Longridge, Aug 20th


Walk Leader:    Gareth

No on walk:       36 + 2 dogs

Distance:          10.7 miles

Weather:          Mostly sunny with a cool wind at times

 

We started out from the civic hall car park along the route of the old Preston - Longridge railway line. This was built inLongridge in 1840 to bring back the Longridge sand stone from the local quarries. In 1848 it became steam. We reached the terminus at Tootle Heights, the quarries employed around 400 men and the stone was in great demand throughout Lancashire, The Harris Museum, Fulwood Barracks, Preston railway station, Preston docks, Bolton parish church, Blackpool and Lancaster Town Halls to name a few.,

We then walked through one of the old entrances to the quarry, which is now a holiday caravan site, to the old Dilworth Lane and started our descent to Ribchester through Elm House, Buckley Hall, Ashmoor House and Boyce farm to the Stydd. We then went for a brief look at the Roman bath house and arrived for lunch on the seats overlooking the River Ribble.

Moving on, we had a quick look at the old Granary which was used to store food for the soldiers as Ribchester was then a Roman garrison or fort and not a town. We now picked up the Ribble Way/Lancashire Way past Hothersall Hall to Stubbins Nook, leaving it at Alston Lane, then on to Manor House, Bury's Farm and right through Alston reservoirs to the junction at St. Lawrence's Church. This was where Longridge developed from being a small settlement called Fell End.We then went through Kestor Lane and Stonebridge where the first of the four mills was built in 1850.

We then followed the the old railway line to the well preserved station and on to the finish. Thanks to all for trying to keep together with difficult stiles and to our back marker who had an awkward job.

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