Monkey Town and back.

Saturday 21st February 2026.

Monkey Town is not a slur, in fact it is just the opposite. The people of Heywood Lancashire are proud of the title and advertise it everywhere. The name goes back to the days when canals and railways were being built. The Irish navvies, many of them, lived in the area called Heape Bridge and because of their accents when ever they told people where they lived they said Ape Bridge and the title stuck.

We set off from the car park at the Hopwood Inn in Slattocks where we passed the first mural of the day and where we joined the Rochdale Canal towpath.

The mural showing the dog that belongs to the Hopwood pub, the church on the right is Thornham St. Johns and the spire on the left is Castleton Church. The chimneys reflect how many mills used to be in the area. 

Many runners passed us on the route up to Castleton. As we approached the motorway bridge the canal splits into two. The left hand channel is all that is left of the branch that was the Heywood Canal. When the motorway was built the canal was filled in and the old swing bridge removed. Our route went right.

Where the Heywood Branch canal splits from the Rochdale Canal.

There is no towpath beside the canal as it passes through a pre-cast concrete tunnel. The canal and river trust have put in a floating walkway. This can be moved when a wide beam boat comes through.

Floating towpath.

We left the canal when we got to Castleton and our route took us through the back streets. On the bridge which crosses the canal and the railway I spotted a benchmark.

We left the canal here at Castleton

Second mural of the day.

Benchmark on the canal and railway bridge at SD882105

Castleton. 

This is Heywood Road which we followed through to the green lane called Chadwick Lane. This is a very old route and was probably the main route to Heywood in years gone by. 

The Chadwicks were a prominent family in the area from the 17th century and resided at Healey Hall. They owned significant stretches of land on both sides of the River Spodden. The lane was historically part of the rural landscape that became divided by 19th century administrative boundaries, separating Rochdale and other districts.

Chadwick Lane.

A tree full of Jews Ears Fungi. Also known as Jelly ears and wood ears.

The name Jews ears is not anti-semitic, it originates because Judus Iscariot was said to have hung himself on an alder tree and the ears that grow on it were known as Judas ears which over time became Jews ears. They can be eaten when dried out. I haven't tried them.

Rugby training was underway at Mayfield Sports ground which is the home of Rochdale Mayfield rugby league club and was opened in 1958. Across the lane is the entrance to Castle Hawk Golf Club. The Golf club was built in 1961 and has an 18 hole course as well as two 9 hole courses.

I noticed on the map a disused pit. I didn't go and find it on this trip but I will try and find it another time as it is quite interesting.

The Heywood coal company owned two collieries  during the mid 19th century. This pit is called Captain Fold. A series of tragedies led to it closing. One miner fell 66ft to his death in 1844. In 1848 a miner with a naked flame caused an explosion which killed a 33yr old miner. Finally in 1852 two miners died when the pit was flooded by the River Roch. One of the dead was only 13 yrs of age. His name just happened to be Heywood. The mine was closed soon after due to the fear of the River. There is supposed to be a concrete marker over the pit head. A little further along we came across an old boiler which we presumed came from the pit.

Old boiler possibly from the pit.

The weather today is quite warm and no breeze. Having checked the BBC weather and read that there would be 48% chance of rain we togged up for the worst. It was a big mistake as we were sweating cobs.

The pennine hills were now showing there heads as earlier on it was so misty. Knowl hill being the prominent viewpoint. The sun broke through and reflected off the Chamber House solar farm which is producing 5.5 mega watts of power for 2000 homes.

Misty tops.

Chamber House Solar farm array.

The end of Chadwick Lane brought us into the suburbs of Heywood. From the track we spotted a large building with some roof missing. We thought it was Fairfield Hall but when we found an entrance and looked at the map it was Harefield Farm. This farm did/was the farm that supported the larger Fairfield Hall from 1860. Today the farm is looking quite sad. I guess it is being allowed to deteriorate so that it can be demolished for housing. (just my opinion and I could be totally wrong)

The dilapidated farmhouse of Harefield.

But there was a David Brown 996. 

Built in Meltham Mills between 1971 and 1980 with around 63hp. In good nick too.

10 minutes later we were in the centre of Heywood passing another pub which is in the process of being knocked down. We had a little time to look round the memorial gardens and they are indeed a credit to the town.

The Old White Lion pub.

Quite a few bench's in the gardens reflect the different wars and militaries. Absolutely brilliant and well made. Also it was noticeable that nothing had been defaced with graffiti.

One of the many bench's.

There was also a very nice book showing the history of Heywood's development. Again in fine condition.

Then it was into Tilly's tea room for a coffee and home made Tatty Ash with beetroot and red cabbage.

Leaving the tea rooms there was another mural for us to see. It was Monkey Town through and through.

Our day had been rain free and very pleasant. We returned home by the same route and overall we had done 11.20km.