Category Archives: #Lancashire

Bothvar’s Cattle Farm

Bothvar was a Norse cattle farmer who settled in the Bowland area between 900 to 1100 AD, not much more is known about him or his fate, what is known is that he established a cattle farm near Dunsop bridge which is now called Beatrix Farm. The Norse that settled in the north of EnglandContinue reading “Bothvar’s Cattle Farm”

Part Two of The Bluebell, in which we look its lifecycle and the problem of the invasive Spanish Bluebell

Part Two of The Bluebell In Part 1 of this 2 part series about the Bluebell we looked at where and when you might see this beautiful spring flower bloom, in this part I’ll write more about the lifecycle of this plant and one of the main threats to its existence, the Spanish Bluebell. Fragrant,Continue reading “Part Two of The Bluebell, in which we look its lifecycle and the problem of the invasive Spanish Bluebell”

A rough guide to some of the various bits of farm machinery you might see around the countryside of Northern England

Types of farm machinery This is a basic and non-exhaustive guide to some of the various bits of agricultural machinery you might see in use in the fields, trundling in front of you on a narrow country lane, or rusting away in a farmyard around the countryside of Northern England. Balers, little, square, and roundContinue reading “A rough guide to some of the various bits of farm machinery you might see around the countryside of Northern England”

Padiham Town Hall

Padiham town Hall was officially opened on the 26th of February 1938 by Herbert Morrison, the leader of London County Council (which was replaced by Greater London Council in 1965) and the grandfather of labour politician Peter Mandelson. A need for a new Civic Centre In the decades leading up the 1930’s the town hadContinue reading “Padiham Town Hall”

Tower Lodge, Abbeystead

Tower Lodge, Abbeystead If you are familiar with the road from Dunsop bridge through the Trough of Bowland to Lancaster, you might recognise the building above, it’s a well known landmark in the area and you might, like a lot of people, have idly wondered what its history is. It’s a private house now, situatedContinue reading “Tower Lodge, Abbeystead”

Rhododendron, the foreign invader smothering our native woodlands

Rhododendron, arguably the most destructive non-native plant in the British isles The common Rhododendron, Rhododendron ponticum, is widely regarded to be one of the most destructive and widespread non-native terrestrial plant in Britain and has been responsible for the degradation of many of our native habitats, including our temperate rainforest, of which there is veryContinue reading “Rhododendron, the foreign invader smothering our native woodlands”

Hamerton Hall

Hamerton hall is a grade 2 listed, 16th century hall near to the village of Slaidburn in the Forest of Bowland, it was once the ancestral home of the Hamertons who were a very wealthy medieval family who were said to have been able to ride all the way from Slaidburn to York without leavingContinue reading “Hamerton Hall”