Wigan Album

Barrie until Ron posted the newspaper cutting I didn't know there had been a windmill on Harrock Hill, I had seen the remains of the one at Upholland, but not this one.

Though it would have been a perfect site for a windmill with being high up with open views all around. We've driven up a few times and always meant to stop and admire the views, but the layby at the top was always jam-packed with vehicles, much the same as the top of nearby Parbold Hill is.

Remember camping here when I was a teenager with my mates in the early seventies pushed biked it from Shevington it looks much the same as this photo, always remember the bats in the evening and you also had the views not like today.

Cyril now you know it there why dont you put you shoes on and have a walk up to it.
If you dont fancy that you can see me walking up there on this video.

https://youtu.be/y1aDgmArilY

It would have been in the 1990s the last time we drove up there Mick, and it looks to be far more overgrown than what I remember it to be. Though having looked on Google maps it must have been Hunter's Hill we drove up as Harrock Hill and the windmill looks to be more of a track off that road or another road further along, I do remember a farm of sorts having a sign with Pedigree Holstein Friesian dairy cows.

As a young lad. Whenever I went to my Grandma's house who lived in Togood Lane. I was forever pestering my granddad to take me to the GIANTS CASTLE ( i.e. The windmill at Harrock Hiill) He said not to make a noise as the Giant was asleep underground and if I woke him up he would be after me. Used to terrify me to death, but I loved it<g>Such simple pleasures...

Barrie, have you put your little brother's jacket on by mistake?

Young men at that time were always smartly dressed. Barry you look at least 6 Ft. Correct me if I’m wrong.

George- sorry no little brother. Veronica -you are nearly correct, I was around 5ft-10inch then and now just slightly less after all these years. I reckon I could still fit into that outfit now. As you say, we were smartly dressed at leisure although during the working week, as a young civil engineer on the M6 construction, it was donkey jackets and jeans or cords. What I would like to know is when was the windmill built and for what purpose?

Barrie, just had a quick research and it's mentioned as far back as 1660. I believe for milling corn

Barrie, four links to different snippets of the history of Harrock Windmill here: https://www.landscapebritain.co.uk/location/harrock-old-windmill/

https://www.hilldale-ca.org/Localhistorylore/HarrockHillMill-html/

http://grimshaworigin.org/miscellaneous-grimshaw-individuals/grimshawgreen/#:~:text=Close%20to%20the%20summit%20of,derelict%20by%20at%20least%201845.

https://redrosecollections.lancashire.gov.uk/view-item?key=SnsiUCI6eyJpdGVtaWQiOjI4NTM1MiwicGVyY2VudFRlcm1zVG9NYXRjaCI6IjAuNiIsIm1heFF1ZXJ5VGVybXMiOiIyMCIsIm1pbkRvY0ZyZXEiOiIxIiwibWluVGVybUZyZXEiOiIxIn0sIkYiOiJleUp6YnlJNk0zMCJ9&pg=2&WINID=1671359204993#d4oRTYGjbi4AAAGFJMV38Q/285351

So true Veronica, almost everyone would be seen dressed smartly with men in collar and tie etc., I did too until I got a rebellious streak for a few years and would go around in tie dyed T shirts and jeans. In the photo Barrie you look very studious and reminds me as you could about to give a lecture on the windmill in an episode of the Open University. Or maybe a contestant on University Challenge - Barrie, UMIST Manchester reading Civil Engineering here is your starter for 10. Thanks for sharing the photo as it has brought various comments and I and probably many more hadn't known it was there and its history.

Cyril you have got Barrie to a ‘tee’ he does look like a University lecturer. Unlike students who are usually in more rebellious garb as you say. That’s probably because they are
so poor …;o)) some things never change unless the parents are well off. Mind you I have also met some scruffy Tutors..

Cyril - St.Pies College Wigan - Reading 'The Beano'.

I think Barrie looks like he's bursting for a pee .

Cyril, thanks for the links posted, hadn't realized the history surrounding Harrock Hill. Growing up in the late 40's/early 50's my parents, who were ardent walkers, would take us children on an evening or afternoon walk that often would include the "hills". I noticed from one of the articles that it has a metal fence round it now. Veronica /Cyril in a way I did, in my profession, become a lecturer as following on from a civil engineer I became a Health & Safety Adviser in the construction industry and used to host training courses for the companies I looked after. Smartly dressed of course! Anyway, I have enjoyed the banter this photo has brought to the Album section of WW. Long may it last. Poet-If it was now that photo was taken perhaps you could be right.

From about 1960 onwards I trained with Britain's best road cyclist Bill Bradley (his mum was a Wiganer) and our circuit was Hunter's Hill, Bank Top and the back of Ashurst Beacon then home to Southport. I have often heard of Harrock Hill but never having found it I assumed it was just a different name for Hunter's Hill. Where is it?

Ray, go onto Google Maps for the area, find A5209 & Dicconson Arms, across from there is Robin Hood Lane scroll up and left and locate Harrock Hall Scroll up and in a "wooded" area is marked Harrock Hill Windmill. Hope that helps you. Looking at the photos on google now it is nothing like what my photo depicts way in 1965.