Pemberton, Lancashire

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Pemberton
Lancashire
Pemberton Carnegie Library.jpg
Pemberton Carnegie Library
Location
Grid reference: SD555045
Location: 53°32’10"N, 2°40’26"W
Data
Population: 13,982  (2011)
Post town: Wigan
Postcode: WN5
Dialling code: 01942
Local Government
Council: Wigan
Parliamentary
constituency:
Wigan

Pemberton is a township in Lancashire that forms a suburb of Wigan. It lies on the south-western bank of the River Douglas,[1] contiguous to Wigan's town centre, and east of the M6 motorway. The area today serves as a predominantly residential suburb along with the adjoining area of Orrell and as a ward has a population of 13,638,[2] increasing to 13,982 at the 2011 Census.[3] The area is served by Pemberton railway station on the Wigan Wallgate to Kirkby branch line.

Following the Industrial Revolution, Pemberton became a densely populated industrial district comprising a variety of coal mines, stone-quarries, brick manufactories, and cotton mills.[1][4] Coal mining was the principal industry of what was described in 1911 as an "unpicturesque, bare and open" area.[1]

History

The name Pemberton derives from Penn-bere-tūn, which is believed to be a combination of the Celtic penn meaning hill, the Old English bere meaning barley plus the Old English suffix of -ton meaning a farm or settlement.[5][6]

Unmentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, Pemberton does not appear in records until 1212, when it was documented to have been a thegnage estate, or manor, comprising "two plough-lands", with an annual rate of 20 shillings payable by the tenant, Alan de Windle, to King John.[1]

There were several collieries in the area, and sandstone was also quarried. At Newtown were cotton mills and iron works. A well at Lamberhead Green (Pingate) was noted for its excellent water quality.

References

Notes

Bibliography

  • Brownbill, J; Farrer, W (1911), A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5, Victoria County History, ISBN 978-0-7129-1055-2 
  • Hanks, Patrick (2003), Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-508137-4 
  • Lewis, Samuel (1848), A Topographical Dictionary of England, Institute of Historical Research, ISBN 978-0-8063-1508-9 

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