BRAVES & GRAVES - PRIESTS & PETS ? 2.5M
Teacher & Taught :- Danny, ....... Mike, Anthony. Jim, John.
With most of us being entirely ignorant of the rich history of Gregson Lane we were in for quite a surprise. As always Danny proved to be well informed and was full of information and historical detail as we followed his planned route.
We parked at the community centre with its various sports facilities and within a few yards we came to our first "Historic" site.
This is the house in which Jesuit Priest Edmund Arrowsmith, born in Haydock, celebrated his illicit Catholic Masses. He was captured (as a "Recusant") when his horse refused to jump over a ditch and people chasing him ("Pursuivants") caught up with him. He was taken to Lancaster. Sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered. Legend has it that his executioners took pity on him and made sure he was dead before continued the gruesome process of the sentence.
Above the window of the "Vestibule" is the date "1700". Obviously this was an extension added after Arrowsmith's death.
We had , however, entirely missed was this tiny house just a few metres away from Arrowsmith Cottage, which had been built in............. You tell Me! Possibly 1616 ???????
Is this more history ? The real thing in the hands of someone with a sense of humour ? or simply a con ?
Waiting for a train !
As we followed the road towards Brindle our progress was halted by the crossing barriers descending as we approached
Still waiting !
YES ! Here it is.
Across the well maintained garden of the first house were distant views of the city of Preston bathed in sunlight and looking the very essence of a city. Centre stage was a glowing view of "St Thomas's". Not a church of course but Preston North End's football ground. where one of the town's (Now City's)
Whilst this old beech tree in the garden is in a rather attractive situation...... Tree of the week in fact.
There were some lovely and interesting stained glass windows. This one shows Jesus as a sort of apprentice carpenter working with his "Stepfather" Joseph. The worker at the bottom of the saw usually gets sawdust down his neck and inside his clothes. No wonder he became an "Angry Young Man" later in life.
Elsewhere in the church we came across this.... A log split in two to reveal a cross deep within the wood. A Miracle ! No ... A cross had been carved into the bark of the tree, It had been renewed annually for twenty years then it was forgotten . 132 years later when the tree was "Felled", There it was imprinted in the trees growth rings.
Is this an example of the sun shining on the righteous ? No comment !
WHAT ! NO CATS ?
J.C.
J.C.
J,C.
Still waiting !
Here it comes.
Once the train had passed and the barriers lifted we continued until we came to a road off left with the road sign "PRIVATE ROAD". we were unsure if this was the road's name or that it was indeed a private road.
Across the well maintained garden of the first house were distant views of the city of Preston bathed in sunlight and looking the very essence of a city. Centre stage was a glowing view of "St Thomas's". Not a church of course but Preston North End's football ground. where one of the town's (Now City's)
famous son's once displayed his magnificent talents. TOM FINNEY
Under the railway and almost immediately a left turn down to St Joseph's Church.
The Church Bell of St Joseph's church seem to the writer to be lodged in a rather "Ugly" situation.
The original church of St Joseph's was built to resemble a barn. It was at the time (1786) forbidden for Catholics to build places of worship. It has since been enlarged and embellished.
The baptismal font has an unusually Byzantine feel to it.
There were some lovely and interesting stained glass windows. This one shows Jesus as a sort of apprentice carpenter working with his "Stepfather" Joseph. The worker at the bottom of the saw usually gets sawdust down his neck and inside his clothes. No wonder he became an "Angry Young Man" later in life.
Elsewhere in the church we came across this.... A log split in two to reveal a cross deep within the wood. A Miracle ! No ... A cross had been carved into the bark of the tree, It had been renewed annually for twenty years then it was forgotten . 132 years later when the tree was "Felled", There it was imprinted in the trees growth rings.
( sorry about the reflections on the glass of the case)
Outside the church was a rough path leading down to the graveyard. which had a rather spooky "Gothic " feel to it.
We then, as we walked round we discovered what appeared to be a local "Tradition". Many of the graves had animals place upon the.
Here we met a mother and son tending a grave. We spent several minutes chatting to this charming pair.
We then, as we walked round we discovered what appeared to be a local "Tradition". Many of the graves had animals place upon the.
as we left to continue our walk we passed over a small bridge taking us out of the graveyard and back up past he church.
J.C.
Leaving St Joseph's we now walked through some well maintained Farm/Parkland
J,C.
The neat pastures we had walked through had obviously once been part of a country estate. The gate house was sadly in a poor state but was seemingly in the process of refurbishment.
These two species of Fungi growing on the same patch of land reminded the writer of the song "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder.
As we walked along the road heading towards Gregson Lane. we passed a lady coming in the opposite direction. Casual greetings were exchanged "Hello . Afternoon. " etc , Then Jim realised it was someone he knew and he turned back and called her name. Warmer greetings were now exchanged. There is a story behind this encounter but that is for Jim to expound upon ,,,,, not me.
Back to the playing fields and drive down the road to Holland House Nurseries ....... AND CAFE !
As we sat and waited for our orders to arrive we gazed at the blue sky to be seen through the cafe ceiling.. OH NO WE DIDN'T. it was false those clouds never moved an inch.
Has John not received his order ??? or is it indigestion ?
An excellent Walk. Well done "Professor " Kirby
BYE TILL NEXT WEEK
👋
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