Beautiful Lancashire

[Mathos]

Winter hill in the background, all the transmissions for normal television, radio etc are broadcast via these masts.

I understand the Police and Ambulance Service as well as Manchester Airport make use of the masts up here.

I knew a guy who worked on the maintenance up here for a few years. He got fed up with it though. Said it were bloody cold up there in winter especially.

I bet it was too.


There is quite a bit of History attached to Winter hill and I have put a few leads on below taken from The Internet.
{From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia}


All very interesting.

Winter Hill is a hill in Lancashire, England. It is located on Rivington Moor between Chorley and Bolton and is 456 metres (1,496 ft) high. Part of the West Pennine Moors, it is a popular walking area, and has been the setting for UFO sightings, mining activity, aeroplane disasters and murders.
Its prominent position made it the ideal site for the Winter Hill TV Mast, transmitting to a large part of North West England. There also a number of other telecommunicationmasts and towers around the summit and side of the hill for mobile phones, PMR users and emergency services.
Paths to the summit lead from Belmont, Horwich, Rivington and Bolton. The hill is a distinctive feature on the skyline for most of south Lancashire, being the highest point west of the Pennines in Lancashire, and further due to its unusual shape.
In clear weather conditions, it offers views over Greater Manchester, including Manchester city centre, the Civic Centre in Oldham, Salford, Werneth Low and nearby Bolton. It also offers views of Blackpool Tower, Snaefell in the Isle of Man, the Cumbrian mountains, Snowdonia in North Wales, Liverpool, Southport, the Irish Sea, Peak District, the Pennines and much of the North West of England.
The nearby Rivington area is home to the gardens of the late Lord Leverhulme. These included a large bungalow now demolished and Chinese gardens which still remain today.
Contents





[hide]

• <LI class=toclevel-1>1 History
  • <LI class=toclevel-2>1.1 Plane crashes <LI class=toclevel-2>1.2 Scotsman's Stump <LI class=toclevel-2>1.3 Two Lads
  • 1.4 The song by A Certain Ratio
  <LI class=toclevel-1>2 External links <LI class=toclevel-1>3 Further reading
• 4 References

[edit] History

There is a Bronze Age round cairn dating from 1600–1400 BC on the hill.[1] A flint arrow head has also been found in the area.[citation needed]

[edit] Plane crashes

On February 27, 1958, a Silver CityBristol 170 Freighter (G-AICS) travelling from the Isle of Man to Manchester crashed into Winter Hill several hundred yards away from the transmitter. Thirty-five people died and seven were injured.[2]. The weather that night was so severe that none of the engineers working in the ITA transmitting station were aware of the crash.[3] Several feet of snow hampered rescue efforts, and a snow cat vehicle had to be diverted from the A6 to cut a path for emergency vehicles though the track had been cleared by people using spades by the time it arrived.
There have been several other aircraft crashes around Winter Hill. A two seater aircraft crashed there in the 1920s. During World War II an American Fairchild UC-61 Forwarder (41-54885) of 5th Air Depot Group crashed on 7 August1942. In the following year, on 16 November1943, the crew of a Wellington Bomber (Z8799) from 28 Operational Training Unit, flying from Blackpool to Manchester, were killed when it crashed just to the North of Winter Hill, on Hurst Hill, Anglezarke Moor. The following month, 24 December1943, an Airspeed Oxford (BM837) of 410 Squadron crashed on the hill. Other crashes have included several Spitfires, Hurricanes and a Gloster Meteor which crashed in 1953. In September 1965 a RAFDe Havilland Chipmunk flew into the hill in cloud, without serious injury to the crew. The last crash occurred in October 1968 when a Cessna 172 force-landed between Winter Hill and Rivington Pike.

[edit] Scotsman's Stump

On 9 November1838 George Henderson, a Scottish merchant walking over the hill from Bolton to Blackburn, was murdered by gunshot. James Whittle, a 22-year-old collier from Belmont, was brought to court and found guilty of murder. However, he was found not guilty at a second trial in Lancaster. There is a metal post with plaque on the hill in memory of the victim, replacing an earlier wooden post erected in 1912. This is known as Scotsman's Stump.

[edit] Two Lads

It is also believed that on the 'Two Lads' a hill opposite Winter Hill two young men walking from Chorley to Rochdale went mysteriously missing from the site during a winter storm in the early 20th century. Two memorial cairns are built on the site in the memory of the men. Another theory is that this was the burial site of a powerful Saxon king with a burial mound and bodies found at the site.

[edit] The song by A Certain Ratio

The song "Winter Hill", appearing on A Certain Ratio's 1981 album "To Each...", consists of excessive drumming, occasional whistling and a low pitched drone which alternates between two notes a whole tone apart for the entire length of the song. A visit to Winter Hill in 1988 found a piece of electronic equipment on the top which made a high-pitched drone which also alternated between two notes a whole tone apart. Since A Certain Ratio came from the nearby city of Manchester, the sound of the electrical equipment on the hill was presumably the inspiration for the song.



The Winter Hill Aeroplane Crash





WINTER HILL: The plane's wrecked fuselage (Picture: Chorley Guardian)
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ARRANGEMENTS have been made to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Winter Hill Disaster – the Isle of Man's worst aircraft disaster.
Events will take place on Wednesday, February 27 th 2008– exactly 50 years to the day since the plane crash at Winter Hill in Lancashire which claimed the lives of 35 Manx residents

[Mathos]

I placed some photographs on the thread of a new housing development in my local area. The Buckshaw Village Development.

They have built a new public house there as well. It rather surprised me.

Pubs are being closed down left right and centre throughout the land.

I would have thought there were ample in the vicinty not doing so well which might have improved from the additional residents moving into the village.





It's no skin off my nose, but apart from a bit of a flurry when they first opened the doors. It never seems to be busy at all.



I was talking to a local, who as a rule knows all there is to know about everything going on in the area, he told me the pub had cost in excess of Two Million Pounds.

That's a lot of money in any language for a development which might turn out to be a 'White Elephant' at the end of the day.

I understand lunchtime trade from the commercial and corporate developments on the development is 'steady' but will that be steady enough to recover the cost of the massive investment.

Time will no doubt tell.



It covers a large area, big place with plenty of room in side no doubt.

It certainly looks nice, I'll give it a try in the next week or two and let you know.

[Mathos]

Amazing when you don't go to a certain area for a while and then revisit. Changes at times can be quite drastic.

This house and 'skip manufacturing' business was a petrol station last time I visited Delph and Denshaw.






The big house hasn't changed at all from what I remember it looking like.

The little brown timber and glass building was the kiosk. The garages, did vehicle repair/servicing outlets, I seem to remember.

This is the first time I ever came across a business that built skips.

I was going to ask how much they cost, but there was nobody about.



It's a bleak area is Delph, nice in its own way but not really hospitable in winter.

They usually get some really heavy snow falls up here in the winter months too.




I was once told that Emmerdale was filmed on location around these parts. Probably was, again, it's something I can try and find out about.




There are some really spectacular views around here though.



House prices around this part of the County are on average half the price of what you would expect to pay in the hills around 'White Coppice'

White Coppice itself being a totally different kettle of fish.

I know a friend of mine bid a quarter of a million for a terraced cottage in White Coppice about five years back and he was pipped.

It will be interesting to see how property prices vary across the County during this coming period of gloom and depression, otherwise known as recession.

I bet these cattle don't give a monkey's either way.

[Mathos]

This is a nice little pub at Pleasington, {Near Blackburn} I took these photographs a few weeks back and it's possible I might have put one or two of them up on one of my Thailand threads when I was meandering or being senile or whatever.

Take no notice if you have seen them before, I'm getting better, slowly.





These are really picturesque cottages, having a superb location elevated and overlooking beautiful countryside.




I'm not too sure on the prices of these cottages.

I'm a little out of touch of late with prices and I don't want to guess.

If I find out I'll let you know though.

They won't be cheap, that is something I can guarantee.


It was probably April when I took these photographs and that has surprised me, but judging by the lack of leaves on the trees, I rather think it was.

Time is passing far too quickly.





Beautiful Village is Pleasington though, really nice.

[Mathos]

Excuse me if you have seen any of these Pleasington photographs on one of my Thai threads.

I think I did put some on about April or so. However, they are much better placed on here and encourage the Lancashire beauty.



If I get the opportunity to go this way during the summer, I'll take some which may be more 'summery' so to speak. As it is, they make nice photographs, it's a nice place Pleasington.


It definitely was April when I took these as well.

The trees are only just coming into bud. Bet there's a heck of a difference now.



There are some brilliant examples of 'dry-stone' walls in Lancashire as well. I was talking to a young lad down at the club a night or two back and he is going to college and a special learning and tutoring course on building and repairing these walls.

That should ensure him a guaranteed future employment I would think.



I seem to remember there was a storm brewing when I took these photographs.



You would think they would paint that ugly viaduct green or better still get it camouflaged with trees or ivy, it's like an ugly boil on a panoramic scene.

One for the local council...



Nice looking pubs in the locality, these small villages seem to keep going with pub life.

I think they represent part of the local community spirit. Some of them, like this one for instance has coffee morning for the ladies!



I think I will be driving out to Fleetwood on Sunday, if it's a nice day especially. If so I'll take my camera and get some nice coastal photographs, it's really nice that way out.

I'll try and get some photographs of the Ferry Crossing to Knott end, maybe even drive down to Shard Bridge and cross the Morecambe Bay there.

It'll mean buying Flobo a meal at the restaurant by the bridge.

Time will tell.

[Mathos]

I took some photographs out around Clitheroe, a week or two back and put them on one of the Thai threads whilst I was having a senile moment or whatever.

I thought it might be prudent to bring them over here.

Nice lake for fishing in the area, it was quite busy, tents and all sorts of apparatus to make the fisherman's time a real pleasure, so far as I could see.



It's close to The Trough of Bowland.

There must have been six or seven tents like this one set up around the lake, one or two were much larger. I don't know if they sleep and fish overnight, but I could see a camp bed in one of them and a guy was cooking up bacon and egg with a small stove fuelled with Bottled gas.




The River Ribble and the Hodder merge in this area, so I'm not exactly 100% certain which one this is, it's probably the Ribble, but I might be wrong.





The ducks were fair popping along too.





In any event it looked really nice.




The aqueduct carries piped water from the Lake district to Manchester, if my knowledge on this statement is correct.

I was wondering too, would it be referred to as an aqueduct as the water is piped, or is that only an applicable termination when the water is free flowing like the canals which cross valleys via aqueducts?

You know, I wouldn't want to be calling it an aqueduct if it's a viaduct.




Peaceful looking isn't it.




Last one that.

I have a lot of travelling to do in the area for another week or so, I'll maybe get into Skipton and take some snaps of the market and cattle auctions in the area can be of interest.

Leave it with me, but no promises.


* Flobo just told me it is only an acqueduct if the water is free-flowing like a canal.

I thought i might have got a green for this post too.

Now I've knackered it up.

[Mathos]

This is good.





Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is generally regarded as one of Thomas Telford's greatest civil engineering achievements. Its construction was revolutionary at the time for, apart from its dramatic size and setting, Telford, rejecting all precedents, designed a cast iron trough 3.25 meters wide and 307 meters long laid along the top of 18 stone piers to carry the waterway 37 meters above the River Dee. The first stone was laid in July 1795 and construction took ten years at a total cost of £47,018.


The Pontcysllte Aqueduct is one of the main tourist attractions within Wrexham County Borough. It can be accessed from either end - at Trefor (signed off the A539) or at Froncysyllte (signed off the A5(T)). Car parking is available at both ends of the Aqueduct. It is an amazing experience to walk across the Aqueduct as it towers 37 meters above the River Dee and to take in the panoramic views of the whole area. However, you need a head for heights! The international importance of the Aqueduct is reflected in its inclusion on the tentative list of future nominations for UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.


For the adventurous, it is possible to hire a canal boat both at Chirk Marina (Tel: 01691 774558) or at Trefor Basin (Tel:Anglo Welsh on 01978 821749 or Ribbon Plate on 01978 823215) and cross the Aqueduct by boat, alternatively there are canal boat trips available for those who want to sit and take it all in.





Info and photograph from Wrexham on Line Tour.

[Mathos]

A little more additional information here, I was wondering about the walk across, I'd like to do that.

Walk one way and back in a boat the other.

Will probably try it with Flobo trhis summer, it's only about 70 miles from our home.


From Waterscape.com



Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

North Wales

Everyone should experience a trip over Thomas Telford and William Jessop's awe-inspiring aqueduct, by boat or on foot. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument; a candidate for World Heritage Status; and a Grade I Listed structure.
The aqueduct, taking the Llangollen Canal over the beautiful River Dee valley, is 1000 feet long and 125 feet high. Such distances had never before been conquered, until Telford's audacious decision to build it by laying an iron water-carrying trough on stone piers. To this day, the joints are effectively sealed using a mixture of flannel and lead dipped in liquid sugar.
For those crossing in a narrowboat, the effect is that of being suspended in mid-air. The thin iron trough, which extends to only about a foot above the water level is unprotected on one side - so looking out of one side of the boat, there is literally nothing there. Children should stay inside the craft during the crossing. Two-hour trips by canal (01978 860702) over the aqueduct are available at Llangollen Wharf, just four miles away. For more details, call the local Tourist Information Centre on 01978 860828.
You can also walk across the aqueduct, and the towpath is mercifully protected by a set of railings.
Staying near Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
You can, of course, hire a boat from one of the numerous hire-bases on the Llangollen Canal to cruise over Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Find boats available for hire through Waterscape.com.


Aqueduct facts and figures

• The cast iron trough which holds the canal water is 11ft wide, 5ft 3ins deep and 1,007ft long at its highest point.
• There are 19 arches, each with a 45ft span and piers 116ft high.
• To keep the aqueduct as light as possible, the slender masonry piers are partly hollow and taper at their summit.
• The mortar was made of oxen blood, lime and water.
• The aqueduct holds 1.5 million litres of water and takes two hours to drain.
• And for the non-Welsh speaker, Pontcysyllte is pronounced 'pont-kersulty' - you may need to practise the famous Welsh 'll' sound!

[Mathos]

Thanks to Propogator too for some interesting contributions to these original postings


Propagator
Old Git



Last Online: Today 03:56 AM
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Location: Runcorn, Cheshire, UK formerly Epsom Surrey.
Posts: 2,118

Don't know where you are Mathos but there are many aquaducts around as can be seen from this site

Canal Aqueducts

If you are up around the Cheshire area dont forget to try the worlds first and Englands only boat lift - The Anderton Boat lift near Northwich.



And Mtd:-



Marmite the Dog
Too drunk to fuck



Last Online: Yesterday 05:18 PM
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Aqueduct

1.Civil Engineering. a.a conduit or artificial channel for conducting water from a distance, usually by means of gravity. b.a bridge-like structure that carries a water conduit or canal across a valley or over a river.

2.Anatomy. a canal or passage through which liquids pass.


Viaduct

a bridge for carrying a road, railway, etc., over a valley or the like, consisting of a number of short spans.__________________

[Mathos]

Mathos
Chao Phraya



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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog (Mathos' trip from Chiang Mai to Laos)
Aqueduct

1.Civil Engineering. a.a conduit or artificial channel for conducting water from a distance, usually by means of gravity. b.a bridge-like structure that carries a water conduit or canal across a valley or over a river.

2.Anatomy. a canal or passage through which liquids pass.


Viaduct

a bridge for carrying a road, railway, etc., over a valley or the like, consisting of a number of short spans.


And Mathos Replied:-


Yep I'm with you Marmite, I was trying to assess the action of it's conveyance in relationship to it's noun though.

It's carrying a pipe, the pipe could be carrying gas, oil, ice cream, water, pea soup, or an army of dwarves ready to invade Manchester which would probably mean it cannot be an aqueduct.


So, in order for it to be a definite aqueduct we would have to be able to see the water flowing like a canal.

Am I right on this?

[Mathos]

A really nice picturesque photograph.



Cattle, sheep, a meadow and oak trees.

Lancashire:-

Greenfinch.




Queuing for petrol:-





And an English Country Garden.

[wanderering walter]

HI MATHOS
SOME WANDERING WALTER jOKES (to be listened to in a Preston accent)
I was dancing one night at the farmers ball dance at preston public hall when suddenly chairs and tables started flying, my girlfriend said arn,t farmers balls rough, I said its the trousers they wear!!

I took her outside and placed my person in her lilywhite (put my dick in her hand) she said you beast I have only one thing to say to you, take me home, When I got her home I said I have only one thing to say to you, LET GO!!,

On the way back I met a mate who was well pissed, he said help me Walter, I said what you need is to drink milk from a goats teet, so we got to this farm and I said right suck straight from that Goat, so he did , christ he said that,s a bit ripe!! I said try another teet, he said it,s only got ONE!!!
We saw the farmer wrestling this sheep in the field, I said are you shearing, no he said , go find your own!!
I said can you use me on the land, he said piss off we have fertilizer for that!
So off I went to Preston Royal Hospital, my wife was delivering her first baby, when the midwife came out of the delivery room I said is the baby like me, built like a brick chimley?? she said you want to get your chimney swept, it,s a BLACK-UN!!

Poor Walter Horam his timing was brilliant , one of the best stand ups in the buisness, but he suffered from stage fright!! really, and often would not turn up at a gig, he used to work at leyland motors but as he said they could never prove it!!
hope this brings back fond memories