Coordinates: 53°32′43″N 2°24′00″W / 53.5452°N 2.3999°W / 53.5452; -2.3999

Farnworth
Farnworth Town Hall
Farnworth  Farnworth shown within Greater Manchester
Population	25,264 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	SD7305
Metropolitan borough	Bolton
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BOLTON
Postcode district	BL4
Dialling code	01204
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Bolton South East
List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester

Farnworth is within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England.^[1] It is located 2.3 miles (3.7 km) southeast of Bolton, 5 miles south-west of Bury (7 km), and 9 miles (14.5 km) northwest of Manchester.

Historically a part of Lancashire, Farnworth lies on the River Irwell and the River Croal, and according to the United Kingdom Census 2001 it has a population of 25,264 people.^[2]

History[link]

Toponymy[link]

Farnworth derives from the Old English fearn, fern and worth an enclosure.^[3] Farnworth was recorded as Farneworth and Farnewrth in 1278 and 1279 and Ffornword in a land survey of 1282.^[4]

Middle Ages[link]

Farnworth was originally a hamlet in Barton. In the 13th century it was held by the Lords of Barton and Manchester. By 1320 Adam Lever, Richard Hulton and Richard Redford held the manor as tenants. Later the manor was acquired by the Hultons of Over Hulton. In 1666 there were 91 hearths in Farnworth liable to pay tax. The commons were enclosed in 1798. There was a watermill on the River Croal.^[4]

Industrial Revolution[link]

The town expanded rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries around the coal mining industry. The collieries were part of an extensive mine complex, the Worsley Navigable Levels whose underground canals stretched from the Delph at Worsley and linked the mines to the Bridgewater Canal. Other industry included iron foundries and cotton mills.

The owner of Farnworth Paper mills, T. B. Crompton, patented a continuous-drying process which contributed to the mechanisation of papermaking in 1821.^[5]

Governance[link]

Lying within the boundaries of Lancashire since the early 12th century, Farnworth constituted a township and chapelry within the ecclesiastical parish of Deane.^[1] In 1837 Farnworth became part of the Bolton Poor Law Union which took responsibility for funding the Poor Law in that area.^[6] In 1863, a Local board of health was established for the township,^[7] and in 1866, it also became a separate civil parish.^[8] In 1899, under the Local Government Act 1894, Farnworth became a Urban District. In 1939, the district was granted by a charter to become the Municipal Borough of Farnworth.^[7][9] In 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, Farnworth became an unparished area of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester.^[1][7]

Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the Radcliffe-cum-Farnworth constituency was established with one Member of Parliament (MP). The constituency was abolished in 1918 with Radcliffe becoming part of the Heywood and Radcliffe constituency, and Farnworth having its own Parliament constituency. The Farnworth constituency continued until it was abolished in 1983 and became part of the Bolton South East constituency.^[10]

Geography[link]

Farnworth measures about two miles from east to west, and one from north to south with an area of 1,502 acres (608 ha) on land sloping towards the north-east by the River Croal which forms the boundary. Will Hill Brook forms the northern boundary. The underlying rocks are the coal measures of the Manchester Coalfield. Neighbourhoods in Farnworth include Dixon Green and New Bury. The town has grown along the Manchester to Bolton road, the A666 and the A575 road to Worsley and Eccles. Plodder Lane, the B6199, goes west past the Royal Bolton Hospital.^[4]

Neighbouring towns, villages, and places

	Great Lever	Bolton	Little Lever, Bury
	Over Hulton, Westhoughton		Stoneclough, Outwood, Whitefield
		Farnworth    East
	Little Hulton, Tyldesley	Walkden, Worsley	Kearsley, Clifton

Demography[link]

* The 1939 population is estimated from the National Registration figures.^[15] The 1941 census did not take place because of the Second World War.

Transport[link]

Farnworth is situated north of junctions 3 and 4 of the M61 motorway. The main roads run through the town are the A666 (Farnworth & Kearsley By-Pass), the A575 (Egerton St/Albert Rd/Worsley Rd), the A5082 (Buckley Lane/Long Causeway), the A6053 (Bolton Rd/Market St/Manchester Rd), and the B6199 (Plodder Lane).

Farnworth and Moses Gate railway stations are served by Northern Rail who operate services on the Manchester to Preston Line.

Education[link]

Farnworth has nine primary schools and three secondary schools. Harper Green School is home to the Alan Ball Sports Hall,^[16] as well as the Peter Kay Theatre.^[17] In 2006, Peter Kay filmed a music video at Harper Green with the Scottish band Texas.^[17]

Religion[link]

The parish church of St John the Evangelist was consecrated in 1826.

Sports[link]

Farnworth F.C. is a youth team and is divided into seven sections - U7s Jaguars, U8s Pumas, U9s Lynx, U15s, U16s Lions, U17s Panthers and U18s. The club play its home games at Darley Park, with winter training taking place at Harper Green School.^[18]

Farnworth Cricket Club, founded in 1870, plays its home games at Bridgeman Park. It participates in the Bolton Cricket League, as do Farnworth Social Circle.

Community facilities[link]

Farnworth Library

Farnworth has a market and a theatre (Farnworth Little Theatre). A leisure centre is located on the main street. The A666 by-passes the town. Farnworth Park is a park close to the town centre which has undergone redevelopment as part of Bolton Council's Children's Strategy. The library is a Carnegie Library and celebrated its centenary on the 11th April 2011. The Royal Bolton Hospital (formerly Fishpool Institution and then Townleys Hospital) is in Farnworth.

St. Gregory's Catholic Club was used to film television comedy Phoenix Nights.

Notable people[link]

References[link]

Notes

Bibliography

External links[link]

• Photos and information about Farnworth
• GENUKI: Farnworth genealogy
• St John the Evangelist church
• Farnworth Little Theatre
• Chairmen of Farnworth UDC and Mayors of Farnworth 1863-1974

John Farnworth
Farnworth performing in Singapore in 2011, where he broke two records
Born	1986 Longridge, Lancashire
Nationality	British
Known for	football freestyler

John Farnworth is a football freestyler and entertainer.^[1] He holds four Guinness World Records including the most around the worlds in under a minute ^[2]

Biography[link]

John Farnworth was born in Longridge, and grew up in Preston. He apprenticed as footballer in the youth teams of Preston North End, yet John is a Manchester United supporter.

Farnworth's grandfather was a defender at Accrington Stanley, and his father formerly played for Burnley.

At the age of 14, he read Simon Clifford's Learn to play the Brazilian Way and, giving up professional football aspirations, started to practice the freestyle skills that were illustrated in the book. After a year of training, Farnworth joined one of the Clifford-franchised Brazilian Soccer Schools, in Manchester. The schools' Futebol de Salão use a size-two weighted ball which aids and improves skilful play^{[citation needed]}.

He went to St Cecilia's School in Longridge where he performed at every opportunity he got.

John tried out for the Burnley youth team where they told him he was not good enough and then he began to start performing tricks

Career[link]

In 2004, John Farnworth met with football performer Mr Woo who invited him to his exhibition contest in London, which Farnworth won. The win brought him media exposure in the United Kingdom and abroad and Farnworth started touring, exhibiting his skills. In December 2006, he competed in the "Masters of The Game" tournament and won by defeating his teacher and idol Mr Woo.

He is now a freestyle professional, participating in exhibitions,^[3] openings of soccer schools,^[4] sports games entertainment ^[5] and various contests. He is also involved in coaching, corporate events and TV advertisements, he has also recently won the eurobac beating many of the best freestylers around the world.

He appeared in the Huddersfield Town 2009/2010 kit commercial alongside other players from the squad and has been a part of the halftime entertainment a few times as well.

Farnworth participated in the 2009 series of Britain's Got Talent, where he passed the first round, but failed to make it to the live semi finals.

In 2010 he appeared as a mystery guest on Russell Howard's Good News and in 2011 he ran the London Marathon and now holds the record for successfully completing the race whilst doing continuous kickups.

Farnworth also makes guest appearances appears on Match of the Day Kickabout, showing his skills and tricks.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official John Farnsworth website
• Official Brazilian Soccer Schools website