Library

Adlington has it's own library, which is part of the Lancashire library services and is housed in a modern building on Railway Road. The library also has 6 computers available for free Internet access, and an area set aside children's reading. In front of the library is the new millennium garden, which is a sensory garden with features for smell and touch. Many small business and individuals in the village donated money to help pay for the garden.

Library Opening Times Monday          10.00 - 12.30      1.30 - 7.00 Tuesday         1.30  -  5.00 Wednesday    Closed Thursday        10.00 - 12.30      1.30 - 5.00 Friday             1.30  -  7.00 Saturday         10.00 - 12.30 Sunday           Closed

War Memorials

The main War Memorial for Adlington is on Railway Road, and it is at this site that the annual remembrance day service is held. As you may be able to make out in the photo the stone work on the memorial was refurbished in 2004. Many people may not know that the are several other memorials in the area, the most noticeable is the tower on St Paul's Church. The tower built in 1932 has a plaque and  foundation stone to mark the occasion. Also there is another memorial in the grounds of St. Joseph's RC Church, and  there are brass plaques in Anderton County Primary School, to commemorate the fallen and war decorated former pupils. The list of all the Men who offered their lives in the service of their country is available here

Medical Service

There are very good medical services in Adlington, with dentists, doctors and vets all practising in the village. The main surgery is  Granville Street Medical Centre,  Dr Lawrenson  GP in Adlington from 1947 to 1976  built the surgery at Granville Street in partnership with Dr F W Yates ,which in the late 1990's was extended with a very modern new reception and waiting area. In addition there is Adlington Medical Centre on Babylon lane with Dr Othman Elhalhuli were family planning and acupuncture are also available.

Headless Cross

Headless Cross is at the junction on the old road near the Millstone pub in Anderton and Grimeford Lane on the way to Rivington. At the side of this junction is an old pair of stocks and a carved stone about four feet high. The bottom part looks like the base of a Celtic cross and on top there's a more recent direction stone. Legend has it that there used to be a chapel near the junction and a tunnel running to a nearby farm on a hill. In the 16th century shortly before troops came to destroy the chapel, a priest hid in the tunnel and became trapped underground. His body was never found. Many people are said to have seen a ghost at the Headless Cross.

Anderton View

The Viewpoint is situated alongside the A673 Bolton Road adjacent to the M61 motorway bridge and consists of a paved area with a public seat and a stone boulder on which is mounted a display plaque illustrating the view of the local area to the south and west. The unveiling, which took place at the end of December 2005, marked the culmination of around 18 months of work by parish councillors to bring this project about. Some time ago residents had requested that a seat be placed in the area, as it is a popular walking route especially during the summer months. Also mounted on the stone plinth is a second plaque commemorating the service of three retired councillors, Frank Yates, Jim Firth and Andrew Young who between them have given over 60 years of service to the parish council. It is anticipated that the Anderton Viewpoint will form a lasting amenity for both residents and visitors alike and will in time become a prominent feature of the district.

Halls & Historic Houses

Adlington Hall , Adlington
The now demolished Adlington Hall was home to the Clayton family, one of whom was Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland. A lodge which stood at the entrance to Adlington Hall Park in which the hall sat, can still be found near to the Parochial school built in 1815 by public subscription.

Allanson Hall, Adlington
Situated on the north eastern bank of the Leeds Liverpool Canal at Adlington near to Rigshaw Bridge. The home of a family from Adlington first mentioned in 1520, Allanson Hall, later renamed Rigshaw Hall sat on the north eastern bank of the Leeds Liverpool Canal near to Rigshaw Bridge. Reginald Allanson was recorded as the land owner during the reign of Elizabeth I.

Anderton Hall
Now in ruins , was the home of the Lawrence family and sat in a delightful position at the waters edge, on the western shoreline of Lower Rivington Reservoir S.S.E. of Chorley. Access to the hall with adjoining Anderton Hall Farm, was from the south side of Horrobin Lane Rivington. Records show that a chapel existed at Anderton Hall in medieval times. In 1370, Joan, widow of William Anderton of Anderton Ford, obtained licence for her oratory at Anderton. A sculpted stone now in Rivington churchyard, is believed to have come from this chapel.

This location is now home to the Anderton Hall Conference Centre where adventure and team building activities take place. A boulder with carved markings, which was discovered near the Lower Rivington reservoir in September 1999, can be seen on the grass outside the Conference Centre. The markings on the stone are of the "cup and ring" variety and are thought to date from between 4,000 to 5,000 years ago, putting them into the Neolithic or Bronze Age time frame.

Rivington Pike

The Pike is a famous local landmark, with its beacon, first built to warn of the invasion of the Spanish Armada and restored during the Napoleonic Wars. The Rivington Pike tower was built in 1733 by a Landowner named John Andrews. The stone used for the restored tower was brought in from Liverpool. The tower consists of one square room with a flagged floor, a fireplace, and a cellar. It was used as a shelter for shooting parties. The Tower was extensively damaged by neglect and vandalism over many years until it was renovated in 1974 but is now closed to the public.

In later years, William Hesketh Lever, the first Viscount Leverhulme, built a residence there; Roynton Cottage. The first cottage, a wooden structure, was burned down by suffragettes in 1913, ironically, as the Viscount was a supporter of women's' suffrage. It was replaced by a fine stone mansion set in gardens built to Italian, Japanese and Chinese designs. The 2nd Viscount sold to McGee (a brewer) it was used by US military in WW2, the building like many others in the war period was greatly neglected and damaged by excessive use, the end of the war saw the McGee family sell off the grounds, it was then left to Bolton and Chorley Council to decide what to do, sadly the effect of the war on the local economy did not allow for repairs to the building and the decision was made to demolish.

For years, people, including myself, have climbed the Pike on Good Friday. All that way, all that effort, for a fantastic view and the funfair on the other side (and a hotdog, a reward for your efforts!) This is a tradition that has been around for years, passed from generation to generation

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References & Credits:
Adlington (and District), Lancashire by M.D.Smith ISBN 1 873500 01 7
Paul Lacey