The Hingemakers Arms is located on Heath Road in
Ashton-in-Makerfield and is very close to the town’s other bars and
restaurants.
Although a relatively small town, Ashton-in-Makerfield
boasts over 10 pubs and a similar number of restaurants including Indian,
Chinese, Italian, etc.
For those who wondered, but never thought (or bothered)
to ask, the name Ashton is derived from Old English and means the "farmstead
where the ash-trees grow"; Makerfield is a combination of the Celtic for a
wall or ruin and the Old English word feld, meaning "open land".
Although Ashton has always had a strong connection with the coal industry, the
pub’s name is based on the town’s major historic manufacturing industry.
Back in the late 18th century the area around Heath Road was
well known for the number of local blacksmiths and locksmiths making hinges,
hardware and stock locks - all by hand in their own homes. Working from home/remote/hybrid working isn't a new post-pandemic thing after all.
In 1866 Thomas Crompton
founded his hingemaking company when he purchased the bankrupt hinge and
builders' hardware company where he had originally worked as a salesman. Over
the years the business became the town’s biggest employer with over 1200 staff
and saw the building of a new £1 million factory on Gerard Street in 1976.
In time the business was acquired by GKN but as with many
manufacturing businesses the factory is no more, leaving the Hingemakers Arms
to carry forward the town’s once famous profession.
