Hileys and the Lanebottom Chapel

In about 1743 John Wesley came to preach in Todmorden and the first member to join the Wesleyan Society was Susan Scholfield of Calf Lee.

One of the first classes was formed at Light Bank in Walsden. When the Centenary book (1809-1909) was written in 1909, this was called the Bonk. The young Henry Hiley’s name for his Uncle Frank’s house was The Bonk. This was Bankwood Cottage, a favourite trip for Henry and his family from Littleborough. It had a ‘big garden going down to the Rochdale Canal’.

The early Sunday School was held in cottages at Bottomley and Deanroyd. A new school known as Bottomley Lane Foot was built in 1818 and then enlarged in 1848, but by 1872 had become unsuitable for the large numbers attending the Chapel and Sunday School. A new building was planned and ground secured near the old School adjoining the turnpike road and near the Walsden end of Summit Tunnel.

Bottomley Lane Foot School

(included with permission of Daniel Birch)

One of the fundraising ventures arranged was a Bazaar held in the Assembly room at Hollins Co-operative Store. On No. 2 stall selling ‘Wearing apparel and fancy goods’ was Mrs C. Highley, Alma Street. This would have been great great grandmother Betty (nee Harrison), wife of Charles Hiley. See the Blog Post of 14 May 2019 for more about Charles. The Bazaar raised £272.

Charles helped to found the Lanebottom Chapel and he served it as trustee, class leader and teacher. 

The first sod of the new premises was cut on Christmas Day 1874. This was done by John Scholfield, aged 88 and a grandson of Susan (see above). Also cutting a sod and giving a sum of money was Miss Mary Highley of Lanebottom. Mary was a daughter of John Hiley and Mary Hiley (nee Jackson) and a cousin of Samuel Hiley (see the last Blog Post).

Lanebottom, Walsden. Wesleyan chapel and school

The school was on the ground floor with the chapel above and the first services were held on 27th September 1876.

Amongst the first Trustees of the new Chapel was Samuel Hiley, a great grandfather. He was aged 23.

In 1890 a new organ was installed in the Chapel. One of the players of the organ and harmonium was Jackson Thomas Hiley. Jackson was a son of Thomas Hiley and Sarah Hiley (nee Jackson), and another cousin of Samuel.

At a meeting in February 1896, a number of new Trustees were added, and Samuel Hiley was amongst those willing to continue serving.

The Chapel became licensed for marriages in 1899. In 1926 there was a Golden Jubilee celebration for the opening of the new Chapel. The Chapel closed and was demolished in the 1960s and the land is now covered in houses.







(Notes on the Sunday School and Chapel taken from ‘History of Lanebottom Wesleyan Sunday School 1809-1909 Centenary Souvenir compiled by Sam A Crossley and Ernest Law’)