Talk:Newton-le-Willows
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Why is it called le willows? Any1 know?
It originates from the French, should be newton in the willows,, ther are a couple of indications around the town one in particular Crow Lane,,,,,started life as croix lane ( croix ) being french for cross but the locals had problems with pronouncing croix and in turn inadvertantly named it crow...Very historical town, fantastic historical past, lovely place
Ive lived in this town for 17 years now and it has changed alot in this time. I think i was told the "le" had some connection to the leigh family who once owned alot of land around newton. I dont know if its peoples accents or their preference but i know people who pronounce it newton "leigh" willows instead of newton "le" willows.
[edit] Le < In The
Its just a shortened version of 'in the', it was thought by the Urban District Counclil at the time, that Newton in Makerfield, was being mixed with Ashton in Makerfield, Ince in Makerfield, etc.
Newton le Willillows was already in popular use, so the name was changed to that. Newton in the Willows is shown on 16th century maps, and probably describes well the village, as in that period it was based more around the Vally sides of Newton and Dean Brooks, and probably centered more alng these two brooks between the current Legh Arms and Castle Hill/M6
Remembering that the Lake in Willow park was only dammed in approx 1853, so the valley would have been more populated, there were cottages opposite castle hill, and wells in the valley floor, and a sand stone quarry where the Lake now is
[edit] POV
the final sentence "2005 has seen proposals, vehemently opposed by the majority of local residents, to build a new rail freight terminal on the site of the former Parkside coal mine." seems sligtly pov to me especially as this is meant to be an encyclopedia. also were is the citation for this.Corustar 20:12, 4 January 2007 (UTC)
