Shepherd’s Crowns

We have a shelf in our house with all sorts of knick-knacks and treasures arranged upon it, an eclectic collection of interesting and shiny objects that we’ve chosen in a manner akin to a Magpie, and carefully placed like a Bower bird. These things include seashells, candles, Mamod steam engines, interesting coins and things I’veContinue reading “Shepherd’s Crowns”

Oh! come Across the Fields

Oh! Come Across the Fields, by Edwin Waugh Now, from dreary winter’s dream awaking, glad nature robes herself to meet the spring; Hark, how the blithesome birds are making, among the trees their songs of welcoming! Oh, come across the fields, my love, and through the woods with me; As nature moves toward the spring,Continue reading “Oh! come Across the Fields”

Clitheroe’s Ancient Wells

The market town of Clitheroe is unique in Lancashire for being the only one built predominantly of, and on Limestone and owes much of its existence to the waters which bubble up through its calciferous bedrock. It was founded around three ancient wells, St Mary’s Well, Heald Well, and Stocks Well, which served not onlyContinue reading “Clitheroe’s Ancient Wells”

May, a Lancashire Dialect poem by John Rawcliffe

May Though every month for me’s a cherm,Aw’m fain as Winter’s hed his term;For thy breath’s gradely sweet an’ werm,        Aw like thee, May!Tha looks best deawn bi th’ owd Stydd ferm        At break o’ day. Wheer th’ banks o’ Ribble’s weshed wi’ t’ flood,Aw tramped through mony a field an’ wood;Aw see tha’s paintedContinue reading “May, a Lancashire Dialect poem by John Rawcliffe”

The Holy Thorn of Stonyhurst College

Deep in the heart of Lancashire’s Ribble Valley, under the shadow of Longridge Fell, sits stately Stonyhurst College, a 400-year-old Jesuit institution. It is home to many artworks and treasures, including one of the most revered relics in the Christian world; a thorn believed to be from the Crown of Thorns placed on Jesus Christ’sContinue reading “The Holy Thorn of Stonyhurst College”

Blood Rain

The Remarkable Meteorological Phenomena of Saharan Dust Events Every so often, the skies over the British Isles take on an eerie, hazy glow, and cars are blanketed with a fine layer of reddish dust. These are the telltale signs of a Saharan dust event, a remarkable meteorological phenomenon where dust from the Sahara Desert travelsContinue reading “Blood Rain”

Limekiln Landscapes; the Legacy of Bowland’s Limekilns

Hidden away deep in the Forest of Bowland, sagged and slumped under the weight of time and overgrown with mosses, ferns and lichens, lie relics of a once great industry; the manufacture of Quicklime. These unassuming structures, now mostly reclaimed by time and nature, were once vital to the agricultural and economic life of theContinue reading “Limekiln Landscapes; the Legacy of Bowland’s Limekilns”

The Upland Collection

Here is a list of some of the articles I have published which fall under the broad category of ‘moorland’ or ‘uplands’, it’s by no means exhaustive as there will be some I’ve missed out, some which overlap other themes and others which sit on the fringes. I hope you find it a useful and/orContinue reading “The Upland Collection”