Whittle

In April this year my wife Barbara and I went on a guided walk led by Nigel Hardacre, a volunteer for the Inland Waterways Association. The walk was entitled exploring The Old Lancaster Canal in Whittle-le Woods. The walk, we found very interesting and I resolved to lead a Meanderthals walk along the same  route. We set off from Top Lock, following the tow path down. This particular lock is in need of some care and attention.

Alongside the towpath as we travelled down, there were three cast metal information plaques in brail explaining the workings of the locks.

    

With the last lock behind us, it was only a short distance to the bridge that takes us over the start of the Lancaster Canal.

Looking east, this is where the two canals depart. The Leeds- Liverpool on the right and the Lancaster on the left.

Looking across the Leeds Liverpool. The first large house with the red painted narrow boat alongside used to be Whittle Springs Brewery.

None of the remaining part of the Lancaster Canal is now navigable. It is now silted up and looking very much unloved, although the tow path is kept in good order.

A bench at the end of this short stretch of canal gave us a good excuse for a sit down and a brew. From here on, until we get to Whittle-le Woods a certain amount of imagination is needed. 

Brew time over we crossed a stile onto Town Lane. The canal went diagonally across to the right, crossing some private land. We have to do a detour to rejoin it further along it's route Being distracted I missed this excellent signpost and we had to retrace our footsteps a short way,

As we neared a farmhouse we were diverted over a stile on the left. Climbing an embankment, which was the original embankment of the canal, looking to our left there was a long swathe of meadow which was the route the canal took.

Crossing another stile the footpath led us up onto the embankment where the footpath was overgrown on either side for a distance before opening out again. The footpath then led downhill from here into a valley which in times past had been a brickworks. The bricks were hauled up the hill to the canal, to be transported to the towns along it's route.

               

We crossed a small river then through a tunnel under the motorway.

Immediately after the motorway tunnel was another long tunnel with a narrow footpath where care had to be taken due to the uneven roof height and also it being dark.

Our path came out onto Hilltop Lane with a couple of lovely houses on either side. We walked up the lane, passing Whittle Hill quarry on our right.

At the junction at the end of the lane we turned left. After about 150 yds a gate on our right led down some steps to what had once been  Whittle tunnel which collapsed in the middle in1837.

At the bottom of the steps looking to the right is one end of the remaining tunnel, although it is quite silted up.

Taking the path to the left we came to the other remaining part of the tunnel. All the rest of what had been quite a long tunnel has been excavated out. Going through it we came out in the village of Whittle-le- Woods. A perfect place for a dinner stop.

                                              

                                                      Mikes feathered friend.

I have to apologise. I cannot finish the rest of this blog. The settings on my camera have been accidentally got moved out of position, spoiling the rest of my pictures.

                                                       Hooray I hear you call.                                                                                                                                 DK

 Alon

WHITTLE

TOP LOCKS/WHITTLE ?  5 Miles 

KEY WALKERS :- Danny, Anthony. Vic, Mike, Paddy, John.

Roadside parking was the only option as we began this week's walk at Top Locks on the Leeds/Liverpool canal near Wheelton.

No... That is not us parked up as we did not arrive by narrow boat,  That's us below.

The water in the canal was crystal clear but you couldn't see it for the covering of green weed.

This is not a superb bowling green but the surface of the canal.

Once below the top Lock ( and the pub) the surface of the canal began to clear as the excess water tumbled down the overflow channel.

We walked downstream past several sets of locks as we made our way towards the junction of the long abandoned arm of the Lancaster Canal.

For those who supposed that canals were entirely still here's the overflow from the lock as the water makes its way towards Liverpool.

Once major industrial arteries the canals are now major nature reserves and recreational facilities.

As we approached the now defunct arm of the Lancaster canal there was a large basin which Danny informed us had been built as part of the Leeds/Liverpool. As neither the Liverpool or the Leeds ends had been finished and trade was wanted in Preston and beyond, the Lancaster canal bosses agreed to build this section themselves.

The Lancaster canal section was no longer navigable but still retained a decent depth of water where we stopped for Coffee Time .

Vic was delighted by the number of iridescent Damselflies darting along the weed covered surface of the canal. We were later to see the much larger "Dragonflies".

Here the canal had been cut off on it's journey to meet up with the road over the Ribble ( Tram Bridge )  and on through Preston and so up to Lancaster. Once over the Tram Bridge crossing the River Ribble the road followed the top of Avenham park before going through the tunnel which is now an access road to the Car Park near the station and so on to the Maudland area near St Walburge's church.

Young waterhens happily paddled their way through the weed covering as the followed their parents in search of food.

Some of the old houses we passed were obviously greatly loved by their owners. this house was very pretty if perhaps a little "Over the Top".

Our route continued toward "Whittle le Woods" past  "Whittle Springs" as we followed the embankment of the old canal.

Stiles can often be rickety and difficult . Dangerous even. On this walk, however, they were mostly "Old Person" friendly.

Our own "Whittle" (John W) was quite surprised to discover that there was a "River Whittle" though "River" seemed to be rather a grand title for what was little more than a stream or brook.

Hardly a "Banksie" but this less than attractive piece of graffiti greeted us we followed the old canal route through the first of the tunnels.

Out into the open at the end of the darkness in the tunnel. That's Mike being over dramatic.

Out of one tunnel and very soon into the next which can hardly been seen through the hanging foliage.

This tunnel needed care to pass through as the narrow, somewhat uneven, path ran along the edge of  the river. The bright spot of light you can see is Mikes torch which was needed to avoid the rough uneven walls.

Out in the open again and still following the route of the old canal.

Although only a mile or so from "Civilisation" (Chorley ?) our route looked at times like a tropical rain forest.

More attractive old houses. This one rather hard to see.

The area had lots of  "You are Here" type notice boards. Excellent.

The gentleman in the photo clearing undergrowth told us that the valley close by was were a canal tunnel was being constructed when it collapsed killing 14 men. It was subsequently left open.

I SHOULD HOPE NOT !  (JW)

Sadly death still occurs. A young boy is remembered here. It doesn't say how he died but a waterfilled quarry nearby could be responsible.  Taking risks when growing up is part of life. sadly it sometimes ends it.

Not much further before we came to another remnant of the old canal. Lunchtime and a good spot to dine.

 The entrance to another partially built tunnel now filled with mud and debris. the subsequent path of the canal was almost entirely  overgrown and impassible. A narrow path took along us it's side........

.......and led us to the intended end of the tunnel. Lunchtime.

As we sat eating our sandwiches a cheeky (brave)  waterhen emerged from the clump of reeds in the photo and came begging for part of our lunch. Whatever we gave it was not eaten but taken immediately back to the reeds where we assumed it had a nest of youngsters. It came backwards and forwards numerous times always taking what it was given back to the reeds.

A few yards past our lunch spot was a display of ancient grindstones.

There's that name "Whittle" again. Apparently the local stone (Presumably a form of sandstone known as Millstone Grit) was quarried locally and transported by canal to be sold worldwide.

Back on the course of the vanished canal. No tropical jungle lookalike now though.

Not a tunnel this time but a limestone Kiln.

Whittle Spinny where we passed this "Wayside Cross" ?

With the building of the motorway ( who's roaring traffic could be heard throughout our walk) this monument which marked "St Helen's Well" had been moved to this quieter spot.

Danny. always a mine of historical facts, tells is about this cross. Yet another site of interest on our fascinating walk.

Leaving the Spinny our route now took us over the aforementioned Motorway.

Not far to go now and on tarmacked roads.

After a long , knee jarring, downhill stretch we stopped briefly to finish flasks.

Danny still full of interesting facts about our present spot.

Mike examines the little Meanderthal themed prize he won for successfully identifying a hedgerow plant that JW had picked as we passed by.

Before driving home JW wanted to take a sample of pondweed home. The blond lady across the canal saw that he was struggling to reach the water (Wobbly Knees) and came across the the bridge and got the sample for him. How thoughtful and kind.  THANK YOU.

.... And so to home after a thoroughly interesting and informative day in WHITTLE land. (There were even more Whittle named places we passed by)

Your writer JOHN WHITTLE  who was entirely innocent of any planning for this walk insists it was NOT an ego trip. 😐😏😐😃

JW

p.s.  As I looked at the blog photos taken by Danny and myself I thought 

"I look like a doddery old man" My next thought was " You daft bat..... you ARE a doddery old man "   Oh dear !