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Rimington
Downham
St Leonard's, Downham
Sawley Abbey
Sawley on the River Ribble
Bolton-by-Bowland
Clitheroe |
Like most counties in England, Lancashire
has some extraordinarily beautiful villages.
The six villages described in this short journey lie close to the Forest of
Bowland, one of the Queen's favourite parts of the country. This tour is centred
around Clitheroe, just north of Blackburn. The Ordnance Survey Sheet 103
'Blackburn & Burnley' conveniently covers this area. The starting point is the
village of Rimington, just to the north east of Clitheroe which can be reached
from the A59 or the A682. From Rimington the route then takes you to Downham and
onto the A59. Head north briefly then take a left to explore Sawley before continuing on to Bolton-by-Bowland.
Return via Sawley and continue on to Waddington before finishing at
Clitheroe. All the villages visited had pubs serving food so no matter where you are at lunch time, you'll not be far from good food! Rimington, is a good appetiser. It is not so large and ribbons along the road. The flower-decked Black Bull traditional pub is the centre of life here but there are some attractive cottages demanding attention. This whole area is one of outstanding natural beauty and much of it can be appreciated from here. Lying in the Ribble valley, the charming village of Downham has changed little over the last two centuries. Like any village in England, Scratch the surface and there is a wealth of local history to uncover. A long drive of beech trees leads to Downham Hall, next to St Leonard's church. The history of the hall can be traced back at least seven centuries but its present form took shape in the 1830's. It belongs to the Assheton family who have been associated with the village since Medieval times. The Assheton's were responsible for building or restoring most of the houses in the village as well as the 18th century Assheton Arms, formerly the George & Dragon Unfortunately, the hall it is not open to the public. It is a village where you can easily while away an hour or two, admiring the stone cottages with mullion windows built in a delightful honey coloured stone, picnicking down by the river or trying one of the circular walks available. Watch out for the remains of the village stocks outside the Post Office where you might choose to take your morning coffee. A short drive up the A59 leads to Sawley the next village on this tour. Abbey ruins clearly visible on the right announce you have arrived in the village. The ruins are open for inspection and there are information boards to fill in the background. It was originally a Cistercian monastery founded in 1147 by William de Percy and inhabited by monks from Newminster Abbey in Northumberland. Although never particularly wealthy, it survived 400 years before suppression in 1536. The Pilgrimage of Grace, a northern uprising against Henry VIII's reforms reinstated the monks but this rebellion was soon suppressed and the Abbott and two monks were executed in Lancaster for their involvement. Although the village is small, it has a beautiful setting on the banks of the River Ribble. It is particularly proud of its 17th century pub, the Spread Eagle which was voted Lancashire's Dining Pub of the Year in 2004 by the Good Pub Guide. It was originally a coaching house but has now developed into a top class restaurant. A short drive north through delightful country lanes leads to Bolton-by-Bowland. This is another village of great character set in beautiful countryside. It may seem to be a backwater but it has its interesting stories. If you look in the grounds of the Church of St Peter & St Paul. you will find a memorial to the 15th century landowner, Sir Ralph Pudsay, who had three wives producing between them 25 children. Sir Ralph restored and rebuilt this church late in the 15th century. Sir Ralph took the risk of sheltering the Lancastrian King Henry VI after he lost the 1464 Battle of Hexham in the Wars of the Roses. Just to the south of the town is Rainsber Scar overlooking the Ribble. It is known locally as Pudsay's Leap since William Pudsay is said to have leapt off this scar whilst being pursued by soldiers for illegally minting his own coins. True or false we may never know but there is a Mint Cottage in the village! Leaving behind this picturesque village, it is time to head to the next, Waddington. Lying in private grounds is a community of 24 almshouses which have been fully modernised and now used as sheltered accommodation for widows and spinsters of this or nearby parishes. Waddington is another picturesque village which is a regular winner of Lancashire's Best Kept Village award. Its Coronation Gardens is regularly featured on postcards. Henry VI lived at Waddington Hall for a year before his betrayal to the Yorkists in 1465. It is said he escaped by a secret staircase from the dining room but was later captured on the outskirts of Clitheroe, our final port of call on this tour. Clitheroe is a market town with a population of around 14,000. A 12th century Norman Castle Keep set on a rock outcrop dominates the main street, aptly named Castle Street. Next to the castle is an excellent museum which brings to life the history and geology of this region. Apart from the market, open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, it is a great place to shop with many local shops and refreshingly free of those High Street stores which make so many of our towns so boringly predictable these days. Our tour usually ends at Cowman's famous sausage shop which offers around 60 different types of sausage.
Back to Contents see also Gibbon Bridge |
Two above both Rimington
Downham village
Downham cottage
Sawley
Both above Bolton-by-Bowland
Almshouses Waddington
Coronation Gardens, Waddington
Waddington Hall |
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