GOING LOCAL

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

The present lockdown rules say we should only leave home for a limited number of reasons. That applying to ramblers  saying we should stay local and only walk with one other, socially distanced, companion.

At the start of the second lockdown I rang the police headquarters in Hutton to ask....

"What do the police understand by the term Local ?"

"That's a good question sir."

"Have you got a good answer ?"

"Well actually,  No sir."

So the rule is as clear as the mud we often walk in ......The officer went on to assure me that they would respond sensible to people out walking judging each situation on it's merits but that they would not be happy to find us strolling along Blackpool promenade.

As decent, law abiding citizens we Meanderthals have tried to follow the official guidance. Not a single sighting of Blackpool Tower between us.

So..... "Local" is whatever you think it is but don't push your luck !

Meandanthony's walk Miller Park - Penwortham 6.5 miles

The car park at Miller Park was pretty well parked up when we arrived, but there was still a couple of spaces left for us.

           The smaller variety of daffodils have taken centre stage in the displays this year.

                       The Japanese Garden is looking quite bare at this time of year.

Climbing up and crossing the Combination Bridge that once carried the East Lancashire Railway across the River Ribble,we followed the tree lined path that forked off, (if you'll pardon the expression) towards Penwortham.

                                 Exiting onto Leyland Rd, opposite the fire station.

Turning right towards Preston, we passed one of the small beer houses that seem to be springing up everywhere. But unfortunately due to corona virus are not allowed to open.

Turning left into Stricklands Lane. Where once there was a car scrapyard, there is now a small housing estate. In our younger days we could pick up spare parts there, at a reasonable price, which helped us keep our cars on the road.

                                                      Some attractive garden art.

Once again we have taken advantage of the seating which is always in plentiful supply in cemeteries, to have our morning brew. This one is Hill Rd Cemetery. The busy Penwortham by-pass is close by, but is screened off by some large trees which minimises the traffic noise.

J.W, Martin and J.R who were on a separate walk in the area, and not far away came to meet us, whilst keeping to the social distancing rule of course. After a short chat they went on their way.
        A walk across the adjacent Grange Park led us to Cop Lane, opposite J.Rs bungalow.

Turning right, after a couple of hundred yards we turned right again into The Aspels, at the end of which was another entrance back into Grange Park, albeit a much swampier part.        Some conservation work is being carried out here. They are digging out some or all of the Laurel trees to make it lighter, and planting some of our own native trees. Probably a directive from Boris, now that we are out of Europe.

As luck would have it 😉 with dinner time now upon us, we were attracted, like bees to a jam jar back to a comfy seat in the cemetery. 

After dinner, walking down Hill Rd towards the A59 who do we spot coming in the opposite direction? but another meanderthal, Jim with his wife Sue, who like us were out taking exercise and enjoying being out in the fresh air. Who are we going to meet next?

After visiting the old parish church of St Mary, high up on a hill overlooking the River Ribble, we had intended, like J.W and Co (having previewed his report) to make our way from there down to the riverside walk, but like them, Finding our way blocked off we had to make a diversion round the houses.

         The riverside walk, not exactly enhanced by the flyover ahead, but that's progress!

Again, like John, neither had we ever noticed the intriguing name on this bridge. Where was the Fish House? What is the history of it?

On our way back to the cars we came within spitting distance of the house of one of our other meanderthals (Dave), not that we would 😋. But we did decide to give him a knock and pay our respects before setting off home.

                                                                       DK
 

PENWORTHAM

 1. 2. 3.  NAUGHTY !   4 Miles

LAWLESS LADS :-  Martin, John W, John R.

Martin and John met up in the car park just over Penwortham Bridge on Liverpool Rd. 

Quite by coincidence a local resident, who also happened to be a Meanderthal,  was walking in the same direction as ourselves. (Those of you who are regular readers of this blog will recognise a fairy tale  when you read one !)

You will also recognise John Russell returning to the fold. (quite accidentally of course)

We crossed over the busy Liverpool Rd. and immediately dropped down to the path past Penwortham Holme Playing fields.

It wasn't long before we came to the end of this track and joined another busy road through Lower Penwortham passing as we did some bright patches of Daffodils. 

Once on the road we paused on a barely noticeable bridge over a small brook. Indeed non of us had ever noticed it before.

We were quite intrigued by this and wondered whence  it's name had been derived. What was the "Fish House" ?

As we paused we looked back to our starting point at Penwortham Bridge.........

.....and forward to the ancient bridge carrying a cobbled street across the river.

The road alongside it must have caused much head scratching and debate before  they settled for this most imaginative name. 

We turned away from the bridge to walk just a few metres before crossing the road to our next footpath. As we did so we passed this cafe and which again had us wondering. Why a Penny Farthing on the wall ?

The footpath we needed was just to the left of the rather handsome, quasi-gothic Methodist church (Chapel ?)

Here it is.

Our later starts during the pandemic mean that coffee time comes quite quickly. Some way along this footpath we left it to cross an open area and make use of some rather solid benches.

Come off it John. That is not a proper "bridge" photo.

The reader will have noticed that even though we were stretching the.rules (only a little) we did observe some social distancing.

As we left this spot a phone call from Anthony (Danny and himself were taking a different route in the same area) informed us that they were just on the far side of the bridge we were about to cross.

The dual carriage way taking traffic from Lower Penwortham up to Cop Lane

Once across the bridge we came across the cemetery. This is the children's corner.

John R cheerfully pointed out the plot in a further spot which he had already chosen for his final resting place. How well organised !

And there, making their way through the cemetery, were Anthony and Danny.

Can you spot them ?

We met up briefly to compare routes and then set off again in opposite directions.

Our route was to take us through Hurst Grange Park.

Just like many of the parks we have visited during Lockdown this one was equally well maintained and attractive.

A wonderful new children's play area.

 As we passed the Old Coach House, (Being upgraded) we came across this rather alarming HOLE. It was safely fenced off and might have been an old well. Quite a mystery.......

....but in the words of the old joke. The Meanderthals were "Looking into it".

Lunchtime !

Lunch over we made our way out of the park past the old park keepers house.

Across the road a large track took us downhill  towards Lower Penwortham and the river through a very affluent part of Penwortham.

At the bottom of this track the road split - going right to cross another part of the dual carriageway or left to follow a footpath toward Penwortham hill and the Priory, We took the path to the left ......Aaaargh !!! This was to prove a bad move.

Here we met our only stile of the day. A householder doing his garden showed us where the stile was and helped us cross as it was rather a difficult one.

Beyond the stile afterr a short stretch of pathway there was a SWAMP !!!!!

The whole of the field was either thick clinging mud or trickling water courses about a foot deep. Skirting around the edge helped but we still all had wet feet by the time we had struggled through.

The thick mud did not release it's grip till we climbed up onto Penwortham hill. It was exhausting !

 

As we walked up the hill heading to our final visit -  Penwortham Priory, we passed the War Memorial which in itself was most reflectively attractive. Close by was a smaller and very poignant reminder of lost lives.

The writing is the first line of a favourite poem of your writer's and I hope you will indulge me if a continue with the first verse.

If I should die think only this of me

that there's a corner of a foreign field that is forever England

There shall be in that rich earth a richer dust concealed.

A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware

Gave once her flowers to love her ways to roam

A body of England's breathing English air

Washed by the rivers, blessed by suns of home. 

Rupert Brooke                   

When we arrived at the Priory we found the gates into the churchyard were chained and padlocked.

We found our way through a side path and sat by the church doors to finish off our flasks.

On leaving the church John R told us there was a more interesting way back to the cars rather than returning to Liverpool Rd. He led us through the rather upmarket area of housing down to the riverside park. The site of the old power station.

Once again we came to an area of Wooden sculptures and guess what !  There was the ubiquitous Owl.

...... and there were others too.

From here we followed the river back to the car park.

So, farewell to our returning much welcomed Meanderthal and off home after another short but varied and interesting walk

THE END 

JW