POULTON-le-FYLDE

 KALEIDOSCOPE  A gentle potter

LUMINARIES :-  Jim,  Anthony, Mike and John

What an unexpected delight Poulton turned out to be. The title of the blog refers to the incredible range of ages, designs and colours of the buildings we walked amongst in the town centre.

After parking in the town centre helped by a friendly parking warden and an attractive young lady who pressed all the right buttons for us. ( On the parking meter of course .... slapped wrists all round !)  We soon found ourselves in the delightful main square at the head of which was St Chad's Church.

St Chad ?  Not a very common name for churches in our region we must discover more about him. 

The church was our starting point and Mike had planned to take the church in later in the walk. So we did not linger and were encouraged on our way by a dangerously "overhead " pigeon.

No nearer Jim. It's up there waiting it's chance.

So we left the church (to return later) and very soon came to a cafe . 

Pre-ambulatory brew everyone ?  YES !

Across the road from the cafe we saw ourselves reflected in a shop window. Cried out for a photo. Not a great photo but the Telephoto was at it's limit.

Our route now took us round the back of the cafe through a passage way into an area  now occupied by a supermarket but once the main agricultural produce market.

Here Jim is pointing out one of several rings built into the wall which were used to tether animal, often bulls brought to the market.

Leaving the "Bull Rings" behind us we went round the back of the supermarket to follow the edge of the railway track. 

We emerged from the rail side path at the Poulton Station itself.

On either side of the main door to the station where different initials .

L Y R   Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway

L N W R   London North West Railway ?

One of the delights of the shopping centre was the number of independent traders as opposed to "Chain" stores. Some of them quite eccentrically named.

See what I mean !

Just a little further back towards the centre was this mediaeval half timbered thatched cottage.. WELL............... Hardly a cottage ............ Not thatched and................ definitely not Mediaeval . It's a pub !   In fact both Jim and myself live in houses older than this early 20th century building.   Ah but ..... it WAS half timbered. 

The ancient predecessor of this was built on church land to provide refreshment for weary worshippers after a hard session in church. Priorities yu see.

Diagonally across the road from the "Thatched Cottage"  (Black and White) was this red brick building.

Atop this building was evidence of Poultons close partnership with the sea  and sea farers. Originally the"SHIP INN" when Poulton was a bustling and busy centre possibly centuries before Blackpool even existed. The name POULTON would appear to be linked with it's proximity to the River Wyre or even the Black Pool  which gave Blackpool it's  name. The maritime link was confirmed as we looked upwards towards the roof.

Wither now "Native Guide" ( Mike is on home ground round here).

"Up here" said Mike. Leading us up an alley alongside the churchyard. It led to "Chapel Street Court."

The retaining wall of the churchyard (graveyard) was once the front walls of some houses. Looking carefully over Mikes shoulder you will see a filled in doorway and the stone doorstep of those houses.

Churchyard court led us back into the lovely Market square.

At the Southern end of the square were ;-

The stocks

The whipping block

A stone "Table" where fish were sold 

The old Market Cross. 

Possibly a unique collection of ancient artefacts.

A left turn at the end of the square took us to further historic sites including the oldest section of cobbled passages in the town. The cobbles then led us into a small square which was once the home of a JAM factory.

Above the passageway and the shops beside it was a frieze which portrayed the turning of the seasons. Surely Vivaldi didn't come here.  Did he ?

Nothing would surprise me in this surprising town................. 'ang on that's an oxymoron or something isn't it ?

There were further wonders to discover but soon we were back at our starting point, St Chad's Church.

"Mike the Bike" is making it quite obvious that he wouldn't be seen dead using a bike like that.  Rather fetching colour though.

Once in the churchyard our elderly gentlemen sat resting in the sunshine a good and proper thing to do especially if  you will be 80 this year. Far be it from me to tell you who. Mike could tell you though,

The interior of the church is described as magnificently GEORGIAN.

............and once gain we are reminded of the town's affinity with the sea and shipping.

By now it was early afternoon and rumbling tummies led us back to the  New Penny cafe where we had a very pleasant lunch.

And so back to the car and home, But not before a shamefaced JW discovered he had left his stick in the cafe and lazily accepted Jim's offer of going back for it. JW SHOULD HAVE GONE BACK HIMSELF 😞😔

Ah Well  .....  sigh

Well done Mike for taking us on a "different" kind of walk. Visually and mentally stimulating and physically easily manageable. Just the sort of walk/social occasion we need to plan more of. Brilliant !

ST CHAD. Was a much revered Anglo Saxon monk of the 7th Century. Closely associated with the Norh East of England and St Bede.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS

JW