Beautiful Lancashire

[Mathos]

Nice section of road here, leading towards
the lower valley and one of the small villages.


They will all have the sand-bags out tonight
and no doubt be moving furniture and belongings upstairs.






We have a couple of brooks close to home, but we have never been
threatened with flood water.

Houses a few hundred yards down the road at a
lower level have had some bad experiences over the years.


Thankfully they have been carrying out remedial
work to the flow of the streams and brooks lately,
so we are keeping our fingers crossed.


I bet it pours down here tonight.




What a beautiful spot though.


Outstanding.





I bet the farm house here is a really cosy place to be, out on the moors in the depths of winter
with a big coal or log fire blazing away.


Sensational.

[Mathos]

Beautiful Lancashire18-11-2009 07:48 PM

slackula Lovely stuff as always Mathos,

that beef wellington pic has me drooling!

Thanks Pal, appreciated.

[Mathos]

I was quite surprised to say the least when this
particular photograph popped up on the screen.





The view which I was after, along with the cloud formation was
bonnie.

Have to admit though, I never saw the flock of birds.

Starlings, I rather suspect, I think they look brilliant.

Makes a really attractive screen-saver or
background photograph.


This is nice, the sheep will no doubt be
on high ground tonight,
the area is badly flooded at present.






We haven't had it any where near as bad as The Lake District.


Showing it on the local television news
earlier tonight, it's really bad.


The River Kent has burst it's banks as well.


I have no up to date photographs of the present floods.

This is a snapshot from the last I have managed to obtain.


They came from all over the world
to run in one of the planet's
toughest endurance races.

But competitors in this weekend's
Original Mountain Marathon in the
Lake District got more than they bargained for
thanks to some ferocious weather.

Organisers were forced to abandon the race
with 1,700 of the 2,500 runners stranded on
the fells overnight in storm-force winds and
a month's worth of rain in 24 hours.



Treacherous weather:

Flood water flows down Honister Pass


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-
1080406/Floods-turned-mountains-
morgue-marathon-runners-stranded.
html#ixzz0XKm8Q5R8


Last October.

It's presently much worse than that,
the worst they have seen it in the last fifty years
was mentioned on the news earlier on.


This is a closer shot of the earlier one.




This is kind of special.




Spectacular location and typically England.



Gorgeous area by The Ribble and at the rear of
The Inn at Whitewell.

[Mathos]

Another outstanding property in a gorgeous setting.





The areas on each side of the River/Stream will no
doubt be under water right now.


It looked like the TV people made their headquarters
or transmission base at the Spread Eagle Pub/Hotel at Sawley.


Nice place.

Outstanding pedigree.




The setting is a major attraction for visitors to this
seventeenth-century inn, you don't need to worry
about booking a table with a view either:

Every dsingle diner in the Riverside Restaurant
can enjoy the panorama's of the Ribble,
plus the Bowland Hills beyond.

Chef Greig Barnes trained with Paul Heathcote.

This is well shown in the earthy dishes based
around North Country ingredients.

Grilled medallions of black pudding might
be served with Puy lentils, honey and mustard sauce,
while braised neck of lamb is given the full
Lancashire treatment with layers of buttered
potatoes and onions plus
spiced pickled red cabbage on the side.


This link is exceptional:-


The Spread Eagle at Sawley
Welcome to The Spread Eagle at Sawley.
The Spread Eagle at Sawley - Cached - Similar

Click on each heading in turn down the right hand side of the page and then scroll down across the details shown.

Exceptional.

The Gallery and Menu's especially.


I'm not aware what the large imposing building is here.

I'll try and find out in due course.






It looked quite majestic from the road.

[Mathos]

I thought this cottage, next door
but one to the Church was beautiful.






Outstanding condition.


Roof, stonework, newish windows..

A good level of refurbishment, not too long back,
I wouldn't think different either.

Looks like they might not be on
speaking terms with the next door neighbours
in the white cottage though,
judging by the big wall between the properties.

Fantastic views out back as well over the valley.





It's an amazingly beautiful location.

[Mathos]

You could spend a lifetime or two looking
for a scene as beautiful as this.





Roughlee.



Welcome to the Roughlee Village Centre Website
The village of Roughlee, Lancashire is situated 6 miles north of Burnley in the Pendleside area of East Lancashire. Roughlee is probably most famous for its ...
www.roughlee.org.uk/ - Cached - Similar


That's another good link, some very good photographs in The Gallery.



That's another of those spectacular rows of terraced cottages.

Amazing how they retain their looks and real character.



This section of River looks deep enough to
handle the heavy rain and flooding.



I bet it's a dangerous section in full flood though.


That's:- The Bay Horse Inn at Roughlee.


I managed to find out what the large imposing building was in the previous post.



Very interesting:-


Roughlee Hall

19 Aug 2004 ... Roughlee Hall.
It was once common belief that the
famous Pendle Witch, ...
"Roughlee Hall, Lancashire:
Fact and Fiction", Gladys Whittaker, ...
www.pendle.net/Roughlee/ - Cached

Good reading, and then some more.

[Mathos]

Things got worse in Cumbria yesterday.


Pictures: Cumbria floods

RAF helicopters airlifted at least 50 people to safety as some were forced to break through the roofs of their houses to escape the rising water.

We learned today that a Police Officer, (family man, four children) lost his life whilst assisting others on a damaged bridge which eventually collapsed into the River Derwent.


R.I.P. Constable Barker.

Sincere Condolences to his family at this devastating time.


PC Bill Barker, who would have been 45 tomorrow , was praised by the prime minister, Gordon Brown, as a "very heroic, very brave man" who had given his life saving others after Cumbria was struck by what the Environment Agency described as "unprecedented" rainfall.

Severe flooding in the county was driven by a combination of heavy rain, saturated ground and swollen rivers.

Hundreds were evacuated from their homes, four bridges collapsed and main roads were blocked after 314mm (12.4in) of rain fell in 24 hours – a record for England.
Flooding was also reported in north-west Wales and Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland, but Cumbria was hardest hit.

Workington MP Tony Cunningham said the flood was "of biblical proportions" and he was astonished by the destruction of the Northside bridge, which led to PC Barker's death.

"The force of the river was absolutely incredible. This is a stone bridge. To wash away a bridge of that size and dimension is incredible."

Fifty people were evacuated by RAF helicopters from Cockermouth, where the river Cocker joins the Derwent, after flooding cut off the town centre.

Police said PC Barker, a father of four, had gone out on foot to direct motorists off the Northside bridge, which crosses the Derwent in Workington, when it gave way and swept him into the water at 4.40am .

Jerry Graham, the assistant chief constable of the Cumbria constabulary said: "Members of the public were trying to cross the bridge, it was obvious they were going to put themselves in danger.

"So PC Barker went out on to the bridge on foot to try and protect them.

Unfortunately when they were on the bridge, it gave way just due to the volume of water and PC Barker went into the water and was swept away."

One local claimed PC Barker had gone to the aid of a driver who had got stuck on the stone bridge as it collapsed, but this was not confirmed by police.

Robin Taylor, 50, a maintenance engineer from Workington, said: "I was told the police officer had responded to an emergency call and gone to the bridge to help a car that had become stuck and, as he was leading them away, the pavement side of the bridge collapsed first and he was gone. It is really sad, I thought it was absolutely shocking.

His body, still in uniform, was found washed up on a beach .


His widow, Hazel, described him as her best friend and an "amazing dad". She said: "I have the comfort of knowing that Bill died doing the job he loved, and the fact that he was helping others is just typical Bill."


Evacuated residents spent last night in emergency reception centres across Cumbria. Red Cross worker Ian Rideout said many of those rescued in Cockermouth were suffering from shock.

He said: "The centre of Cockermouth looks like it has been completely destroyed – I've never seen anything like it. The water has caused so much damage that many of the homes here are completely ruined.


"We've been working non-stop and between the Red Cross and RNLI we've rescued in the region of 200 people from their homes. Last night, I went up in one of the helicopters to get an idea of the full scale of the disaster and where we should focus rescue efforts. Almost straight away we found four people on the roof of their home who needed to be winched to safety.


"Most of the people we've rescued have been in shock. One minute it's raining heavily, then the next their home is filling with water and they're being evacuated by the Red Cross."


Water was feared to have seeped into the cellar at Wordsworth House in Cockermouth, the poet's birthplace, potentially damaging valuable archives.
The death of PC Barker highlighted the dangers for rescue workers. RNLI lifeboat operations manager, Brian Ashbridge, said a "massive current" sweeping down the Derwent made conditions challenging for crews searching the river basin.


"It's absolutely horrendous. There is a huge amount of debris around in the water at the moment as well, which adds to the difficulties."


The environment secretary, Hilary Benn, who was in Cockermouth to assess the flooding, said defences built after the 2005 floods that were designed to withstand a "one-in-100-years flood" were unable to cope with the volume of water.


Benn said: "What we dealt with last night was probably more like one-in-1,000 so even the very best defences, if you have such quantities of rain in such a short space of time, can be overtopped."


The heavy rainfall was caused by a slow-moving front of air which rolled in from the Atlantic, according to the Met Office.


A spokesman said: "It was warm air coming from the Azores, so being warm it had the potential to hold a lot of water. When it hit land it was forced to rise and then cool, to produce the heavy rain."


Experts warned of a funding shortfall that could thwart official plans to prevent future floods. Nick Reeves, executive director of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, said he welcomed the flood and water management bill, announced in the Queen's speech on Wednesday, which gives local authorities responsibility for surface water flooding for the first time and puts the Environment Agency in overall charge of flooding.


But he said: "Our concern at the moment is that most local authorities don't have the additional resources needed to tackle this at local level. The bill doesn't guarantee any additional cash. In six months we are going to have a general election and this government hasn't committed to additional funding.


"Lessons should be learned from the 1997 floods. We know that climate change will bring warmer and wetter winters so we need to plan now."

The flood bill is the government's response to Sir Michael Pitt's report into the 1997 floods.








The West Coast Main Line re-opened this morning after a tree was washed onto the line last night.

• Six severe flood warnings on Cumbrian rivers
• Four hundred people being evacuated from their homes in Keswick
• Reception centres set up as Keswick old folks homes evacuated
• Video: A car trip along the Grasmere road

The Video above is well worth viewing.


I have taken the information above from The Internet.

Cumbria floods

The depth of the water can be seen as emergency rescue workers wade through a flooded street in Cockermouth

Further rain is forecast for later tonight and tomorrow.

[Mathos]

The BBC's Laura Bicker, in Cockermouth

Cockermouth High Street looks more like a rapidly flowing river at the moment.


Shops that had just done up their fronts for Christmas are now only accessible by boat.


The RNLI, the fire service, mountain rescue and the police are all here working together to try to evacuate people from their houses.


Overhead, there's a helicopter from the RAF taking people off the roofs of their houses and from windows.


It looks very much like a disaster zone and it's feared that the river levels are still due to rise further.

'Desperate'

RAF Squadron Leader Dave Webster later said more than 50 people had been rescued by helicopter, while about 150 more had been helped to safety by the RNLI and other emergency crews.


"There have been no serious injuries as a result of the floods, just a few people treated at the scene for minor bumps and scrapes," he added.


This is a very, very serious situation


Robert Runcie, Environment Agency




Earlier, Ch Supt Steve Johnson said flood defences installed in Carlisle following the 2005 floods appeared to have worked, but added: "We are not taking anything for granted."


John Carlin, owner of the Allerdale Court Hotel, said the amount of rainfall was "staggering".


"I have lived here for 15 years and have never seen anything like it," he said.
"It's desperate. The town centre is completely flooded, the only people out there at the moment are the emergency services. The water is up to the waists of the firefighters." About 1,200 homes in the Cockermouth area and 349 around Keswick lost power on Thursday night, although United Utilities said later that services had been restored to 660 properties.


Lifeboats have been rescuing people from their homes in Cockermouth

The Ministry of Defence said the Army had been drafted in to help with door-to-door work in Cumbria.


Some 20 schools in the area were earlier forced to close and several were turned into emergency shelters for more than 200 Cockermouth evacuees.


Robert Runcie, the Environment Agency's director of flood and coastal risk management, said at least 500 homes could be flooded in and around Cockermouth.


There are currently four severe flood warnings in Cumbria, in Cockermouth, Keswick, Southwaite Bridge and Eamont Bridge.


The Environment Agency describes a severe flood warning as a threat of "extreme danger to life and property".


There are nine severe flood warnings in place in Scotland, covering three sections of the River Tweed, two sections of the River Earn, Yarrow Water, Teviot Water, the River Isla in Perthshire and the River Teith at Callander.


UK forecast at BBC Weather



A landslip between Carlisle and Penrith caused the West Coast Main Line from London to Glasgow to close and there is flooding on the line at Lockerbie.
Drivers are being warned of "treacherous" conditions in much of Dumfries and Galloway and fire crews have been called to rescue a number of stranded motorists.


In mid and north Wales, there have also been road closures, disruption to train services and a brief power cut affecting 2,000 homes in Anglesey.
The AA said it was "flat out" rescuing stricken cars and advised against all but essential travel.


Richard Westmoreland, the motoring organisation's water rescue technician, said: "Conditions in Cumbria have been horrendous - the worst I've seen."

High winds


During a 24-hour period Shap and Keswick in Cumbria recorded rainfall of 71.6mm (2.8in) and 64.2mm (2.5in) respectively.


CUMBRIA RECEPTION CENTRES
Cockermouth Secondary School
Keswick Convention Centre
Ulverston Victoria Hall School
Penrith Leisure Centre
St Joseph's School, Workington

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings, with up to 250mm (9.8in) of rain possible on higher ground.

People caught up in floods are being warned not to walk through flood waters or try to unblock drains. Police are also advising against fell-walking in Cumbria.



Flood photos of severe weather in England

Phil Dixon: "My wife and I run the Bluebird Cafe by the lake, Coniston, we have been hit by the floods yesterday and last night, we have around 2ft of water in the café."


Flood photos of severe weather in England

Paul Jones lives in a village eight miles away from Cockermouth. This police car got stuck in the flood water and the driver had to climb out to safety.

[Mathos]

Getty Images 10 hours ago
The flooded River Derwent breaks its banks and floods properties in Cockermouth, in Cumbria, north-west England, on November 20, 2009. Hundreds of homes were flooded after torrential rain battered parts of northern England, northwest Wales and western Scotland throughout Thursday and Friday, rescue officials said.


Furious Cockermouth residents have complained that fears over disturbing salmon spawning has made the flooding problem far worse this year.
Residents had called for the river bed to be dug into by 10ft in order to prevent flooding following discussions about the problem with the authorities earlier this year.
But they claim their plan was rejected by the Environment Agency because it would interfere with salmon laying their eggs in the River Derwent.

Today residents reacted with fury and complained that the authorities are treating salmon as being 'more important than people.'

Debris and wreckage on Main Street in Cockermouth, Cumbria, after the town was cut off following torrential rain in the Lake District

Jacqui White, Gote Road, Cockermouth, said: 'I attended a meeting with Natural England earlier this year when we told them we wanted to dig 10ft deeper so that the waters wouldn't flood and alleviate any flooding.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1229567/Cockermouth-flood-defence-plan-rejected-fish-spawning-claim-furious-locals.html#ixzz0XRDf7gYp


Worth looking at.



I think I'm goin to let Flobo cut me a bit of cheese and have a nibble with a nice glass of Port.




This looks good.

[natalie8]

I've been watching the story about the floods on the news here. Very sad.

[Mathos]

^ Yes, it's bad Natalie.

The waters have been subsiding to-day, the damage is horrendous. Over a thousand homes badly flood damaged and all the consequential damage attached to the same.


It's a great pity to learn that numerous people, whilst having Insurance Cover for the property, have not insured for contents.


Lessons have to be learned from this, if nothing else.

Some twenty boats moored at Windermere Marina Village have sunk following the rise in the level of water due to the heavy rains.

Apparently the same were attached to fixed piers, as opposed to the usual floating buoys. This meant of course that they were unable to rise with the water.

Some are totally under the water, others partly.


The Insurance claims from this lot will be colossal.


Surprised as well to hear that folk have been making journey's today up to the worst affected parts of the flooded areas, taking kayaks, canoes and small motor boats.

Mind you, I have witnessed folk making journeys to train and plane crashes, as well as bad motorway and road crashes.

Each to their own I suppose.



Both Flobo and myself love the Lakes.





A few snaps here from one of our visits in January this year.



The place is beyond description as regards it's outstanding beauty.



It snowed, and it snowed, and it snowed some more.



Parts of Lancashire have this natural run-off,
associated with the alpha and the omega
in the sense of application to the
geographical placing of the Lake District.




There's a bit of spectacular beauty from Lancashire above.

Amazing natural roadside display.



Some beautiful property just around the corner.



And some more further up the road.




It was only a Winters Tale:-


The nights are colder now.
maybe I should close the door,
And anyway the snow has
covered all your footsteps
And I can follow you no more.
The fire still burns at night,
my memories are warm and clear;
but everybody knows
it's hard to be alone at this time of year.
It was only a winter's tale,
Just another winter's tale,
And why should the world take notice
of one more love that's failed?
It's a love that can never be
though it meant a lot to you and me;
on a world~wide scale
we're just another winter's tale
While I stand alone
A bell is ringing far away
I wonder if you hear,
I wonder if you're listening
I wonder where you are today.
Good luck! I wish you well,
and for all that wishes may be worth;
I hope that love and strength
are with you for the length
of your time on earth.
It was only a winter's tale,
Just another winter's tale,
And why should the world take notice
of one more love that's failed?
It's a love that can never be
though it meant a lot to you and me;
on a world~wide scale
we're just another winter's tale.
It was only a winter's tale,
Just another winter's tale,
And why should the world take notice
of one more love that's failed?
It's a love that can never be
though it meant a lot to you and me;
on a world~wide scale
we're just another winter's tale.

3 min 6 sec - 8 Dec 2006 -





HQ - David Essex - A Winters Tale - Top of the Pops 1989 ... Select only the services you are comfortable with - like Facebook, Twitter, or Google ...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjW2rrK5vRU

- Related videos






So beautiful.





Special.

Pity the storms have marred such a beautiful area.

[natalie8]

Wow! So you do get snow in some parts of England. It's gorgeous on the tops of the mountains.

[Mathos]

^ Yes we get snow Natalie.

Sometimes it can be quite bad too.

Especially in Scotland, some outstanding skiing resorts in and around Ben Nevis
at the Glencoe area and of course the famous Aviemore.

Spectacular locations both of them.


Lets see what happens this year.

Visit Aviemore: The Official website for Accommodation and ...
Aviemore and the Cairngorms site for accommodation, Cairngorm skiing, activities, events and information on a great family holiday destination in the ...
Visit Aviemore: The Official website for Accommodation and Activities in the Aviemore and Cairngorms Area | Aviemore and the Cairngorms, Your Natural Adventure - Cached - Similar


Couple of interesting links here, with a good video on the one above.

Scotland Holiday Cottages Aviemore ~ Scottish Cottage Holidays ...
Aviemore Skiing Holiday Let, This Aviemore cottage has 1 double and 1 twin bedroom and 1 small twin room for children, (cot available), well-appointed ...
holiday-cottages.scotland.org.uk/holiday-cottages-aviemore.htm - Cached - Similar


Cottages and all sorts of wonderful things.

[Mathos]

Still a great deal of problems with the flood damages and resultant consequential additions which perhaps don't spring to mind in the initial instances.

The RSPCA have been very busy rescuing pets, most of which (not heard any tales of dead cats and dogs at present) appear to be alright. They obviously clambered upstairs or swam to safety in the initial stages.

A few aquariums have deposited their stock into the flood waters, so it will be good-bye to the Guppies and Siamese Fighting Fish in the murky waters of the River Derwent.

Farmers and rescue services have been taking care of stranded sheep, goats, cattle and horses etc.

Again, I have not heard of any losses in these spheres.

Cumberland has a first class protection plan for such emergencies.

Cumberland County Animal Protection Plan
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
Cumberland County Animal Control will support efforts to identify owners of stray/lost animals. If owners cannot be found, Animal Control and SPCA of ...
Page Not Found - Cumberland County NC - Similar


Good to know of forward thinking akin to this.

But thankfully, not surprising.

Well done to all concerned.


Nice photograph here of The Lake District as early evening was approaching, last January.





There's at least two more bridges gone down, and over a thousand have to be checked.

It's going to be a colossal job.

Normality is a long journey off.

The Bridges over The Derwent which have gone or
are not safe to use,
mean as much as a 90 mile round trip to
get kids to school, or folk to work etc.

When you think of the essentials:

Policemen
Fire Brigade,
Ambulance Drivers and Paramedics
Midwives
Teachers.

The list is endless really.

Everybody is important one way or another.

Utility supply and repairs.

Food,
Water
Medicines
Blankets
Mattresses.

That's without thinking about the massive clean up
operations which have to be undertaken.

Especially fort older and senior citizens who are without Insurance.

The Government is expecting a massive
claim in the region of £50M to £100M.


The Calva Bridge is expected to collapse
we understand and has been sealed off.


That's another big bridge.


Places like these in Coastal Harbours have
the solution in building high of course.




But they are open to property being undermined
if not protected and the resultant
dangers of collapsing into the oceans.



Quite surprising really how we dice with so many dangers
on a regular daily basis.


The elements can be devastating.

[Mathos]

This is a really beautiful bay at Staithes.





See I'm meandering now with looking at some of my old photographs.


Fantastic coastal village all the same though.





This country has so much history to be proud of and to
keep and maintain.

Priceless.




What could be nicer.


It's amazing how photographs like these
can jolt the memory cells so much and
take you body and soul back to the source.



Fantastic.


I have some writing to do on another project.

If I don't stop getting carried away on here, it won't get done tonight.



We could be having a big plate of fish and chips at the Cod and Lobster
at Staithes though.





Or simply driving along that route for a fancy roast beef dinner
at some out of the way hotel.


Paradise.

[Mathos]

I'm going to have to stop mentioning things like a
really fancy Roast Beef Dinner.





Now that was good.



Like super-sonic brilliantly good.



So were these.






Fish and Chips in Whitby.


You can't beat that.

Anywhere.


I think I'll get the car out.



The Magpie Café
Welcome to the Magpie Café. Our Restaurant has been located in the beautiful ancient fishing port of. Whitby since 1939 in a building dating from 1750. ...
The Magpie Café - Cached - Similar
Our Menu
Contact Us
Our Location
View Merchandise
Magpie's History

[peterpan]

fantastic thread Mathos, enjoying every bit of it, Tell me you really didn't eat all of this did you?
that would keep me and an Issarn village fed for a week.

[kfjvkjvk]

Been a few months since I visited this site regulary Mathos, the rest is the usual crap but your thread is still absolutely fantastic. Not even got time to check into it properly now, but looking forward to updating myself this week!

I always maintained that the film Chungking Express was a film that pushed me to moving to Asia.

Well if I ever move back to the UK, and I am thinking about it. Then I will credit this thread as a major influence!

Please, keep it up!

Hope the diet is going well too.

[slackula]

Originally Posted by kfjvkjvk

Hope the diet is going well too.

Judging from the roast beef pics and all the fish 'n chips pics I reckon Mathos has abandoned his diet for now! but who could blame him, too many tasty looking temptations on his travels!

I'll bet I can guess what his New Year resolution will be..

The Lake District pics are especially welcome Mathos; my late father owned a lovely cottage for a few years where Wordsworth once lived and we spent many happy times staying there and sailing on the lakes when I were a lad!

It was all very "Swallows and Amazons".

[slackula]

Originally Posted by Mathos

Fish and Chips in Whitby. You can't beat that. Anywhere.

Mathos, I am concerned about one thing, that looks suspiciously like mayonnaise on the fish! I think that is still listed as a treasonable offense!

Now, if it is tartar sauce then that will possibly be acceptable, after all the peas look properly mushy and the chips look suitably soggy and delicious, but if those nasty continental condiments have invaded a place like Whitby we should be told!