Westhoughton

Westhoughton is a town and civil parish in Bolton that grew from several former villages including Wingates, White Horse, Over Hulton, Four Gates, Chequerbent, and Hunger Hill. The area sits between Manchester and Wigan, and you can still see how these separate settlements shaped the way the place is organized.

In 1910, the Pretoria Pit disaster killed 344 miners in a single event that shook British mining history. A century earlier, in 1812, Luddite workers burned down a mill in response to factory conditions, leading to executions and deportations.

The name comes from Old English, referring to the western location of an older settlement in the area. People who live here today can still see the separate village character in different neighborhoods and local landmarks.

The town connects to major routes through the M61 motorway at junctions 5 and 6, making road travel straightforward. Train services from Westhoughton station link you to Manchester and Wigan Wallgate on a regular basis.

Westhoughton was a hub for textile and coal production during the Industrial Revolution, with factories and mining operations shaping the look and rhythm of the place. You can still see traces of this industrial past in the landscape and in place names that recall this working history.

Location: Bolton

Shares border with: Horwich

Website: http://westhoughton.web.officelive.com/default.aspx

GPS coordinates: 53.54800,-2.52900

Latest update: December 20, 2025 12:56