Westhoughton’s Maxine Peake is getting behind plans to celebrate the Battle of Winter Hill in 1896. In September that year, thousands of people from Halliwell and surrounding areas, took part in huge protests in defiance of wealthy landowner, Colonel Richard Ainsworth, after he blocked off public access to the moors to host private grouse shooting parties with his friends. There was widespread anger when public access to the moors was blocked. On September 6, thousands walked from the bottom of Halliwell Road, up Smithills Dean Roan and then via Coal Pit Road onto the moors, defying Col Ainsworth, demanding their right to access the Winter Hill moors.