Bryn, Greater Manchester

This article is about the suburb of Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester, England. For the railway station, see Bryn railway station.

Human settlement in England

Bryn

Church of Our Lady Immaculate

Bryn

Location within Greater Manchester

Population| 11,662 (2011 Census)
OS grid reference| SD565005
Metropolitan borough|

* Wigan

Metropolitan county|

* Greater Manchester

Region|

* North West

Country| England
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Post town| WIGAN[1]
Postcode district| WN4
Dialling code| 01942
Police| Greater Manchester
Fire| Greater Manchester
Ambulance| North West
UK Parliament|

* Makerfield

List of places

England
Greater Manchester

53°29′56″N 2°39′25″W﻿ / ﻿53.499°N 2.657°W﻿ / 53.499; -2.657

Bryn is a suburb of Ashton-in-Makerfield in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. The population of the suburb at the 2011 census was 11,662.[2] Served by Bryn railway station, Bryn is home to the Three Sisters Recreation Area which has been created from three large spoil tips which remain from Bryn's role in Lancashire's coal mining past.

## Etymology

[edit]

The name Bryn is most likely derived from Cumbric brïnn, meaning 'hill' (compare with modern Welsh: bryn).[3] Alternatively, the name may be derived directly from the Welsh equivalent, possibly reflecting Welsh settlement in the 12th century.[3] A third explanation is that the name is derived from Old English bryne, 'burning, fire', suggestive of land cleared by burning.[3]

## History

[edit]

The former Bryn (or Brynne) Hall was the seat of the Gerard family beginning in the thirteenth century or earlier. It was a "safe house" for the English Roman Catholic martyr and saint Edmund Arrowsmith and his hand was reportedly preserved there after his execution. The house, dating to the fourteenth century, has now completely collapsed and remaining stones have been cleared.[4]

The Roman Catholic parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel was founded in 1896. In 1902 the foundation stone of the church was laid by the Bishop of Liverpool, Thomas Whiteside. The church, on Downall Green Road, opened on 21 October 1903. On 8 September 1955 the church was consecrated and the holy relics of two early Roman martyrs – Saints Speciosi and Fructuosi, were placed in the altar stone.[5]

The Unitarian Park Lane Chapel in Wigan Road was built in 1697, though its congregation was founded in 1662.[6] It is the oldest Non-conformist chapel and congregation in the whole district. By the nineteenth century Park Lane was only one of nine non-conformist chapels in the heavily recusant area. [citation needed]

## References

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bryn.

1. ^ Royal Mail, Address Management Guide, (2004)
2. ^ "Wigan Ward population 2011". Retrieved 9 January 2016.
3. ^ a b c James, Alan G (2019) [2014]. The Brittonic Language in the Old North: A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence (PDF) (Report). Vol. II: Dictionary. Scottish Place-Name Society. p. 37. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
4. ^ "Old Bryn Hall". Wigan Archaeological Society.
5. ^ "History". Ourladysbryn.org.uk. 2015. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
6. ^ "Park Lane Chapel Bryn, Wigan, Lancashire: Chapel History". Parklanechapel.org.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2015.

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