The Meanderthals

Saturday, 11 April 2026

DUNSOP BRIDGE

ST. HUBERT

HUBERTIANS :- Jim, Anthony, Danny, John

Who was St Hubert ? He was a French Noble,born 650AD, with a penchant for Hunting. His Dad was called BOGGIS and his Mum was called HUGBERN. but we can't blame him for that. He was out hunting deer when he should have been in church. ( we can blame him for that!) A stag he was chasing turned to face him and lo and behold between it's antlers there was a crucifix - Instant conversion to Saintliness. Later, a large nail with a decorated head was named after him. The head was heated and pressed against any wound caused by a dog bite. The searing heat of the nail killed any bugs and was therefore used to prevent Rabies.. Hmmmmm ? Didn't prevent agonising blisters though. (Ask Jim about blisters)

"Blisters" did you say ?

Jim had recently burnt his hand whilst cooking

As is our wont in recent times we started off with a warming brew in the "Puddleducks" cafe.

John W appears to be "Shrinking". and he doesn't look happy about it.

Leaving the cafe we turned right over the bridge crossing the River Dunsop and walking past the rather attractive "Dunsop Bridge Working Men's Club". Not a bit like the working men's clubs around Preston where myself and Danny's sister Rose Marie use to play and sing during the late 60's.

The River Dunsop.

The working men's club

From here a short rise took us to the war Memorial.

Opposite was an old cast iron marker showing that Dunsop Bridge, now in Lancashire, was once in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Who's this.. The "good shepherd" how'd that sheep get up there ?

Dunsop Bridge also lays claim to be the nearest village to the centre of the Great Britain. The actual Centre lies just a few miles away in the fells near a spot called "Hanging Rocks"(Ordnance Survey).

St Huberts Church.... situated at the start of the road going over the Trough of Bowland. The church is said to have been built by Richard Towneley out of the winnings when his horse "Kettle Drum" won the Derby in the mid 19th Century.

This small church is possibly one of the most attractive churches we have looked around over the years (We have explored many).

The church was open and a sign said "welcome " so we went in.

Before the altar was a Calvary. There are many lifesized ones of these in France (CALVAIRES) which together with depictions of the "Stations of the Cross" Create a short walk up a hill or through the fields.

The ceiling above the alter was highly decorated and we had heard that the Horse "Kettledrum" was featured amongst other things.

We searched but could not find it.

But later, looking at one of the other photos, we spotted it...... Can you ?

the Stained glass windows, beautiful in their simplicity and Clarity.

We assumed this to be Veronica who wiped the face of Jesus as he walked to his crucifixtion. An oversimplification, perhaps, but remeniscent of the Shroud of Turin

On coming out of the church we pottered around the neatly kept graveyard where one of Jim's relatives ashes had been scattered in a quiet corner. Possibly this one !

The finials on the railings seemed to have the shape of an owl with a swan superimposed upon it ???? Again.....can you see them both.

We walked back into the village using a slightly differing route through forestry land.

As we walked back we came across "Easter Eggs" Jim suggested that it might have been the school preparing an "Egg Hunt"

The alert reader may have already noticed one on the "West Riding" photo. Our photographer (Me) didn't.

So back over the Dunsop River and into the "Puddle Ducks" for lunch.

On our way home Danny asked if we could briefly visit the graveyard at Alston Lane church.

Here, near to where John's wife Valerie was recently buried, (and he shall follow) Danny had booked a site for himself and his wife Barbara, Mike had some time ago also booked a site for himself and Kath his wife. All three within a few yards of each other. A strangely comforting thought.

This seemingly morbid occasion was actually a rather pleasant and even joyful visit.

The sole purpose of this short walk was to visit the tiny but delightful church shown in the blog. Short and damp as it was it it still turned out to be a lovely walk. Thanks to Jim for the photographs he contributes to the blog each week.

See you soon

Sunday, 22 March 2026

PRESTON

The Harris Exhibition

Exhibitionists :- John R, John W, Dave, Danny, Mike and Liz (Guest)

We were to meet together at the Harris Museum. John W was to come from Grimsargh by bus.

Preston's listed, brutalist bus station was all but deserted at that time in the morning

Mike and Danny were to walk in from Fulwood. John R walked in from Penwortham (well done those three.) Dave's wife Liz was bringing him in by car. Their Blue badge allowed parking right outside the Musum.

From left to right. The town Hall, the Cenotaph, the Harris building and a random stranger.

The Harris looking rather dark and forbidding in the heavy shade of the low lying sunshine. It isn't at all of course

Being mid morning there were hardly any passengers waiting at most bus stops between Grimsargh and Preston so John W was rather early at the museum . To pass the time, as you can see, he took a few photos round the flag market in front of the Harris.

The Market Cross spent over a hundred years in exile in the countryside before being returned to it's rightful place here in the Market Square.

There were some rather strange "Tributes " left on the cross's steps.

Immediately opposite the cross was the old post office building. A handsome building being somewhat spoiled by building development on it's roof.

In front of it is the Cenotaph designed by the renowned architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott who also designed the Albert Hall.

By now Dave had arrived driven in by his wife Elizabeth .Their blue badge enabled them to park right outside the museum. Then a phone call told us that Danny and Mike were inside the museum already.

So straight to the cafe for our ,by now obligatory, "Start of the Day" coffees.

Here we were soon joined by John Russell who had walked in from Penwortham.

Coffees downed we set off to look at two exhibitions we had not seen on our fairly recent visit.
The first was the works of local artists. This was a must as Dave' s wife Liz had one of her works on display.

That'll teach ya not to play "Hands Knee and Bumpsy Daisies" on a soft floor.

Something interesting in this corner ?

Yes. It's Dave, John and Danny admiring Liz's delightful wintery woodland scene.

OOPS ! I seem to have turned Liz into an impressionist. I must return and take a better shot.

153 ! Yes and he looks every day of it.

IT'S A CAT. Loved it.

After the art exhibition we went to look at old photos of Preston. They changed from black and white or Sepia into full colour and then by the magic of AI they moved as in a movie. All this as an old time comedian (Forgotten which one) used to say "Before Your Very Eyes". Sorry NO PHOTOS of this phenomena as I am not clever or maybe patient enough to post moving pictures into the blog. ( perhaps someone can show me how ?) Or maybe I was simply mesmerised by the incredible technology. You'll have to go and see for yourselves. Well worth it.

Back to the cafe for lunch joined by guest Meanderthal - Liz.

Who's this celebrity leaving the museum ?

We left the museum and found our way down fishergate to Winckley square.

Here we pottered slowly round the OUTSIDE of the lovely square reading just about all of the information plaques and name "Tags" attached to the railings.

Here there was a mystery. We had arranged to meet John Russell who had left the museum slightly before us to meet his daughter ( Granddaughter ?) in the square. John was inside the square and we were outside neither of us saw the other. INCREDIBLE !!!