Ashworth Fold, Near Heywood, Greater Manchester

From Simpson Clough Ashworth Road curves round the valley and further along is Ashworth Fold at (SD 85021325), a hamlet made up of a couple of farms dating from the 17th-18th century, some cottages of a similar date, and a 16th-17th century hall that has an old inscribed stone and sundial in its garden. The hall had been abandoned for a time, but it has now been made into three cottages. Ashworth Fold is roughly situated halfway between Heywood and Norden, in Greater Manchester. Ashworth as a place-name probably means 'Ash-trees beside a farm'. The Naden Brook flows from Simpson Clough through Ashworth Fold and then on into Carr Woods. A bit further along the road there was Ridd Pit or Ashworth Pit, but this closed down in 1898 and hardly anything now remains, apart from the old capped shaft. Opposite where this coal pit used to be are the very pitcheresque Ridd Cottages on School Lane and the old School house just beyond, which is now St James' parish rooms.

H.D.Clayton writing in 1979 says:- "The fold is the only group of buildings in Ashworth and consists of the Hall, two farms, four cottages and the estate workshops. It is a Grade 2 group in the list of Buildings of Architectural or Historic Interest and is descri-bed as 'a group of buildings, mainly stone, 17th and 18th century. The siting of the group, and features such as a late Gothic doorway, a massive studded oak door, a stone segmented archway, an attractive parapet and finial, a stone stile, a range of low stone mullioned windows and areas of cobbles, combine to produce a very attractive composition. All in same style, barns with loop lights.' The mullioned windows have disappeared, but the well-built stone pigsties could have been mentioned. It is not known when the Fold was built and the only clue was a date stone 1601 R.H., which used to be on a stone pedestal placed on the ridge of the roof of Ashworth Hall farm building.

"There must have been a house on the site of the Hall from very early times and one massive stone gable end, possibly 15th century, still stands. Some time later this house was greatly enlarged to form a mansion, half-timbered lath and plaster, with a wing of three gables running back to the road, and forming a courtyard with the present two cottages and farm buildings. At the entrance was a square tower and wicket gate, and, on the other side of the house, a rose garden terrace, orchard and ornamental pond. At a later date the wing and tower were removed and the half-timbered walls replaced with hand made bricks. The original stone built house with mullion windows was left intact, although the mullions have since been removed".

Clayton goes on to say: "Rev. D. Rathbone recorded how the hall appeared about 1830: 'The Hall still retains its aspiring site, its gables still peep from the woods that environ it, but much has been destroyed, and the strong stone-built gateway with its massive doors and wicket gatestands alone; the eastern side of the quadrangle is gone, and nothing now remains but that southern portion which fronts the dilapidated terrace with its moat and hanging garden. A hundred yew trees, tradition says, once grew in stately avenues or in sombre groups around the deserted house of many generations, but only a few survive; they stand single and forlorn. The ruins of Ashworth Hall afford a pleasing specimen of that style of domestic architecture which has in its many peculiarities a distinction and beauty which bore the antiquarian and the lover of the picturesque gives it a more than ordinary character of interest. Nothing remains to guide us as to its age, but, judging from general appearance, we should not hesitate to affix a date at least coeval with the Wars of the Roses. Parts of the building may be more ancient, for there is a diversity of style and character.'

"Two thirds of the Hall was let to the Vicar at a nominal rent and the remainder was the farmhouse for the Hall Farm. A stream ran under this portion of the house and beneath the floor a small waterwheel provided power as required. In the garden are a large upright stone inscribed 'R.H. 1685' for Richard Holt and an undated sundial on a graceful stone pedestal. Although much altered from the age of the horse, when chain horses were kept at Guelder Clough to help carts up the hills, and the large open space in the Fold was covered with grass, with a stone trough in the middle, overhung with a large cherry treeand seat for gossip, the Fold is still picturesque and beloved by artists."

Clayton, H.D., A History of Ashworth near Rochdale, Ashworth Hall, Rochdale, 1979. The two images (above) are taken from this book.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1084283

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1084285

https://www.heywoodhistory.com/2017/04/north-heritage.html

https://www.heywoodhistory.com/2016/11/mines.html

https://www.realrochdale.co.uk/editions/spring-2020/take-a-walk-in-ashworth-valley/

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