Shuttles are elegantly formed wooden tools used for weaving textiles, like cotton, on looms, they are usually manufactured from Dogwood, Cornel or Persimmon, all hardwoods which rarely splinter. Within a shuttle is a hollow which contains a hinged ‘shuttle peg’, upon this is mounted a ‘pirn’, basically a long thin reel or bobbin, around whichContinue reading “Cotton Chronicles, Kissing Shuttles”
Category Archives: #Lancashire
Just a Little Thank-you
Hello everybody, I hope you’re all having a great weekend whatever you’re doing and finding some peace in what are undoubtably troublesome times. There’s not much to this post, I really just wanted to wish all of you the best and say thank-you for liking what I do. I’d also like to welcome everyone whoContinue reading “Just a Little Thank-you”
Clitheroe Castle Panorama
A panoramic video taken from the ramparts of Clitheroe Castle in the Ribble Valley, the soundtrack is Human Being by the Beta Band
Northern Shores: The Knots of Morecambe Bay
The vast tidal estuary of Morecambe Bay is one of the most significant sites for birdlife in the British Isles, supporting over 240,000 birds annually. Among its most iconic avian visitors is the Knot, Calidris canutus, a small, stocky wading bird known for its remarkable migrations and mesmerising flock displays. A holarctic species, breeding inContinue reading “Northern Shores: The Knots of Morecambe Bay”
Padiham on Parade 2025
Here are some shots from Padiham on Parade 2025, we only had time for a flying visit so missed the main events and a lot of people had gone home by this time. To learn more about Padiham Town Hall see here: Padiham Town Hall For some shots of Padiham on Parade 2024 and 2023Continue reading “Padiham on Parade 2025”
Old Clitheroe, a Poem by Thomas Birch Dedicated to the Ancient Ribble valley Market Town
Old Clitheroe There’s a spot in Old England that’s still dear to me, On the banks of the Ribble that runs to the sea; In the shade of Old Pendle, whose summit I’ve trod, Ere a thought of its grandeur had entered my “nod.” I’ve traversed its meadows and pastures so green, In my wand’ringsContinue reading “Old Clitheroe, a Poem by Thomas Birch Dedicated to the Ancient Ribble valley Market Town”
Heather Beetle Outbreaks, a Brief Study of the Ecology of Lochmaea suturalis and Effects of Population Outbreaks on Moorland Habitats and Communities
The heather beetle, Lochmaea suturalis, is a small, unassuming olive-brown leaf beetle measuring about 6mm, and it has long been a part of our moorland ecosystems. While unremarkable in appearance, this native insect can wreak havoc when its populations surge, causing devastating outbreaks that threaten heather moorlands, their biodiversity, and the communities that depend onContinue reading “Heather Beetle Outbreaks, a Brief Study of the Ecology of Lochmaea suturalis and Effects of Population Outbreaks on Moorland Habitats and Communities”
Dunsop Bridge’s Beginnings
Part of a Series of Notes about Dunsop Bridge and other Hodder Valley Communities At the heart of Great Britain, in the centre of the Forest of Bowland, sits the pretty, well-kept village of Dunsop Bridge. Just 9 miles northwest of the Ribble valley town of Clitheroe, this tiny settlement is often celebrated as theContinue reading “Dunsop Bridge’s Beginnings”
Northwest Nature and History 