Round House in Whelley
Does anyone know anything about the original Round House in Whelley? Thanks
This is what I've found so far via Google:
Why were Roundhouse Sidings so called? Was there ever a roundhouse in that area? (link):
While I could find old railwaymen who knew where this location was*, none could recall a loco shed, except a very old and tiny one which would have held a small tank engine. (* OS Grid Ref: 359639,406405).
And that's where the answer lay!
There was once a "Round House", dating from ancient times, on the old highway from Wigan to what later became Horwich. A colliery was eventually sunk near here with two shafts, named Round House No. 1 and No. 2. No. 1 shaft was connected to the Wigan - Horwich highway via a tram road while No. 2 shaft had another tramroad leading down to the Leeds - Liverpool canal. Eventually, after the main line railway later known as the Whelley line was built nearby, both Nos 1 & 2 pits were connected via a short branch line which terminated at a small marshalling yard known as 'Roundhouse Sidings'.
Started: 31st Mar 2016 at 20:04
The Round House was demolished in the 1970s. It stood where the petrol station is in Whelley, between Bradshaw Street and Plantation Gates,but on the opposite side of the road. I think that it was originally part of Round house Farm.
Replied: 31st Mar 2016 at 20:22
Thanks, Tuddy, I've looked for online photos of that relatively recent building but had no luck.
It seems Wigan Archive Services (link) may hold a plan of Roundhouse Farm:
Haigh Estate Records - DD/Hai/286
Replied: 1st Apr 2016 at 10:58