A wide view of the reservoir from the south corner

Lindsay Hoyle MP and
CHAS Chair Joan Dickinson

The recent explosion in interest in the underground reservoir has attracted several Photographic groups to express their creative techniques. As a member of Chorley Historical and Archaeological Society I am required to be on site to conform to health a safety rules. One unexpected bonus is that I can use the special lighting effects that some groups have used. This photo was taken while someone used burning wire wool to create a bonfire night display without the smoke and fire hazards.

The pupils at Manor Road Primary School, Clayton-le-Woods want to try and preserve some of the reservoir. The only practical option would be to remove one of the arches with the two columns at either side and rebuild them in the school grounds. The developers haven’t yet agreed to donate one of the arches but some of the children are planning to write to them to ask if they can help save a bit of our heritage.

After a busy morning taking tours round the underground reservoir I went for a walk along the River Darwen and took this photo of the old paper mill at Roach Bridge.

Another busy day underground

Walking by the old 1860 mill was a piano repairer who’d worked on Elton John’s piano, but he didn’t come. But Les Dawson, Victoria Wood and Roy Chubby Brown did.

Front row: Harrison Boyd and Daniell Boyd.
Back row: l to r Jenni Boyd (Mum of Daniell and Harrison), Paul Jones of Kingswood Homes (the Developer), Rosemary Boyd (Chorley Historical and Archaeological Society), Paul Ogorman (Radio Lancashire).

Inside the reservoir the group is.
L to r: Daniell Boyd, Rosemary Boyd and Harrison Boyd.
They were the first children ever to visit inside the reservoir and called in on their way to school, so will have lots to tell their school friends

Being filmed by a BBC TV North West Tonight film crew while photographing them

The underground Leyland Reservoir at Clayton-le-Woods (photographed this morning)
Buil7 1883 and still as good as new. Sadly soon to be demolished.

Extra wide angle view of the Reservoir

The construction work at Back Lane, Clayton-le-Woods is well underway to build 14 houses on the site of the old reservoir. Kingswood Homes have cut a hole in the north wall of the reservoir and today a door is being fitted to allow public access by the weekend.

At the South Ribble Museum in Leyland is an exhibition of the celebration of the life of the contralto singer Kathleen Ferrier (1912 – 1953). She was a local girl who became one of the most famous singers in history.

An early portrait of Kathleen taken by Leslie, a Blackburn Photographer.

The last ever portrait of Kathleen
by Douglas Glass

The Withnell Fold Sports and Social Club monthly walk was blessed with warm sunshine and felt more like a summer’s day than autumn. Heading down through the village and on to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal we continued to the A675 main road at Riley Green. Under the bridge is a small track leading down to the left.

Cruising on the canal

We followed this to an old lane which used to be the main road before the canal was opened in 1816. We reached the main road at a point called Dear Bought on the old maps. Across the road we followed another track towards the River Darwen. The old maps show a property called Anderton Fold but there is no sign of it today. It is interesting to note that Anderton Fold Farm is a short way to the west. Along the farm track we reached the steep descent to the River Darwen. At the bottom of the hill the 1848 map shows a property called Owlet Holes but there is no sign of it today. The track vanishes and a path turns to the left to follow the bank of the River Darwen.

It was quite muddy in places and care was needed. The old Weir is still in place and this was used to divert water from the river into a channel to the mills at Hoghton Bottoms. A water-wheel was in use to power one of the mills into the 1950s.
 

River Darwen weir

We soon reached the impressive railway viaduct carrying trains between Preston and Blackburn.
The viaduct is a grade 2 listed structure. The first stone was laid in Dec 1844 and it took 18 months to complete. It carries the railway tracks 35.4m (116 feet) above river bed.
 

Hoghton Tower railway viaduct

Further on we turned left up a narrow track to the ruinous Quarry Cottages. We crossed the railway at a pedestrian crossing and could just see the remains of the old signal box on the left. Through the woods were large stone blocks indicating the old loading platforms for the quarry where stone was loaded onto train for transportation.

Old signal box (now demolished)
at the pedestrian crossing

Through fields we reached the main access road up to Hoghton Tower then on to the A675 to Hoghton Church. We followed field paths to Duxon Hill and over to Hill House Lane. After crossing over the M65 we followd a path though the fields to Marsh Lane.

Hoghton Tower main drive

Part of the route we’d followed used to be called Catherin’s Lane and was part of the ancient route between Ollerton Fold and Preston. Along Marsh Lane we walked to the track to Lady Hall Farm, over the River Lostock and along the canal back to the village. Back at the Sports Club pavilion we were treated to teas, sandwiches and cake.

Holy Trinity Parish Church Hoghton

Refreshment stop on Duxon Hill. A lovely warm sunny day in autumn

Plan of the route

Walk altitude profile. Distance 12.6km (7.8 miles)

Late morning and afternoon on visit lead by Kevin Illingworth to Causeway Farm and Cruck framed barn at Hoghton. The fifteenth or early sixteenth century barn has four cruck-trusses of large scantling, described in Pevsner (2009) as being 'truly splendid, comparable with that at Stonyhurst'
The early seventeenth century, L-shaped farmhouse (dated 1728) is built of hand-made brick with stone dressings (but in a stone area). External features Include: two two-storey porches, front and rear; a stair turret, not unlike a porch; a corbelled stack on three moulded corbels; and some windows with brick mullions.

Causeway Farm

Causeway Farm Cruck framed barn

Bury Farmhouse, which is dated 1699, has white-painted projecting hearts at knee level on the stone door jambs. An unusual feature.

Mid morning I set off to drive to Haile, near Egremont, West Cumbria. I’d managed to book a place in the Village Hall to see the incredible Canadian singer songwriting duo Madison Violet. They are Lisa MacIsaac and Brenley MacEachern. My plan was to use the day to the maximum and go for a local walk first. The drive was difficult in places due to heavy rain and flooding near Greenodd. I then took the scenic route over Corney Fell but saw nothing because of the mist and rain.
My walk was up the fairly low fell of Cold Fell and thankfully the cloud lifted enough to get a view from the low summit of 293m (950ft) Over the summit I made the short detour to the River Calder to have a look at the ancient stone Monk’s Bridge, which seems to be an old packhorse bridge.
I arrived at Haile Village Hall just before 7pm to join the other guests who were arriving for the wonderful dinner was included in the ticket price. I don’t how they did it for the price.
 

Fantastic food

Up close and personal.
Haile Village Hall

But the main treat of the evening was Madison Violet who put on their usual high quality performance. I’ve seen them twice before but not is a venue as small as this. The capacity seemed around 50, making for a very up close and personal performance. The last time I saw them was Sheffield in Feb 2012. I bought their ‘The Good in Goodbye’ CD then but didn’t get the chance to have it signed. I’d brought it with me and Lisa and Brenley signed it for me.
The Madison Violet website is here.
Their entry on Wikipedia is here.
Thankfully there was no rain on my drive home and this time I went via the A66, which was quiet at that time of night.

Lisa and Brenley

Lisa and Brenley

Lisa

Brenley

‘The Good in Goodbye’ now signed.

 
Here's a lovely YouTube video of them playing live.