The Meanderthals: January 2016

BOLTON - "The Crompton Trail"
Walkers :- Mike, Martin, Anthony, Harry,

Jim C, John W, John R.
Distance - 8.55 Miles "WHAT !"

The forecast was good....The forecast was bad.......the forecast was ignored ! .......... at least to start with.

With the sun low in the sky making driving uncomfortable we drove to the outskirts of Bolton where we parked the cars down a side street and after seeking advice from a gentleman doing his garden. (He asked us suspiciously if we were Jehovah's Witnesses) we set off to seek for Mr Crompton and his Mule.
Even in the middle of the huge Urban sprawl that is Manchester and it's neighbours we were soon in "Bucolic" surroundings.

Ths rather soggy path led us quite quickly to the bottom of a "Cobbled" driveway at the top of which we could glimpse some rather handsome chimneys. Could they belong to the famous "Hall i'th Wood" ? A short stiff "Cobbled" climb revealed that this was in fact the case.

Here we are next to the "Hall" as Anthony tells us some of it's historic connections to the Crompton Family.
Please note the rectangular "Cobbles".
Only a short distance from the Hall the path opened out to give us vistas of Bolton and beyond to the towering "Rod" of Winter Hill's broadcasting station. Immediately before us was a park and the children's play area looked a likely spot for our morning coffee break. As we sat with our coffees (other beverages are available !) at least one "Child" decided to play.

Whilst other were being decidedly unimpressed.

Old Irish Saying "May your shadow never grow less" .... but keep it out of the photo.

Leaving the park we crossed a rather busy dual carriageway and made our way to the exquisite hamlet where Samuel Crompton had been born in 1753.

Crompton's Birthplace.

On the other side of the road was the old schoolhouse and one of the neighbours peered from an upper window to see what we were up to.

Hmm... They look a "Wuff" bunch !

The path ahead remained rather "Damp" in nature and now followed the somewhat precipitous banks of the river and the path and ourselves were forced to the very edge by an uncompromising "grill" of a fence. The river was a strong and turbulent brown flood and when we arrived at a point at which a pipe straddled it one of our usually more sensible members, who shall remain nameless (Harry), suggested we emulate the builders of the New York skyscrapers and sit, bird-like, in a line and have our lunch upon it.

"After You" was sung in chorus !!

Soon after this the path climbed steeply away from the river and disgorged us onto another busy arterial road. Now was the "Hour" or perhaps the moment when we made our customary, weekly mistake and took a detour of perhaps three quarters of a mile. No matter, we all plodded happily on until we reached the centre of Bolton where we visited Mr Crompton as he sat in state before arriving at our lunch destination the Town Hall Square.

Bolton's Town hall is justifiable famous and we sat at one side of this magnificent edifice having our "Butties"

One of our walkers, however, was not content with such pedestrian fair and succumbed to the temptations of the local stall and left us , to return shortly, chomping on a hot-dog. We all sneered of course but still sniffed the delicious aroma of onions and stared enviously as the said canine was devoured.

Then the DRAMA. Sitting around the tree next to us were three young ladies, One of whom looked a little distressed. As they rose to leave she fell to the ground and lay moaning. Very sensibly the others quickly dialled 999 and were told an ambulance was on its way

WE felt rather helpless but led by Jim C we waited until the ambulance arrived 15/20 minutes later. This did seem rather a long time and we felt that the paramedics seemed in no hurry to find the young lady when they did arrive . BUT are we in a position to judge ?

Looking back to a previous picture you will see a columned building in the distance behind the "Lunchers". Ionic columns Jim surmised. This is the Bolton Library and Museum and was the next visit on our list of things to see connected to Samuel Crompton.

His "Mule" or a model thereof was on display as well as lots of other things

including another of

JIm D's Bikes.

It only remained now for us to leave the museum and head for home. Buses were available but a democratic decision was taken to walk the last couple of miles back to the cars. Once back at the cars the last recipient of the walker of the week trophy presented it to Anthony for his skill in not "losing" any walkers on his last three walks.

...and here he is graciously ..er hum...accepting.

Postscript. COBBLERS ! You may have noticed the words in blue. There was some discussion about the true meaning of cobbles. Research has shown that the word is in common usage both for square/rectangular stones and the random, rounded ones. BUT the definition of cobbles is that of rounded stones of a size between pebbles and boulders and that the "Worked" square and rectangular stones are called "Sets" or "Setts"....so there ! Duck Stones, which were mentioned, are stones with ducks on them.....Work that out if you can.

And finally -