Clitheroe

Today's walk started from the carpark opposite the swimming baths at Edisford Bridge. From the carpark, we crossed the road and walked down passed the Municipal Swimming Baths, to join the Ribble Way footpath. We soon arrived at this wonderful timber truss foot bridge. This bridge was built in 2008 and was showing no sign of rot, It is the latest of four bridges to cross the river at this point. A cotton mill was established here in 1795 and the hamlet of Low Moor was built around it. The mill was owned by a partnership of the Horsfall and Garnet families. The Garnets took over sole ownership of the mill in 1858, around the time that they acquired Waddow Hall some 800m upstream from the bridge.         Info courtesy of Google.

Immediately past the bridge, alongside the footpath is this enormous gate post, presumably one of two that would have carried the entrance gates to the mill yard.

As we reached a row of houses that were probably originally the mill workers cottages, the path which on the ordnance survey map is shown going past the houses alongside the river, has now been diverted. The diversion takes us past the house of a keen gardener, .......

                    .....before turning left, to pass this 1866 Wesleyan Chapel.

The diversion carries on straight ahead past some expensive looking houses before the path deteriorates as we pass some enclosures, one housing a few chickens and noisy cockerels, another was a plot with flowers for sale in it, another had stables with horses locked in. After this was a field with horses and a very noisy donkey that was trying to make acquaintance with John by calling loudly to him.

The path deteriorated still further as we headed away from the enclosures, into a large open field.

As we headed across the field, the aforementioned Waddow Hall came into view. Now owned by the Girl Guides Association. However before we were able to get a good view of the hall, our path led us away from the river.

       This is a Zoom shot of Clitheroe Castle, where we will be visiting later in our walk.

After passing a new pristine cemetery on our left, the path came out on Waddington Road. Turning left we walked downhill towards the river and Brungerley Bridge, but before reaching the bridge, we crossed the road and entered the sculpture park where we have been on previous occasions. The only reason for going there is because we know there are plenty of benches where we can sit and have our dinner.

                    I think Mike may be telling the lads about his wife, Kath's, injured wrist.

This sculpture we saw on the way back to the road looks very professional, and obviously represents an animal, but what is it?

Retracing our steps back up the hill, we continued on into the town centre. On the way uphill to the castle, we passed below this sculpture of a soldier overlooking the town, a constant reminder of the servicemen and women who gave their lives in defence of our country.

Exiting the castle through his archway gives us a vista of the Ribble Valley, where we were walking earlier.

         

On our way down through the castle grounds we made a diversion to look at more sculptures. This one called the Pinnacle was brought up from London apparently, and once adorned the Houses of Parliament.

                                             This lifelike work of art is most impressive.

Leaving the castle grounds, we walked back towards the town centre, with the sole purpose of finding a cafe for our afternoon brew. Mission accomplished, all that was left to do was to find our way back to Eddisford Bridge to our cars before our tickets ran out. Thanks fora good walk Anthony.

                                                                    DK















 

 

CLITHEROE

 JOHN'S "BLOODY" LATE START ! 4.5 Miles

Patient Participants :- Danny, Vic, Martin, Mike

                                       Anthony. Jim, James ... John.

After driving to the wrong bridge (Brungerley) John and his passengers arrived late whereupon John cut his finger and needed medical attention ( a plaster) from his companions, Eventually we set off..............

After parking opposite the sports centre near Edisford Bridge we walked past the Tennis club and followed a footpath between the river and houses at the edge of the town.

On the fence of one of the houses was a, by now, rather tattered tribute to Capt. Tom.

Not long into the walk we arrived  at this  rather substantial bridge over the River

Here Jim plays the part of Roman hero Horatius who bravely defended a bridge against an overwhelming Etruscan army.  Do not turn your back Jim. One of Horatius's many wounds was a spear in the buttocks ........ Ouch !

We were not to cross thus bridge and soon the path by the river ended at these houses and we had to climb up through an older and rather attractive part of Clitheroe.

This bold, proud cockerel was the first of many sculptures and models we encountered during the day.

"Hey Robin. Wasn't there supposed to be a big heron here to help us ? "

"There certainly was Bluey. We'll need a bit of "Muscle" if we're supposed to keep people out of this road,"

"We're just bantams we don't live down a posh, exclusive road."

No. They lived in a rather random, unkempt allotment style area as we left the suburbs of the town.

Along with horses and some rather noisy braying donkeys.

Ahead of us we could now see the famous (or perhaps "Infamous") Clitheroe cement works.

Out onto fields as we left the jumble of sheds and compounds.

Across the river we glimpsed Waddow Hall the headquarters of the "Guides" Association.

We turned away from the path which led directly to Brungerley bridge and followed a footpath towards a new housing development on the edge of the town. Here a pile driver was booming out it's strikes across the fields whilst over the town the castle kept watch.

We soon reached the road and turned left towards the bridge but only a short distance along we crossed the road to enter the Brungerley Sculpture Park.

Once again we had drifted past our usual coffee time and as it was now noon our leader decided we should take lunch here.

On leaving the park this sculpture assailed our eyes. It was apparently a pot of porridge boiling over !  Who, however, would add snails to their porridge ?

Out of the sculpture park and a left turn had us plodding gently uphill towards the centre of Clitheroe.

At our age we all need a men's room 😰

On to the high street and up towards the castle.

Oh dear. We don't want to get involved in the European "Sausage Wars".

Into the park and up to the Castle. As we entered JW nearly "Lost It" when a notice at the bottom of the drive informed us that the Museum was open but the CAFE WAS CLOSED !   AAaaaargh !

 

The men of the North Country 

I saw them for a day

Their hearts are set on the waste fells

Their skies are fast and grey

From their castle walls a man may see

The Mountains far away

An extract from "The South Country" by Hilaire Belloc

Here are two men of the North Country looking at the far away Pendle which is technically just a whisker away from being a "Mountain".

A short climb up to the Castle's Keep allowed these shots of our friends down below us.

Then back down from the keep to take this shot of faraway Longridge Fell (left)  Parlick Pike (right) and if you look closely, Beacon Fell just peeping over the lower slopes of Longridge fell .

and there's James still up at the keep.

Well Well   Flanagan and Allen perhaps !

A panoramic shot of the Bowland Fells. Not, as it looks, a ridge but a plateau reaching up as far as Lancaster

An arrow slot in the castle walls grimly brought to mind the day's news of five people in Norway being murdered by a man with a bow and arrows,

Anthony doesn't seem to think much of the stone trough.

How did this get here ? it's a turret (spire ) from the houses of Parliament .

(You should have read the information boards John ..   yes . you're right I should. )

"Wow ! Look out "

It's OK  . Its just a work of art. Rather realistic though.

Another work of art.....No. Not the one in green...though both are a bit "Fishy" 

Leaving the castle behind we made our way through the park back into the town in search of a cafe.

And we found one... here we are waiting for............

.......One Black Tea......two Americanos + milk  ...... and four Cappuccinos

All that was left now was a short tramp through the side streets back to the car park at Edisford Bridge

Couldn't resist taking a photo of this gnome inhabited front garden of a terraced house.

Then over the rail lines and back to the cars.  A good walk with lots of variety Well done Anthony.

THE END 

JW

As you read through the blog did you spot the hero ?  No ?   Well there is definitely one in Clitheroe.