Beautiful Lancashire

[Mathos]

I have been out and about quite a bit today, I took a few photographs and was going to put them on one of my Thai Travel Threads, but I thought perhaps it would be more beneficial to commence a new thread and put the photographs on here from time to time.

I'm a proud Lancashire lad or Lancastrian if you want to be 'posh' with the terminology.

These are a few photographs taken in my own very close area today.

I hope you like them.


This is a view taken from less than a mile from my house. It looks out towards Blackburn from the South Ribble Area.





Less than a quarter of a mile from home, spectacular country Lane.




Great to motor down until somebody comes the opposite way.

Like this.




There are several 'Farm Shops' in the locality, Flobo likes to shop here, the meat is as good as it gets. There are several other local products from Honey to home made jams and general preserves, lemon cheese, lemon curd, marmalades, pickled onions and what not. There are seasonal fruits, vegetables and some great cheeses.

Pity about this photograph, I took it into the sun.




{Bloody idiot Mathos}


I'll replace that one in a few days or so.

[Mathos]

There are some really outstanding homes in the area as well.





The one above is very picturesque.


This one below is a listed building which has just been totally renovated in accordance with the strictest of rules that apply to the same.

A nice looking property.




Nice price too, I understand, (but not able to confirm exactly) that the property is on the market at around the £750,000..00. I'll check it out in due course.

[bkkmadness]

^ That actually seems quite cheap. Needs some more windows though.

[Mathos]

Roach Bridge at Samlesbury is a nice little spot on the map too.






Looks like the river has been picking up an odd tree on it's way down.



More peaceful on the other side of the bridge.

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by bkkmadness

^ That actually seems quite cheap. Needs some more windows though.

I think the windows are controlled under the listing bkkmadness, not sure on the rules, but I seem to think you cannot change sizes in listed buildings, let alone put in more than what it was originally built with.

[Mathos]

I had to drive out towards Clitheroe as well, but I was running out of time so I was unable to go into town. I wanted to take some pictures of The Castle.

Not to worry, I will be there again this week.


This one is from the front of BAE Samlesbury.

It has it's own aerodrome and is a really wonderful place. The employment benefits for the local area are brilliant as well.






Another aeroplane to feast your eyes on here.




The security is pretty tight, It has to be, but they didn't object to me taking the photographs of the planes. I rather think they were taking some of me whilst I was walking about.

[Mathos]

Hoghton Tower

The village of Hoghton and The Castle is some five mile from my home.

I took the photograph below from the bottom of the drive this morinig. The 'Castle' or Tower as it is correctly known will be opened up to the public from 1st July, I think it remains open for three months.

It also houses various other events throughout the year.

{The background below is taken from the internet}

Over the centuries this ancient fortified manor house welcomed and entertained many distinguished guests and visitors including King James I, William III, George V and Queen Mary, the Duke of Edinburgh just to name but a few.

The oral tradition that William Shakespeare spent some time with the family (1580 - 81) is now gathering momentum: more and more documents seem to confirm it and the house is becoming the centre of attention for academics worldwide.

Hoghton Tower is the ancestral home of the de Hoghton family since the Norman conquest.

A firm commitment to the preservation of this part of England's heritage has led to the creation, about twenty years ago, of the Hoghton Tower Preservation Trust.

This is a charitable trust committed entirely to the safe keeping of the house. The proceeds from events ranging from guided tours, concerts, recitals, opera, ballet, dinners, conferences, lectures, antique fairs and outdoor events all go to the upkeep of the house.

The information below will explain the connection between a "Sir Loin" Steak
the Tower and King James 1.

Information is provided by Britain express, Stately Homes in England.

Hoghton Tower

The Hoghton family has been at Houghton since the 12th century, but the dramatic manor house that you can see today is primarily a product of the mid-Tudor period.

The house is built in an elongated figure-8, encompassing two inner courtyards entered through a fiercely castellated gatehouse.


The house was completed by Thomas Hoghton in 1565, but Thomas, a Catholic, stayed in it only 4 years before fleeing to the Low Countries, where he died. Thomas' nephew Richard enjoyed rather more politically correct views, and earned the favour of James I, who visited Hoghton in 1617.


Sir Richard, who was hoping to convince the king to relieve him of money-losing alum mines, laid out the red carpet for James' visit - literally. Red carpeting was laid for the entire length of the half mile avenue leading to the house.


The king must have been impressed by the lavish welcome, and the feasting which followed, for he did buy the mines.

An amusing but unsubstantiated tale has it that at the feast in the banqueting hall given in James' honour the king was so moved by the excellent loin of beef he was served that he took his sword and knighted it "Sir Loin", giving us the term 'sirloin'.


Richard's good fortune did not last long; only a few years later he was imprisoned in Fleet Prison for debt.


Richard's son, Gilbert, fought for Charles I in the Civil War, though Gilbert's own son (named Richard, like his grandfather), chose the Roundhead cause, and Hoghton Tower was besieged by Parliamentary troops in 1643. Eventually the defenders capitulated, but when the Roundheads entered the house the powder magazine in the tower between the two courtyards exploded with terrifying force, killing over 100 Parliamentary men. The tower was never rebuilt.


Following in Richard Hoghton's footsteps, suceeding generations of Houghtons were fervent Presbyterian Dissenters, and the banqueting hall was often used as a Dissenting chapel (quite a change from the gaiety of entertaining the royal court).

Later generations of Hoghtons took a strong interest in parish affairs, and moved away from Hoghton Tower to be closer to the political action. Without them the house fell into disuse, and when Charles Dickens visited it in 1854 he found it in a depressing state of disrepair. The mood of the place did prompt Dickens to write a story "George Silverman's Explanation", in which the house features prominently.


Hoghton Tower was not restored until 1870, after a century of neglect. Despite the loss of many family portraits and collectibles in a fire, the work was finished in 1901, and visitors today can see several attractive rooms in a guided tour that lasts about 40 minutes. Highlights include excellent Queen Anne panelling, the galleried banqueting hall, good period furniture, and a doll house collection.

You may also delve into a Tudor well house.


The snap of The Gatehouse is one I have taken from The Internet, once the Towers are open to the public I will obtain some additional photographs.

[Mathos]

This is a really nice pub in The Village of Hoghton. The Boars head, it has just been totally refurbished, it's just a mile and a half or so up the road to the north from the Castle.

It has always served a nice pint and dished up a bloody good meal.




The building to the front of the photograph with the Landrover and pickup opposite is actually a workshop and yard. The owner does up mainly ex ministry (War Department) vehicles and retails them. The vehicles are always superbly presented and he has been operating for years.

Must have a good reputation.



Typical shot of local houses again in the vicinity, most are farm houses and or barns which have been purchased and renovated to exceptionally good standards.





An additional country road snap, I love them, but you have to drive carefully and be extremely cautious.





Superb how the trees have grown over into a natural arch.

Mustn't let the double decker buses use these roads.

[reinvented]

beautiful
reminds me of when i was a lad

apparently Tolkien took his idea for the shire from the ribble valley countryside

[EmperorTud]

Originally Posted by reinvented

apparently Tolkien took his idea for the shire from the ribble valley countryside

And the Hobbits from the Welsh.

[bkkmadness]

When you see the beauty of England and the little houses and peaceful country lanes.. well a fantastic place really. If I had the cash I'd love to buy a little house in the countryside maybe in Devon somewhere.

[NickA]

Great, nearly as nice as Cheshire

[unclesiberia]

Hello Mathos, sorry mate dont agree about the Boars Head and a good pint ! i prefer to travel another mile or so and have a good pint of Bodds , when i am home that is, singha does me fine and a damn site cheaper ! they did serve a good pint in the Cavendish at one time.
My part of England to, dont show to many pictures, these southerners dont know what they are missing. about the aircraft in your pictures both built by English Electric the elevated one is the "Lightening" and the other is the "Canberra".
The Ribble Valley is my garden of England. Lancashire folk salt of the earth.
Seems we are never far from our roots on teakdoor !
Nice shot of the Darwen at Roach Bridge, some good fishing to be had now on the Darwen more so in the lower reaches where it runs in to the Ribble at Walton-le-Dale.
I could say that my home is "Higher Walton on Darwen"and iam guessing your not to far away either.

[astasinim]

Nice pics Mathos. Reminds very much of my area. Jus tover thill.

[sabang]

Nice pics indeed. There is much beauty in England- my pet areas are the Wye Valley in Worcestershire, the Cotswolds, and around Avebury.

[Mathos]

Thanks for the input lads, I'll get some decent pics going through the summer especially..

Originally Posted by unclesiberia

Hello Mathos, sorry mate dont agree about the Boars Head and a good pint ! i prefer to travel another mile or so and have a good pint of Bodds , when i am home that is, singha does me fine and a damn site cheaper ! they did serve a good pint in the Cavendish at one time.
My part of England to, dont show to many pictures, these southerners dont know what they are missing. about the aircraft in your pictures both built by English Electric the elevated one is the "Lightening" and the other is the "Canberra".
The Ribble Valley is my garden of England. Lancashire folk salt of the earth.
Seems we are never far from our roots on teakdoor !
Nice shot of the Darwen at Roach Bridge, some good fishing to be had now on the Darwen more so in the lower reaches where it runs in to the Ribble at Walton-le-Dale.
I could say that my home is "Higher Walton on Darwen"and iam guessing your not to far away either.

Well!

I'll go to the foot of our stairs.

Thanks for the input unclesiberia, especially naming the two planes.

You wouldn't believe the photograph I had ready to put on tonight.



I only took the photograph yesterday morning;

The Cavendish at Brindle. Cracking little pub.

It was anyhow, probably still is, but I've not been in for a few years.

"Higher Walton on Darwen "too, just around the corner "Leyland on Lostock"

Small world, but a nice one.

Cheers mate, nice to talk to you.


Another nice one here, folk are astounded when you show them the sea on a clear day.



Bit on the dark side last night outside the 'Sea View at Whittle,' but you could see the ripples on the water.





Southport straight ahead, Blackpool to the right.

[Mathos]

Going past The Cavendish and along Sandy Lane towards Whittle Le Woods, there is a nice property being refurbished/rebuilt in stone.

It was the wrong time of day for me to get a good photograph from across the road, too busy and I didn't want to cause any traffic snarl ups. Took a quick snap though.




Opposite "Hoghton Towers" is quite an old Church and some old buildings in the foreground as well.




Barn conversions really are the 'in thing' with regards to local and especially private development in the locality.


There is a tremendous amount of new development in the area. I can't help but feel that somebody let the cat out of the bag and let the 'Southern Boy's' in on the action.

Certainly are a great number moving into the north.

They like it too. Especially the younger first time buyer brigade.




There's an enormous 'Village' being built north of Chorley and south of Preston.

Four or five thousand homes I understand. A rare old mixture too. Flats like those above.

Senior Citizens private apartments and individual houses. Ranging from Pods to Ultra spectacular half million pound developments.

The lay out is good too and a large business development park is incorporated into the same, so jobs, (plenty of them) will be right on the doorstep.

This one looks quite nice, I thought.

[Mathos]

Sticking with the new Village development (Buckshaw Village is the name given by the way). The site was originally Royal Ordnance Factory, they are certainly spending a fortune on the development in general.

There are beautiful brooks running through the development several listed buildings which have been locked and apparently sealed up for about eighty years or so are being totally refurbished.

Back to the one I showed a photograph of yesterday. A different photograph here and in the background you can see the 'Scandinavian Type Houses' which are being built on the development. (I think that is what they were calling them anyhow.)





Ah! Better still a more detailed photograph of the same.






Another type of flat or apartment building. Really attractive as well.

I have taken all of these photographs from one road, if I get the opportunity to spend a little time in the Village, I will take some additional photographs. It really has a great deal to offer.




The girls are prettier up north too lads!