Talk:Westhoughton

COMMENTS

The tales of keaw yeds is peculiar, and I would appreciate any additional information to the cause, especially the photograph of the cow & gate (dating to around 1908 according the Lancashire website). --Lejend 28 June 2005 12:59 (UTC)

Etymology section

Originally, Westhoughton was called Westhelcthon in 1240, and Westhalghton in 1327.

Westhoughton is known locally as keaw yed city, a term meaning "Cow's head" in the dialect of Lancashire. The origin of this name is debated, and several explanations have been proffered. The most widely believed is a pastoral tale, describing the actions of a local farmer whose cow had accidentally lodged its head in a gate: considering the price of the gate and the comparative prices of a dead or living cow, the animal was decapitated, an action seen by inhabitants of surrounding villages as barbaric and lacking rationality or intelligence, despite the aforementioned reasoning. The term 'Keaw yed' was subsequently coined as a derogatory phrase describing a person of Westhoughton and their associated stupidity. In a more modern context, inhabitants of Westhoughton take a mixed reaction to the term; some see it still as a slanderous allusion to cerebral inferiority, whereas many have adopted the term as a point of pride and heritage. This opinion has become manifest in the town's symbol, the head of a cow. This is the most popular story, possibly because of a photograph existing depicting a scene at the farmer's gate.

The above story has been set in a humourous poem by the local folk group the Houghton Weavers. [1] The logic of the farmer is expressed in the couplet: "Do'st think I'm daft, and don't know my job, When t'gate cost five pound, and t'cow, fifteen bob?"

Another explanation derives from the practice of the inhabitants of Westhoughton challenging those of Daisy Hill, a small village nearby, for the dubious trophy of the head of the cow eaten at a festival: the victors, those of Westhoughton, were dubbed 'Keaw yeds' by the latter. Yet another manifests itself in the form of the 'Bone Club', who on Wakes Mondays carried the bones of a cows head adorned with regalia to various public houses. In the 1960's there was an abbatoir on the east of the town which was known locally as the 'bone works'.

Keaw Yed festival takes place in Westhoughton on the 24 August each year.

The head of a cow appears on several buildings and plaques around the town and most prominently on the clock tower of St Bartholomew's parish church of which there are four, each one facing in a different direction - the saint being the patron saint of butchers. There is actually a plaque above the market hall in Westhoughton to this.

Another term often used to describe somebody born in Westhoughton is "Howfener". In reference to the traditionally loud and vociferous nature of 'Howfeners' (probably derogatory, reminiscent of the Keaw Yed tale), it is said that "a true Westhoughtoner could whisper across field".

I have removed this, pending citations, from reliable sources. --sunstar net^talk 12:53, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

You can remove the local bus timetable too! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.93.181.43 (talk) 00:10, 27 November 2010 (UTC)

Pronunciation

West-horton?
West-howton?
West-hoton?
West-huffton?

West-hawton —Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.84.85.216 (talk) 12:30, 20 August 2009 (UTC)

Needs a mention somewhere as I doubt anybody outside GMcr/Lancashire would have a clue (I'd do it myself but I have no idea about the phonetic alphabet). Draggleduck (talk) 21:52, 18 July 2009 (UTC)

"West-hawton" would be /ˈwɛsthɔːtən/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet (assuming the first syllable "West" is stressed rather than the "hough"). Shall we add this then? Lfh (talk) 15:20, 31 December 2009 (UTC)

Added, but with stress on "hough" instead. Lfh (talk) 16:35, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

Is it true (see [2]) that an alternative name is "Howfen"? If not, then the redirect at [3] should be deleted. --The very model of a minor general (talk) 17:37, 12 August 2009 (UTC)

Former water tower

I was considering adding this image File:Water Tower, Snydle - geograph.org.uk - 91971.jpg, since the building is such a well known local landmark, seen by literaly millons of drivers every year, as they pass by on the M61 below. And of course it has its own very trivial Facebook page. But I'm not sure if the hill is called Syndale or Snydle? And other editors might think the image is "not even about Westhoughton", so is it really notable enough? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 19:56, 25 July 2011 (UTC)

Snydale is in Yorkshire. Snydle is in Westhoughton. Snide is found in the question.--J3Mrs (talk) 20:11, 25 July 2011 (UTC)

"LMFAO" as those scallywag youths of Bolton would no doubt have it, chortle. But no conclusion is found in the answer. Shame the article doesn't tell us where it is? Martinevans123 (talk) 20:25, 25 July 2011 (UTC)

Notable person added

Hello people, i have just added a notable person..

Mj smallman..

He has had single chart in the uk and us in 2019 and is a up and coming musician signed to two big dutch labels.. Mjsmallman (talk) 19:53, 15 January 2020 (UTC)

Sorry but individuals are not regarded as "notable" unless they have an English Wikipedia article about them. Failing that, you'd need to find multiple WP:RS sources to show that his achievements are indeed notable, as well as one or more sources showing his connection with Westhoughton. It also seems that you may have a WP:COI with this person. Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 19:57, 15 January 2020 (UTC)