Place names
 

Does anyone know why Hygiene and Checkers in Clayton are so called?

Re: Place names
 

Was there not a 'Bleach' works at the lower end of the "Hygeiene" at one time .

Re. the Chequers , once asked on here if anyone knew about the history , my thinking is they have to be some of the oldest inhabited houses in Clayton , know that some of them have stone stairs and 'flag' floors upstairs , from the general topography (below canal level and Whalley Rd. ) I'm thinking they pre date the canal.
Maybe Katex (bit of a Clayton history buff ) can check maps of the original Dunkanhalgh estate if available and see if Chequers are shown as estate workers cottages ... just an idea

Re: Place names
 

It is believed that the cottages on Chequers were built for handloom weavers initially.

As to Hygiene .. no idea.
Found this from a leaflet when I went on a walk organised by HBC and the Civic Society.

Hygiene

Formerly known as Hayslacks, which could mean enclosure in the valley, slakki being a word of Norse derivation meaning valley. It is mentioned in the documents from c.1210-1230 .... 'following the hill to the south between Hindit Hill and Haislack' It is known as Hayslacks on the census 1841 until 1871 when the description of the enumeration area shows 'Hayslacks Hygiene'. How the the name Hygiene came into use is not known.

Bleach works sounds good though, Steeljack.

Re: Place names
 

Katex , not wanting to disagree with what you posted "following the hill to the south between Hindit Hill and Haislack" if you check 'google earth' its easy to see there is no hill to the south of the Chequers/Hygiene , in fact its a clear open view over what used to be a flat field to the English Electric works,and beyond that the Dunkanhalgh area , from google earth it seems warehouses have now been built on the back field which I remember as a kid from my 'Auntie Maggie/Uncle Thurston (Smith's)' back garden .

question ... did the 'handloom' weavers die out before or after the construction of the canal , know the canal aided the mechanisation of the mills ... thanks

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There was also Dr Lovelaces soap factory nearby is that anything to do with it?

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Sorry for delay .. have been in deep thought ..just emerged. Basically not a clue, but one or two helpul points.

Think 'the hill to the South' only described another location, not the one in Clayton.

The only other reason that I can think of, as to how to Chequers got its name, is that there is a tree indeginous to England called the Chequers Tree .. perhaps they were growing there before development ?

Re. handloom weavers .. only gone off what other researchers have said ... what evidence, I don't know. The canal was certainly there on this map (1845), but only a small block ... the other was added later. There is a cotton mill there too. Which came first ? Notice two Chequers - Further and Middle.

Attachment 17647

Also chemical factory ...did this lead to Hygiene being named then ? Chemical Factory not showing on map of 1890.

Attachment 17648

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Thanks Katex, interesting maps re. the second Chequers ... "Further Chequers" not sure haven't been round that area for years, going off memory , but would that be the street where the 'Old England Forever' pub is/was ? just off from what used to be called 'the Square'

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Yes, Church Street, where the pub still is (just re-opened again after closure)... good to know you remember that ..LOL.

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I just posted a message on the other thread about Chequers. John Smith of Great Harwood left a will in 1800 and among his property was a house in Checkers called the passage house rented by John Broadley, Marie Ball

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Very interesting info - thank you all. Does anyone know the origin of the name Emmison's or Emmison's Row? I have some ancestors who lived there in the 1800s.

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The Castle used to be on Chequers, now a private house.
The Old England Forever is on Church Street and has been open 3 or 4 years now.:D