Beautiful Lancashire

[penelope]

I grew up on the Haslingden Moors - and went to Darwen Grammar School as was.

I have lived in Cheshire for most of our married life though, although we go back to Blackburn regularly. In-laws live all around there.

I love the Yorkshire Dales though....and I have some good pics if I can figure out how to upload them. I'll try.

DD - said

'I seem to look at these houses now and think they are too small and don't have enough windows, but generally in the UK it is too cold to have full length windows for a room or a floor.

DD - I know we are behind the times - but some people do have double-glazing and central heating and big windows, in England. Not me though, my house is Georgian with Victorian Bay Windows - no double glazing - drafts are healthy!!!

[penelope]

[penelope]

[penelope]

OK that's enough from me!

[ChiangMai noon]

nice pictures penelope.

where are they taken.

don't worry, we have some members that still can't upload photos after 43 years.

[penelope]

They are pictures of Malham in north Yorkshire, England. There is a lot of 'geography' there Chiang.


The rock formation is caused by a fault (land slip) and very beautiful it is too.

Is that avatar really you? Where are you from?

Don't say Blackburn - or I will be embarrassed!!! :-)

[madjbs]

First one looks like Gordale Scar

[penelope]

That it certainly is Mad!!! That's a point to you!!

[Mathos]

Thanks for the input Penelope. Nice photographs as well.

Appreciated.


I visited this particular spot with Flobo several weeks since. However, as we were within striking distance of the same and considering neither Joe or Ann had ever been to WastWater, it would have been a sin not to have shown them the location.




I'm glad we went it is a wonderful place in it's own rugged bleakness.




There's only an odd residence or two in the location, the land is farmed here and there as you can see from the above photograph taken from the north end of the Water.

The photograph below exposes a fair bit of tidal type movement on the water as well.

Choppy even.





I think I mentioned previously as well it is the deepest water in Britain.

This link is very informative and has a really good selection of photographs as well.

Wastwater Lake, Cumbria
Wastwater, England's deepest lake is perhaps the most awe-inspiring of all the lakes. Surrounded by mountains, Red Pike, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Scafell ...
www.visitcumbria.com/wc/wastwtr.htm - 7k - Cached - Similar pages

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by Propagator

Last there probably about ten year ago. About 20 year ago was up there quite often as me brother was Head Chef in the Wastwater Hotel at the head of Wastwater Lake. Must try to dig out and scan the old pics that I have.

I do have some photographs of the Wastwater Hotel Propogator, but I have not been able to locate the same at present.

I found some really nice information regarding the same and the area on The Net and have placed them below, hope you enjoy the memory cells being refreshed.

It's a very unique and beautiful location.

Wasdale Head
Map - Google
Map - Ordnance Survey - NY 187086




The Wasdale Head Hotel and slopes of Yewbarrow.
Photo by Tony Richards.
Wasdale Head is a small HAMLET in the Lake District National Park. It is located at the "head" of the valley of Wasdale, and is surrounded by some of England's highest mountains: Scafell Pike, Sca Fell, Great Gable, Kirk Fell and Pillar.
The Wasdale Head Inn, originally a farmhouse was enlarged by Ritson in 1856 to house overnight guests. There were other alterations over the last century, but the Inn still retains many original features, including a collection of climbing memorabilia.
For many centuries it has been a starting point for walks and climbing trips into the mountains. Today, it is the recognised starting point for the ascent of Scafell Pike as part of the National Three Peaks Challenge.
Behind the Wasdale Head Inn is a stone arched packhorse bridge. Once both smuggling and trade routes led from the Inn over the Black Sail, Sty Head and Burnmoor passes. Now walkers take advantage of the trails.




The ancient packhorse bridge behind the Wasdale Head Hotel.




And with Great Gable behind. Photo by Ann Bowker.





The Scafells and the head of Wastwater from Bell Rib
Photo by Ann Bowker.





Wasdale Head from part way up Stirrup Crag and the little St Olaf's Church
in the Yew Trees, (upper centre right). Photo by Ann Bowker
The ancient field patterns at Wasdale Head, and St Olaf's Church, which has a reputation of being the smallest church in England (in the yew trees, centre right).
The hamlet claims to be home of the highest mountain (Scafell Pike), deepest lake (Wastwater), smallest church and biggest liar in England. The latter claim is based on a former landlord of the Wasdale Head Inn, who proclaimed himself as such.





Wastwater and Wasdale Head from the viewpoint cairn south of Kirk Fell summit
Photo by Ann Bowker.





Wasdale Head from Great Gable. Photo by Ann Bowker.









The photograph below is one taken by Flobo, last week.

[Mathos]

Some of the places were quite amazing it's possible to see how much care is taken here to protect the banking from water erosion with the stone walls, which have been well maintained.



These 'packsaddle' type bridges are magnificent.



Sorry this is slightly blurred.

Amazing view though.




I think if a caveman popped his head up around here, it wouldn't surprise you at all.

Slightly different angle and view from one placed on here earlier. This one is perhaps the better of the two photographs.





We finished the day off by the coast and this scene was superb in so many ways

Hope it doesn't make my friend Happyman too homesick.

Can't deny the beauty of the same though.




The 'fisherman or angler' was the chap on the left. He had two rods baited up with big fat juicy worms.

He was enjoying good conversation with the chap on the right.





It looked a great way to be spending an evening.

[Mathos]

I still have quite a bit more to place up on the thread with regards to Wrynose, Hardknott and Wastwater.

I'll get back to them though.

There will obviously be bits and pieces from other trips to place on here, they can be held over for a really bad weather day, when we are not able to make a day out.

It was almost like that this morning.

Early start for me, I was up about 6.45 am and after the shower etc about 7.40 am had to drive to Chorley, then Blackburn and back home for about 9am. The weather was horrendous.




It was bouncing off the patio, and the weather reports/forecast for the day, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Cheshire were abysmal. The Peak District looked most inviting, but that was going to suffer until the afternoon, it then stood a chance of clearing up somewhat.

It was a lousy day weather wise though.



The roads, motorways especially were ridiculous. Traffic ground to a virtual halt on the M61. I detoured via the M62 towards Denshaw and it probably might have been a good idea to spend some time around the villages of Saddleworth and then move about.

Hindsight!

I thought it would be a simple task to make a heading for Castleton in the Dales, it wasn't.

We got there eventually, but it was a stormy, heavy rainy day right up to reaching Castleton. We were delayed, there were a few bumps along the way. Nothing serious so far as we could see, but never the less. Messy.

Stop the waffling Mathos and get some photographs up.

Yep.. OK.

I thought maybe an asteroid might have done this a few million years ago or whatever.




Well something made it look like that.

Perhaps it's simply a case of a piece of the land having been worked as a quarry for the stone.

I reckon Happyman will be able to let me/us know what happened here.

This drew my attention as well.



It certainly didn't look natural.


We stopped the car up here at Mam Tor, it was blowing a very, strong gale force wind and that is no exaggeration.



I think it was quite a shock to us, just how strong the wind was, the rain wasn't so bad at the time we stopped, but the drop in temperature was surprising, it was very cold indeed.

Some very interesting links here:-


National Trust | High Peak Estate | Mam Tor

Mam Tor stands guard at the Western end of the Hope Valley, its dramatic ... The footpath along the ridge from Mam Tor to Losehill is one of the most ...
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w.../w.../w-east_midlands-places-peakdistrict-map-mamtor.htm - 41k - Cached - Similar pages


Hope Valley | Peak District Towns and Villages | Staffordshire ...
Mam Tor, the 'Shivering Mountain' heads the valley. ... To the north of the valley a walk from Mam Tor to Losehill along the ridge dividing the Hope and ...
Hope Valley | Peak District Towns and Villages | Staffordshire | Derbyshire | England | UK - 33k - Cached - Similar pages
More results from www.cressbrook.co.uk »


Very interesting.

This was nice too.



A Vauxhall, about a 1924 model I think.

[Mathos]

The Hope Valley is a very striking place, Winnats Pass and the numerous caves in the area are exceptionally interesting and beautiful places indeed.



I have placed a couple of links here for this evening.

Hopefully I can get more time tomorrow night to do more entries on here.

Right now, I'm knackered.

Winnats Pass, Castleton, is a collapsed limestone cavern
Winnats Pass, Castleton, Derbyshire, is a long collapsed limestone cave system which now forms a steep sided and craggy valley.
Peak District Attractions and Places to Visitwinnats.php - 28k - Cached - Similar pages


A couple of interesting additions here too.


Winnats PassThis impressive limestone gorge is said to be haunted by a young couple called Clara and Henry who were murdered whilst eloping.

The pair were ambushed one night in 1758, robbed and killed, their bodies were found years later buried near a barn. Their remains were re-interred in Castleton churchyard.

It is said that years later a miner who was on his death bed confessed that he and four of his friends had committed the crime. He suggested that all of the perpetrators had met a sticky end.

AND

Mam Tor is an Iron Age hill fort standing at over 520 metres above sea level. The fort has defences which cover an area of 1100 metres, consisting of a single rubble bank which is re-enforced in places with dry stone walling. The bank has a ditch on the outside and would probably have been protected by a wooded palisade when occupied.

There are two entrances to the site both approached by narrow passageways, one in the South and One in the North. Bronze Age round houses have been discovered within the hill fort.

The tor stands as a focal point in the landscape and can be clearly seen from miles around. Map ref: SK 128 837Directions: The tor is unmissable from Castleton being the highest hill top in the area.

A little more very good information links with regards to the locations we visited today.


The Devil's Arse - Peak Cavern : Set in the middle of the ...The Devils Arse, or Peak Cavern. Set in the middle of the picturesque Peak District, step into the unique world of Peak Cavern.
The Devil's Arse - Peak Cavern : Set in the middle of the picturesque village of Castleton in Derbyshire - 5k - Cached - Similar pages



Nice photograph I took of the Castle at Castleton. Interesting place and I'll put some more info on in the next few days.



We were out for ten hours plus today, that's not counting the time I spent on the road between 7.40 am and 9 am. Road conditions, weather, driving and small incidents give you a battering at times.



Sleep is required.

[Happyman]

Originally Posted by Mathos

I



I thought maybe an asteroid might have done this a few million years ago or whatever.




Well something made it look like that.

Perhaps it's simply a case of a piece of the land having been worked as a quarry for the stone.



This drew my attention as well.



It certainly didn't look natural.


We stopped the car up here at Mam Tor, it was blowing a very, strong gale force wind and that is no exaggeration.











A Vauxhall, about a 1924 model I think.

The first Pic looks to me like an ancient ( talking about millions of years here) sinkhole.
The rocks around it look like some sort of igneous ( hard - granite or summat) rock that when the earth was being formed pushed its way through either limestone or some other softer rock.
This was eroded or dissolved over the millinea and left the hard rock where you see it today.

The second pic- not sure !
Are you referring to the hill in the background or the small ravine by the wall ?

Mam Tor

You really missed out here
On top of Mam Tor is one of the best Iron age hill forts in the north of England!!!!
Also one of the best Hang-gliding sites up that way as well !!!

Last pic !
You do all these trips in that I presume?
Can see it now - you with a flat hat on backwards and goggles and your lady in a broad brimmed hat with a dust veil !!

Back to your Wastwater pics.
It is not tidal !
The "beaches" that you see are caused by the water level dropping during the non raining times when the atomic power station at Seascale draws enormous amounts of water from the lake for cooling purposes!!!

Still on laptop so cant give absolute definitive info on things though - have to rely on memory !!!

A friend has a spare external hard drive and hopes to download my database for me so I can plug it into this Micky Mouse thing !!!


cheers

[Mathos]

Happyman wrote:-

The first Pic looks to me like an ancient ( talking about millions of years here) sinkhole.
The rocks around it look like some sort of igneous ( hard - granite or summat) rock that when the earth was being formed pushed its way through either limestone or some other softer rock.
This was eroded or dissolved over the millinea and left the hard rock where you see it today.

The second pic- not sure !
Are you referring to the hill in the background or the small ravine by the wall ?

Mam Tor

You really missed out here
On top of Mam Tor is one of the best Iron age hill forts in the north of England!!!!
Also one of the best Hang-gliding sites up that way as well !!!

Last pic !
You do all these trips in that I presume?
Can see it now - you with a flat hat on backwards and goggles and your lady in a broad brimmed hat with a dust veil !!

Back to your Wastwater pics.
It is not tidal !
The "beaches" that you see are caused by the water level dropping during the non raining times when the atomic power station at Seascale draws enormous amounts of water from the lake for cooling purposes!!!

Still on laptop so cant give absolute definitive info on things though - have to rely on memory !!!

A friend has a spare external hard drive and hopes to download my database for me so I can plug it into this Micky Mouse thing !!!


cheers

That's enlightening information regarding the sink hole. Comparing the same to an asteroid impact was somewhat variable. I'll get it right one of these days though.

Re: The second picture, I was looking at it as a whole, both the hill in the background and the ravine by the wall. I have some additional photographs from this area, which show a large area of land which in general appears to have been a hive of activity at some time in the past. I'll post them over the weekend hopefully.


Mam Tor, I have read up a little on the same, extremely interesting. Maybe we should have delved a little more whilst we were up there. However, it was really cold and extremely windy, we only had the most basic of water proof jackets.

We will have to take more appropriate clothing from now on. It's been very cold today in certain locations. I went to Lamack this afternoon to pick up one of my grandsons who was playing football there. It's just to the north of Blackburn. A very exposed spot. It was bitter cold, the rain was quite heavy at times.

I got there in time to watch most of the second half, I enjoyed what I saw of the game, but it was no fun getting saturated on the side line. Flobo, has just turned the Central Heating on as well. Winter is on it's way, no doubt about that.

When did you see us in the Vintage Vauxhall?

I never knew that water was taken from Wastwater for the cooling process at the atomic power station either.

Thanks for that information as well, it's very interesting.


I hope you manage to get your data base downloaded, but you have excellent memory cells.

Appreciated.

Cheers.

[Mathos]

We stopped in a few small villages whilst we were out.

The Village of Parwich was pleasant, some really cute looking properties as Flobo referred to them.



You will notice the sandbags by the door in this particular photograph, they had suffered with flood water no doubt.

My attention though was drawn to the extremely low level points of the windows on many of the properties. It struck me as most unusual.




All the same they were very neat looking properties.




As you can see from these photographs as well, the majority of houses and cottages had no separation from the road such as a pavement or garden area.

The original construction would have only been concerned with width for a horse and cart or carriage, horse drawn stage coach at the most.

[Propagator]

Here you are Mathos found some of the photos and will upload a few more tomorrow. I am sure that I should have a load more taken at and around Ravenglass, but I suppose that they could still be at one of the ex's places. Please bear in mind that these were taken about 20 years ago and could do with some work on in Photoshop, so if I can improve them I will do so later.

These first two pics are of the Wastwater hotel, taken on the walk back from the little church (hmmm - I should have some photos of that as well)






This one from a little further back. I particularlly like the way that the suns rays caught this



These are from behind the hotel and looking up the valley from the packhorse bridge



about a mile or so on, maybe more, you come to this delightful dell, very peaceful with the water rushing down. This all feeds into the lake and runs past the hotel






Another view here again looking up the valley. For the life of me I can't rememberwhere this was taken from, but would hazard a guess of somewhere about 3/4 quarters of the way to the hotel. I think that the hotel is in the vicinity of a direct line from the tree in the centre of the pic



Some views of the lake here, although a first glance they might look the same, they are differant. Going to see if I can merge 2 of the pics to form a panoramic view











View looking toward Wasdale Head



and this one as the cloud was rolling in




Two views here looking across at The Screes





and finally one for any of our Welsh and Aussie friends that might be looking

[Mathos]

The British Legion building was perhaps the most unique I had ever come across. Brilliant.

They have the 'smokers table' and gas heater out in the yard as well.



It really was an exceptionally nice looking village.



Exceptional with regards to individuality.



The cottages above were in a more elevated position and obviously out of the way of possible flood waters.

Note the LandRovers too.



All the same, a lot of care will have to be taken with regards to walking out of your own front door I imagine.



I'll close this post with this outstanding tree for tonight.

What a beauty that was to behold.

[Mathos]

Propagator wrote:-

Here you are Mathos found some of the photos and will upload a few more tomorrow. I am sure that I should have a load more taken at and around Ravenglass, but I suppose that they could still be at one of the ex's places. Please bear in mind that these were taken about 20 years ago and could do with some work on in Photoshop, so if I can improve them I will do so later.

Propagator,

Thank you sincerely, those photographs are outstanding. Really appreciated and I reckon many more readers of this thread will concur with me.

It's great to know you have taken the time and trouble to add to the thread.

Please feel free to add as you wish.

More than appreciated.

Green for you. Well deserved.

[Happyman]

The Wastwater water ?? is used as the primary cooling medium I understand - this is then cooled by seawater in a heat exchanger and the fresh water recirculated after it has been cooled - ie the lake is not being used as a constant water supply - only when they do a complete cooling system purge ( or need to top up !)


On a totally different subject ( not trying to Hi-jack your bloody great thread) but it is sort of related !!!

North Yorkshire

I was on the threshold of going "stir crazy"- No ciggies and no whisky!! LOL- hospital room hasn't even got a balcony so I can sneak a quick "drag"- and a fellow history nutter, knowing my interest in things old and Roman towns etc, mailed me and asked "what town was this" - nowhere near any known Roman settlements or road.

Shit! can't copy the image but on Google Earth it is at
54-17-58-54 N
0-48-02-33 W

A perfect Roman fort but totally un-recorded!
(got the Roman section of my Database downloaded now !!!)
To the west of it there is a weird half finished Parallelogram type fort as well.

Did a lot of 'digging' - most of the day in fact - and found that it was actually a training camp for the Legion IX who were the first Roman occupiers of York where the PBI ( Poor Bloody Infantry) were sent to to learn how to build forts and live off the land !!! I bet they got a right bollocking for getting the first try all wonky ! LOL

From the net
Short bit on the Legion IX

York's Spanish connection Modern day shields of the Legio IX Hispana Thanks to the Romans, York and Spain have a connection that dates back almost 2000 years.
Archaeologist Mike Griffiths explores York's Spanish connection, through the Legio IX Hispana.

MORE FROM IROMANS

On a dreary wintry day in York, Spain with its white-washed villas and Moorish legacy, seems a long way both geographically and culturally. However, there is a very ancient link between York and Spain, one that stretches back nearly 2000 years. It started in 71 AD when a Roman legion, Legio IX, arrived to set up a fortress on the north bank of the Ouse. When they arrived there was nothing here; nobody had found any good reason to settle the area.
When the legionaries arrived they probably didn't know if they were going to be based here for a matter of months or a few years; in fact, they stayed for a full half century, the longest single posting in their history.
Roman roots
Their legacy survives today. The fortress that they built, first in wood and later in stone, established the pattern and layout of York's historic core. If you approach the city from the A19 it is along a road established by the IX. Going through Bootham Bar you are entering through the one of the original openings in the Roman defences.
Walking down Petergate you follow the line of one of the principal streets within the fortress and when you gaze on the Minster you are looking at the spot where there once stood an equally massive and impressive structure, the Roman Headquarters Building.
So what is the Spanish connection in all this? Well like many Roman Legions the IX also had a name, not just a number. Like all legionary titles it was a name which reflected something in the history of a particular legion that marked it out from others and was borne with pride. The IX was known as Legio IX Hispana, or as we would say today the Ninth Spanish Legion; not that there were ever eight other Spanish legions.
Legio IX Hispana re-enactment A noble reputation
Legio IX was one of the oldest imperial legions and had served with distinction under Julius Caesar fighting for him in Spain in 49 BC. It later served in Africa, Macedonia, and then spent 12 long years campaigning back in Spain. Here the legion acquired its first Spanish title, Hispaniensis, meaning based in Spain. Sometime later, after it had moved on to fight more battles in equally hostile corners of the Empire, this became Hispana and that is the title that stayed with it until its bitter end.
From tombstones found at the many different locations where the legion was based before it came to York we know that it it continued to attract recruits from Spain. This part of the empire may well have remained one of the IX's principal recruiting areas.
During its time in York there would have been an influx of many thousands of new recruits and the retirement of many time served soldiers. Most would presumably have returned to their birthplace attracted by the prospect of sun, sand and sangria.
Yorkies with Spanish blood?
Others were probably encouraged to take up generous land grants and settle around York to contribute to the process of romanisation, a policy promoted from Rome itself. On their retirement they would also have been able to enter into a legal marriage for the first time and gone on to start their own local dynasty. Today, running through the gene pool which is now York, there may well be some traces of those old Spanish troopers.
Legio IX left York sometime around 120AD, possibly redeployed after suffering some humiliating defeat in a campaign in northern Britain. They were replaced by another legion, this time Legio VI Victrix, the Victorious. Like the IX they had spent most of their history moving around the empire, never staying more than ten years in a single place. Perhaps it is something in York's water but it also proved to be their longest single posting; they were still here at least two hundred and fifty years later.
And presumably it is no more than mere coincidence that this legion had also served in Spain for many years, that its veterans settled there in large numbers, set up the city of Zaragoza and it was known for many years as Legio VI Hispaniensis; the only other legion to bear the title.



Hope it wasn't too boring



Cheers