Winter Hill Trespass of 1896
From the Traveller Tour web site:
Winter Hill is the highest point on the moors between the towns of Bolton, Preston and Blackburn. Most of the moors are part of the Smithills Estate, owned by the Ainsworths, an old Bolton family who profited from the slave trade in the 18th Century. In the summer of 1896, Colonel Richard Henry Ainsworth erected gates across access roads, fixed "Trespassers will be prosecuted" signs and hired men to warn people off the property. The public outcry led to a small advertisement appearing in the Bolton paper, paid for by the Social Democratic Federation. It invited the public to join a demonstration on Sunday morning, 6 September 1896, to test the right of way over Winter Hill.
A crowd of 1000 met in Bolton to listen to some speeches. Numbers increased tenfold as they marched up Halliwell road towards the edge of the moor. At the gate they were confronted by a small contingency of police. According to the Bolton Chronicle, "Amid the lusty shouting of the crowd the gate was attacked by powerful hands…… short work was made of the barrier, and with a ring of triumph the demonstrators rushed through onto the disputed territory."
Plans were soon in place to repeat the procession. A song was commissioned.
"Will you come on Sunday morning’,
For a walk o’er Winter Hill.
Ten thousand went last Sunday,
But there’s room for thousands still!"
"O the moors are rare and bonny,
And the heather’s sweet and fine,
And the road across this hill top,
Is the public’s – Yours and mine!"
Despite some rain the following Sunday, 2000 people came and listened to speeches. Again the crowd grew as it set off for the moor, completely blocking Halliwell Road.
This spontaneous movement of 1896 did not quite achieve what it set out to do. For years the right of access to Winter Hill was embroiled in the British Legal System. However less than 40 years later, better organised and more capable men set in train the events of Kinder Scout, which proved momentous to those who enjoy the freedom to roam our hills and moors.
Writing on the Angry Corrie web site, Pete Stanton adds:
8th September 1996 saw centenary celebration of the Winter Hill mass trespasses, among the earliest and best attended of fights for access to hills. Winter Hill is a Marilyn just outside Bolton - now most notable for its TV mast and assorted collection of other communications paraphernalia - and has been a popular walking area with locals for many years.
The commemorative walk was less well attended than the original mass trespass: around 1500 people. Kate Ashbrook, chair of the Rambler's Association, gave an interesting speech about access to open land and the Countryside Landowner's Association's response to proposed Labour legislation. Apparently, the CLA favour a voluntary access scheme to a legal right to roam. Kate pointed out that such a scheme has existed for the last 50 years, and if the CLA's members wanted to allow access, it could be done tomorrow. The fact that nearly everywhere in England and Wales outside the National Parks isn't accessible suggests the CLA don't want it.
Bolton Corporation bought the land in the late 1920s, and it is now open access with freedom to roam, although their tenant farmers haven't always grasped this yet. Coalpit Road was finally declared a public right of way in June 1996. Sometimes it can take 100 years to right wrongs.
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