Walker, cyclists and horse-riders will be able to travel back in time as Leigh and Tyldesley’s Roman, industrial and mining heritage is showcased along the 4.5 mile guided busway.
The Spinning Jenny, Gin Pit mining village, Bedford Colliery disaster and local remains of a Roman road are all the subjects of huge new signs lining the 4.5 mile busway path.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) teamed up with Wigan Council to design eight fact-filled signs, offering locals and visitors out for a ramble a unique insight into the area’s interesting past.
Featured local legends include Thomas Highs of Leigh – said to have invented two crucial machines that kick-started the Industrial Revolution – and Elizabeth Parry, pit brow lass for 41 years at Nook Pit, Tyldesley, who received a British Empire Medal in 1953.
Alongside local history, nature lovers can also find out more about TfGM’s work to protect wildlife and habitats during the construction of the North West’s first guided busway.
The signs feature along the popular busway pathway, which is already proving a huge hit with cyclists, walkers and horse riders.
They were showcased at the recent family fun day (Sunday 7 August) where residents of all ages enjoyed bike rides, guided walks and a teddy bear picnic along the route.
Mark Aldred, Atherleigh councillor and Deputy Chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “It’s great to see so many people already enjoying the busway path, which is a fantastic place to showcase the area’s rich heritage.
“As well as being an eye opener for visitors travelling to the area on the busway, I’m sure that inquisitive minds both young and old will enjoy finding out more about the area they live in.”
