(Excerpt) Clitheroe Castle served as the caput (administrative centre) of the Honour of Clitheroe, a large estate stretching along the western side of the Pennines. The de Lacy family, whose principal seat was at Pontefract, used it as a base for local governance and it functioned as a court, small prison, and centre for the administration of the surrounding forests and manors. A small garrison was maintained through the 13th century.
Category Archives: #History
Small-leaved Lime, Relict of the Ancient Wildwood
(Excerpt) The northern limit of native T. cordata in Britain lies in the English Lake District at approximately 54°30′N, with the majority of sites within about 25km of the Morecambe Bay coast. Populations are concentrated on the wooded hills from Warton to Ulverston and extend inland up the valleys of the Lune, Kent, and Duddon, with the most northerly localities in Borrowdale and beside Ullswater.
The Runaway Turntable
(Excerpt) It was a wild afternoon high on the Settle-Carlisle line, the wind came howling down from Wild Boar Fell and across the exposed plateau at Garsdale (still known to older hands as Hawes Junction). It was the sort of day when the moors seemed determined to remind every living thing there who really owned the place.
At Lord’s
The Famous Cricketing Poem ‘At Lord’s’ by Francis Joseph Thompson, Including a Brief Biography
The Rise and Fall of Blackburn’s Star Brewery
(Excerpt) In the 20th century the brewery completed several acquisitions included Henry Shaw & Co. (1924), Fountain Free Brewery (1927), Bury Brewery (1949), Preston Breweries (1955), and Yates & Jackson (1984). The Eanam site became the Star Brewery around 1948 and in the 1960s, under Chairman John Yerburgh, a major expansion created a striking nine-storey aluminium-clad tower brewhouse (opened 1966) with ‘Time for Thwaites’ signage and a time capsule. Shire horses were reintroduced for deliveries in 1960, becoming an enduring symbol.
The Swaledale Sheep, Queen of the Hills
Swaledales are medium-sized, bold, and exceptionally hardy. Key traits include a black face with bright white markings, curled horns (larger in rams), and a weatherproof off-white fleece that is dense and durable. Their strong legs and feet, combined with excellent foraging ability, allow them to thrive on heather, rough grass, and sparse vegetation.
A Stroll Through Time: The Long History of Blackpool’s North Pier
The pier’s story begins in the early 1860s, when Blackpool was rapidly transforming from a modest bathing resort into a booming destination for industrial workers seeking fresh air and entertainment. In 1861, prominent local businessmen gathered at the Clifton Arms Hotel to discuss building a pier. They appointed the renowned pier designer Eugenius Birch, whose innovative cast-iron structures (he designed 14 piers altogether) would define many British seaside landmarks.
Yellow Flag Iris
Like many wetland plants, I. pseudacorus plays an important role in its ecosystem. Its dense clumps provide cover and nesting sites for birds such as Moorhen and Reed Warbler, while the rhizomes help stabilise banks and prevent erosion. The flowers are visited by a range of pollinators, particularly larger bees (including Bumblebees) that are strong enough to push open the petals to reach the nectar and pollen.
Northwest Nature and History 