PRESTON - The Harris Museum and Art Gallery.

 TIMES GONE BY

ANCIENT ARTEFACTS :- John R, John W, Mike, 

                                           Jim, Danny, Anthony.

Having miscalculated the time the bus would take to get to the town centre from Grimsargh, John arrived outside the Harris Museum much too early. So..... time to take a photo or two from the middle of the Flag Market. 

Above......  the splendid facade of the Harris Museum and Art Gallery.

Turning left we see the Cenotaph (war memorial) and the Old Post Office.

Further to our left we look down Friargate to see the spire of St Walburge's

and round again to see the Old Market Cross somewhat subsumed by the surrounding "Clutter"

In the South West corner of the Flag Market square the lead in the stone shows the remains of the ironwork to which Bulls  or bears were attached for the cruel sport of Bull or Bear baiting (Setting packs of dogs on them.)

As the rest of the group were due to arrive it was into the building, where seating surrounded the Foucault's pendulum

The pendulum is a device which demonstrates the earth's rotation.   How ?

Be careful though😕 😴 It's continuous backwards and forwards motion could be quite soporific.

As planned once everyone was together, it was into the Cafe for a coffee and discussion to sort out our visit,

Coffeee and planning finished it was off up the stairs to the first floor.

The first thing to catch our eyes was this group of prominent Prestonions.

How many can YOU name ?

"WHY WAR 1938"  by Charles Spencelayh

Part of the museum's fabulous collection of perfume bottles.

As we continued round the history of Preston exhibition we came to this model of Horrock's cotton mill complex. Horrock's cotton was known world wide for its quality.  

Then onto The Wallace and Gromit exhibition. At present the museum's biggest draw for the public.

The Moon's made of cheese . Right ?    So off the pair go in this wonderful spacecraft.

This scene is I think part of an advertising series where models speak the words extracted from Vox populi recordings.

A scene from the film. "The Curse of the Were Rabbit".

Mike appears to be closely examining the gallery's most famous painting. "Pauline in the Yellow Dress" by Herbert James Gunn 1944. Pauline was the artist wife, It caused controversy at the time, A picture of luxury in ties of wartime austerity, Others thought it was a bright and cheerful hope for the future.

There is a rather amusing story attached to the picture. The gallery received a phone call. the caller said they had the dress and would the museum like it. The museum said "No"  ! 1 1 They later changed their minds.   This story might be APOCRYPHAL.

Lunchtime........ Fine Dining ?  Hardly.   These two had Jam Butties !  I ask Yu,  Jam Butties. Mike had his Jam on Crumpets, but still Jam Butties.

When Mike joined the Meanderthals all those years ago he was a keen cyclist (still is) and was inevitably given the title "Mike the Bike". Sadly for poor Mike the name has stuck and he is now obliged to pose for a photo whenever a bike is encountered during our forays.

I am sorry but the last few pictures are of our short walk back to the iconic "Brutalist" Preston bus station. Tragic events have left me unable/unwilling to continue

GOODBYE

HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON

JOHN

WHALLEY

iaduct MULTUM in PARVO (revisited)

The Amazed :- Jim, John, Anthony, Mike, Danny.

I think I could only realistically address today's wonderous visit to Whalley in the form of  a "List".

1 English Martyrs Church

2. Whalley Abbey

3. Parish Church (St Michael and All Angels)

4. The Weir

5. Old Corn Mill

6. The Poet

7, The Gatehouse

8. The Railway Viaduct

9. The Firefighters

10. ?

.

Leaving Anthony's at 10am John was picked up in Grimsargh and we drove to Whalley where we parked next to the "English Martyrs" Catholic Church.  Here our interest packed day began.

1. English Martyrs Church. 

We walked into the grounds of the church which we found to be locked and so we explored the immaculately kept Gardens. Here we  found what the French call a "Calvaire". Life sized stations of the cross set out in a wood or a hill. This was NOT life sized but good to visit non the less.

On the other side of the church in an equally pristine garden, was an area with a number of statues (Very Roman as in RC)

There were also several benches perhaps  for visitors to sit in quiet contemplation.

One bench however held a rather unexpected message.

Open to interpretation perhaps ?

Leaving the Catholic church we walked a few yards to our next target.

2. Whalley Abbey. 

Through the gatehouse and into the Abbey grounds.

It took us a little while to find out how to pay our £3 donation but then were able to wander freely amongst the ruins, Before we wandered , however, Danny gave us an introductory reading from a book of "Lancashire Villages".

The top storey of the gatehouse, he told us, was used by the Cistercian  monks as a school.

What Danny was reading.

I am sure I have said this before. Every walking group should have an asset like Danny who has a very scholarly approach to many of things we encounter.

Much, but not all, of the site is flattened but is interesting never the less.

 "The Next Horse and Cart is due in 1647".  So you had better join the queue in case you miss it.

Although almost all of buildings have been levelled ,with help of the information boards and a bit of imagination, it is easy to realise what a splendid site (and sight) this must have been all those centuries ago.

John coming back to the group after taking the previous photos.

We had considered  visiting the cafe within the Abbey grounds but it seems to have been closed for some time. Notice the weeds growing out from the entrance steps. Then onto our next place of interest.......

3. St Michael's and all Angels (Parish Church)

Leaving the Abbey we walked the short distance to the Parish church. It was originally built in 12C  Since then it has seen many changes . Could one of the original monks or maybe an important parishioner be the person who once filled this stone coffin ?

The chancel roof is part of the original construction in the 12C but part of the main door was reused from the 11C Norman church.

 The "Cage" ( to separate the wealthy from the peasantry ) was built in1534 and added to in later years.

The roof over the nave is relatively modern being built in the 15C

Elderly gentlemen always welcome the sight of a toilet. Not many come with explicit opening instructions though. 😖

We had to smile at the instructions for using the disabled toilet and would certainly not "Force the Door" no matter how desperate we were. (speak for yourself matey) Other than this modern incursion  the church reeked of history in every piece of wood or stone.  

This gentlemen is accompanied by his nine sons whilst his wife on the right looks after the 11 daughters. ( I can only think "Poor Lass" 😒.)  Assuming , of course they were all legitimate😏

Out of the church and down a small backstreet to the main thoroughfare where a right turn took us towards the bridge over the Calder and along a narrow path to.....

4. THE WEIR

About 700 years ago the monks built a weir across the river to divert part of it's water to the Abbey and possibly the Corn mill.

The stones laid by the monks can still be seen but more modern constructions can be seen at the far bank.

An information board tells about the Archimedes screw which doubles up as a fish pass and a small Hydro electric installation.

The local birdlife seemed to appreciate the weir . The turbulence in the water beyond the heron is being caused by the Archimedes Screw which drives a turbine to produce electricity for the village (or part of it). It also acts as a fish ladder. Obviously couldn't get near to take a photo.

This terrace was built in about 2005 on the bank close to the weir. All the doors had flood defence boards which could be slotted across them if the river began to rise. These defences also appeared when we reached our next target........

5. The Corn Mill

We left the high street and took a left turn into the neat but short Corn Mill St.

Here the doors , just like those on the river bank, had flood protection.

This little "Mews ?" ended shortly in an area of new build . The mill's water wheel was tucked demurely under the old housing  Jim discovered it and here Danny is investigating.

No idea what this is all about , But whatever it was it was in 1803  ..... I THINK !

Couldn't resist a photo of a couple of sheep and two other farm animals.

Hikes ?... Crikes..... Mike Likes Bikes !!!

6. THE POET

Next perhaps the highlight of the day. As we walked back towards the Abbey to retrieve Jim's stick and munch our lunch a gentleman walking past with his shopping turned and said.......................DO YOU WANT A POEM ?

Taken quite by surprise we all answered a rather hesitant YES !

"What would you like, Lancashire, Preston, Trough of Bowland, Tom Finney ?

We chose Bowland and were treated to a rather epic poem about Bowland. This was no naive ode but a mature and at times beautiful piece of work.  WOW ! 

"Any North End Fans ?"   hands went up and again, totally mesmerised, we were treated to a poem about "Sir Tom"

Just occasionally there are magic moments as we progress through our weekly outings.

 I, for one, would count this as such.

We chatted for a few minutes and then he walked away with his shopping.

WHO WAS HE ????

Lunchtime was upon us

before just before we reached the Abbey where lunch was partaken we enjoyed a conversation with this friendly dog owner. Dogs and lady BOTH friendly.

As we drew near to the Abbey (for lunch) This is the lady who passed by with two dogs which John (Much to his chagrin) could not identify. The lady said there were very few in this country as they were Irish farm dogs "Wheaton Terriers" named as such because of their wheat like colour,

A rather old kissing gate led us back into church St. and lunch at the Abbey. Then...........

7. The Old Gatehouse

After lunch we decided we could not ignore two of the village's more prominent buildings of interest. We walked past the cars and under the huge gatehouse.

then onward to the fantastic 

8.  Railway viaduct

To our left into the distance......................... and the same to the right.

Another fact we gleaned from Danny's oratory was that the nearest arches of the railway viaduct were built in a Gothic style out of respect for the area's history. Part of 7,000 000 bricks used in it's construction.

But what's that under the viaduct....................

9.    Fire Fighters

But what is it doing here. And where's the fire ?

This delectable young lady explained that they were on a practice  session. She then climbed into the seat of the lift  to send the "Rescue cage " high into the sky with two of her colleagues. 

This made a rather interesting and enjoyable ending to our Whalley visit. I'll let you enjoy the rest in the photos,   "HOT STUFF 

10.  Bound to be something we missed 

BEAT THAT !

See you next time

JOHN

Question.  

 

With over 200,000 hits I am constantly wondering who is reading this weekly tale about a bunch of "Old Fellas" wandering about Lancashire. If you are one such reader I would be delighted to hear from you - email address.

guitar2pluck@yahoo.co.uk

Thank you