Horrobin Mills / Jumbles Reservoir 8 of us has a good look around the Jumbles Reservoir today at “low tide” to try and look out for any remains of the Horrobin Mill buildings. Horrobin Mill now lies beneath the reservoir and was a site that spanned either side of Bradshaw Brook. A bleachworks existed here […]
The rain started on cue as 15 SPAG members began an evening stroll round Towneley Park on St. Swithin’s Day. Our first stop was the late medieval cross, known as Foldys Cross after John Foldys, a chaplain who died in 1520. On the original moulded top is a remarkable 16th century carving of Christ on the cross.
Walking down through the park towards the Hall we stopped to admire the Towneley Oak. At over 400 years old it is the oldest tree in Burnley. The tree was pollarded over many years and this has ensured its survival as the healthy specimen we see today.
Next stop the War Memorial. Unveiled in 1926 this moving memorial to the many who lost their lives in the First World War has sculptures symbolic of the Navy, Army and Air Force.
Standing in front of Towneley Hall, most of which is currently hidden behind scaffolding for the extensive refurbishment, we learned a little about the Towneley Family who lived in the Hall. In the 1600s, as staunch Catholics they suffered heavy fines because they refused to give up their faith. Catholic priests risked their lives by giving mass to the family and in the early 1700s there were several Priest Holes in the building which can still be seen today.
The Grade II listed stables were next on the list. Built in 1790 the building was converted into a cafe in 1951.
In the 19th century an Ice House was constructed just up the hill from the Stables. Before ice makers were invented the servants would cut ice blocks from a frozen pond in winter and store it deep underground in this brick and stone structure. Tasty frozen desserts were often on the menu for the Towneleys. The Ice House has now been commandeered by a colony of bats.
Beware of Boggarts!Our last feature involved a demonic creature known as a Boggart, once one of England’s most mysterious and fearful supernatural beings. Before we crossed over Boggart Bridge we gave thanks to the hen which gave its soul to the Boggart to ensure that we could safely cross back up to Foldys Cross and the end of our walk.
Historic Graffiti What is graffiti? That was the question thrown out to us at the start of the talk. It is writing or art in a public area carried out without permission was one answer. It’s unwanted was another but whatever we said was thrown back at us e.g. is Banksy’s work graffiti? It’s carried […]
What a fascinating evening that was. I’m sure we all remember the floods of 2015 when Summerseat was cut in half by a collapsed bridge but the problems in Carlisle were even worse as it included loss of life. However, there was an unexpected positive when the cricket ground (including the pavilion), was flooded under […]
“It is written on a wall in Rome that Ribchester was as rich as any town in Christendom.” We spent an interesting day in the Lancashire village of Ribchester situated on the Banks of the River Ribble, named as Bremetennacum Veteranorum, by the Romans in AD78. This was during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, when Britain was under […]