Self-Catering Holiday Cottage




Home The Cottage Location Tariff Contact Us 01254 853461 Local Amenities Days Out Local History		SELF-CATERING HOLIDAY COTTAGE History of the Cottage and Wheelton
		Neppy Meadow Cottage was previously a weaver’s cottage in the 1800s. The shop was located downstairs in what is now the dining room and the weaving looms were housed in the kitchen, where fixing holes can still be seen in the stone flags and wooden beams. Other interesting features include many original floorboards and an original mullion window in the kitchen, which has even attracted local historians as the original bars are still in place. The cottage has an unusual name thought to be derived from the spinning term ‘nep’, which is a knot formed by irregular growth or the rubbing of threads. Before the industrial revolution the Wheelton area was mainly agricultural. With the arrival of the cotton industry, handloom weavers settled near springs or water courses. Wheelton is such a settlement and several weavers cottages can still be seen. In the mid 1800’s spinning became more of a factory process and the building of a mill at Wheelton led to the decline of hand-weaving by 1892. The mill was steam powered using water sourced from the top and bottom lodge at Albert Street. Coal was brought from Wigan, unloaded at Top Lock and brought along Kenyon Lane. The mill closed in the 1960’s, was demolished in the 1970’s and is now the Millbrook Close residential estate. Further information on the history of the area can be found at heapyandwheelton.org

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History of the Cottage and Wheelton