning and latterly used for carpet manufacture. No. 2 Mill is on the left and contains a large preserved steam engine. This view is now largely obscured by tree growth.
Leigh Spinners Mills, Leigh Credit: Chris Allen

Atherton Wood is a small woodland area located in the county of Lancashire, England. Situated near the town of Atherton, the wood is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and those seeking a peaceful retreat.

Covering an area of approximately 40 hectares, Atherton Wood is primarily composed of deciduous trees such as oak, beech, and birch. These trees create a dense canopy, providing shade and shelter for a variety of flora and fauna. The forest floor is covered in a thick layer of leaf litter, which supports a diverse range of plant species including bluebells, primroses, and wild garlic.

The wood is crisscrossed by a network of footpaths, allowing visitors to explore its peaceful surroundings. These paths lead to various points of interest, including a picturesque pond and a small stream that meanders through the woodland. Birdwatchers will find an array of avian species, with highlights including woodpeckers, nuthatches, and tawny owls.

Atherton Wood is managed by the local council, who ensure its preservation and accessibility for visitors. The wood provides a valuable habitat for a range of wildlife, including small mammals such as squirrels and voles, as well as a variety of insects and butterflies. The tranquility and natural beauty of Atherton Wood make it a cherished space for residents and visitors alike, offering a serene escape from the bustle of everyday life.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Atherton Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.509768/-2.4996978 or Grid Reference SD6601. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Leigh Spinners Mills, Leigh A double mill built for cotton spinning and latterly used for carpet manufacture. No. 2 Mill is on the left and contains a large preserved steam engine. This view is now largely obscured by tree growth.
Leigh Spinners Mills, Leigh
A double mill built for cotton spinning and latterly used for carpet manufacture. No. 2 Mill is on the left and contains a large preserved steam engine. This view is now largely obscured by tree growth.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. The high pressure cylinder is on the left with the low pressure on the right. The piston tail rod on the low pressure operates the triangular levers operating the air pump below the floor. The cylinders have Corliss valves to let the steam in and out. The flywheel still had some ropes that had driven an alternator in the basement. This had been used during the miners' strikes of 1974. The No. 1 mill engine had suffered a mechanical failure and had been scrapped.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine
A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. The high pressure cylinder is on the left with the low pressure on the right. The piston tail rod on the low pressure operates the triangular levers operating the air pump below the floor. The cylinders have Corliss valves to let the steam in and out. The flywheel still had some ropes that had driven an alternator in the basement. This had been used during the miners' strikes of 1974. The No. 1 mill engine had suffered a mechanical failure and had been scrapped.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. This view was from up the rope race. Originally ropes would have been seen heading up towards and above the photographer to drive the various floors of the mill. By 1980 the only ropes left were driving down to an alternator in the basement. The high pressure cylinder is on the right and the low pressure on the left from this viewpoint. When I visited the mill later the staircases up the rope race had been damaged and there was no longer any access. These have been reinstated more recently but I do not know if I would be allowed up there these days.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine
A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. This view was from up the rope race. Originally ropes would have been seen heading up towards and above the photographer to drive the various floors of the mill. By 1980 the only ropes left were driving down to an alternator in the basement. The high pressure cylinder is on the right and the low pressure on the left from this viewpoint. When I visited the mill later the staircases up the rope race had been damaged and there was no longer any access. These have been reinstated more recently but I do not know if I would be allowed up there these days.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. This is a view from the crank end on the high pressure side of the engine. This includes the shrunk on crank, box type big-end, trunk crosshead guide, the Corliss valve cylinder and the centrifugal governor. The wooden boarding top left is on the flywheel and prevents the spokes stirring up a gale in the engine house.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine
A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. This is a view from the crank end on the high pressure side of the engine. This includes the shrunk on crank, box type big-end, trunk crosshead guide, the Corliss valve cylinder and the centrifugal governor. The wooden boarding top left is on the flywheel and prevents the spokes stirring up a gale in the engine house.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. The high pressure cylinder is on the left and the low pressure on the right. Both have Corliss valve gear and the governor adjusts the high pressure cut-off to keep the speed near constant.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine
A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. The high pressure cylinder is on the left and the low pressure on the right. Both have Corliss valve gear and the governor adjusts the high pressure cut-off to keep the speed near constant.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. This shows the barring engine that engages with teeth in the flywheel rim to slowly rotate the main engine. The boarding behind is on the flywheel. The barring engine would be used to put the engine in the right position for starting, for slowly rotating it to clear water from the cylinders and during maintenance and adjustments. The little vertical device on the right behind the hand rail is an electrical overspeed governor that is a last line of defence in an overspeed if the main governor has failed to stop the engine.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine
A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. This shows the barring engine that engages with teeth in the flywheel rim to slowly rotate the main engine. The boarding behind is on the flywheel. The barring engine would be used to put the engine in the right position for starting, for slowly rotating it to clear water from the cylinders and during maintenance and adjustments. The little vertical device on the right behind the hand rail is an electrical overspeed governor that is a last line of defence in an overspeed if the main governor has failed to stop the engine.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. This is the high pressure side from the crank end with the view dominated by the flywheel and its wooden boarding. The boarding stops the spokes stirring up a gale in the engine house. Part of the barring engine is seen on the left. We are very lucky that this engine survives and is now being restored. I hope to see it in steam one day.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine
A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. This is the high pressure side from the crank end with the view dominated by the flywheel and its wooden boarding. The boarding stops the spokes stirring up a gale in the engine house. Part of the barring engine is seen on the left. We are very lucky that this engine survives and is now being restored. I hope to see it in steam one day.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine The largest cross compound mill engine surviving in England. Built by Yates & Thom of Blackburn. It is currently being restored following a long period out of use and out of the public view. The cylinders have had their asbestos lagging removed and are currently missing the blued steel cladding. They do look better for a coat of green paint. This is one engine that is better on a dull day and the sun had just gone in briefly.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine
The largest cross compound mill engine surviving in England. Built by Yates & Thom of Blackburn. It is currently being restored following a long period out of use and out of the public view. The cylinders have had their asbestos lagging removed and are currently missing the blued steel cladding. They do look better for a coat of green paint. This is one engine that is better on a dull day and the sun had just gone in briefly.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. The high pressure cylinder is on the left and the low pressure on the right. Both have Corliss valve gear and the governor adjusts the high pressure cut-off to keep the speed near constant. Once again it was a sunny day with light patches on the walls and engine. One day I will get there when it's overcast.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine
A 1925 built Yates & Thom of Blackburn horizontal cross compound mill engine of 1800 horsepower. The high pressure cylinder is on the left and the low pressure on the right. Both have Corliss valve gear and the governor adjusts the high pressure cut-off to keep the speed near constant. Once again it was a sunny day with light patches on the walls and engine. One day I will get there when it's overcast.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine This shows the electrical overspeed governor. It is driven from the crankshaft and if the main governor fails and the engine overspeeds an electrical contact is made as the balls fly out and raise the flat topped 'table'. The creation of a circuit activates the electric stop motion and closes the main steam valve. The wood boarding behind covers in the spokes of the flywheel.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine
This shows the electrical overspeed governor. It is driven from the crankshaft and if the main governor fails and the engine overspeeds an electrical contact is made as the balls fly out and raise the flat topped 'table'. The creation of a circuit activates the electric stop motion and closes the main steam valve. The wood boarding behind covers in the spokes of the flywheel.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine This shows the centre of the flywheel where the crankshaft passes through it. The flywheel consists of two 24' diameter wheels rim to rim and grooved for cotton driving ropes. Each wheel has sets of 8 spokes held into the hub by the large keys arranged radially. The spokes are covered by wooden boarding to prevent them stirring up a gale in the engine house. The wheels are centred on the shaft by hand-fitted 'stakes'. There are four of these sitting on flats on the centre swell of the crankshaft. Fitting these was a skilled and very physical job.
Leigh Spinners Mill - No. 2 steam engine
This shows the centre of the flywheel where the crankshaft passes through it. The flywheel consists of two 24' diameter wheels rim to rim and grooved for cotton driving ropes. Each wheel has sets of 8 spokes held into the hub by the large keys arranged radially. The spokes are covered by wooden boarding to prevent them stirring up a gale in the engine house. The wheels are centred on the shaft by hand-fitted 'stakes'. There are four of these sitting on flats on the centre swell of the crankshaft. Fitting these was a skilled and very physical job.
Ella Toone Mural on The Union Arms in Tyldesley A mural of Ella Toone has been completed on the side of her local pub in Tyldesley. Ella's goals and performances helped the England Women's Football Team to lift the Women's Euros for the first time this summer.
Ella Toone Mural on The Union Arms in Tyldesley
A mural of Ella Toone has been completed on the side of her local pub in Tyldesley. Ella's goals and performances helped the England Women's Football Team to lift the Women's Euros for the first time this summer.
Tesco Leigh Car Park on a wet day
Tesco Leigh Car Park on a wet day
Tesco Extra in Leigh
Tesco Extra in Leigh
Tesco (Leigh) 7 day car wash and fuel
Tesco (Leigh) 7 day car wash and fuel
Mather Lane Mill, Leigh
Mather Lane Mill, Leigh
St. Joseph's Church, Leigh
St. Joseph's Church, Leigh
SMD Tyres, Leigh
SMD Tyres, Leigh
Show me another place!

Atherton Wood is located at Grid Ref: SD6601 (Lat: 53.509768, Lng: -2.4996978)

Unitary Authority: Wigan

Police Authority: Greater Manchester

What 3 Words

///sobs.pure.decide. Near Atherton, Manchester

Nearby Locations

Lilford Park Atherton Wood

Related Wikis

Atherton Hall, Leigh
Atherton Hall, Leigh

Atherton Hall was a country house and estate in Atherton historically a part of Lancashire, England. The hall was built between 1723 and 1742 and demolished...

Bedford Colliery disaster
Bedford Colliery disaster

The Bedford Colliery disaster occurred on Friday 13 August 1886 when an explosion of firedamp caused the death of 38 miners at Bedford No.2 Pit, at Bedford...

Bedford Colliery
Bedford Colliery

Bedford Colliery, also known as Wood End Pit, was a coal mine on the Manchester Coalfield in Bedford, Leigh, Lancashire, England. The colliery was owned...

Atherton Urban District
Atherton Urban District

Atherton was, from 1863 to 1974, a local government district in Lancashire, England. == History == The township of Atherton historically lay in the large...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 53.509768,-2.4996978
Indian Bean Tree Circle
Natural: wood
Operator: WMBC
Lat/Long: 53.5058909/-2.5017267
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
Daubies Wood Herefordshire
Barnfield Wood Herefordshire

Have you been to Atherton Wood?

Leave your review of Atherton Wood below (or comments, questions and feedback).

© 2024 UK Place Database | Privacy