Ascending Parbold Hill and proceeding eastwards in the direction of Standish, a slight descent is made into a ravine called Sprodley Wood, locally known as Fairy Glen, and along this wood runs Sprodley Brook. Shortly after passing over Sprodley Brook, in a field on the left may be seen a grass-covered mound which from time immemorial seems to have been called Boar’s Den. (...) A magnificent view presents itself at every point of the compass.
(...) Mr Price has from time to time noted down traditions, superstitions, and folk-lore as related to him by the inhabitants of the district. The traditions and superstitions which have gathered round Boars Den seem to be very similar to those associated generally with tumuli in other parts of the kingdom, the prevailing idea being that the neighbourhood is infested with spirits, boggarts, and fairies.
There is a tradition that a battle was fought at Bury Hey Wood, and another at Courage Low, and about fifty years ago, when the old pasture fields to the north of Boars Den were ploughed up, a number of badges or soldiers’ metal buttons were found – relics it was supposed of a battle fought here with the Scotch.
In a solitary cottage near Boards Den there lived in 1899 an old man of 85, whose father lived in the same cottage all his life, and died at the age of 90. this old man told Mr Price that in his early days he was employed as a labourer at Bury Hey Wood in levelling the ground and planting cover for game, and that in the course of his work he unearthed “some implements of war” which were taken away by Mr Scarisbrick of Wrightlington, the owner of the land, who placed great value upon them. He believed they were taken to London.
Robin Hood Lane runs past Boars Den, and between a certain gate and Dangerous Corner the old man declared the road was haunted by a boggart. His brother had seen it many times, and it “went clankin’ round th’ field in chains.” Boggart House, too, received visits from the house ghost, and during the sickness of one of the inmates the visits became so frequent and terrifying that the inhabitants finally flew in terror. It was also said that “sperrits” were frequently seen at Hill House Fold, an adjacent farm on the
hill near by.
‘Old Wigan’ in the Wigan Examiner, 19th July 1907.
A 1909 piece in the Wigan Observer mentions “[the] interesting tumulus, locally called Borz Dane but marked on the map as Boar’s Den. This name, I think, arose from Boorh, a hill (e.g., a barrow), and the name Dane, so that the compound implies Dane’s Hill. I do not rely much on the field names on the ordnance maps of this locality, for the surveyors did not understand Lancashire talk.”
For some reason this small area seems to have a very high Weirdness Density Index – in nearby Appley Bridge they even have Skull House with one of the terrors of my childhood, a screaming skull (which I trust the current owners are looking after properly).