Hole Bottoms

Hole Bottoms is an area just to the side of the Winter Hill road, to the right of the crash barrier as you travel uphill and is the site of a former brick works. Dave Lane's Winter Hill Scrapbook Volume 2 gives this reference to the brick works, in the Bolton Chronicle of 1849:

"TO BE LET. An extensive and well established Fire Brick and Tile Works, situated at the Five Houses, Horwich Moor, the present proprietor being desirous of retiring from the business. The works are complete with Steam Engine, Grinding and Crushing apparatus, Stoves, Drying Houses, Ovens, Moulds and every convenience for carrying out business. The clay and coal being of superior quality, and are got on the premises at very trifle expense.

P.S. Any person taking the works can be accommodated with five or six acres of land and a few cottages adjoining. For particulars apply to Mr Wm. Garbutt in the premises, or on Monday at the King’s Arms and Four Horse Shoes Bolton."

The "Five Houses" mentioned in the advert refers to there being a goup of five houses nearby, one of which was a beer house. There were also several cottages. Grid ref: SD658 132.