The Meanderthals: October 2026

HILL TOWN FORD

HILL BILLIES :- Jim, Danny, Mike and John

Where the bridge crosses the River Ribble there was once a ford. At the top of the hill beyond, a town grew up and the Normans built a castle to protect the town and it's river crossing.

Information Board....

When we arrived in Penwortham Jim had saved us a parking spot right next to his house not many yards from the high street. That's us - The white car hiding behind black car 😀

Jim lives at the house on the corner of Lawrence Road. The one in the photo. Whilst the car is in Lawrence Road , h e is actually in Rawstorne Road. The historic owner of the land was Lawrence Rawstorne.

He explained that the part of the road he lived in was "Culturally Protected" Jim tells me that my feeble attempt to remember the official designation of the area which should be "Conservation Area" . That word is far to similar to "Conservative" for me. A bit posh and uppity in fact. Trust Jim. This meant amongst other things that lampost and other street furniture were of an appropriate period. It also meant that any any alteration to properties needed special permission.

As we walked round the town it was impossible not to feel (and see) the overwhelming middle class affluence of the area. Not long into our walk we found an excellent coffee spot.

We crossed the road to have coffees and a tea at the "BonBons " cafe

We sat outside in the warm morning sunshine. It was only as I went inside to order drinks that we found the cafe was packed. Mostly with white haired bus pass carrying couples.

Mike's keeping a close eye on that pigeon right above his head.

Coffees for three and a black "americano" for one.

One of the bus pass carriers came out to greet his old friend Mike just before we left.

Back across the road to the "Fleece Inn" which has a long history and briefly had another name. ( The Crown ?)

Although entitled a Coaching Inn there would also have been individual horsemen (and ladies) who would make use of a mounting block

This iconic (overused word) red brick building was built by a local clergy man, also a Rawstorne, to provide the villagers with fresh water. A year later the council installed a piped water system throughout the village. Oh dear, a massive and costly case of lack of communications. It is now a private residence.

We came to the end of the High Street and followed "Church Lane"? to visit the Old Church, but more pertinently the Norman Motte which we had NOT seen on previous visits.

From an information board..........

The Motte now is covered in brambles and bushes and can hardly be seen.

As we walked towards the church Jim pointed out the site of the ancient Priory which had been demolished and replaced by super desirous (and super expensive) residences (The word houses doesn't come near.)

John was some distance behind catching up as he had been examining an "Interesting" bush.

A memorial to Penworthams war dead. WHY ? there is a large well maintained memorial quite close by.

Below, An information plaque we found as we walked. Well, Jim found it actually.

"Value £3, " you can't get a coffe for that much now. Times have changed. I mean. let's be fair, it was only a 1000 years ago.

The church has been here for a long time. You will notice a niche halfway up the tower. We speculated that the statue had been removed in Cromwellian times by ardent puritans.

This is the tomb pf John Horrocks of cotton industry fame, He was a great benefactor of the village, As Rich men should be. ( NO Politics please John)