Where is Moleside?
 

Where is Moleside?

I've been reading the book Edwardian Accrington Observed and in it for the entry covering the King's Coronation celebrations it says that a torchlight procession went up Moleside to the bonfire an the top.

I must confess that I don't remember hearing the name, Moleside, before or knowing where abouts it is.

But I've heard of a Moleside Farm & Moleside Close.

Is it another name for 'The Coppice' or, perhaps, just part of it?

Can anyone enlighten me!

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Moleside is the hill next to the Coppice

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

So it would be looking down towards Plantation Street - that side?

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

As you look up Plantation Street it's to the right of the Coppice

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Try looking on a map. There is no mention of the coppice but Moleside Moor is there.

Map of Moleside Moor in Lancashire

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Great! Thanks for that M-t-C.

Perhaps later in the year you could include some photos, of it or from it, in your excellent collection.

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Coppice,Moleside, n then Hambledon as i used to know it.:)

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Correct

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Yep had many a trek up Gamblers Caves in me youth.:)

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Wah! This is getting interesting.

But, is that all you're going to tell us. I've done some walking up there when I was a kid with my dad and brother but we never came across any caves!

Tell us more!!

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Me to :eek: not at the same time :D

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Its on a thread somewhere but god knows which one.:confused: The caves were just across from the reservoir up yon. just a few hundred yards away.:)

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Did you have a bet?

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Just search for Gamblers Caves, there are several threads

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...ves-16821.html

etc etc

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

There never were any caves, it was a hole in a quarry face, there was a flat area in front of it, where the gambling took place on Sundays during good weather, the gamblers took turns to use a small piece of wood which fitted over the first two fingers of the right hand, the referee would place two 1/2pennies on it which were then tossed into the air when all bets had been placed, either two heads, two tails or odds, look outs were posted on the surrounding high ground to warn of police raids.
My daugter took me up there about two years ago, its completely changed now, the quarry face has been damaged, and its now strewn with rubble, and the old generating station for the WW2 decoy is in a dangerous condition

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Thanks Susie.

The last report in those posts was 2008. I wonder if there's been any improvement over the last 4 or 5 years?

Incidentally, I made full use of that link to those 1890 maps you posted. I've turned one into an 800 piece electronic jigsaw and its really difficult but I'm having a great time getting in slowly finished.

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Pompeylass I have a bone to pick with you!;):) You mentioned electronic jigsaw puzzles and as I had never heard of such a thing I looked on the www - found several sites where I could play - and now I am hooked! Still makes a change from the Accyweb arcade games!

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

As far as us kids were concerned they were caves, n all accy called em gamblers caves, hole in quarry they may well have been. but not to kids exploring.;)

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Ditto Mr C... caves don't have to be naturally occuring, my Collins book of big words says "an underground hollow with access to the surface...." I am sure Mr Mog will attest that a roof collapse in the mine is called a "cave-in"
Do remember the tablelike stone though, our Woodnook gang reckoned it was a sacrificial altar and some swore they could make out the blood stains:knife: !;) Too much Tizer or Vimto consumed methinks now, .....on reflection the stains were probably something like that. I hope :cool:

p.s a nice man whose name escapes me posted some recent pics of the caves on my thread "Venting ones spleen"

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Davemac....thanks :thankya:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/davemac43/

Somewhere in there...

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Retlaw, a bit of trivia - that gambling game sounds like Two-Up which as you probably know was played extensively by Australia’s soldiers in WW1 – then became illegal but is legalised for ANZAC Day every year. Apparently popular in England in the 18th Century - sounds like it originated there and eventually turned up at the goldfields in Oz. A fool and his money and all that....

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

So yeh mean it actually wasn't a sacrificial altar???:confused::eek:

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Depends what you think of gambling - I've been known to sacrifice a bob or two in the name of it....

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Hope you have got your answers pompeylass, we seem to have wandered off thread?
I'll try and get it back on ;)
picture this: Early hours of this morning shout from upstairs from current Mrs P "Cheese & Rice D bring that big book back and put it back under the bedleg it's like sleeping on the slopes of *expletive deleted* Moleside up here"
My reply "Well you should know my little kumquat after your last time at the Hambledon Hill Race"

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Hamledon Hill Race?
Of course not far from the cave was a Holy Well.

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

Gamblers caves, long gone, only lives in the memory.

Re: Where is Moleside?
 

The pics are interesting, as you say 'long gone' but never expunged from memory.