HALTON LANCASTER

 VIKING SAGA  4.5 Miles

MEN of the NORTH :-  Johnn, Danvik, Antonsonn, Mikefelss.

Turn the page forward about 1000 years and we find Mike Danny, Anthony and John getting out of a very modern car (hybrid) in a very modern car park.

After a very tortuous path through the plethora of barrier and push buttons (Led by a trusty green man) we reached the beginning of our walk.

Not everyone had been so lucky it would seem

Was it a Viking or a speeding Toyota Yaris ?

Well, with a chilly but bright sunny day ahead of us an old Irish saying seemed appropriate. 

"May Your Shadow Never Grow Smaller"

As we reached the much used cycle track we turned left in the direction of the city centre.

and before very long we reached the famous aqueduct carrying the Lancaster canal over the River Lune.

As we passed under the aqueduct two blocks of stone caught our attention. One had a small pillar from the aqueduct embedded in it.

The other showed a picture of a cat sitting on the word "Road". Strange ? Until we realised the wit of the maker.

CAT

ON

ROAD

It was showing us the way to Caton ....... by the CATON ROAD (Sorry no photo)

Although we have visited this aqueduct on several occasions we have always descended from it actually on our bikes. We were somewhat  perplexed then to discover there were actually  steps  rather than a cycle-able slope to ascend.

They looked quite steep from the top.

Here we are crossing the aqueduct. See how still the water is in the canal, Hardly a breath of wind to stir the surface.

Having walked over the aqueduct we now dropped down to walk under it.

We were now in for a bit of battle, The walk so far had been on well surfaced paths. Not so for the next mile or so.

Looking back through the low, bright sunshine as we leave the aqueduct behind.

An overflow channel from the canal.

The initially acceptable path soon deteriorated into a swampy muddy Mess. The man with the dog did warn us. But we'll take coffee break before tackling the "Swamp".

For the next several hundred metres the ankle deep glutinous mud forced us off the path and into the bramble tangled undergrowth, PROGRESS WAS SLOW.

Past the Army Training Camp.

And onto a large concreted area that appeared to belong to the Royal Lancaster Grammar School Rowing Club. One of John's grandchildren rowed in the coxless four boat and won several medals at different Regattas. 

Then past a firing range, The grammar school's Army Cadet Corp ?

Concrete bridges can be beautiful !!!

Under the bridge in the previous photo and we arrived Halton.

With the delightful sunshine and a bench that could accommodate four we opted for an al fresco lunch rather than seeking out the villages solitary cafe.

John had chosen Halton as he wanted to see Halton's Ancient cross in the churchyard.

The carvings on the cross told the story (Saga) of the Viking hero SIGURD  who was tasked by his foster father RAGNIR with killing FAFNIR his foster father's brother who had stolen his treasure. As long as he killed Fafnir he could keep the treasure. Fafnir however had changed himself into a giant fire breathing Dragon. To cut a long saga short. Sigurd did kill Fafnir then Ragnir tried to kill him to get the treasure back  etc. etc. etc.  Such a story is echoed in the BEOWULF saga and the monster GRENDEL.

The Cross also contains CHRISTIAN carvings in the form of angels which helps to date it to around 900 AD (or CE if you prefer) The time when the Vikings were being converted to Christianity.

As  the Viking Sagas were absorbed into Christian traditions it is surmised that they may have been the origins of the legend of GEORGE and the DRAGON.

A piece of carving in the church porch thought to have been part of the missing panels from the great cross.

Sandwiches consumed and rucksacks packed we left the church.

Paying a fleeting visit to the Mausoleum being repaired round the back.

Just a little along the road was a conical hill with a gleaming white flagpole atop it.

What was it's purpose ?

A couple of minutes later we found out what it was for. We stopped the man in the photo above (with the flat cap) and asked if he was local and if so could he tell us about the flagpole. 

"You've stopped the right man" he said  "I'm the village FLAGMAN"  

He went on to tell us that there was no particular reason for the flagpole other than to raise a flag for ST GEORGE'S  day and other auspicious occasions.

He then went on to tell is that the conical mound was more significant as it was a MOTTE and the field around it constituted the BAILEY

Quite astonishingly we discovered that Mike and the flagman had both been close friends of the same person.

A short distance down the road and a right turn into a Cul de Sac and we were onto the "Bulk "bridge.A narrow, single lane bridge taking us back across the Lune.

If you look carefully on the left of this photo you may see a cyclist who was thoughtfully waiting as we took this photo.

No problem .  Thank you.  We'll take your photo as you come past us.

As we walked back along the cycle track to the car park we noticed the rather pretty views of Halton now on the opposite bank. We have walked and cycled this route before but never noticed them.

What an amazing place Halton turned out to be with several further "Listed " buildings we didn't seek to find. We will end with Old Norse Greetings

"FARDU VEL"

(travel Well)

VERTU SAELL

(Be Happy)

JW