RADCLIFFE West of Bury, Radcliffe's name derives from the term "red cliff" on the River Irwell. Radcliffe had both coal and cotton industries, with bleaching predominating textile trades. RAMSBOTTOM Ramsbottom is situated to the north Bury, in the Irwell Valley, amidst the Rossendale hills and valleys. The town's name is reputed to derive from the Old English "Ramsons Bottom," and had also been known as "Tupp's Arse" - tupp being an old nickname for a ram or sheep; though the name probably comes from "valley of wild garlic" - "ramson" means wild garlic. Ramsbottom's proximity to both Bury and the Rossendale towns made it a natural location for the cotton industry, the East Lancashire Railway also providing an important link between Manchester and north Lancashire. PRESTWICH Roughly half way between Manchester and Bury, Prestwich - meaning literally "priest's retreat" is now an important town in that - in tandem with Whitefield - is home to the second largest Jewish community in Britain. TOTTINGTON Tottington was incorporated part of the area that is now in Ramsbottom. It was an agricultural settlement, with open farmland and hunting ground where deer and wild boar were once hunted. WHITEFIELD One story of the origins of Whitefield's name is directly related to the cotton industry. It is said that Flemish weavers who settled in the area laid out their woven fabric to bleach in the sun. NR View the Bury collection to find out more > |
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