Doffcocker

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Doffcocker is a mostly residential district of Bolton, Greater Manchester, lying about 3.5 miles from the town centre on the north west edge of the suburbs. It is bounded by Markland Hill and Heaton to the south and Halliwell to the east.

Its most prominent feature is Doffcocker Lodge, a former mill lodge (created in 1874) and now a wildfowl reserve.

The history of the name is not certain.

One version is that it was named after a Scotsman who was passing through the area and had to cross the stream that ran where the lodge is now. The stream's waters were exceptionally high following heavy rain, so to keep his stockings (cockers, as they were known in Scotland) dry the man was obliged to "doff" them, and the name has stuck.

Another version is that it is believed to be formed from the Celtic dubh meaning dark or black, and cocr meaning a winding stream, giving "dark winding stream", the stream that led to Doffcocker Lodge.