A New Home for Old Dick Evans

Last year we featured a story by Carole Greenhalgh about the grave of Dick Evans, a dog that was killed by a mining truck in 1862. His owner laid him to rest and placed a large memorial stone at the edge of Four Acre field in Mosley Common.

Located next to the brook, the soil was gradually eroded by rising waters and the memorial stone sadly fell into the water.

Carole dedicated herself for over a year to saving the stone and finding it a new home where it could still be seen, protected and local history could live on in the community.

With help from Jim Mehan, from Wigan Local History and Heritage Society, and to Carole’s husband Geoff who supported her throughout her mission, the stone now has a new forever home at St Mary’s Church, Ellenbrook.

Reverend Karen Owen welcomed the relocation of the memorial to the church. A connection already existed between Dick Evans’ grave and St Mary’s Church. In 1639, Dame Dorothy Legh bequeathed £400 to Ellenbrook Chapel to buy Common Head Farm at Mosley Common, which is where the grave stood, and the income from the farm was used to support the church minister and the local poor.

The memorial was celebrated in a special service on Sunday 29th May 2022. Children placed handmade flowers on the stone. You can visit the stone at St Mary’s - it is positioned in front of the tree standing to the left of the Cenotaph. The next step is to raise funds for a plaque which will explain the history and significance of the memorial for all to read.

Carole Greenhalgh & Reverend Karen Owen

Headstone of Old Dick Evans