Reelers Trail Walk No.2

7.5 miles (easy, with a couple of short steep ascents) WALK2 REELERS TRAIL 7.5 miles (easy, with a

The Reelers Trail forms part of the long distance Witton Weavers Way. The Reelers Trail forms part of the long distance Witton Weavers Way. This walk covers a beautiful rural landscape where historical sites of industry, farming and religion combine to produce a fascinating trail. You are strongly advised to use these walk details in conjunction with OS Explorer map No. 287, . Stout shoes or boots plus waterproofs are recommended.

START: Library, Cherry Tree Lane, off Preston Old Road (A674) PUBLIC TRANSPORT: 1/2 mile from Cherry Tree railway station. A frequent bus service operates along Preston Old Road PARKING: Cherry Tree Lane Alternative parking and start point (see OS map for exact location): , A675 Road 8–9 9 - 10 From Cherry Tree library take Turn right under the bridge Proceed along the track up the the path up to the Leeds and along the towpath for 11/2 mile. field towards Stanworth Farm canal. Whilst on the towpath you will and the M65. As you approach cross the former to the motorway climb the ladder railway line built stile over the stone wall on your 1866-9. There was a station at left and continue down the field but the line fully to the wood. At the bottom of closed in 1968. the field turn right under the motorway and follow the wood You will also walk underneath boundary through two fields. At Livesey Branch Road, a short the corner of the second field turnpike road opening in 1810, climb the stile into Stanworth linking Ewood to Feniscowles. Wood. This woodland is part As you approach a mill tower of the largest area of semi- for the Sun Paper Mill on the ancient woodland in south right go under the steel bridge, and is botanically up the ramp and over the very rich. Drop down into the Damsel Flies by the Leeds & Liverpool bridge. wood along the track that Canal There were two paper mills appears on the left. here; the Sun and the Star built When you approach a clump of The canal (127 miles) is the during the 1870’s. The Star holly bushes, take an indistinct longest single canal in Britain was the first local firm to have track that doubles back down and took from 1770 to 1816 to electricity. Both mills turned to the right. (The holly bushes complete. It was originally rags into paper and had have grown over the original planned to pass through tramways to the canal to track). As you approach the Whalley, following the Rivers delivery the raw materials. River take an Calder and Ribble. The indistinct path that drops down economic draw however of the to the right. On reaching the rapidly expanding cotton river cross by the wooden towns of East Lancashire was footbridge. too great an opportunity for the merchants and builders to miss. a couple of short steep ascents)

Blackurn 10 - 11 Town Centre

A stile can be observed on the Cherry Tree crest of the hill to the right. Railway Station Climb the field towards it. Once over the stile cross the Cherry Tree bridge directly ahead over the 8 START disused railway. Bradley Farm can be seen ahead.

ROAD Feniscowles NCH Y BRA ESE 15 LIV AD 62 RO 60 Preston OLD A ESTON 4 PR SUN PAPER A67 MILL

L L 9 LEEDS & IVER NA BRO POOL CA KEN ST O NE ROAD

STANWORTH 14 FARM

Higher Whitehalgh

10 P BRADLEY FARM

A 6 7 13 5 CHAPELS B OL FARM T O N R O A D

Go directly left of the large barn Abbey through the gate, Village turn right into the HARE & HIGHER farmyard and proceed HOUNDS HILL FARM down the long track PUBLIC HOUSE seen ahead. The track 11 12 goes through three fields. At the end of the third field do not go through the gate to Red Lea Farm, but turn right along the fence. Belmont Excellent watering hole The Royal Arms This the lower track to the left

ke ictoria Terrace, the row of ictoria Terrace, ockholes was a stronghold of ockholes was a stronghold Ta and then turn left down the leftnarrow bridleway to the of the row of houses known as Cheetham Buildings. oldest bridleway is one of the It is an highways in this district. dating ancient packhorse road of part back to Saxon times and the old roadway from Rossendale to Preston. At the crossroads at the bottom of the hill notice on the right hand corner the old parish pound or pinfold, where stray animals were impounded until reclaimed. On the opposite corner is an old graveyard. group from In 1803 a breakaway the Congregational Chapel built the Bethesda Chapel on this site. the In 1899 the stones from used to decaying chapel were build a new Sunday school, it Hall. now serves as the Village V cottages on the opposite right- hand corner (once called handloom Bethesda Row), were weavers’ cottages Continue ahead down the lane, to the bearing right and keeping made road, following it round Chapel. past the United Reformed T Nonconformity in the time of Charles II and this chapel was known as the Mother of Nonconformity as one of the in first established in the area 1662. As you pass the WITTON WEAVERS WITTON WAY ou are now entering the ockholes is a popular starting ollow the track until you reach ollow the track ollow the track for about 500 ollow the track for about arm, seen ahead. Go through urn left and cross the the steps on the leftthe steps on and cross or the ford. by footbridge F Lower Roddlesworth Reservoir. T The path swings embankment. enter a right through a gate to wood. 12 - 13 F Just yards, climbing gradually. before a fork turn left up a path, into through a kissing gate and a field. Climb the field, heading side of towards the right hand the 17th century Higher Hill F the stone stile, turn left and through another stile into the farm lane. farm, take note of the garderobe on the outside of this grade II listed building. The small room jutting out on the first floor was once the height of fashion in hygienic toilets! Y picturesque stone-built village large with several of Tockholes, the farmhouses dating from Manor The 17th century. House, on the site of the now derelict Hollinshead hall is Trail. visited on the Tackler’s T is the point for walks - there Centre Visitor Roddlesworth with next to the Royal Arms plenty of parking. This is the start of the Roddlesworth nature trail and many of the begin Tower walks to from this point. After leaving Higher Hill Farm continue up the lane, passing the old weavers' cottages and turning left at the junction. The route takes you along Rake The route takes As you Brook Reservoir. approach the house go down 11 - 12 Climb a stile and then a second Climb a stile left.stile on your Continue wood on your alongside the down a grassy track right. Drop farm. Continue just before the to cross the down the steps right . Turn when you reach the track, the climbing it as it winds up track to hill. Continue along the and the car park of the Hare House and turn Hounds Public immediately left the track along by the culvert. Here you are skirting the Village. southern end of Abbey have The name is thought to with arisen from a connection According to . was a route to tradition there a secret the Abbey from passage at Hall through the Roddlesworth area, (where a cross may still be seen on one of the farm The buildings) to Whalley. village was built at the time of to the industrial revolution serve a large cotton mill. The mill, now closed has been converted into small industrial units. Roddlesworth Woods L T ockholes’ Memorial ychgate 13 – 14 USEFUL INFORMATION As you approach several large modern houses follow the Blackburn Tourist Information 'stepping stones' in the grass Centre (01254) 53277 or verge on your right and climb www.tourism.blackburnworld.com the stile. Follow the left-hand Travel Centre (01254) 681120 fence line to the corner of the Continue along the road past field, cross the ditch on a small Hare & Hounds, Abbey Village the memorial Lych Gate, wooden bridge and climb the (01254) 830334 erected in 1920 to honour stile. Continue down the edge of Roddlesworth Information Centre villagers who gave their lives in the field over another stile and (01254) 704502 the First World War. Walk past halfway down the next field Lodge Farm (a splendid climb a stile between a gate example of a farmhouse with and a twisted old oak tree. 14 – 15 combined shippon) then onto Follow the hedge line down to the renovated Chapels Barn the wood. At the bottom of this Turn right onto the lane and Over the wall past the barn can field climb the stile into the under the M65. After about 400 be seen Chapels Farm, another wood and cross the footbridge yards turn second right towards listed 17th century farmhouse. over Sheep Bridge Brook. In Lower Whitehalgh Farmhouse. Do A few yards further along on the this area there is evidence that not go into the farmyard but veer left is the Church of St Stephen, a clash took place here during left through the gate following the with a Lych Gate erected in the Civil War, with the remains track along the wall. Leave the honour of a former Mayor of of 40 horses and various relics track when it veers to the right, Blackburn. having been unearthed. and head for a stile in the wall to the right of the farmhouse seen On emerging from the wood go ahead. Continue along the track straight ahead through the field ahead. On a clear day Black keeping the wall on your left. Combe in can be seen Climb the ladder stile alongside to your left. Cross Brokenstone the motorway and follow the Road, climb the stile and path until it emerges onto continue ahead, keeping to the Stockclough Lane near Higher fence on your left passing Horden Whitehalgh Farm. Farm. Climb the stile and continue down the track to Livesey Branch Road. 15 – 8 The Toches Stone 684 ad Turn left along Livesey Branch On the top of the main path to Road, then right down Pinewood. the church on the left is the Stay with the road as it curves Toches Stone, supposedly a round. Then just past Burford remnant of the old Parish Close go through the railings Preaching Cross dating from down the narrow lane to the 684, from which the parish right. Cross the canal returning takes it name. Behind the to the library. church is the spindle-shaped grave of John Osbaldeston, the inventor of the Weft Fork. Continue walking up Chapels Lane and turn left onto the unmade road, which runs along the top side of the church.

Memorial to John Osbaldeston Good tucker! Well deserved at the end of the day THE COUNTRY CODE

• Enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work. • Guard against all risk of fire. • Fasten all gates. • Keep dogs under close control. • Keep to paths across farmland. • Avoid damage to fences, hedges and walls. • Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone. • Protect wildlife, plants and trees. • Leave no litter. • Go carefully on country roads. • Help to keep all water clean. • Make no unnecessary noise.

NOTES FOR WALKERS Essential Kit Blackburn Central Railway Station The OS Explorer Map No. 287 (Enquiries). Tel: 08457 484950. (West Pennine Moors) provides excellent aid and information on For information on local attractions, events, all areas covered in this guide. places of interest and accommodation, (Ordnance Survey tel: 08456 please contact Blackburn Tourist 050505 / www.ordsvy.gov.uk) Information Centre. Tel: 01254 53277. Email: [email protected] Further Information If you are travelling to the start of the walk Alternatively visit the Blackburn with using public transport, please contact Darwen website at: Blackburn Travel and Local Information www.tourism.blackburnworld.com Centre. Tel: 01254 681120. Countryside Services Office. Tel: 01254 691239 for countryside information and events.

Please note that every effort has been taken to ensure details are correct at the time of printing. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor any consequence arising from use of the information.

Reprinted March 2004 by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Marketing & Tourism Development and Countryside Services. Photos: Mike Tattersall, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council