The battle of Howe Bridge took place on the 4th February 1881 and was between miners from the surrounding towns who were on strike for better wages and conditions and local miners who refused to strike because they were already on higher wages and their conditions were quite good. The striking miners marched from their meeting place in Leigh towards Howe Bridge to confront the local miners. The confrontation took place and became violent, this turned into a full scale battle.  The site of the battle covered the area between the then Oak Tree Root Public House and St Michaels Church, it was so fierce and violent that the Police called for a detachment of Hussars to attend and keep the peace, because of the violence and seriousness of the battle a local Magistrate read the riot act to the miners, this help to stop the battle and persuaded the men to disperse and go home.

We  have a Commemorative Shield at the entrance to the Leisure Centre, this is to highlight the “ Battle of Howe Bridge “ which was a battle between local miners and miners from surrounding areas, our local miners refused to take strike action against their employers and the “ visiting miners “ tried to persuade them to join them in their fight for better  wages and conditions, but, the wages and conditions that the other miners wanted were not as good as those the local miners enjoyed so the conflict took place, the army and police joined in and sent the visiting miners on their way.

In 2021 we planted A Memorial Tree In memory of the people who died during the covid pandemic of 2020 / 2021.