Watermillock Crompton Way Astley Bridge Bolton

Built originally built for Mr Thomas Thwaites, of Bank House, Sharples, head of the firm of Eden and Thwaites, bleachers, the house was still unfinished when he died on 21 October 1882 at the age of 49. He was a Conservative, being one of the first members of the Astley Bridge Local Board from 1864   73, and again from 1877 until his death.  He was also a Churchman, gifting the organ to St. Paul’s, Astley Bridge.

The building of Watermillock was commenced in 1880. After his death it was completed by his executors and his son and for a time Mr. T H Thwaites lived there. Situated on an attractive site overlooking an attractive part of the Bradshaw Brook, on the Meetings estate, it was one of the largest residences in Bolton. The house was originally approached from Seymour Road at the end of which stood the porter’s lodge. Two handsome gateways of elaborate wrought iron hung on massive and curiously carved stone pillars. One gateway led to the house and the other to the stable block, a two storey building with a large coach house, harness room and hay loft. Standing on the highest part of the grounds, the house consists of the main building linked to a single storey block that was formerly divided to form a billiard room and smoking room. The main house is stone faced and square in plan. A fine porch to the main entrance is flanked by buttresses, each with a griffin holding a shield. Over the richly moulded entrance arch there is carved a coat of arms. The house is built in an Elizabethan style which may owe some debt to the stone wing of Hall i’th’ Woods which tops the opposite bank of the stream, a resemblance shown chiefly in the mullioned windows and in the pitched gables. The massive character of the house   due to its squareness   is relieved by the projecting gables and imposing dormers. Although substantial, the house, with its large and well-proportioned rooms still gives the impression of homeliness. Covered in Westmorland green slates, the roof is treated in various ways to achieve a skyline.

Before the war, Dr Schofield bought the house for use as a hospital. During the war it became a military hospital Afterwards it became a retreat house, used extensively by parties from the Manchester Diocese under the supervision of a resident warden. The late Col Hesketh JP, was greatly involved with the retreat and was in fact the owner of the house at the time of his death. However, in 1990 the Diocesan authorities decided to give it up and concentrate all diocesan retreats at St. Hilda’s Rossendale. For four years, the house remained unoccupied although parties of Scouts were allowed to camp in the grounds. Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries purchased the property in 1994 and converted it into a restaurant and bar. Deckers Restaurants Ltd subsequently bought out W & D in October 1999and carried out a complete refurbishment of the ground floor at a cost of ,0.5 million. Further proposals include a 50 bedroomed hotel to be built at the rear and additional function rooms