Aspull - Izeria

Aspull is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. Historically in Lancashire, Aspull, along with Haigh, is surrounded by greenbelt and agricultural land, separated from Westhoughton, on its southeast side, by a brook running through Borsdane Wood. The ground rises from south to north, reaching 400 feet (122 m), and has views towards Winter Hill and the West Pennine Moors. It has a population of 4,977. Aspull was once a centre of mining and textile manufacture, though little evidence of this can be seen in the village today. Haigh Country Park estate lies to the west.

Nearby Places View Menu

The Snake Pit (Wigan)

The Snake Pit, based in Aspull, Wigan Borough, England, is the gym and organisation regarded as the home of catch wrestling. Founded in 1948 by Billy Riley in the town of Wigan, it was originally known as Riley's Gym. Riley was succeeded by Roy Wood, one of his last living students. It hosts the Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club, which focuses on freestyle wrestling. Wood was recognised on the 2024 New Year Honours and awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) "for services to wrestling and young people" after coaching for almost 50 years. An exhibition about Riley and the gym began at the Leigh Town Hall in April 2024. The gym has had a significant influence on the evolution of catch-as-catch-can (CACC), freestyle, and professional wrestling, as well as mixed martial arts (MMA), especially in Japan. Riley was the head coach for over 20 years, teaching Lancashire style catch wrestling, and the gym became known in Britain and internationally for producing skilled wrestlers. Riley closed the gym in the early 1970s due to the decline of legitimate skills in pro wrestling, but it was soon revived through a community effort with Roy Wood becoming head coach, assisted by Riley and other veteran wrestlers. The gym switched to freestyle wrestling, producing champions and international competitors, and hosting the Aspull Freestyle Wrestling International for over 35 years. The gym moved to Aspull during this time, establishing the Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club. The gym continued to be one of the most essential sources for preserving catch wrestling and began to formally promote the style again in 2012 through competitions, training, and certification. The Snake Pit has organised the Catch Wrestling World Championships since 2018, and also organises the British Championships and other competitions. The 2025 British Championships took place on June 21. The 2025 World Championships are scheduled for October 18.

Art Community Centre

Haigh, Greater Manchester

Haigh () is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire, it is located next to the village of Aspull. The western boundary is the River Douglas, which separates the township from Wigan. To the north, a small brook running into the Douglas divides it from Blackrod. At the 2001 census it had a population of 594.

St David's Church, Haigh

St David's Church is in Copperas Lane, Haigh, Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Wigan, the archdeaconry of Warrington, and the diocese of Liverpool. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. It was a Commissioners' church, having received a grant towards its construction from the Church Building Commission.

Haigh Hall Miniature Railway

Haigh Hall Miniature Railway (HHMR) is a 15 in (381 mm) gauge miniature railway, situated in the grounds of Haigh Country Park in Haigh, Greater Manchester, England. The railway officially re-opened on 20 April 2014, but it had run trains under a new operator since late July 2013, running shuttle services between two stations; Haigh Hall North and Haigh Hall South. The full 1 mile (1.6 km) circuit was re-opened in early 2014. The railway first opened in 1986 under different operators; it runs over the same general track layout, but some alterations have been made over time. HHMR's resident locomotives are Helen and Rachel, they have been a part of the railway for some time. In December 2022 the Haigh Woodland Railway Association was formed and since that time has been working with a team of volunteers to rebuild much of the track to enable operations to begin in the future. The association has brought in an additional set of coaches which are formerly of the Dudley Zoo railway and windmill farm and these are undergoing minor restoration prior to being made available for service in future, The association members have also Purchased a number of Wagons to assist in the restoration and these are available when required. In September 2024 Wigan Council announced a restoration package of £380,000 that would enable the railway to return to service and once again take the full route of 1 mile through the upper plantations, once again calling at both stations. It is hoped that alongside the general service a program of special events will highlight the unique heritage of the railway as the last built municipally owned 15 inch gauge railway in the united kingdom.

Amusement Park Park