Crossing the River Lune in Lancaster

Bank Holiday Monday. With high pressure over the UK the weather was fine and settled for the day so I made a snap decision to cycle to Preston and catch the train to Lancaster then to cycle home over the hills. I set off with the intention of catching the 08:53 Glasgow train but I had two concerns. Would I get here in time and would I be able to get my bike on it. It’s a Voyager Intercity train which means there are only 4 bike places and they have to be booked in advance. I just made the station with 4mins to spare and found one bike space left, so I was OK. I left a sunny but still chilly Lancaster and cycled through the lanes to Nether Kellet and Over Kellet where I stopped briefly to take a couple of photos. I followed the lanes via Gressingham and Wray to start the long climb over the Cross of Greet on Tatham Fell. There were nice views back to the Yorkshire Dales and especially Ingleborough which also happens to be the mountain Steven (son) is climbing today with some friends. It is a Bank Holiday and plenty of people were about in Slaidburn but Dunsop Bridge and Whitewell were almost totally jammed with parked cars. I was glad I was on a bike. I continued through Longridge, Preston and Hoghton to return home about 13:45pm.

Over Kellet

This evening out for walk along the Leeds and Liverpool canal to check out the repair works they’re doing to the lock gates. One of the connecting basins is empty giving me the opportunity to take a photo at fish eye level.

the main Hall

the new extension Hall opened in March this year

Walking between Moor Lane, Preston and Cragg's Row
are these student flats and the old Windmill on the right.

This afternoon called in to Chorley Library to collect a book they'd reserved for me.

Rain most of morning. Afternoon went for cycle ride via Standish, Wigan, Aspull & Blackrod. While in Wigan I stopped to look at the Tyldesley Memorial on the A49 near the Infirmary. It is a monument to Sir Thomas Tyldesley who was killed on the site at one of the last conflicts of the Civil War in 1651. Tomorrow, 25 Aug, is the 359th anniversary of his death. He supported the King (Charles 2nd on the restoration) and also the Earl of Derby who managed to escape. The Earl joined the King at the battle of Worcester on 3 Sep 1651 where the royalist cause was defeated by Cromwell. The King escaped and was eventually restored to the throne in 1660. Unfortunately the Earl of Derby was captured later in the month and was executed in Bolton on 15 Oct 1651

Battle of Wigan Lane

In 1679 Alexander Rigby paid for the erection of the monument to Sir Thomas Tyldesley. Rigby had been his standard bearer and wished to mark the spot where his master had been slain during the Battle of Wigan Lane which took place on 25th of August 1651.

An inscription placed on the monument reads as follows:

"An high Act of Gratitude which conveys the memory of Sir Thomas Tyldesley to posterity.
Who served King Charles the First, as Lieutenant Colonel at Edgehill Battle, after raising Regiments of Horse, Foot and Dragoons, and of the desperate storming of Burton-on-Trent over a bridge of 36 arches, received the honour of Knighthood.
He afterwards served in all the Wars in great command, was Governor of Litchfield and followed the fortune of the Crown through the three Kingdoms and never compounded with the Rebels, though strongly invested.
And on the 25th August, A.D. 1651 was here slain, commanding as Major General under the Earl of Derby.
To whom the grateful Erector Alexander Rigby Esq. was Cornet when he was High Sheriff of this County A.D. 1679.
Placed this high obligation on the whole of the family of the Tyldesleys, to follow the noble example of their loyal ancestor."

This evening was the last of the Chorley Photographic Society summer outings. We met at St Mary’s Church, Eccleston. While most of the members were doing ‘bride photography’ I wandered the grounds to take photos of the church. According to the list of Rectors the church dates back to the mid 13th century.

While cycling through Longton I decided to have a look at the Dolphin Inn which is along a cul-de-sac lane. It is the start of the Ribble Way walk, or end if you do it the other way.

Out for a cycle ride to investigate more highways and byways.Route was via Wigan, Ince, Hindley, Westhoughton and Rivington.

Hand Sculpture at Walmesley Park, Ince.

Cycling through Hindley I noticed this building. The plaque reads.
Ebernizer Particular Baptist Church erected 1854 and converted to Mahabharat Restaurant 2004

Walmesley Park, Ince.

The Top Lock Pub

During the morning I went for a cycle ride via Adlington Lostock and Belmont to explore more highways and byways. Passing under junction 5 of the M61 I headed for Lostock along Lock Lane only to find over a mile of very uncomfortable cobbles to cycle over.

During the morning I went for a cycle ride via Adlington Lostock and Belmont to explore more highways and byways. Passing under junction 5 of the M61 I headed for Lostock along Lock Lane only to find over a mile of very uncomfortable cobbles to cycle over.

Lock Lane

Lostock Parish Church

Heaton Bridge on Beaumont Road (A58) Bolton. This road was originally a dual carriageway of cobbles!

Heaton Bridge 1924

Today we said a final farewell to my Mother, Lettice Harris. At 12:15pm most of her friends and many relatives gathered at Withnell Fold Church to attend a Service of Thanksgiving for her long, full and wonderful life. Tony Livesey of the Funeral Directors said he’s never seen so many people at a service for a 94 year old. The annex at the back of the Church had been opened and filled with chairs. The Church was filled to capacity and I believe some had to stand as the seating was full. Revd Graham Cuttler conducted the service. All Mums friends and relatives made sure she got the best send off possible.

Lettice Harris 1916 - 2010
in this picture she is 85

Withnell Fold Church