COLNE

BRIDGEING THE YEARS.

Bridge Players :-  Danny, Anthony, Jim, Mike, John

Quite a ride out today to where we assembled. Wycoller Country Park to be precise. Not precise enough . We actually met at the cafe Near Bent Clough Farm. A few miles beyond Colne. It looked like being a difficult day. The cafe would not take cards only Cash or bankers orders . ..........WHAT ? When Jim arrived from Penwortham he had to empty his wallet out to scrape the right amount in coppers. We naturally bridled at this but the girl had a sense of humour and when we asked for toilets she pointed out a large hole on the grassy bank and a grid next to the cafe door.

First coffee of the day at a nearby cafe.

Then a wrong turn, as we left the cafe,took us a very long way round on our way to the country park

After taking some considerable time working out how the parking meter worked ( No cash.  No Cards)  Bank only. A phone call and an extensive question and answer session ..... and all for a daily £1.10. RIDICULOUS !

We set off down the road (path to) Wycoller.

A brief stop as we walk from Car park to the village.

Our first glimpse of the tiny village of Wycoller. Cars not allowed.

Almost there.

Here comes John into the village

Once in the village apart from the magnificent stone built houses.

There are cars but residents only and NOT on the road

The first thing of historic interest we saw was the ancient Pack Horse Bridge. Extremely Narrow and well worn with virtually no sides to it at all. (So that "Pack  Horses" can cross easily)

The well worn and uneven stones left John ( and A N Other) quite unnerved crossing it.

All safely across !

Only a small distance upstream and we came to the second of the trio of ancient bridges, The "Clapper" bridge.

Danny as usual can't resist trying it out.  The "Clappers" were the large flat stones balanced on the bank and stone columns in the stream. There are more examples of these to be seen particularly in the west country.

The bridge is thought to be  from the 16C

On the other side of th Clapper bridge , where we were,  were the ruins of Wycoller Hall

This appears in Charlotte Brontes novel "Jane Eyre" in the form of "Ferndean House".  The Brontes used to walk here from their home in Haworth a few miles away.

I still cannot get rid of the idea that this was a fireplace, BUT WITH SEATS IN THE FIRE ?

There was very little of the building left to see and cannibalisation over the years had seen much of it disappear. Sadly it didn't hold our attention for very long.  Long enough to have lunch there though.

This couple chatted happily about their frequent visits to Wycoller. They recomended that we return on the other side of the stream where their memorial bench was already in place.😀

The third bridge was called "Clam Bridge" and is one of very few in the country which straddles a river with just one stone or "Clam". Thought to be over 900 years old and could possibly have once been  A "MENHIR"..... a standing stone erected higher up on the moor. The bridge is seen just to the left in this photograph.

"Daredevil Dan" waits to try out the bridge.

You willhave noticed the join in the bridge. Over the centuries it has twice been broken and repaired, is nevertheless .  still  a SINGLE STONE crossing the Beck.

Leaving the bridge we set off back to the village.

As recomended we crossed over the river, using this small bridge, to follow the path back down the other side.

Anthony was convinced there was another building a little further up the path. John averred that he couldn't remember any such building but then there are lots of things John can't remember.

Our intrepid photographer. Jim, crept quietly along a stone wall to take this quite excellent photo.

T

"Think some "Nutter's" watching me !"

John stops awhile to take a photgraph of our photographer.

Where is he ?

Ah..... There he is.

Missed bridge photo opportunity ?

We were soon back at the clapper bridge with a glimpse of the village poking through the trees.

On the way back to the cars we stopped for a brief rest, (It was HOT and TIRING ) Jim kept going and brought the car nearer. 

Thanks Jim 👍

This is appalling. Practically a whole blog devoted to Bridges and not one proper 

BRIDGE PHOTO

Ah well....... See you soon.

JW

BOLTON

 SMETHILLS HALL

SMOOTHIES :-  JohnW, Anthony,  Danny, Mike.

Why "Smoothies ?.......  Because The original name of the Smethills area was...... SMOOTH HILL.

Parking was easy. Only a few yards from the gates of Smethill Hall.. and we received a friendly and enthusiastic welcome as we entered the Hall itself. First things First..... Start the day with A BREW !

They're coming...'onest.

Why is this fella wearing a cheese board ?

Just look at this... Hands in pockets..... This is a STATELY home my good fellow !  Thank goodness for Danny treating the occasion with proper gravity.

It gets worse.   He's "Lounging" now.

And John's no better.  What's he fiddlin' with ? You can't take them anywhere.

Here we are in the dining room. I just hope they're not making  a pig's ear of it.

It all looks very good to me but just keep an eye on that pig's head.

Guarding the food in the dining room was a soldier from the civil war. At least his armour was.

The tables  in the dining room  were laid as if ready for a meal. The "Plates" were wooden,  All those years ago the Hoi Polloi ate off "Trenchers" which was a corruption of the french word "Tranche" which meant a slice. Their meals were placed on a slice of old dry bread which was eaten when the meal was finished or if rather more affluent, given to the poor. They also used slices of  wood which could be washed and used again.  ( A known fact checked with Wikipedia )  A "Trencherman" is STILL used for a good eater or one with a healthy appetite.

Castles and Manor houses can be cold draughty places so large fireplaces were essential.

No "Trenchers" here at the top table, Gold plates indeed. In the early days tables were not used but an easily stored board was set up on trestles. The "Boss, Chief, or Lord of the manner" had the only chair. The rest used benches. Hence the phrase. "Chairman of the board" ( Wikipedia )

Throughout the hall there were information boards telling the history of the house. Almost always fascinating. Indeed they slowed our progress considerably.

The house continued to be fascinating even up the steep stairs to the private family quarters and the bedroom.

John has a miniature verson of this child's cradle at home.

"No Teddy bears were injured whilst taking this photograph"

At the side of the bed about level with Mikes knee you will see ropes which are threaded across the bed in a net like fasten. It was said that a better nights sleep was had if the ropes were tight, It was also said that tight ropes deterred some of the bugs which were abudent in old houses. 

(No DDT yet then)

"Good night. Sleep tight. Mind the bugs don't bite."

🐛

The chair to the right of Anthony is an ancient form of ejector seat.

This room was famous for the quality of it's linen fold carving accomplished by skilled Flemish wood carvers.

The Lord and Lady of the house sat at opposite ends of the table for breakfast. It would seem  they were not on good terms.

I'm sure Little Bess was lovely but I can't read it.

f you look carefully  at the stained glass you will see that the top three show extracts from Christ's life while second three illustrate the last super

This is Cranmers coat of arms. Too long a tale to tell here.

JW asked, over the phone, was there a guide available. They thought not.

Well here is the guide. A charming and knowledgable man who comes every Thursday.  BRILLIANT !

It was a decidedly large house and very attractive from the outside too.

The Gardens, too,  were equally nice.

At this point we left the house and ventured into the woodlands which apart from the pathways, allowing access, were seemingly unspoilt, original woodlands.

The way out of the woodlads took us past the stables belonging to the house.

They had been converted int rather swish apartments.

Back to the Hall which we could now see through the trees. Danny generously offered to go and fetch Anthony who had chosen to sit in the sun ouside the Hall.

One final shot of the stables and away we went.  Home after another

enjoyable day.

A Real Gem,   and it was free

Heres to next week's outing

JW