Thursday 18th December, 2008
Chowbent
Even a quick glance at the history of Atherton will reveal the name “Chowbent”. But its location and connection with Atherton is somewhat enigmatic.
The name is of “Old English” (Anglo-Saxon) origin and its exact meaning is obscure. It is first mentioned in 1323 when it was simply “Cholale”. The element “bent”, meaning a kind of stiff grass or a place covered with grass, had been added by about 1350, thus changing the village's name to “Chollebent”.
The more recognisable spelling of “Chowebent” was being used by about 1550.
Two possible derivations of the first known spelling, “Cholale”, have been suggested:
- “Ceole” is an Old English word meaning “gorge”. If that is so then the name would mean “the gorge where bent-grass grows”. This fits the topography to the east of Atherton town centre where Chanters Brook flows.
- “Ceola” was the name of a person. This would give the meaning as “Ceola's bent-grass meadow”.
But what is the connection between Chowbent and Atherton?
This informative website, "The Parish of Atherton", says:
“Formally the town is Atherton, but for hundreds of years was known as Chowbent, or simply Bent, the familiar contraction still in use by locals.”
The first edition Ordnance Survey Map (1847) appears to mark the whole district as “Atherton” and the town as “Chowbent”.
The Yates' map of 1786 marks “Atherton” and Chowbent as two different places.
“The Victoria County History” states that Chowbent is “...the name of that part of the town (Atherton) which surrounds the parish church.”
The census returns are inconsistent. There is no mention of Chowbent in 1841, but in 1851 large swathes of Atherton are said to be in the village of Chowbent in the township of Atherton. The distribution of the street names in the census agrees with the description in “The Victoria County History” and places the village in the area around the church and stretching to the east.
A “Google Maps” search for Chowbent only returns “Chowbent Close”, which is a quiet, relatively modern cul-de-sac less than half a mile from the centre of Atherton.
The name can also be seen on Chowbent Primary School and the splendid Chowbent Unitarian Chapel, which dates originally from 1645 – the present building from 1721.