BLACKPOOL

 WIND & WAVES

Waverers :-  Danny, Mike, John ...... and Barbara (excellent)

Yes, we did waver a little. with high winds and a less than comfortable daily weather forecast "Perhaps a walk along Blackpool promonade might be less than enjoyable. " was the thought in our minds. We needn't have worried.

The sea was excitingly tumultuous and with the wind at our backs we "stumbled" along the prom.

But first we parked and sought out the "Solaris" cafe for a brew to set us up.

Don't search for your purse Barbara. The drinks are already paid for.

We left the cafe and crossed over to a ramp leading us to the side of the sea. The famous glitter ball was already a little behind us. If you search carefully  you might just be able to see the top of it to the right of Mike.

In the distance ahead of we could see the awesome "Big One" presently shut down because of the high winds. In John's world it is permanently shut down. The wired lines of lights, part of the "Illuminations" made the picture look busily complicated.

As we walked. sometimes a little awkwardly as the fierce wind buffeted us from behind, the rough sea continued to fascinate us.

At this point John suggested that he didn't like Blackpool because of the crowds. ................. WHAT CROWDS ?

Ahead of us was South pier seeming under renovation. Not surprising if it takes such a hammering at times from the unfriendly seas.

This redbox contained rescue equipment. we sincerely hoped we would not hear cries for "Help" as it was firmly locked with locks that looked rusted together.

By now we were approaching the very blue "Water Park" known as the "Sandcastle". Anywhere else I would consider it something of an eyesore but on the gaudy front that is Blackpool it seemed absolutely appropriate.

Coming out of the "Blue Wonder" you could see the water slides from the indoor pool. (Olyympic Size ?)

Along the front of the Sandcastle where trickling water features. Rather unnecessary in my opinion as taking  a few steps right or left, allowed a view of the Irish Sea. Rather a large water feature. Especially on a day like to day.

We puzzled about this until we realised it was advertising a ticket which allowed access to all the visitor attractions pictured on it.

BY GUM ! that's a strong wind. It's blown that house over..... NO IT HASN'T !

GUESS WHAT NEXT !

At this point it was beginning to rain (lightly) so we stepped inside the South pier.

WOW ! ............. Heaven or Hell.    Clue... There was a faint smell of SULPHUR

We did not stay long in this excruciating area but left to discuss our next move.

We had bought sandwiches and flasks in the forlorn hope of a sheltered spot to sit and watch the waves.   FORGET IT !  

It took us all of ten seconds to agree on lunch in Wetherspoons.

As I previously said it was to be a "Butty and Flask" day With a pleasant lunch by the seaside. Oh dear , not really feasible. So we ended up at the "Velvet Coaster one of the Wetherspoons  wide flung group.

Apparently this chap is a "Non Smoker"😀

It was still raining as we left the "coaster2 and after much discussion we all opted to ẁalk back to the car.

The sea was still battering the coast line but the rain had abated. Facing the strong (very) wind we tunnelled our way back to the car. 

 

Rather than drive straight home Mike took us on one of his "by now" famous guided  tours of his "Heimatland" - "La Patrie" - "Tierra Natal"

"Mamwlad" - "Hameland" (Dachaigh) - "Tir Dhuchaise" ..........HOMELAND 

or in Blackpudian "WUR a live"

THE END 

(Thank goodness)

JW

LONGRIDGE

 THE GRAND OLD DUKE OF YORK

(He marched them up to the top of the hill 

and  he marched them them down again)

Marchers :- Danny, Mike, Jim, Anthony and John

We parked up behind the "Air Ambulance" charity shop. and set off UP Berry Lane. Just around the corner and into Berry lane was our first item of interest

Stone commemorating the Millenial

 

We stopped a while to read the notice about the pillar and the  meaning/reason for the items depicted upon it.

We moved on up Berry lane looking for our next target. When we reached Church Street we turned left passing the rather magnificent "Manse" a handsome building built and owned by one Rev. William Booth. A former Vicar of St Paul's ?

A minute or two previously  we had been accosted by a woman who wanted to know had we parked at the Civic Hall car park as a new walking group were gathering there  to start a monthly series of walks. 

"Not us" we said. "We've been doing this weekly for twenty years !"

As we gently moved up Berry Lane we passed the Post Office which has a continuous history of service for over 100 years

So back to Church Street.

At the top of Church Street stood St Paul's church,

We always explore churches on our walks so in we went .

Sitting around a table were a number of elderly folk having a brew. biscuits and cake and chatting. we got an overwhelming welcome. We were invited to sit down.  Coffees and chocolate cake were plonked in front of us and we were besieged by questions. One or two of the group were known to John who used to live in Longridge. It was all delightfully warm and friendly.

We could hardly escape. Nor were we particularly desirous of doing so.

Coffee and cake dispensers

Then we left to continue our exploration of the town.

We were soon at the top of Berry Lane and into the old and original part of the village/town.

To the right was market street  to the left King St.

A short step to the right brought us to the old cinema which had been sold and was under repair

When the " Palace " was in use there were double seats at the back and drinks and soup could be ordered for the interval.

From here we crossed over the road and along to the large building which looked  straight down Berry Lane

Although it is now called "The Hilltop Brasserie" it was known for most of it's life as the "Dog Inn"

At this point I assembled the walkers at the front door to tell them.......

"You are now standing at the same height as the top 

of the spire on St Walburg's Church in Preston.

 The third highest spire in England."

Moving on,

We crossed over and walked towards the junction where the road leads down to Ribchester. every so often we passed gaps in the housing allowing tantalizing views down to the river ..... The Ribble Valley.

The houses along this stretch were once the homes of Handloom Weavers and Nailmakers.

Further along Higher Road we passed a row of 20 cottages. These were built at the end of the 18th C 1794 and the beginning 19th C 1804. These are famous as being the countries first BUILDING SOCIETY . It is known as "CLUB ROW". people "Clubbed" together to build the first house and presumably the rent from that first house or it's sale price was added to the "pot" to build the next and so on.

A look at the doorways shows they were built  to a simple design for the workers in the area.

Just before we arrived at "Club Row" we had passed the junction where the road swings right to drop down to Ribchester.

The White Bull pub used to be here and I challenged the group to guess where the pub had been. Easy Peasy really but Danny spotted it first. High up on the building at the corner of the junction.

It was a steady plod up Higher road passing houses of different decades. A shop halfway up was known as the cabin. For many years it had been just a wooden cabin and the name had stuck.

Not much further and we arrived at ChaigleyRoad. We had steadily climbed from the bottom of Longridge to the top 

Looks like Danny has spotted something interesting across the road

Before we crossed  Chaigley Road we looked at the onetime Quarryman's Arms pub. On the wall was a "Masonic " sign . Quite apt as behind it was a caravan park which had  once been  a large quarry presumably worked by " STONE --MASONS ! I have visited this "Pub" under it's guise as a restaurant run by television chef  Heathcote. Very good -- not cheap !

 Duke John had got his men to the TOP and now we were going DOWN

Over the road and down into John Smiths playing fields.

There were several items to see at the top of this attractive little park before we walked down it.

Partly hidden in the undergrowth as you enter the park was the entrance to a tunnel bringing truckloads of stone from the quarry.

The knowledgable Danny knew all about this tunnel but preferred to let me explain it. This is a shame as Danny frequently knows much more about our surroundings than anyone else in the party. So come on DANNY 😀😇

A stone nearby told us that the steam engines were too big to pass through the tunnel but an iron pillar near by was the base of a machine (crane) used to tow them through.

At this point we had a brief rest after our exertions climbing the hill

The machine base and it's informatiom plaque.

As we ambled slowly down through the park there were several small wooden posts with metal "works of art" on them. What they were and what they meant we had no idea.

THE LADY BIRD SEEMED QUITE HAPPY WITH THEM !

After the mysterious "Art Works" we continued down the  park and once again into Chaigley Rd. We briefly followed this road before turning into Wheatley Drive. Along this drive we past the Royal Mail sorting office which was built on the drained site of Victoria Mill's (long since demolished) reservoir or Mill Pond.

The car in the next photo is hardly historic or vintage but did merit a picture.

Does this merit the title  "Passion Wagon ?"  I think you ought to move on quickly John.

I think we were now at the top of the seemingly interminable, long, Mersey Street

At the bottom of which was the Large Cooperative building. Much used in earlier days,

Only one last decision to make . Which of several cafes we had passed should we "grace" with our custom ?

We chose the Old Railway Station and Heritage Centre.

After a brew and lunch, just a short walk back to the cars and home after a visit which, as in many such, proved rather more interesting than we expected.

Wither to Next ?

JW

THE END

p.s. The trucks going from Longridge to Preston were originall gravity driven with horses employed to pull them back up.

When JW lived in Ribbleton the lines ran behind his garden and everyday he walked along them to school.... St Maria Gorettis.

 Apologies for the unreadable blue plaques . I got them out of focus.