The Meanderthals: FULWOOD

"SQUAGS" 5+ Miles

HOMEBIRDS :- Danny, Anthony, Vic, Jim C, John W.

After today's leader JW had decided that the weather forecast precluded a coastal walk we all met at Anthony's where a democratic vote had us setting off on our walk from Anthony's front door with a new leader. Danny !

In no time at all we were following woody footpaths (So close to civilisation)

MASON'S WOOD

Soon after we had entered the wood we came to a pretty spot with rather a sad tale.

A memorial bench dedicated to a two year old !

Parts of the woodland walks had been closed off recently in order to build several bridges or culverts over streams. here is one such.

Modern woodland management practice is to leave fallen trees in situ for the benefit of the minibeasts which are part of the wildlife food chain.

A large stump on the other side of the stream seemed to indicate that this one had been cleared after blocking the flow or had simply been a health and safety risk.

Of course logged tree trunks can also provide raw materials for the local arboreal artists.

At this point our delightful woodland path emerged onto that most successful legacy of the Millennium - the "Guild Wheel".

"Where to next Danny ?" "Follow that man" he said, pointing straight ahead along the "Wheel".

We left the "Wheel" further down and followed another woodland path before coming to another urbanised area.

The day was by now beginning to deteriorate and become distinctly chilly with a mounting breeze blowing a spattering of rain in our faces. A children's play area gave us a sheltered spot to have our coffee break.

Coffee downed we once again we plunged into the woodland and dropped steeply down to a bridge over a somewhat larger stream than we had previously encountered.

It was in fact a stretch of Savick Brook which we have encountered on several of our walks.

We crossed over Savick Brook......

......... and a short, steep rise found us on Fernyhalgh lane.

We turned left heading for Squire Anderton's Wood. This, for many children in the Eastern and Northern parts of Preston, was always known as "SQUAGS" and was a much frequented area for youthful adventures. For myself, living in Ribbleton, any visit to Squags also involved two other locally famous sites, The " 39 Steps " (over the railway ) and the "Hills and Hollows" now mostly levelled out and built upon.

The left turn took us under the motorway and back over Savick Brook. Here a slight hesitation. ..... Do we turn right and walk through Squire Anderton's Wood or continue straight ahead to Fernyhalgh and Lady well. We did both.

First, into the now "manicured " woodland drive up to Haighton House now the home of Mr Bhailok a local entrepreneur and benefactor. Previously the home of David Moyes the famous manager of P.N.E. though now of West Ham football club. ( John's wife Val did much of the paperwork when Mr Moyes bought it.)

Into the grounds and then, as the house itself is private and having enjoyed the walk along the drive, we turned back to retrace our steps towards Lady Well.

With the weather now decidedly unfriendly, with a bitter wind and light but constant rain, Lady Well offered us some dry sheltered spots to have lunch.

Having visited this place of pilgrimage many times both on our walks and privately we did not, on this occasion, visit all the various sites held within it.

Immediately next to this entrance was the following sign which, at the risk of seeming disrespectful, I have to admit to thinking that might have been a useful sign 2000 years ago.

As a little boy, together with the family, I visited the well many times. It was then a set of rough steps leading down through a rickety gate, from a farm track to a simple square, stone lined well in a rather damp wooded area. That is not the case now. The area is now something akin to a mini Lourdes.