JOURNEY through the CENTRE of the KINGDOM

A 75km (46 mile) walk through 1,000 years of history in the beautiful Section onwards. You will see Little Mearley Hall 1 on your right. 5 You will come off the footpath here and to onto some tarmac. Follow this along, until Chatburn you find a public footpath marked on your 1 Start from the gates of . right. Cross the stile and take the footpath From here, walk down Castle Street to the across the field, staying close to the right Tourist Information Office (on your right) hand side. Cross the stile into the next and turn right, into Wellgate. Walk down to 7 field and continue. This will take you to a the bottom of the road, going straight footbridge, leading on to the road. Follow across the triangular junction, until you Worsaw Hill the road around to the right. come to the A671 Waterloo Road. 19th Century engraving of the bay 6 At the junction follow the road around to 2 Cross this road at the pedestrian crossing window at Little Mearley Hall. Warren Hill 6 the left, towards Downham. Follow the and pass Shawbridge onto Pendle Road, road around the bend and pick up the passing the Bridge Inn. Continue along second public footpath on the left. This is Pendle Road for approximately 1 mile until a wide farm track that leads to Worsaw you come to the end of the residential Clitheroe End Farm. As you approach the farm, area. On your right, between two large 5 from the right, go through the gate at the trees, there is a metal gate and kissing top right hand corner of the field. Take the gate. footpath to the left, by the wall. This path 59 A takes you between Worsaw Hill (believed 3 Pass through the kissing gate and take to be the site of a Roman signal station) the footpath across the field, heading for 1 Little on your right and Warren Hill on your left. the old barn. Climb over the stile here into Clitheroe Castle Continue along the path, which leaves the the next field. to the left, which takes Mearley Hall wall and goes up and over the brow you onto the road. Cross the road, turn 2 between the hills. right and walk about 300 metres along the road to the stile and footpath on the left. 7 Descend the path (take care - it is rather Follow this path across the field, cross the Mearley Hall steep) crossing over two fields and stiles, bridge into the next field and then head keeping to the right hand side of the fields. towards the gate on to the main A59 road. 3 You will cross the line of the Roman Road Cross the road with care and take the N King’s Highway from to Elslack. A bridge footpath on the left, which takes you to crosses the river at the top right hand Pendleton. Pendleton Hall corner of the field. Follow the footpath that runs behind the bridge.You can now see Go through Pendleton, passing the Swan 4 Pendleton the A59. with Two Necks pub, the school and the church, heading towards . When 4 8 Cross the A59 (carefully) following the you arrive at the ‘T’ junction, you will see footpath by the river into Chatburn. Turn a farm building directly ahead of you. This left into Victoria Avenue and carry on, is Pendleton Hall. Go through the farm following the road to the right, passing the and follow the bridleway. This is part of To be used with O.S. Methodist Church. At the end of the road, the old King’s Highway, which went from Outdoor Leisure Map no. 41. turn left and follow the road around. At Clitheroe to . Follow the footpath to the T junction, turn right. The school is on Mearley Hall, then past Lane Side and 0 Kilometres 1 2 3 the left hand side, next to the church.

0 Miles 1 2 1 Sights of Interest Section 1 9 km (5 /2 miles) Clitheroe Castle King’s Highway There may have been a wooden castle The ‘King’s Highways’ were the main Clitheroe upon this site in 1102, erected shortly routes of the medieval period. The after the . The Highway that passes through Pendleton to construction dates of the stone castle are Hall connected the settlements of debatable, but it may have been built by Whalley, Pendleton, Great and Little the family around 1150 AD. At Mearley and Downham, which were not Chatburn this time, Clitheroe was an administrative served by the Roman Road. The old centre for their lands in the Ribble Valley Highway is now mainly used as a and the castle acted as a temporary bridleway, although in places it has home, prison and business centre. diminished to a footpath. Mearley Hall. The present Hall was built in Victorian times after a fire destroyed the original hall. Parts of the gardens are 16th and 17th century and there is a medieval fish pond site. As you pass through Mearley Hall you can see humps in the field on the left-hand side of the track. This is the site of 12 medieval farm cottages that belonged to the hall 19th Century engraving of Clitheroe Castle. Little Mearley Hall By 1602, the stone castle had been Little Mearley Hall was built in 1590. neglected and was described as ‘very The most outstanding feature of this hall ruinous’. Nevertheless, the is the huge early 16th century bay Militia, protesting over non-payment of window, which is thought to have been wages from the Civil War, held the castle taken from after its against Parliament in 1649, eventually Dissolution in 1537. leaving when they were offered money. Soon afterwards, Parliament ordered that Warren Hill the castle should be destroyed. Only the keep now remains. In the 13th century, Warren Hill was used as a breeding ground for rabbits, Pendleton which the introduced to Britain Pendleton is an ancient village; a burial as a source of meat and fur. Soil Starting at the site of a Civil War rebellion, this route urn recently discovered suggests that it around the hill was stripped down to the passes through one of the oldest villages in Lancashire was occupied as early as the Bronze limestone rock underneath and the area fenced off so that the rabbits could not and takes us, via an ancient highway, past an ancient Age (2500-500 BC). It was one of only rabbit breeding ground. five villages in the area escape. The soil was then piled up so mentioned in the . that the rabbits could burrow into it. Section 2 6 Follow the footpath as it moves away from the river and towards Hell Syke -by-Bowland Bridge. Cross Holden Beck by the Chatburn to Bolton-by-Bowland footbridge provided. Follow the beck 1 Starting from Chatburn School, take the Church of St. Peter around to the left until you can cross the path through the school playing field, and St. Paul larger footbridge over the . keeping to the right. At the end of the 7 Follow the farm track up the hill, keeping fields, turn towards the right, passing the H to the right hand side of the field, near the treatment works to your left, and o ld fence. At the top of the hill, turn right over e proceed to the . The ground n Remains of Cross B 8 the cattle grid and take the road that runs e Skirden Beck here is very boggy. Turn left along the c k to the left of King Henry’s Mews. Follow river, crossing the footbridge and Bolton Hall Farm this road to Bolton Hall Farm. The following the track until it joins the road. and circular building in the gardens is King Turn right and follow the road along the 7 King Henry’s Well Henry’s Well. river to the bridge. King Henry’s Well 8 Retrace your steps, cross the cattle grid Cross the bridge and turn right. Here you 2 6 and then walk straight ahead, along the join the in the direction of road past Bolton Park and the remains of a Sawley for a short stretch. Follow the cross. This splendid drive takes you to the footpath along the river. As you walk past To be used with O.S. Outdoor Leisure Map village of Bolton-by-Bowland. At the end of the fields on your left, you can see the no. 41. the drive, turn left and walk down the main banks that surrounded Flax Retting street towards Clitheroe. On the right hand Pools, dating back to the 15th century. N 5 side is the Church of St Peter and St Paul, 3 After about 700m, the path leaves the which contains many reminders of the river and goes uphill to Sawley Road. Sawley Bridge Pudsays of Bolton Hall. The Church is Follow the road to the right, down to Sawley Sawley Abbey usually open and you can buy guide Sawley Bridge, passing fine views of the leaflets inside. There are toilets available at river and in the background. 4 the car park, which also houses a small 3 information centre. 4 Cross the bridge and follow the road to Old ford at Hell Syke. A59 your left, then around the bend to the Flax Retting Pools right, past the Spread Eagle Inn. You can see the ruins of Sawley Abbey on your left. ‘Sawley’ means ‘willow clearing’. When you have visited the A circular walk Abbey, return to the bridge. ble is available, ib 2 R beginning and Cross the bridge and go through the r 5 e ending at Riv gate on your right. Follow this footpath, Sawley. which meets the riverside. If you look For more across the river to the fields on the other 1 information ring side, you may be able to see that they Chatburn the Clitheroe are rutted. This is called ‘ridge and Tourist furrow’ and dates back to when workers Information Centre on 01200 from Sawley Abbey tended the land in 425566. the 11th century. 0 Kilometres 1 2 3

0 Miles 1 2 Sights of Interest Section 2 8 km (5 miles) Flax retting pools was demolished soon afterwards to prevent it becoming a focus for Flax has been used used to make resistance, and the stones were re- Chatburn Linen fabric since Roman times. The used in other construction work. You stalk of the plant is tough and woody, can see some of these stones in which makes it difficult to extract the to buildings in the village today. fibres. In order to free the fibres,which can be woven into cloth, the stalks Bolton Hall and King Henry’s Well Bolton-by-Bowland were submerged in foul-smelling The first mention of a hall Bolton-by- ‘retting pools’ of muddy water until the Bowland is a record of the stalks rotted away. The bank at conveyance of a ‘messuage’ (an area Chatburn is undoubtedly there to stop used as a dwelling place) to Richard the river flooding, but could also have of Bolton in 1229. By 1464 the Hall been constructed to stop the river was the property of Sir Ralph Pudsay, washing the valuable partially-retted a follower of King Henry VI during the flax downstream. ‘’. Following his Sawley Abbey defeat at the Battle of Hexham in that year, the King retreated to Bolton Hall, The Abbey was founded in 1147 by a where he was hidden for almost a group of Cistercian monks who had year. Local tradition has it that the well travelled from Northumberland to in the grounds was discovered by the Sawley, where William de Percy had King through water-divining, and that provided land and a timber building. he ordered it to be dug and shaped so Work on the stone Abbey commenced he could use it as a spa bath. The in the 1150s using sandstone from original Bolton Hall was demolished in nearby quarries. The monks almost 1960 after it was declared unsafe and left the Abbey in about 1200 AD too costly to repair; the well, stables because the poorly-drained soil led to and out-buildings are all that remain. crop failures, but Matilda de Percy, William’s daughter, granted them further lands and income. When Henry VIII established the Church of , the Abbey was dissolved. Monks from Sawley joined the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536 to protest against the dissolution. After invading the nearby , they were turned back by the forces of From the pretty village of Chatburn, we walk along the River the Earl of Derby, who promised them immunity from prosecution. This Ribble, visiting an Abbey destroyed in the Dissolution of the promise was not kept and two monks Monasteries and the hideaway of King Henry VI.

from the Abbey were executed for Photograph from Lancashire Library. their part in the revolt. The building Bolton Hall before it was demolished. ‘Champion’ means ‘common enclosure’. pass the farm at Rain Gill and continue Section 3 Follow the path until it meets the road. west/south-west until you arrive at Hammerton Mere Hammerton Hall. 7 Turn right and walk down the road as far Bolton-by-Bowland to as Threap Green Farm. ‘Threap’ is 10 Following the path onwards, you pass another old English word meaning the old footbridge on your right. Cross 9 ‘argument’ or ‘dispute’. Turn left up the the ford and carry on down to 1 Start at the Church of St Peter and St N Paul at Bolton-by-Bowland. With your Hammerton Hall farm track and take the footpath that Holmehead Bridge. This is believed to back to the church, turn right and follow leads north-east across the first field, Higher then head north, keeping to the left hand the road, passing the remains of a Shays 6478 Stoney side of the fields. Continue until Ling Hill cross and the village stocks. B Bank 8 farm. 2 Cross Skirden Bridge and continue until 10 you reach the Copy Nook Hotel. Take 8 At Ling Hill, take the footpath due west/ Ling Hill

the road on your right, signposted to Holmehead Bridge south-west across the first field, cross

r

e To be used with O.S. the next field at the left hand wall, then Holden, until it branches, then take the d

d Outdoor Leisure Map head north, following the path passing road on the left. 11 o H no. 41. 7 r Fells Farm. After about 500 metres, take e 3 Cross the river near the bridge and iv the footpath to the south-west, towards R Threap Green telephone kiosk and follow the footpath Slaidburn ‘Shays’, which means ‘old stock track’. B6 west and uphill, passing Fat Hill Farm on 478 As you meet the road, turn right and your left and Priest Biggins Farm on walk up the road to the cross roads, your right. Keep on the path, passing where there is a telephone box. Turn left White Stones on your left and then and walk to Higher Stoney Bank - note downhill past the 17th century Cottams the unusual curved wall. Farm. track past the farm and 9 Take the footpath on your right and due north. 6 4 At the road, turn right and walk for about continue north-west to Brook House 300 metres. Take the footpath on your 6 Cross the road at Higher Green at Hammerton Mere. Take the left heading north-west to Harrop Gate Cross and take the path Higher Cross farm track heading west/south-west, Farm. Take the path that leads through directly opposite, which this farm in a south-westerly direction takes you due north towards Harrop Methodist Church, a towards Black Moss Farm. Harrop Lodge Cross and Stocks in Bolton-by-Bowland. very early example of its type. Keep to the right hand side 5 Continue to the village of Harrop Fold, a of the fields. Follow the former vaccary. From the centre of path until you pass a have been built before Slaidburn and small barn on your left; to was the original access into the village Harrop Fold, take the path that heads Bolton-by-Bowland north until you reach Cockleth House. your right you should be until the present ‘New Bridge’ was built in 5 Cross the next field in a north/north able to see the pyramid- Harrop Gate Cross and Stocks the 15th century. shaped stone that marks the Holden easterly direction, towards the sheep Harrop Methodist 11 Just past Holmehead Bridge is the farm Ordnance Survey 2 1 pens at the top right hand corner of the Church 3 track called the ‘Skaithe’. This was a triangulation point. Turn right Church of St. Peter field. Cross the lane and head north- 4 10th century horse racing track and is and follow the footpath past Harrop Fold and St. Paul west to Harrop Lodge, which is situated Cottams Farm now an ancient road. Leave the track the stone, heading on the edge of the . and follow the footpath along the right Sir Ralph Pudsay and his wife, approximately north-east The stile between the buildings and the commemorated in St Peter and Paul’s hand side of the field, then across the towards Greenwoods Farm at fence marks the footpath; this takes you Church. field towards the new bridge. Walk up Champion. The name around the back of the farm. Follow the 0 Kilometres 1 2 3 the street to the War Memorial.

0 Miles 1 2 1 Sights of Interest Section 3 17 km (10 / 2 miles) Church of St Peter and St Paul Hammerton Hall There was a church in Bolton-by- Church of St Peter and St Paul, Bolton-by-Bowland The Hall, commissioned in the mid-15th Bolton-by-Bowland Bowland as early as 1190, probably on century, was the residence of the this site. The earliest parts of the Hammertons. They were a wealthy present church are the 13th century family and it was said they could ride all to lancet window, priest’s doorway and the the way from Bowland to on their stones that have been re-used in the own land. This changed in 1536, when Slaidburn main south doorway. The Pudsays were Sir Stephen Hammerton sided with the benefactors of the church for centuries; rebels in the ‘Pilgrimage of Grace’. He you can see the family arms on the was hanged and beheaded for his church font as well as the tomb of Sir ‘crime’ in 1537. This was a relatively Ralph Pudsay in the 16th century lenient punishment due to his high Pudsay chapel. The 15th century tower status; others were hanged, drawn and may have been inspired by Henry VI, quartered. His widow and son died who was sheltering with the Pudsays at shortly afterwards and his property in the time it was designed. Guidebooks Bowland passed to the King. and leaflets are available in the church, The house has been rebuilt since Sir which is well worth a visit. Stephen lived here and much of the Cross and stocks present building dates from the late 17th century. Note the typical ‘ogee’ mullion Stocks were used in medieval times as windows in the gables which were a a flexible punishment for a variety of common feature of this time. crimes. The prisoner’s legs and ankles were locked into the stocks and local people could hurl missiles as they saw fit. This must have been a frightening experience for the victim. The practice eventually died out in the 19th century. Market crosses were often established so monks from nearby monasteries could preach to farmers on market days. They were also a place where the farmers could pay any debts owed to the monastery. The cross here may be connected to Sawley Abbey. Harrop Methodist church Hammerton Hall John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, often preached in the North during the Leaving the beautiful church of St Peter and St Paul in 1700s. Early Methodist meetings were A circular walk is available, beginning Bolton-by-Bowland, we pass through peaceful moorland held in houses, and meetings in Harrop and ending at Bolton-by-Bowland. and the home of a 16th century rebel, to the picturesque Fold were probably held at a farmhouse For more information ring the village of Slaidburn. called Baygate. The present Methodist Clitheroe Tourist Information Centre chapel at Harrop Fold dates from 1819. on 01200 425566 4 At the end of the fourth field, climb over and stile, then follow upstream on the another stile and cross the field right hand side for a short distance Section 4 diagonally heading north/north-west. Go before heading south-west to Back of through the gate and cross the field Hill Barn. Walk behind the barn and keeping to the left-hand side. Cross the continue uphill along the farm track, Slaidburn to stile and continue to the north/north- then downhill to Beatrix. Here there eastern corner of the field. Cross the used to be an old smithy, a linen stile and head north/north-west past the weaving shed and a public house. 1 The name ‘Slaidburn’ means ‘stream by trees to the bottom of the field, then the sheep pasture’. Start from the War follow the stone wall around to the right. Memorial and take the road heading There is a stile in the middle of this wall. south-west towards Newton. On your Cross this stile and head west/south- left, you will pass the Slaidburn Heritage west, passing the copse around the Centre. Entrance to the Centre is free small reservoir. The formations in the and a village trail is available. From the land marked ancient field boundaries. Centre, continue along the road, passing Slaidburn Brennand’s Endowed School and the Brennand’s Endowed School, Slaidburn. St. Andrew’s Church and Church of Saint Andrew on your left. 1 Note the ‘Lynchet’ formation on the fields 0 Kilometres 1 2 3 Brennand’s Pain Hill School above Slaidburn. 0 Miles 1 2 2 About 500 metres past the church, the road heads uphill. At this point there are Bull Lane (track) 4 a set of gates on your left hand side, To be used R Back of Hill 5 i with O.S. pass through these and follow the stream v Beatrix

e Barn

r 6 Rough Syke Barn 2 Outdoor Dunnow Hall r on your left. Leave the stream and walk D N e u d Leisure n od around the woodland at the foot of the s H Map no. 41.

o r p e hill, passing Dunnow Hall on your right. iv Continue walking south-west alongside R the woodland, passing through a kissing gate and stile at the foot of Great 5 Cross three fields and Newton 3 Beatrix was, in fact, a Dunnow. Looking along the river, you 7 over three stiles, then very prosperous can see that it has been canalised, or head due west towards settlement because it made straight. This was done to provide the road at Back Lane. As is situated on the old employment for out-of- work weavers you cross this field, you can Slaidburn to Lancaster during the cotton famine in the mid-19th Dunsop Bridge see the markings of the Road. Go through the century. Roman road that passed farm buildings. At the end through here. At the road, turn of the buildings, turn right and Where the woodland ends, carry on 3 right, then immediately left and onto the walk south-west across the field, south-west across a couple of fields until footpath. Cross the field, heading west, using the poles as a guide. you see farm buildings on your right-hand footpath cross the stile, head west again to the Cross the stile and go down to the River side. Pass through the gate and carry on on the right, corner of the next field and cross the 7 Dunsop. Take the bridleway to the left through the farm buildings until you meet signposted to Pain Hill, which leads up next stile onto the Bull Lane track. the road at Newton. The village has the hill towards the house. To avoid and follow it down to Dunsop Bridge. many fine 17th century houses and ‘The nuisance to the owners, please walk 6 Turn left along the track and follow it Dunsop Bridge was built in the 19th Parkers Arms’ pub is a late Georgian past the left-hand side of the house, along. Before the gate, follow the wall century and is the nearest village to the house with a Venetian window. At the then turn right and walk around the back around to the right then cross the stile Centre of the British Isles. When the road, turn left and continue until you see of the house to cross the stile. Continue and follow the footpath downhill past bridleway meets the road, turn left and a phone box on the right. Take the along the footpath, heading north. Rough Syke Barn. Cross the stream walk to the car park. Sights of Interest Section 4 10 km (6 miles) Slaidburn Heritage Centre Hammerton, wife of Sir Stephen who was executed for his part in the Pilgrimage of The two storeyed building dates from the Slaidburn Grace. 17th century and was originally a farmhouse, probably incorporating part of Dunnow Hall the house to the right. It has been altered to Dunnow Hall was built in the 19th century and extended many times, with the three by Leonard Wilkinson, a solicitor in storeyed portion on the left the last to be Blackburn, who owned land in Slaidburn. Dunsop Bridge added in the late 19th century. At this Through an alliance by marriage of the time, part of the original farmhouse was Wilkinsons and the King family of used as a stable for the horse of the local Whiteholme, the name of the Squires doctor - the stalls have been retained as became King-Wilkinson. The Slaidburn part of the exhibitions. Estate is still owned by the King-Wilkinson Brennand’s Endowed School family. The school was founded in 1717 to Beatrix educate young boys of the Parish, using Beatrix was originally spelt ‘Battrix’ and is money left in the will of John Brennand. It derived from the Norse words meaning was run by a priest and a deacon from the ‘Bothvar’s cattle farm’. Other nearby church, with a small charge levied Scandinavian placenames in the valley for certain subjects. The school is still in include Brungilmore, Battersby, and use for juniors and infants, with new Smelfthwaite. They indicate that the area classrooms added to the rear of the was widely settled by Norse people who original building. came from Ireland in the 10th century and St Andrew’s Parish Church moved inland along the Ribble and Hodder valleys. St Andrew’s stands on an ancient religious site, with evidence of Christian worship here since at least the 10th century. The A circular walk is available, beginning and tower of the present church dates from ending at Slaidburn. For more information about 1150, but the rest of the building was ring the Clitheroe Tourist Information Centre badly damaged by Scots raiders in the on 01200 425566. early 1300s and most of the church was rebuilt around 1450. St After following the to Newton, we cross a Andrew’s Roman road on our route to the heart of the British Isles. Church is the resting St. Andrew’s place of Parish Church. Lady Section 5 5 km (3 miles) Section 5 Dunsop Bridge to Dunsop Bridge to 1 From the car park, follow the road due east for a short distance, until you see a set of gates on your right. Go Whitewell through these and walk up the drive towards Thorneyholme Hall. ‘Thorneyholm’ means ‘land by the Dunsop Bridge river’ and Thorneyholme was a 1 Thorneyholme ‘vaccary’ or cow farm. Cross the Hall bridge, there is a small metal gate on the right hand side. Go through this gate and Langden follow the line Bridge of the River Hodder, N heading r south/south- dde iver Ho west. R 2 As the river bends Footbridge over the River Hodder. towards the aqueduct, head south/south-west 2 Burholme Hodder To be used across the field, then south/south-east with O.S. Bank across the next, heading for the Outdoor buildings at Burholme. Here the path Leisure Burholme Map no. 41. splits; to the left is the old route to Bridge Newton before today’s road was built (we will not be taking this route). A circular walk Cross the footbridge that leads to the is available, beginning and buildings and walk through them. ending at Follow the track south-west to Higher Whitewell Dunsop Burholme Bridge. 3 Bridge. For more Walk southwards along the road. On 3 information From the centre of the British Isles, we pass a former the right hand side there is a stile ring the vaccary and follow the winding banks of the River leading to a discretionary footpath Clitheroe Hodder to Whitewell. which allows you to enjoy this route Tourist from the safety of a neighbouring field. Whitewell Information Follow this along until it takes you Centre on back onto the road and continue to the 01200 425566.

Inn at Whitewell. 0 Kilometres 1 2 3

0 Miles 1 2 the path through the first gate on your left, walking south-west towards the oak Section 6 tree. Cross the stile and head west/south-west to the next stile. Turn left along the track, passing the ruined Whitewell to Chipping barn at Park Style and the farm at Park Gate. As their names suggest, these were entrances to the Leagram Park 1 From the Inn at Whitewell and the Estate, an area of the Forest of Bowland Church of St. Michael walk westwards reserved for hunting. through the car park and past the house on the left- hand side. Cross the stile 6 At the water, take the path left and head for the River Hodder. Cross and follow the farm track until it the stepping stones and walk uphill ends near Chipping Lawn towards the farm buildings at New Farm. Turn right and walk Laund. A laund was a clearing in the along the surfaced track. forest where deer came to feed; this New Laund Carry on past Birchen Lea made them easier to hunt. 1 Farm, which was a birch The Inn at Whitewell. clearing in the wood, 2 Go through the farm gate and carry on. Whitewell probably to provide cover for Between the buildings on your left there r e animals. Take the footpath on is a gate to a path that leads uphill. Take d To be used with O.S. d o your left, which follows a this path, heading south-west. Pass the 2 Outdoor Leisure Map H

r stream on your right hand side.

next gate and carry on until you cross a no. 41. e

v

i Cross the stream on your left and

stile into a field. Walk along the right R walk across the field, due south. Cross hand side of this field, then take the Fair Oak the stile and head south/south-west track to Fair Oak Farm, which was a Higher 3 Greystoneley across the next field, turning south when vaccary. Park Style 5 you see the waymarkers. Continue Park Gate 3 Follow the signs through Fair Oak Farm Lower southwards, the path leads you to the and cross the stile into the field. Walk Greystoneley pond at Chipping. Turn left along the west/south-west across the field, cross N 4 tarmac and walk into the village of the road and take the footpath opposite, 6 Chipping. heading towards Higher Greystoneley Knot Barn Farm. Cross the stile in the western Birchen Lea Knot Hill corner of the field and walk through the Lime Kiln farm. Follow the track, crossing the ford. 4 Continue to follow the track through the buildings of Lower Greystoneley Farm and on to Knot Barn. Shortly after the cattle grid, take the footpath to the right; 19th Century engraving of the note the Lime Kiln built into Knot Hill on Church of Park Keeper’s Lodge at your left. Whitewell in the Forest of Chipping St. Bartholomew Bowland. 5 Follow the footpath to the right, around the reservoir, and take the footpath north/north-west. Follow the track all the way to Lickhurst Farm. Pass the first building on your right hand side and take 0 Kilometres 1 2 3 0 Miles 1 2 Sights of Interest Section 6 8 km (5 miles) The Forest of Bowland at Whitewell. The datestone over the porch marks the enlargement of the Today, the word ‘forest’ denotes a Whitewell church in 1817. heavily wooded ground, but in medieval times it was used to describe an Lime Kilns otherwise barren area set aside as to Pockets and knolls of limestone were hunting ground for the nobility. The de deposited in this area during the Lacy family, owners of Clitheroe Castle, carboniferous period (around 350 million Chipping declared the Forest of Bowland a private years ago), when sea levels were high chase in the 12th century. In the 13th enough to cover much of Britain. Many century, they divided it into enclosed kilns were built in this area to exploit this ‘vaccaries’ for raising cattle and ‘parks’ abundance of limestone. for deer, thus gaining more value from the land. The term ‘laund’ described an Inside the kiln, workers created area of land where trees had been alternating layers of limestone and coal cleared to attract deer. In 1311 the or charcoal, then set fire to the coal. As Forest passed to the , the fire burned, the limestone turned thence to the Crown in 1399. It into quick lime and dropped to the remained under the control of the nobles bottom of the kiln, where it could be until 1507, when Henry VII abolished the extracted. The lime served two forest laws relating to the Forest of purposes; it could either be applied to Bowland, making it available for farmland to improve soil quality or used development. in building work for mortar, plasterwork and lime wash. The Inn at Whitewell The Inn at Whitewell was formerly a manor house built in around 1400 by Walter Urswyck, who was then the Chief Forester of Bowland Forest. It was used kiln pot as a courthouse for the Swainmote Court, which met three times each year coal to manage the Crown’s forest. By 1652, the manor house was occupied by the limestone Keeper of the Fallow Deer. The present support access arch Inn was built in 1836 in a 17th century bars style. The forecourt was once the district market place. draw hole The Church of St Michael

Walter Urswyck built a chapel here at Cut-away drawing of a lime kiln. the same time as the manor house. St The walk takes us from the former hunting grounds of Michael’s Chapel at Clitheroe Castle A circular walk is available, beginning and Whitewell to the old market town of Chipping, passing a was destroyed during the Reformation ending at Whitewell. For more information disused lime kiln and ancient forest boundaries. and its dedication and revenue were ring the Clitheroe Tourist Information Centre subsequently transferred to the chapel on 01200 425566. until you reach the gate at Gibbon and take the path heading roughly south Bridge. Carry on through the buildings down to the River Hodder. Cross the Section of the Gibbon Bridge Hotel until you stepping stones near the buildings here 7 reach the road. and turn left along the riverbank, following the farm road which takes you Take the footpath directly opposite (you 4 past Stakes Farm. ‘Stakes’ gets its Chipping to do not need to cross the bridge) and name from the time when the owners walk on until you cross a concrete used to stake out fishing nets across the 1 Start from the main gate of the Church On the fourth field, follow the left hand footbridge over a stream. river to catch salmon. of St Bartholomew in Chipping, facing boundary most of the way, then head From here, head towards the Sun Inn. Turn left and then for the gate in the middle of uphill due north, 6 At the farm, take the track on the left turn right at Windy Street. Walk down the hedge. Go through cross the stile and pass the trees on the left hand side. the street, passing John Brabin’s old the gate and towards and walk Where the track stops, carry on ahead school, former almshouses and the Pale Farm. north-east roughly church of St Mary. Walk along this road Middle Lees towards towards Town End until it curves away to the right with an old footbridge on the Lower left. Lees Lees Wardsley 6 7 Limes Wood 5 Stakes Bashall Eaves Church of 8 Chipping St. Bartholomew Greenlands Farm Buck Thorn R iver Hodder 9 1 Paper Mill Aigden Farm Wood

Gibbon 4 2 Bridge 0 Kilometres 1 2 3 To be 0 Miles 1 2 used with north-east Pale Farm O.S. Outdoor across the first Leisure Map 3 no. 41. N field, keep to the left hand side of the Greenlands Farm. Turn left next field and take the track that runs to immediately before the last the left hand side of the next field. Turn farm building and go between Cross the right for a short distance along the 2 the buildings, then turn right surfaced track from Lower Lees Farm, footbridge and take Plaque above John Brabin’s school. towards the farm road. Take the footpath then left up the track towards the farm the farm road due north, then buildings. Walk around the buildings diagonally across the field 3 Go through the gate at Pale Farm. follow the farm track heading north-east on the right (due south/south-west). Between the buildings on your right, and head north-east towards Middle across two fields until you meet the main Lees, keeping to the left hand side of Follow along the left hand field boundary there is a stile leading to a footpath. road. for the next three fields, passing Take this path, following the trees along the field. Lees is mentioned in the Startifants and the sewage works on the left-hand boundary of the long field. 5 Turn left at the road and follow it as it Domesday Book and was also a your right. As you walk the path, you Go through the pen on the far side into curves around the River Hodder. Just vaccary. At the end of the field, take the will notice a large ditch with a line of the next field. Keep to the left-hand side before you reach Wardsley Farm there diverted footpath past the garden and trees on top. This is the old boundary of the next four fields, heading north- is a white gate and a footbridge on your onto the main road. belonging to Leagram Deer Park. east and crossing a couple of streams right hand side. Cross the footbridge (Route description continues over page) 7 Turn to your left - there is a road on the Section 7 11 km (7 miles) right hand side, signposted to Clitheroe. Sights of Interest Walk along this road until it bends Church of St Bartholomew sharply to the left. Take the track on the right, heading roughly south-east. A Saxon stone basin, found here in Chipping This follows the course of the old 1873, suggests this site has been used Roman Road connecting forts at as a place of worship since the 10th Ribchester and Elslack. Follow the century. The interior has a 13th century to track until you see a footpath marked piscina (for washing communion on the left hand side. Walk straight vessels). The font, carved with Bashall Eaves across the field, cross the ditch and decorated shields, was donated by a stile and walk west across the next local family in 1520. Most of the field, heading slightly to the left of the exterior is early 16th century, apart from trees in front of you. Cross the stile, the tower, which was built in the mid pass the trees and walk east/south-east 15th century and heavily restored in the across the next field, cross the stile and 19th century. John Wesley was head roughly east across the next field. attacked by a local mob in the aisle of Head east/ south-east across the next the church in 1753. field, towards Limes Wood, so named because of the Lime Kilns in the area.

8 Follow the footpath through the wood, cross the bridge and footbridge and take the footpath that heads southeast. Follow the footpath east through Paper Mill Wood and continue eastwards, heading slightly to the right of the farm at Buck Thorn, which refers to the deer in Bashall Park. Follow the path along the right hand boundary of the field in front of the farm, cross the stile and carry on through the trees to Aigden farm. Church of St. Bartholomew. 9 Follow the track straight on through the farm and take the track heading north- east. Half way across the field, turn John Brabin’s Old School east towards the stile. Walk east to the corner of the next field, crossing over John Brabin (or Brabbin) was a local the farm track. Head north-east across cloth merchant and dyer whose will left the next field, cross into the next field provision for his trustees to build and and follow the path on the left-hand maintain this school for poor children. side to the end of the field. Cross the Land was purchased in 1684 and the next field heading east, go between the first schoolmaster was appointed the farm buildings at the end and take the same year. The latin phrase inscribed Follow the footsteps of Roman soldiers on this route, farm track down to the road at Bashall upon the plaque above the door which takes you from the 17th century buildings of Eaves. Bashall means ‘Back Ridge’ or translates as ‘teach, learn or cut your Chipping to the village of Bashall Eaves. ‘Back Shelf’. Turn right at the road and stick’. The initials are those of the walk to the Red Pump Inn. school’s first trustees. ahead. Walk to the top right hand 6 Cross the bridge and follow the road corner of this field and into the next field. ahead, keeping to the left hand side, Section 8 Keep to the left until you pass a group of until you reach the leisure centre. Now trees, then head for the stile at the top turn left, following the Ribble Way along right hand corner. Cross the stile (be the river. As you approach the houses Bashall Eaves to Clitheroe careful, this leads directly onto the road) at Low Moor, move away from the river and turn left down the road. At the and go through the estate, parallel to the junction, turn left again and walk to river. This was the site of the former 1 From the ‘Red Pump’ inn at Bashall your left and walk to the wooden-paved Edisford Bridge, passing the pub on Low Moor Cotton Mill. Eaves, take the road northwards. About bridge. Follow the footpath, passing the left hand side. St Nicholas’ Leper 100 metres past the post office, take Bashall Wood on your right, up to Follow the footpath past the Hospital was near this site in the13th 7 the footpath on the right hand Bashall Hall. smallholdings and towards the weir. century. side, crossing the stile. Just before you reach the weir, take the 4 Keep on the path Keeping to the right, path that heads uphill. Keep to the left that passes to cross two fields, go hand side of the first and second fields, the left of the through the gate, then cross the middle of the next two hall. At then follow the fields, heading towards the Castle and the field road to the right. houses. At the houses, take the path gate Go down the road that goes straight ahead, turn right and 1 on a short distance; return to Clitheroe Castle. 2 Saddle Bridge as it turns sharply to the right you Bashall Eaves Rugglesmere can see a footpath on the Cow Hey 3 To be used with O.S. left. Take this B6243 Rear view of Bashall Hall. Outdoor Leisure Map no. 41. footpath, keeping Photograph from Lancashire Library. to the right hand side of the field, pass N through the wooden kissing gate and turn right. Bashall Hall Weir 2 Follow the path, passing through the farm gate near Rugglesmere (please 4 keep to the public footpath on the left your hand side as you proceed up the farm left, Low Moor drive). Just before you reach the farm take Cheetall buildings, the path veers off to the left, the Cotton Mill Clitheroe towards Saddle Bridge, which was footpath rebuilt in the 1930s. Cross the diagonally B6 5 Hospital of St. Nicholas 7 Clitheroe Castle footbridge, turn right and follow the across the field, 243 footpath, keeping to the right hand side heading uphill to the road. 6 of the field. As the trees end, there is a Cross the road and take the Edisford Bridge stile on your right, which leads through path straight ahead and downhill, to the next field. crossing the fields and the stream. 1 The path heads uphill towards the farm 7 Cross this stile and walk across the field, 6 3 at Cheetall. keeping to the left hand side, until you A

get to the farm at Cow Hey. Go through 5 Keep to the right of the farm buildings, 0 Kilometres 1 2 3 the farm gate, pass the buildings on cross the drive and walk into the field 0 Miles 1 2 1 Sights of Interest Section 8 7 km (4 /2 miles) Bashall Hall Hospital of St Nicholas In 1464, Bashall Hall was the home of the The Hospital was built in the 13th century Bashall Eaves Talbot family, who, like the Pudsays of to treat leprosy, which was thought to Bolton Hall, were involved in the Wars of have been brought to England by soldiers the Roses. The Talbots discovered that returning from the Crusades. The fact to the Lancastrian King Henry VI was hiding that a leper hospital was built in Edisford, in the nearby hall of Waddington and despite the relatively sparse population in Clitheroe betrayed him to the Yorkist King Edward the area, suggests that this disease must IV. Edward paid the Talbots well for their have spread quickly amongst local treachery, but legend says that Henry people, although other skin disorders may cursed them that the Talbot family would have been confused with the disease. last for only 9 generations, with one wise Low Moor Cotton Mill heir and one foolish one alternating until the line died out. In fact, the male line The first Edisford Mill was built in 1782 for disappeared after 5 generations. spinning cotton; at that time the weavers worked from home. In 1826, the owners, Edisford Bridge Horsfall and Garnett, were the first in the Lancashire was frequently subjected to area to install power looms, which could attacks by the Scottish Kings, and weave more quickly. Fearing for their Clitheroe was no exception. Scottish livelihoods, a mob of weavers collected to troops attacked this area in 1138 and destroy the new looms, but were turned defeated a Norman army by the bridge. It back by troops from . The owners was said the river below ran red with subsequently cut a moat around the mill in Norman blood. In 1339, the King gave 1829 so that it could be defended from permission for users to be charged a toll riots. At its peak, the mill employed 750 for two years so the money raised could people, and its estate included 200 be used to repair the bridge after flood houses for the operators, a church and damage. The bridge was rebuilt in the reading room provided for the betterment 18th century but the original medieval ribs of the workers. The mill was eventually can be seen under the central arch. closed in 1928 and demolished at the end of the 1960s. 19th Century engraving of Edisford Bridge.

Enjoy a spectacular view of Pendle Hill during your walk, which passes a traitor’s home, the site of a medieval battle and a reminder of Lancashire’s

A circular walk is available, beginning and ending at Bashall Eaves. industrial heritage. For more information ring the Clitheroe Tourist Information Centre on 01200 425566.