Walkers :- John W, Jim D,
Vic, Danny, Mick.
"Danny's View" Of our Ribchester walk will be found following the Match Report. Danny's photos also appear in the main body of the report.
A serious depletion of possible plodders meant that when all who COULD come HAD come we were FIVE ! Best wishes to those who couldn't make it. Two cars drove from Grimsargh to Ribchester where they were parked to be retrieved later.
Our walk would lead us Westward but we set off to the East with the intention of visiting the 12th Century St Saviour's chapel the "Stydd Chapel" just a short distance outside the village. On route we passed the delightfully eccentric "Almshouse".
It was only a short distance further before we arrived at the Grade 1 listed Chapel once used by the Knights Hospitallers over 800 years ago.
An unprepossessing exterior and a rather empty but still fascinating interior.
Here we are exploring the inside of the historic chapel.
The interior of St Saviour's Chapel. In the foreground the 16C Gritstone (local Stone) font. Beneath the flags possibly the bones of Margaret Clitherow (Clitheroe) who was crushed to death.
Back to the village but skirting round rather than going through the centre. Ribchester displayed more of its lovely old features as well as some rather odd bits.
Was this a Terrorist waiting in am...bush ? ......in Ribchester ?
Our path was diverted by a signpost to the ruins of the Roman Bath House. Here, on an information board, we were told that the bath house was thought to be the preserve of the wealthy and important. "What about the workers ?" we ask. 'Twas ever thus for the great unwashed !
The remains of the Bath House.
Leaving the baths we followed a pretty but muddy path as it followed, for short distance, a tributary of the River Ribble.
MUD !
Ribble Feeder
Once out of this shady pathway we found ourselves on the banks of the Ribble where warm sunshine and a plethora of benches easily persuaded us to sit and have coffee.
Danny
A sunny spot for coffee
Danny
A better view than most coffee shops provide.
The charms of Ribchester were not to allow to leave so soon and the ancient parish church next held our attention.
The Lads are in awe as Vic explains "This is a church."
Here we saw a fragment of the medieval wall paintings on the church's interiors walls. In particular a picture of St Christopher which was revered of old by those who wished to cross the dangerous river Ribble in safety. This lovely church held many other interesting artefacts.
The barely discernible painting of St Christopher.
Leaving the church, great amusement was caused by John's efforts to squeeze his magnificent frame through an extremely tight kissing gate. It was all down to his large rucksack....... obviously !
Once through the gate we could see the outlines of the old Roman fort beneath the grass. Now we crossed a short field to the next of what, from here on, proved to be awkward and difficult stiles. OH DEAR ! The next photo shows the lonely figure of Jim D returning to retrieve his stick from where he had left it in the church porch. (It's no wonder we have a "Drew" formula.)
Now our walker proper began. We followed the farm track as it ran parallel to but some distance from the River. The "Ribble A- Way " perhaps . Across the river was Osbaldeston hall. Opposite the hall, On our side we passed evidence, perhaps, of a previous ferry - "Boathouse Farm".
Beyond this the track ended and we took to the fields proper. Beyond a gate the ground rose steeply and here there were signs of the Roman road which connected the forts of Walton-le-Dale to Ribchester.
A pause to discuss our "Roman" way forward
When we arrived at the top of the steep rise there appeared to be an indication of the route of the roman road in the form of a double row of stubby concrete blocks. Further discussion ensued.
The view beyond the rising ground was quite wonderful and we stayed for some moments to admire it.
The land now dropped steeply down to Hothersall Hall, the home of a Mrs Watts (?)
Working at this lovely home were two young gardeners who left "Some of us" perplexed by telling us the soil they were digging was to fill in a whole for a dead "U" The spelling was all important. Dead "Ewe" or dead "Yew"........... It was ARBOREAL !
Onwards and once again upwards till we entered the world of sprites and spirits. Only a short search was needed before our newcomers spotted the Hothersall "Boggart".
There it is......... there in the tree.
Danny
Yes ! There it is.
Down again (there seems to be a pattern emerging here) till we arrived at Hothersall Lodge one of Lancashire Educations Outdoor Education Centres. Here we were welcome to use their tables for our lunches and to chat to an old friend Billy.
Lunch over we toiled up the hill away from Hothersall Lodge. At the top of the hill a newly concreted double track led us left at a right-angle past a newly refurbished bungalow and through the immaculate garden of a barn conversion and once again into the trackless fields.
As we tramped across these fields the stiles between them continued to be challenging .
In the next field we saw several horses. We usually avoid horses as they can be unpredictable. This time , however, one horse seemed to be waiting for us. Worrying ! Actually not in this case. We, notably Jim, were to receive a most friendly welcome.
Horse Whisperer Drew !!!!!
With our walk approaching it's "end game" we stopped by a small pond to finish our flasks (and have a breather),
Danny
Do our friends look tired ?
As we often discover there was a sting in the tail of this walk. Apart from the difficult stiles we now came to a series of small but deep streamlets with steep, grunt inducing banks on either side.
Jim and Vic toil up from one of the deep little valleys. (They're there, 'onest. Look carefully,)
Danny
No-one told me there were uphill bits !
Once we had clambered out of the last little valley we soon arrived at Elston Lane to finish our walk to Grimsargh. From here the drivers were driven back to their cars in Ribchester and so back home.
A few more photos.
Jim checks out the almshouse well.
Danny
We bump into old friends of Vic and Danny's
Inside the walls of Ribchester church ???
A serious looking John tackles one of the stiles.
Friendly horses seem to want to help us over the stile.
"DANNY'S VIEW"
'es at it again. Pontificating
The iron-bound chapel door covered in graffiti.
"Is that an apple I see speeding my way ?"
1,2,3,4,.......a lot...............of chairs.
Not now dear. We're being watched.
"DANNY'S VIEW"
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