CLITHEROE REVISITED

 SHORT !!!!

Shortlist ?  Mike, Danny, Anthony, John.

We parked at the long stay Car park beyond the Station and then we walked back under the bridge and into the town.

N0 we didn't.  Danny took us the long way round missing the bridge altogether and following this path. ...... That's Danny for you.

To the North of the railway line. This led us to the road by which we had entered Clitheroe then over the railway bridge.   As we arrived opposite the Methodist Church we crossed over to enter the park and follow the paths to the rear entrance to the Castle. As we entered the park  we discovered the third of the towns wells. We had visited the other two last time we came

After reading the information above the site of the well we stood a while looking towards the Castle and deciding which of several paths we should take.

We walked steeply uphill (Puff, Puff.) to where three paths converged. At this point as we stopped to admire the view (take a breather) Here Danny produced a photograph of Mike in exactly the same spot taken on our last visit.

Instead of taking a left turn to climb straight up the path to the scaffolding enclosed Keep , we found ourselves in an area we had not seen before. It was very "Backdoorish" by which I mean it lacked the splendour, challenge and strength of the main Castle frontage and  though still strong, looked very utilitarian.

Again a short flight of steps took us to almost secretive (back) door and onto the main frontage of the Castle.

Next obvious move was to seek out our first coffees/tea of the day. Wonderful -- there's the cafe lights on and people moving around. Imagine our disappointment to discover that the cafe had closed during COVID time and had never reopened....  😕😠 WHY ?

On turning back we could see that the Keep was also closed with security fencing and shrouded with scaffolding. What a total disappointment.

So down into the town in search of our much needed caffeine shot.

passing, as we descended, the war memorial.

Just before we left the castle grounds we passed one of the cast iron posts which mark the route the sad Lancashire Witches took on their way to Lancaster Castle where they were tried, found guilty and hanged. They were put there in 2012 to mark the 400th anniversary of the trials. Each bears a poem written by the then poet laureate CAROL ANN DUFFY

Out of the Castle grounds and looking for a cafe,

Cafe soon found (one we have enjoyed on previous visits) and as the time was after 11.30 we decided to take an early lunch........ 3 soups and 1 hot crumpet (2 actually as they came in pairs) ......................... and coffees !

Lunch taken we gathered ourselves together in the courtyard

Something appears to to have amused Mike. Was it the fallen glove or the mysterious tiny bottle at his feet ?

John has adopted his usual "Glum" Photo face but would like to assure the reader that he is far from being a "Glum" person and I think (Hope) his companions would concur

Down one of the alleyways in search of adventure (Come off it John. Adventure ??)

All we found was the District Offices and they couldn't even supply us with the usual town maps ...... Adventure indeed !

There was a map posted outside but it wasn't much help.

So on we plodded to the magnificent church which sort of promised adventure of a decidedly unwanted kind.

We took heed.

Getting ready for the "Nativity" scene.

As we left the church it began to rain. That put the cap on our unadventurous day and we quickly made our way back to the car. This time using the railway underpass we had spurned at the start of our walk

Todays walk we had planned to be unplanned. Somehow it didn't "Gel" and left (with me) an unsatisfactory feeling. It did, however, fulfil it's main purpose........

.........To get together and take some exercise whilst enjoying each others company.

C'etait une Bonne Journee !

LA FIN

Monsieur John

 p.s   Threw in a bit of adventurous French there Don't check the grammar.

SAMLESBURY

 H...ALL TOGETHER AGAIN

Gatherers :- Danny, Jim, Mike, Anthony, John.

Before I begin this blog I must thank Jim for the excellent photos he provided. Indeed MOST of the photos are his as I am struggling to get to grips with a new camera. Most of my photos were unusable.  

With the weather being quite unpredictable  at present we are tending to look for Thursday visits to places where shelter is available and perhaps comfortably familiar as well. So here we are at Samlesbury Hall which have visited and enjoyed previously.

One feature that we did notice this time was the plethora of seemingly Medieval carvings on the ancient woodwork.

On entering the building I personally was disappointed that the talking "Money box" for voluntary contributions had been replaced by a card or phone machine.  Still voluntary.

Thf first room we entered had obviously been set out for a wedding.

 The illuminated sign in the next room was also a little baffling. What comments were they looking for ?

Moving on..... the next room was also laid out in preparation for a wedding but the date of the reception was in 2027.  Somewhat distant methinks !

Our puzzlement was ended when the lady in the cafe told us that the Hall was holding a "Wedding Fair" over the weekend.

As we are getting somewhat elderly a start off brew is always welcome and we had soon set off in search of the cafe.

Time for a brew. Four of us opted for coffees. Danny asked for tea which came in a matching set of bone china cup and saucer, teapot and milk jug. Delightfully posh we all agreed.

 

Look !   Is that a small shark in there. If your going Hook a Ducking count your fingers first.

We came outside briefly and spent a few minutes chatting (and visiting the loo .... Coffee is a diuretic you know.)

The last time we came Danny spent some time trying to "Hook a Duck" from the pool beneath the fountain. The Cherub on the plinth has rather a disdainful look, "C'mon, kids can hook 'em !" They were indeed intended to amuse the kids whilst the parents had a "Cuppa",

The volunteer cleaning the door frames had a very fetching bucket with roses on it. A closer look revealed them to be Sunflowers.

Danny stands in front of the now "Roaring " fire Warming his "Bum" in the traditional style and waiting for the Bronte sisters and the cast from "Pride and Prejudice" to bustle in.

All he got was John. All Prejudice and no Pride.

The colourful history of the Hall included Catholic families who braved the strict edicts laid down after the reformation and the reign of the parliamentarians though "Reign" being a Kingly occupation would have been anathema to the Cromwellians. 

The witches and the Haunted rooms were next. Right at the top of the house, They were genuinely really quite spooky.

This lady's Ghost is said to haunt the rooms. It was the usual star-crossed lovers tale ending in tragic deaths. The white dress was hers of course. 

In true Whittle blog style I have forgotten her name. I shall return to this point when I remember it.

The lady's white (wedding ?) dress was on display and did itself look ghostly in the darkened room

In the witches room various herbs were hanging to dry. The poor ladies were more likely to be healers with knowledge of beneficial wild plants then followers of the devil.

The Faces of "FEAR"

😟😟

Ever Onwards

A table full of kitchen utensils . I think I shall hold tight to my Air Fryer, Micro Wave and Toaster. Not to mention the Fridge and the Freezer,

John demonstrates how some of the old irons worked. He actually used them at his grandparent's house in the late 50's. They were way behind the times even then.

So... back through the main rooms, now with roaring fires, and outside to continue our exploration and give a smidgeon of credence to the title of a "Walk".

This is an example of my photos this week. In order to see it at all heavy editing only left it looking "false"

There's a bent old man hobbling along this path...... Oh No....It's Jim !

He's actually shuffling along quickly to get in position to take photos as we follow him.

This side of the Hall had an entirely different look to the main Hall. perhaps belonging to a different era. And look at the Chimneys. The fireplaces seem to have been built OUTSIDE the main "Shell" of the house.

The windows are taller and have stone frames rather than the dark wooden ones round the other side.

We now came away  from the house and  took a path through the hedgerow and into the area of "Shepherd's Huts "..... (this is the walking bit !")

"There's a double bunk in this one " declares Jim.

"A double bed in here but nothing else"

John posing with his much derided manbag which he stoutly but laughingly defends as adequate on short walk days.

MUST BE LUNCHTIME !

A Bi-polar tree........................................... (Split personality)

We finished our "Walking bit" with a visit to the children's play area.

This gets my vote for Photo of the week

.......................and so should a bunch of old men in their second childhood

And finally a "Rogues Gallery"

Who's the prettiest then ?

The results will be published next week.......or not !

And so farewell

JW

p.s. If this blog entry feels a little disjointed, sorry. Mixing photos from two sources left this old fella with a frazzled brain (It's already small and confused.) Change camera and try harder next week. Promise.