VENI, VIDI, VICI ! 4.5 MILES
LEGIONAIRES :- Martin, Anthony, Vic, James
John, Paddy, Danny, Jim, Mike.
"We came. We saw. We conquered". Hardly Meanderthal style nor within their capabilities.
We "Payed and Displayed" and set off through historic Ribchester.
The cottages to our right (left of photo) in this picture were used for handloom weaving.
On the first corner was the "White Bull " pub. The columns in front are said to have been recycled from the Roman ruins.
From here we walked down the road turning right at the end to avoid swimming rather than rambling as we made our way to the Roman museum.
Passing as we did several rather desirable properties
The owner of this property told us that the silhouettes each represented an item of Ribchester's history.
The group decided not to visit the museum but to continue into the churchyard of the 13th Century St Wilfrid's church.
Inside the church was an ancient wall painting of St Christopher carrying Christ, Here it is to the right of the window. Can you see it ? No ! Neither could we.
Behind the church were the remains of the Roman garrison's granary, When it was excavated there were large quantities of burned wheat. It seems when the Romans left anywhere they burnt and destroyed buildings and possessions so that they would be of no use to enemies.
On leaving the church the group split temporarily. Some taking to the fields others staying on the tarmac road. They soon met up again.
We followed the farm track as it led away from Ribchester and headed for Red Bank where the track ended.
As we walked along the track we passed several houses. Some with well tended gardens.
This was NOT one of them !
As we reached the gateway through to Red Bank ( a steep slope) there was a chill breeze blowing so we went through the gate and sheltered in the riverside wood for our coffee break.
There's Jim pretending to be "Billy No Mates"
....and here's a tree doing strange things.
Mike hiding behind a stalk of grass !
Paddy and Vic......... "They're bark....ing mad" says the tree "and I most certainly would not bend down like that " ( of course not.... you're a tree ! )
The plan was to turn around at this point but instead part of the group climbed the bank to investigate more Roman clues.
If you look past the group you will see straight lines going away into the distance, Route of the Roman road from Preston (Walton Flats) ?
Now it was time to drop back down to the river and retrace our steps back to Ribchester. John ! Turn around we said.
As we approached Ribchester we stopped to watch this gentleman who was cleaning a computer controlled milking and feeding device. quite fascinating (the device not the cleaning)
Quite soon we found ourselves, once again, on the benches twixt the school wall and the riverbank. Our usual stopping place when we walk in this area.
Lunchtime !
As we lunched this young lady stopped to chat......... and boy could she chat !
She told us her name was Angela but she wasn't sure what else she wanted to be called because she was recently divorced and had just restarted her acting career. Cor blimey !
Lunch over we continued along the path as it left the Ribble and followed a small tributary
After about 100 metres a short flight of steps led us up into further Roman remains.
It was the garrison's bath house which was also used by the indigenous population
Out into the fringes of the village where there were some very pretty gardens to admire.
Only a few metres away a small car park led through to the village's war memorial. At the entrance was this short but very emotive poem.
SO WHEN THE BRIGHT RED BERRIES
FALL FROM THE HAWTHORN TREE
AN' YOU ARE SAFE IN LANCASHIRE
PLEASE, PLEASE, PRAY FOR ME.
Here all of our group can be seen together at the memorial . Can you name them all. I can't. ( oh yes you can !)
I know this one. It's Danny in an unusually relaxed attitude for our human dynamo .
We emerged onto the Blackburn road quite close to the "New Hotel" which is now a private residence and once past the Ribchester Arms we turned down the lane heading towards the Stydd.
As we walked down the lane we came across a very trendy business.
Not a lot further along the road and we reached the catholic church of St Peter and St Paul. a mere stripling as Ribchester churches go being only about 240 years old.
As you can see catholic churches at that time were built to look like barns next to a farm house. This to avoid drawing attention to themselves.
But what's this Has the Holy Spirit descended upon Peter and Paul. If so he has brought some of the family with him.
This lovely modern stained glass window shows local scenes. You will find Pendle Hill at the top and at the bottom, fish in one of our beautiful local rivers - Ribble, Hodder and Calder.
Just next to the church were the alms houses. 18th Century Danny tells us. Whoever designed and built them seems to want the occupants to have a pleasant place to live and possibly some pride in it,
All mod cons of course / Own water supply !!!
And so on to the third church of the day . St Saviours. The Stydd Chapel
This church was wrongly thought to be a hospital. This was not a medical facility at all but the "Hospital" title simply meant it offered hospitality to travellers. As it once was used by the Knights Hospitalers the confusion was compounded.
Legend has it that Margaret Clitherow is buried beneath the flagstones within this church. This may have been so but it is almost certain that the saints body was removed during times of religious tension to avoid desecration.
"Todays reading is taken from the third book of the Beano. Chapter 6 verse 14. "St Denis and the Triumph of Gnasher".
As we left the chapel we split for the second time those of an adventurous nature taking to the fields the more timid going back by the road,
The adventurous venture forth.......... just the four of them then ?
John and Paddy both took advantage of this kind offer. John , being a "noddy" lost his before getting to the cars, HOW ???
This pillar in the memorial garden is said to follow the history of the village as it spirals round.
A last point of interest as we returned to the car park
Aaah ! There's mi plant !!!
As we finished our walk one wit asked . "John. Was that a walk or a pilgrimage ?" Answer....... "YES"
THE END
JW
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