England is famed for its whimsical place names, such as Giggleswick, Westward Ho! and Barton in the Beans. The historically and culturally-rich areas in and around Lancashire, unsurprisingly, has plenty of unique village names too including the area of Hall i‘ th‘ Wood. It’s unusual name, however, isn’t all this place has to offer…

Located in the heart of Northern England, Hall i’ th’ Wood wears its identity on its sleeve (or placename). If you are unfamiliar with the broader Northern English accents Hall i’ th’ Wood is pronounced thus:

Hall is pronounced with a flat vowel followed by a little touch upon the ‘I” (pronounced as you would pronounce ‘in’ but with a missing ‘n’) before joining th’ and Wood together (thwood).

The ‘hall’ in question is a 16th-century Manor House, which used to be the home for the part-owner of the Tonge with Haulgh (no kidding) township. The house is now open to the public as a museum with period-specific furniture and information inside.

The Hall is part timber-framed with wattle and daub visible in parts of the house. The later stone additions were added to the house in 1591 and 1648. As well as being a marvellously preserved 16th-century Manor House, the Hall was also the birthplace of the spinning mule, invented by Samuel Crompton in the 18th century while he stayed in part of the property.

Crompton’s presence in the village is also evident at 10 Firwood Fold, a short walk away, where he was born in 1753. The original 16th-century cottage and attached period properties still stand today as private homes. The cobbled street is lined either side by quaint period cottages with sash windows and large chimney stacks, just how the street may have looked centuries prior.

Crompton’s house is marked by a stone plaque commemorating his residence, opposing a charming former school house. Further down the wonky lane are more character cottages with floral front gardens, medieval-style doors and period streetlamps.

What was once a quaint township has since been engulfed by the city of Bolton. Though much of the semi-rural idyl has been replaced with busy metropolitan suburbs, the hall and the quaint cottage lane remains and make for an easy and cheap day trip if you are nearby the city of Bolton or Manchester.

Hall i’ th’ Wood is the name of the local train station which has regular trains to nearby towns and cities. Other nearby pretty places include Whalley. Use the ‘pretty places‘ tag to view other posts from the series.

images: scene therapy