Tailor’s Cross Tailor’s Slipper Hill Boat House Boat Hill Slipper Ford at “Shirt Neck Harry” Neck “Shirt at Ford

our boundary.” our

the Parish of Foulridge. Cursed be he who moveth moveth who he be Cursed Foulridge. of Parish the

the following:- “We declare this is the boundary of of boundary the is this declare “We following:- the

appropriate for anyone walking this route to recite recite to route this walking anyone for appropriate

or tampered with them. It might therefore be be therefore might It them. with tampered or

and would wreak havoc on anyone who removed removed who anyone on havoc wreak would and

evil spirits resided around the boundary markers markers boundary the around resided spirits evil

the centuries. For example it was believed that that believed was it example For centuries. the

Pagan superstitions have also survived through through survived also have superstitions Pagan

before Ascension Day, the fifth week after Easter. Easter. after week fifth the Day, Ascension before

the church calendar to coincide with the three days days three the with coincide to calendar church the

place at Rogantide (from the Latin rogare) - fixed in in fixed - rogare) Latin the (from Rogantide at place

typically occurred every 7 or 10 years and took took and years 10 or 7 every occurred typically

blessing the crops and animals. The ceremony ceremony The animals. and crops the blessing

parish lands for the ensuing harvest, and and harvest, ensuing the for lands parish

asking for the divine blessing upon the the upon blessing divine the for asking

which involved the accompanying clergy clergy accompanying the involved which

Beating the Bounds had a religious side side religious a had Bounds the Beating

should survive as long as possible. as long as survive should

to ensure that witnesses to the boundaries boundaries the to witnesses that ensure to

boundaries. The object of taking boys was was boys taking of object The boundaries.

over hedges ‘to help them remember’ the the remember’ them help ‘to hedges over

stones, pushed into streams and thrown thrown and streams into pushed stones,

their heads bumped on the boundary boundary the on bumped heads their

They were turned upside down and had had and down upside turned were They

to imprint the boundary mark on their minds. minds. their on mark boundary the imprint to

Sometimes the boys suffered other indignities indignities other suffered boys the Sometimes

even young boys) with a stick, or willow wand. wand. willow or stick, a with boys) young even

pausing to ritually ‘beat’ particular landmarks (or (or landmarks particular ‘beat’ ritually to pausing

local inhabitants walking around the parish boundary, boundary, parish the around walking inhabitants local

Traditionally the custom of ‘Beating the Bounds’ involved involved Bounds’ the ‘Beating of custom the Traditionally

a lawsuit between the tenants of Foulridge and . and Foulridge of tenants the between lawsuit a

of Foulridge, a Map of Whitemoor dated 1580/81, was drawn up in in up drawn was 1580/81, dated Whitemoor of Map a Foulridge, of

Boundary disputes were common. In fact the earliest surviving map map surviving earliest the fact In common. were disputes Boundary

moved any of the marker stones or laid claim to your land. your to claim laid or stones marker the of any moved

perambulation or walk of the boundaries to check that no one had had one no that check to boundaries the of walk or perambulation

passed on by word of mouth. It became usual to make a formal formal a make to usual became It mouth. of word by on passed

2,000 years. Maps were rare and the position of boundaries was was boundaries of position the and rare were Maps years. 2,000

The custom has taken place in Britain in a variety of forms for for forms of variety a in Britain in place taken has custom The

BEATING THE BOUNDS THE BEATING

POINTS OF INTEREST INTEREST OF POINTS OF TRADITION ANCIENT THE

FoulridgeFoulridge BeatingBeating TheThe BoundsBounds Distance: 8 miles / 12 kms Time: 4 hours Grade: Moderate. Level and steep walking.

This circular route covers a variety of terrain with some uphill walking, and you are likely to encounter muddy stretches. Weather conditions can change suddenly so be prepared for all eventualities.

• Wear stout, waterproof footwear • Take waterproof clothing • Carry a compass and a map • Allow plenty of time • Keep dogs on a lead across farmland and under close control at all times • It is advisable to bring with you a drink and refreshments.

Car parking in the village is limited. Please park with consideration.

There are numerous pubs and eating establishments in the centre of the village close to the start and end point of this walk. These include three village pubs a chip shop and café.

There are a number of attractions in and around the village, including canal boat trips from the wharf. If you would like more information about things to see and do in Pendle, as well as places to stay in the area, please contact Pendle’s Tourist Information Centres on 01282 661701 or 666704 or email: [email protected].

Foulridge Parish Council would like to thank John Belbin and John Clayton for their advice and assistance in planning the route, Councillor Rob Oldland for his photography, and Fay Oldland for research.

This leaflet has been produced jointly by Pendle Borough Council and Foulridge Parish Council. A walk which takes in a variety of landscapes from the gentle setting of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal reservoirs to remote upland with spectacular

Graphic Design by The Communications Team, Pendle Borough Council ijb2456 08/07 views of the surrounding area. Distance 8 miles ROUTE The main road outside Foulridge Church of St Michael & All Angels

7 Cross the main road taking the footpath through Great Hague Farm, which takes you to the right, through the farmyard. 6 Cross the road into the sunken lane opposite. At the Turn left at the end of the yard and go through the large gate bear right across the fi eld and walk towards the gate. Follow the enclosed track downhill, crossing the old line of trees. dismantled railway line. Go through the new iron gate and 8 Go over the canal bridge, and up the lane to the diagonally over the fi eld, bearing right, to cross a concealed Cross the lane over the stiles, past Oxenards and right, heading for County Brook Mill. Bearing right footbridge. Continue across the fi eld, bearing left, to reach Mill down to the bridge over Ghyll. Turn left through two gates and once at the mill bear left Hill Bridge on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. through a gate and follow the stream, keeping above leaving the mill complex via the road. When the it on the high bank. Go though the gated stile and Co un continue to the road. Turn right along the roadway tarmac road bends to the left, bear right down to ty B Cross the road and enter the signposted fi eld on the the stream. Rejoin the lane and take the fi rst stile on ro past the small group of buildings taking the footpath 5 o k to the left down to the main New Road. right over a cattle grid and through a gate. Continue the left. Proceed straight across fi elds, bearing right. M

i through the fi eld towards Throstle Nest. At Throstle Cross a gate and three stiles to the right of Hullit Hall. l l ing box oot Follow the hedge on the righthand side to the stile. sh Nest go through the gate and into the garden, ’s rr Go over the stile and turn left and proceed through a keeping the house on the right. Continue up the C y driveway, bearing left. three stiles. Turn right to a stile beside a metal gate, d d then right again, following the fi eld around the edge e T to a gate beside the cattle grid. At Hey Fold turn left onto the road to Mount Pleasant Chapel. 4 Enter the farmyard area at Moss Houses. Look for one 8 a signposted footpath straight ahead between the St ng di buildings and bear right onto the lane. On the left is a n ta stone stile, opposite Little Moss Farm. Go over stile S and continue straight on uphill through two further 9 Just before the chapel turn left through a stile. Cross 7 fi elds to reach Noyna Road, aiming just left of the the fi eld and follow the track for 300m to the junction 9 farmhouse. Cross over the road over the gap in the with the road at Hill Top. Turn right onto the road wall/stile, climbing uphill and along the left side of and, after 50m, take the stile on the left going over the fi eld to the two fi ve-bar gates at the top. Take the 6 the fi eld, bearing right and through a series of two right-hand gate through the farmyard and bear right gates around Long Hill Farm. until you reach a fl ight of small steps immediately 10 below the driveway of Noyna End House. 10 Follow the path on the right hand side of the wall and bearing left to a beautiful enclosed track downhill 5 [NB This section can be very boggy and hard-going Tom between the hollies, past the back of Ball House. C in wet weather. In these conditions an alternative ro s route is via the roadway from Moss Houses to join s up with Noyna Road. This route is actually closer to the boundary.] 11 11 At the bottom of the track cross the tarmac lane to a Start stile to the right of Sand Hall. Follow the path along 1 the eastern bank of Slipper Hill Reservoir. At the end 12 3 On reaching Lower Clough, cross the private drive of the reservoir descend the path and cross the stile. and follow the path, keeping the garden wall to the 4 Continue through the fi eld and turn left into Slipper left, and still keeping left, over a stile and cross the 2 Hill Lane. [Note the boundary mark immediately A stone bridge over Moss Houses Beck. On the far opposite the stile.] side take the path to the right which runs beside a stream. Cross the wooden footbridge and continue through three fi elds diagonally (over two stiles and e n o 3 then through two walls), making for Moss Houses l t Bri A At this point there is an optional short detour to e S dg n y e on your right. n r o the picturesque entrance to the famous ‘Mile’ u a v T d e r n e M Tunnel. Cross over the bridge, turn right and follow l i u o o

M s

the path beside the stream through the stile/gate B 2 Carry on around the front of the school, and follow

s e

to reach the western end of the Mile Tunnel. The h H T the signed footpath, behind a hedge at the vehicle

o u

Leggers’ Cabin is on the right. Return to pick up s entrance to the school car park, running into a e

the main route back at the bridge. s

ginnel behind Lakeview Children’s Nursery. Upon B

e c reaching a high wall, turn left to the stile in the middle

k of the fi eld. Bear right and cross the duckboard with Foulridge Upper Reservoir on the right hand side. 11 cont Take the second opening on the left through a signed At Broach Flat turn right into a fi eld, following the wooden gate. This combined footpath/cycleway 1212 Cross the road and turn right into the sailing club car hedge on the right hand side until a stile is reached comes out onto Reedymoor Lane close to the Ford park and bear left up past the clubhouse. Follow the 1 Cross the road immediately in front of the church at the bottom. Turn right into the lane and cross the at Ball Bridge. path around the northern bank of Foulridge Lower and turn hard right up the signposted footpath. This reservoir, taking the fi rst stile on the left to pick up Reservoir until you reach the main road back at the runs past some houses and leads to the village the footpath running along the southern bank. Historic Parish Boundary church. This marks the end of the walk. primary school, marked as ‘Convent’ on the map.

Route of the walk

O.S. Licence Number: 100018628.