LANCASTER

 SHUT !

The SHUTTERED.  Anthony, John, Danny, Mike.

We came to Lancaster with " High hopes and Hearts aglow" or something like that. Our first visit was to be in Williamson Park. We drove up the drive to park near to the Ashton memorial.

As ever to the cafe for a start off brew

The cafe was SHUT.

Ah well,  move on to the Butterfly house.

The butterflies were SHUT.

OK let's try the memorial.

The memorial was SHUT.

There appeared to be some major works being done. Possibly to upgrade the various facilities in the park. As we left Mike remarked he seemed to remember that there was a "Whittle" connection up here. Indeed there was 

On our walks we have in the past come across several of these cast iron posts which mark the track taken by the Lancashire witches from the Pendle area to Lancaster Castle where they met their sad end. This one was rather special as it bore the name (difficult to see in the rust) of ANNIE WHITTLE  AKA Dame Chattox. Annie Whittle was JW's mother's name........ Oh Dear !

An unusual sort of circular construction we had seen below the car park intrigued us . Let's go and see what it is. No path to it could be found. was it SHUT.

Rather sullenly we got back in the car and drove back down the drive.

On our way to the to our next "Target" we passed the open space were the Martyrs memorial stone had been erected. Open Field ! can't be SHUT. So we pulled over to take a look.

So.... Back to the car passing, as we did, this little object.

It belongs to a hedgehog................. Say n'more.😖

Next on our list was the Catholic Cathedral which was OPEN but sadly, it being late morning and we being elderly gentlemen, the toilets were SHUT

To visit the Cathedral there is a Car park barely a hundred yards away.

We confidently drove into it to find locked gates. It was SHUT.

Is there a bit of a theme developing here ?

Car park on the right of the photo.

The interior of the Cathedral was rather dark but the altar area was suitably highlighted.

We had found another  car park  a little distance away and enjoyed our visit to the cathedral (apart from the toilets of course)

At first we thought the baptistry was closed but on investigation we could open the iron gates and enter.

In the photo below , set in stained glass, was one of history's villains.  King Herod. If you look at the bottom of the photo you will see he has his foot on a baby.

OUR NEXT TARGETS...........

The Judges Lodgings SHUT till April

Museum of Lancaster   SHUT on Thursdays.

There was only the Castle left. Surely that won't be SHUT

OK let's try there. BUT   with double yellow lines and full car parks we circled round for some time before a parking spot could be found.

Out we piled to find that the forecast foul weather was beginning to build.

Danny (Mine of information !) told us there was a good cafe close by.  And so there was ."The STOREY".. the rather quirky (a much overused word in my opinion) lets say "individualistic" building referenceing the once famous "Linoleum (Lino) manufacturer  It had a cafe called........................................ The PRINT ROOM

After another coffee and excellent spicy soup or an equally excellent toasted sandwhich we left in search of the castle.

Before leaving the building we had a  mozey around and came across these very interesting stained glass panels. Dedicated to architects and builders of the past.

So then, out we went into the teeth of a storm. The vile weather had arrived with a vengeance. A howling wind and lashing rain as we fought our way back to the car.

So we came to Lancaster and it was......... SHUT !👎

Now..... I shall SHUT up and the four of us will go home

THE END

JW

😠😠😠😠

Ormskirk

 SNAKES & LADDIES 

LADS 😉:-  Jim, John, Anthony, Danny, Mike & John (?)

"Snakes & Laddies"  what's all this about ? Well we visited Ormskirk today. Ormskirk is named after a Viking called Orm(e)

ORM  means snake and what better to call our old crew than Lads which I am sure is a non ageist title ...... OK 

 When we had parked the car, some distance away, as we had been warned that on Market days parking could be difficult. We met up with Jim who had already met the other John, one of John's nephews, who was joining us today.

This is an awful photograph . It is of the "Clock tower" in the town centre. Where's the clock ? The group is in the shadows and the police are lurking near us. 

Excuse ?  The area was so busy that if I backed up enough to take in the clock, crowds came between me and the group.

So we set off along the high Street.

Past the old Town Hall

with a rather fancy crest high up the front wall.

The High Street led us straight towards the legendary Parish church. Sadly no longer being used. The gentleman on the right is Mr. John Edwards. John W's nephew. He proved an excellent addition to our party taking responsibility for relating the information on the Trail guide.

Some way up the street we came to Court No 5 (?) John W walked a little way down and took this photo looking out to where the group were waiting. There was nothing of interest to be seen.

Nothing of interest to be seen because this was NOT Court No 5 which we found only a few yards further on.  Court number five showed an example of how people lived in poverty not too long ago.

One of two crosses at the entrance to the church grounds. Hope the driver who bumped into it was properly insured .  God will know who did it ....😡🙏

Sadly the church is no longer in use.

The legend surrounding this church is that Orm.  (remember Him?)

He had two daughters. One wanted a church with a tower. The other wanted a church with a steeple. To stop the squabbles he built one with both. If you believe that....... Good luck to you.

The area near the church is paved with old gravestones. Many more graves can be seen beyond the trees .

The church looks old and indeed it is with parts dating back to 1300.

Out of the church and a little way down Burscough lane.

This dispensary was set up for people of limited means to have access to medicines.  It is now a farmer's club. John E is a member. I didn't know he was an "Agriculturalist ".

As we returned towards the town's centre we entered a "Conservation" area.

A little further into the conservation area and we come to the oldest pub in the town. "I Know.   I Know.    he looks it but John is NOT the oldest customer.

This little alleyway, calle "Mystic Mews",  is typical of many such intriguing little streets in the town. Called "Mews" here but in Preston and other central Lancashire towns they are often called "Wiends" Each of them demands investigation if only we had the time.

I think in modern parlance this would be known as an HMO A house of multiple occupation.  Looks remarkably like the BUCK I'TH VINE  we have just seen.

Lunchtime was upon us and this was the last cafe we tried. All told us that they were fully booked as it was market day.

We were BEREFT ! 

Our guest walker however had been very wise. Knowing that full cafes might be a problem he had made a hot pot at home just in case.       And here we are eating it. 

John lives with his mother (my sister) who popped the hot pot in the oven after a phone call from John. As we were using her home I had better include her in the blog

Choc ices for "Pudding" then into the garden for coffees

All in all a splendid day in fascinating Ormskirk and a delightful ending to our trip.

BUT...........

This final photo shows Danny giving Anthony his bag back after he had left it in the house.

Mike had already had his bag returned after he too had left it

and John W had to go back for his stick as he too had left it behind.

My relatives must think our walking group were all "BONKERS"

Yes....Well?  If you ignore the funeral bit...... If the cap fits....

THE END

JW

HELMSHORE MILL

 UP AT SIX - TIME OR AGE ?

UP LATER 😴  John, Anthony, Mike, Danny

Instead of the usual photo of our disembarkation in a car park here we are driving along the motorway toward Blackburn. We will leave it at junction 5 heading towards Rossendale.

We chose a good day to visit Helmshore textile mill. The weather was miserable but as we were inside all the time this didn't matter.

By now a "start the day" coffee is almost obligatory. "One of those" says Mike.

Richard Arkwright,  born in Preston, was not considered a particularly pleasant man and imposed strict, perhaps harsh rules,  upon his employees.

As we began our exploration of the museum we came across this 200 year old fire engine. We were later told that because of the nature of the raw materials, Cotton,  fires were quite frequent. Workers who helped put out fires and so avoided the expense of calling the fire company  received a bonus. Strangely, fires became more frequent as Christmas approached.😉

"Jump Down. Turn around.  Pick a Bale of Cotton

Jump down.Turn around.  Pick a bale a day" 

An old folk song which tells us that the slaves on the cotton plantation had to pick a bale each day. It took sun up to sun down.

At twelve o'clock we were invited to join this gentleman who took us through the machinery "Sheds" and explained the process of creating textiles in the mill. Quite a complicated job and as even he couldn't remember all the names attached to each machine. (He knew the purpose of each)  I shall certainly not attempt to do so. 😕

The mill bought waste cotton from the more "refined" mills in the area.  The machines were in long rows  each being the next process in making the waste usable. The device above is at the end of the line where sheets of processed waste, turned here into coils, were now ready to pass on to the weaving process.

The weaving Shed

Lunchtime,  before finishing off in this mill and briefly visiting the woollen side of the business.

Through the window can be seen, across the yard, the old mill which we shall visit next.

This chap in the office looked very bored. I suspect he was an accountant.

WHO ... ME ?  Bottom right of this photo you will see  a chain which was fastened across where John is sitting precisely to stop people sitting there. Somebody moved it.

This charming young man was  honest enough to admit that he couldn't tell us much 'cause he didn't know much as he had only just started working there

Way Out" in Sixties parlance sort of meant,  "Eccentrically cool".  Hmmm ?    We shall see.

Danny looks rather challenging as we go through to the old mill .  

Sort of   " Non shall Pass !"

The last time Danny came here there was a Water Wheel near were the other two are standing. It was very dark inside but peering through the small window we could just about make out what appeared to be parts of it. One of the guides told us there were vague plans to restore it.

The woollen works display was seemingly rather neglected and only very small.

"By the pricking of my thumbs something wicked this way comes." ( The witches in Macbeth) and we're not too far from witch territory.  "Don't prick yer thumb on that spinning wheel John. It's a hundred years sleep if you do and I cant see any handsome prince coming to kiss you " 😴😟

Anthony looks cold, Danny looks mischievous and Mike's ignoring them both 

So.Goodbye to Helmshore mill.  An excellent choice for such a miserable day.   WELL DONE DANNY.

"Wind the bobbin Up" 

( Children's song)

THE END

JW