Winter Hill Boundary Wall

There is a huge boundary wall running the length of Winter Hill, roughly North to South. Along the top of the hill the wall is partially collapsed but is rather tall in relation to the regular drystone walls of the area. At the steep slope of the hill the boundary is marked by a large rubble that was presumably once a wall, though it seems there is too much rubble. An area was marked out with lights during the second world war to divert enemy bombers from the nearby towns of Chorley, Horwich and Bolton. It is still possible to find some of the rusted metal light placements.

Interestingly the boundary is likely to have been in place from ancient times and could date back to the time of the Danelaw. Near the steep side of Winter Hill as the boundary descends the slope there is a small ruin of unknown purpose and below in the rubble a strange carved stone can be found, it is in the form of a shallow basin or perhaps similar to a saddle quern but seems too regular to be of prehistoric origin.

The stone is broken and it seems the basin was never fully carved as there is a rough protrusion that can be seen in the right-inner part of the basin.

Created: 27  November  2016  Edited: 29  November  2023