RIBCHESTER

 ROMAN ROAMERS 

Legionnaires:- (That's a disease isn't it ?) Mike, John, Danny, Anthony, Jim.

This weeks walk took a while to get started. John had an appointment in Longridge then drove straight down to Ribchester and so arrived rather early.

Jim came by himself from Penwortham and arrived soon after.

The Fulwood crew got stuck in the early morning traffic and arrived a trifle late.

We left the car park and headed West initially on a well made farm track

It wasn't long before we came to the gate which took us into the fields, VERY WET fields.

A bit "over the top" flamboyant there JW.   Sore thumb time Methinks.

"Wet ! I don't mind a bit o' damp" says Danny as he forges ahead,

Squelch, squelch, squelch

Just one final stile before we leave the fields. Rather a tricky one as it deposited you onto slippery tree roots........ and deep , wet mud.

The black line from fence post to fence post is actually the far bank of the Ribble.

Approaching the Boathouse. A splendid tree.

The plaque to the left of the window tells us this is the Boathouse Barn. From here there was a ferry crossing the river, presumably to Osbaldeston Hall, to be seen on the far bank.

As we approached Ribchester we passed through a rather upmarket "hamlet" Most of the group can be seen in this doorway, Unfortunately  Danny has gone AWOL (I think the angle of the widow meant his reflection didn't reach the camera.)

Just prior to this we passed a dairy farm and were intrigued by this row of little "Huts".

They each contained one or two calves and opposite them were the mothers,

Then we arrived at the school behind which were the benches facing the river..... Butty time !

                                  Jim appears to be intent on catching a few rays.

A selfie from Jim captures all five of us together.

The low but welcomingly warm sun picks out the contours above the far bank.  Could the folds be man made or just land creep.... or something else ?

The swollen river sparkled in the bright sunshine

Upstream, however, the river was calm and placid offering Pendle hill as a superb backdrop.

Soon after this we were chased off the benches by the reception class children coming out of the school to the benches to have their lunch in the sunshine.  Excellent.

Here a lone angler tries his luck at the point where Stydd Brook joins the river.

Not a lot to see of the Bath House ruins. There was some debate about the concrete holding what was left of the wall together.

 Is it modern ? Did the Romans have Concrete ?  "Yes they did." Assured one of the group and was later proved right,

We left the Bath House and continued down the road to the War memorial which , rather sadly, was hidden away beyond a small car park.

Why is John W not dressed in the regulation Blue/dark outfit.......Someone should tell  'im

We  then  left the memorial and continued down the side street till we came to the main road through Ribchester.

Just across the road was the (old) New Hotel. Now a private residence.

Next  to it, just a little further down the road, was the Ribchester Arms where we have had parish lunches. Excellent they were too. 

The first building we came to down Stydd Lane was the Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul. This was a "Barn" church built to look like a farmyard Barn at a time when Catholic worship was suppressed

This stained glass window appears to be dedicated to Margaret Clitherow who was "Crushed - Pressed" to death for refusing to give up her faith. a careful look at the stained glass above the lady's head will reveal the chapel.  Further hinting at a connection between it and Margaret Clitherow.

"I'm looking through you. Where did you go ?" Beatles "Rubber Soul"

Look again at this photo and you will see that John is 

behind the "Ghostly" shape of a war hero

Just a few steps further up the lane and we come to the superbly ornate "Alms Houses" Built for the poor and needy of the village.

With their own  water supply 👍👌 And a rainbow to boot.

Onward to our final Target , The Stydd Chapel of St Saviour. Run by the Knights Hospitallers centuries ago. The earliest known date for the site is 1190. A roughly carved "Flagstone" has sometimes been thought to be the grave of the aforementioned Margaret Clitherow.

I don't think total immersion is a part of the Catholic OR Anglican Baptismal rites Jim.

This young lady from the village was passing by and just popped in to give us a glowing account of the Christmas service held in the chapel. 

" All are welcome" she assured us.

John explained that after recent traumatic events (See end of blog) he was NOT going to wear dark or black clothes for his first walk back.

The Chapel's sturdy door was surely meant to keep the building safe but after several visits we have never found it locked

The remains of another sturdy door lean against a blocked up doorway which centuries ago led into a small building where sufferers from Leprosy

 ( brought back from the crusades, presumably by the Knights Hospitaller) could slip in for communion without mingling with the congregation.

And so back to Ribchester and the White Bull whose pillared doorway is apparently  gleaned from the Roman site. Then Home.

THIS WEEKS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO JOHN'S WIFE WHO DIED SUDDENLY ON THE 

18TH OF OCTOBER

R.I.P.

Valerie Whittle

1944 - 2025

JW