Orrell
| Orrell | |
| Lancashire | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SD531051 |
| Location: | 53°31’55"N, 2°42’30"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 12,000 (2013 est.) |
| Post town: | Wigan |
| Postcode: | WN5 |
| Dialling code: | 01942 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Wigan |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Makerfield |
Orrell is a town in Lancashire, three miles west of Wigan town centre, and effectively Orrell's townscape has become contiguous with that of Wigan. The population in 2011 was recorded as 11,513. Today Orrell predominantly serves as a residential suburb of the larger town.
Orrell was a centre of the coal mining industry, though today no evidence of the area's industrial past is present.
History
Orrell derives from the Old English ora hyll, meaning "Mine hill".[1] It has been variously recorded as Horul in 1212, Orel in 1292, Orhull in 1294 and Orul in 1307[2] and subsequently known as Orrell-in-Makerfield. It was the extreme north-west berewick of the manor of Newton-in-Makerfield before the Norman Conquest.
In 1212 the manor was held by Richard de Orrell but became divided and was acquired by the Hollands of Upholland and descended to the Lovels and subsequently to the Earls of Derby. After several changes of ownership it belonged to Roger Leigh of Aspull.[2] Orrell was the family name of a number of landowners in the area and branches of the Orrell family held small estates here for centuries. There are records from 1558 showing William Orrell living at Orrell Hall.
Industrial history
The coal measures of the Lancashire Coalfield were mined extensively at the Orrell Collieries between 1740 and 1850. A tramroad modelled on John Blenkinsop's railway at Middleton was built in 1812 from the pits to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Crooke. Robert Daglish was its engineer.[3] A cottage nail making industry flourished at the same time.[2] Another employer was the Sandbrook cotton mill where raw cotton was spun into thread.
Today, no significant industry is present in the area which is primarily a residential suburb for commuters.
Post war
Divided by the M6 and M58 motorways, the area has developed two unofficial 'sections': the southern section with railway station and Orrell Rugby Union Club's former 'Edge Hall Road' Ground;[4] and Orrell Post, at the northern side of the M58. The original Orrell 'post', signifying a halt on the turnpike road, is still outside the Stag public house at a crossroads.
The area's proximity to Wigan town centre and its position at a junction of the M6, make it an attractive location from which to commute.
Transport links
The area's principal road is the A577-Boothstown to Ormskirk. The M6 motorway runs north-south through the area. The easily accessible A580 'East Lancashire Road' and M62 give access to Salford and Manchester. The M58 provides the Wigan area with a link to the county's west coast towns and to Liverpool.[5]
It was proposed that the Orrell area (Junction 26 of the M6) be the starting point of the A5225 Wigan and Hindley bypass road linking the M6 and the M58 with the M61 at Bolton. Orrell railway station is located at the southern section of the area providing services eastbound to Manchester (passing through Wigan Wallgate) and westbound to Kirkby (passing through Upholland railway station and Rainford railway station).
Sport
- Rugby Union: *Orrell Rugby Union Football Club[6]
- Rugby League: Wigan Warriors (Wigan RLFC)[7]
- Football: Orrell Otters Football Club
Outside links
References
- ↑ Mills 1998, p. 262
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 [1] A History of the County of Lancaster - Volume pp 89–91: {{{2}}} (Victoria County History)
- ↑ Ashmore 1982, p. 120
- ↑ Orrell RFC: Edge Hall Road
- ↑ M58, CBRD - Motorway Database. URL accessed 16 February 2007.
- ↑ Orrell RFC
- ↑ Wigan Warriors
- Ashmore, Owen (1982), The Industrial archaeology of North-west England, Manchester University Press, ISBN 0-7190-0820-4
- Mills, A.D. (1998), Dictionary of English Place-Names, Oxford, ISBN 0-19-280074-4