Golborne
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Template:Infobox England place with map Golborne is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire, and has a population 23,119.
Geography and administration
Civic history
Under the Local Government Act 1972, in force from the 1 April 1974, the urban district of Golborne, established in 1894 (and expanded in 1933 by adding part of Leigh Rural District) was split, with the parts of Culcheth and Newchurch becoming part of the Warrington district in Cheshire, and the rest of the district becoming part of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan of Greater Manchester.
Golborne has Warrington as it's postown, it's postcode being WA3 (Warrington), the postal addresses in Golborne being ... Golborne, Warrington, WA3 ***.
History
Etymology
Golborne's name is derived from gold+bourne, referring to the golden flowers that used to grow by the banks of the Millingford Brook.[citation needed]
Early history
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The town was referred to in the Domesday book. The town owed most of its early growth to the mining industry.
Recent history
Much of the population growth occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, when the town largely developed as a satellite town for the nearby towns of Warrington, Leigh and Wigan. In addition many inhabitants moved in from the nearby cities of Liverpool and Manchester.
In April 1979 there was a Methane Explosion at the town's colliery, caused by an electrical spark, which took the lives of ten of the miners.(of eleven present, only one survived). The colliery closed around 10 years later in 1989. The location of the former colliery is known locally as the 'Bonk' (slang for bank, as in 'Railway Embankment, and is now used as a Business Park.
For some years there has been an on-going campaign to re-open the town's former railway station, which could potentially enable passengers to reach Wigan and Warrington in as little as 10 minutes. The plans seem recently to have been shelved, in favour of further development of residential areas.
Demographics
Golborne has a population of around 30,000 people. The population is made up of many older people who have lived in Golborne all of their lives and in recent years, many former inhabitants of Liverpool and Manchester have settled in Golborne, many continuing to commute to work in these places as well as in nearby Warrington, St.Helens and Wigan. There are also many families which have lived in the area for generations.
Landmarks
- The parish church of Golborne is St Thomas Church.
- Peter Kane Square and memorial clock.
On Sunday, March 19 the Rector of Golborne the Rev Robert Williams officiated at a service in Kidglove Road at what was the entrance to Golborne Colliery beside the inscribed memorial stone.
The service was attended by ex-miners and their families are invited to the event which is the fruition of two years of fund-raising to erect the six feet by three feet stone which was commissioned in memory of men and women who died and worked at Golborne Colliery which opened in 1880 and closed in 1989.
The memorial was conceptualised by the Golborne Ex-Miners Association who staged a series of concerts to help towards the cost of the stone. Also funding was received from a community chest grant from Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council, Alpla (UK) Ltd of Golborne and The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation and ex miner Dean Mitchell (mitchell landscapes) did all landscaping on the memorial site & did it with pride .
Famous Haydock Race Course is also nearby, and is located in Haydock, next to Golborne. The Park is edged by a tall wall which forms the Boundary between Haydock, Ashton in Makerfield, Golborne and Newton le Willows. Haydock Park Racecourse is, of course, part of the village of Haydock, which nowadays is taken in by the Borough of St.Helens, however, neighbouring Wigan Borough are constantly on the offensive, trying to take over what is a Jewel in the St.Helens Borough's crown.
Notable residents
- Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers striker, and England World Cup Winner of 1966, Roger Hunt was born in the town just before the outbreak of World War II in 1938.
- Former WWF and WCW professional wrestler Davey Boy Smith was born in Golborne.
- Former WWF professional wrestler Thomas Billington was born in Golborne.
- World Flyweight Champion Boxer (1938-1943) Peter Kane, came from Heywood, Lancashire and lived in Golborne for a short time, as a boy. Recently a new town square on the high street was named after him.
- Former Wigan Warriors Rugby League star Danny Tickle is from Golborne.