Return to 2009 Lancashire Hot Pot Run
The third annual hotpot run on 21st June 2009 started at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel near Blackburn. Over early morning coffee our host and organiser John Brennand gave us explicit directions and staged route maps and introduced and welcomed both new and seasoned Hotpotters.
However, always one for surprises John announced that Geoff a biker more than an XKer was to be the chief navigator having the previous year impressed members with his intimate knowledge of the roads in Lancashire ( it's a biker thing) There was of course one problem Geoff being chief navigator meant that I was lead driver - but there lie a big problem as I am unfortunately ."directionally challenged” left , right , right , left oK Guys you may be saying it's a woman thing and true when studied by Sonja Ofte, of Norway it was found in tests men did significantly better than women, Anyway, I digress, not only was I lead driver but the responsibility of the write up was also delegated to ME! Last year I did a poem but members didn't like my poetry I protested - they want technical and you know I don't do technical. However, John did not listen so here I am weeks later scraps of notes, jaguar literature and statistics thinking what do I write …. So maybe a bit of technical I'll get help I thought I'll ask a real enthusiast one who looks like he thrived on the technical, what can I write I asked …..“ the cars are all the colours of the rainbow” he said …yes they were but surely that's not technical - sorry that's woman technical …..are you having a laugh OK, OK a very stereotypical statement - sorry please don't write and complain(again)
Anyway … the route, the countryside the hotpotters I must press on …PS John how many words How many pages …. !
So back to the beginning, a fitting place to start the run, The Dunkenhalgh, like the Jaguar XK, has pedigree. Its history can be traced back to the 13th Century a historic countryside mansion now a luxury hotel. The brochure states that on arriving it is easy to leave the strains of your journey behind ……obviously not driven an XK strain, what strain? A pure joy to drive.
So refreshed we set off … well sort off - from one car park to another that was for the obligatory photo - now these photos are precise, the curvature of the lined XK's is all important - hoods up , hoods down - Liza put your boot down , spoils the photo! Drivers in , drivers out , navigators looking navigational ….. and then (finally) we're ready to set off …. Following signs for the Trough of Bowland and Spen Brook with photo opportunity en route we drove through Newchurch in Pendle, a village attached to the Pendle Witch myth and detailed on the Pendle Witches Scenic Car Trail . We passed the well known unusual shop, Witches Galore and the Church where the grave of the witch Alice Nutter can be found near the church door with a skull and crossbones carved on it.
Clinging to the southern side of the majestic Pendle Hill the road continued on to Barley with spectacular scenery all around and then to Downham for the obligatory comfort break, an opportunity to consider the history of this pretty and unspoilt hamlet and to visit the mens' toilets! urinals in the original pens used for the pigs.
There has been a settlement in Downham since long before the Nornam Conquest and the estate village run by the Asseton family is set on the Old Roman Road between Ilkley and Ribchester. Although internally modernised the cottages along the main street would still be recognized by an 18th Century visitor as no external arials/satellite dishes allowed on the properties as the village is frequently used for filming such programmes as 'Whistle Down the Wind' and 'Born and Bred'.
Visitors guides state that the 18th Century tranquillity of this splendid place can be enjoyed in full on a quiet days but as we passed by the Assheton Arms we were flagged down by Johns B and W for another photo being directed one by one to pull away and leave the village so I must apologise if the throaty roar of 11 XK's and XKR's marred the serenity of this lovely place. .
From Downham it was off to Rimmington made world famous because a man called Francis Duckworth, a talented musician was born in the village on Christmas Day.. He loved conducting brass bands and wrote many hymn tunes which he named after local villages such as Downham. His tune Rimmington is sung all over with the words “ Jesus shall reign where'er the sun “ and a few bars of this most famous tune are inscribed on his gravestone in St Marys churchyard in nearby Gisburn. On the chapel wall at Martin Top there is a sundial in the wall warning us all that time flies very quickly and should not be wasted .......................................
From Gisburn we travelled a further 19.2 miles, John is nothing if not precise, to enter Gisburn Forest the largest wooded area in Lancashire, created in 1948, where we were warned that the roads were narrow with passing places. Narrow, nota bene- if you are the lead car - 1. you are the first to be hit, and 2, if your car drops into very muddy ditch and needs recovery your followers know not to follow - still the roads were for a Sunday surprisingly quiet, no walkers, no cyclists, well quiet until we came across an MG rally travelling in the opposite direction but the XK's pulled rank - the MGs pulling to one side to allow the mighty Jaguars to proceed unhindered. With the changing weather it was noted that the hoods of the XK's had been speedily put back in place whilst the occupants of the MGs were looking somewhat windswept - hmm the advantage of mechanisation - 18 seconds! However, the roads were lovely leaving opportunities to open up whilst checking in the mirrors the cars behind were still in vision. I had to remember the responsibility of being lead car ….tho lacking all jaguar enthusiasts knowledge they were simply referred to as the red one and the silver one
Whilst negotiating the main hazard of sheep and lambs seemingly oblivious to any green cross, or any, code, Geoff, you may recall a biker was giving me a bend by bend bike (as in motorbike) route profile which I tried to emulate. (Sorry red and silver) We were however very pleased that this part of the route had been planned for late morning thus avoiding any chance of meeting a milk lorry on route …. Dicey, very dicey. We did meet a tractor and yes lead car had to steal the way - into the unknown grass verge looking particularly deep and rutted in places - slowly slowly said navigator Geoff , but did red and silver follow - one did the other retreated into the safety of a passing place.
In the distance we passed Stocks Reservoir built in 1932 to supply the Fylde and having let off steam , sorry lets be technical opened the throttle we came to Bowlands Knott and a photo opportunity with splendid views of Ingleborough, Peny ghent and Fountain Fell along with the Yorkshire dales in the distance. A conversation stop as to which hill was which along with admiration of the route and the handling of the XK but with a rain looming the Hotpotters were keen get to the road …..sorry the Pub the next stop! In High Bentham we pulled into the car park of the Black Bull advertised as Coffee, comfort break and leg stretch which was eagerly awaited by Fran who had made the journey hitherto in the back of Lizas XK, a 2+2 with headroom and legroom in the region of 33 and 23.7” respectfully or shall we say limited!?
The stop was supposed to be a brief but the sun came out, the beer was good and so was the conversation -t he route, the scenery, the car. But John was keen that we make headway and so it was back to the road and towards Wray famous for its scarecrows, although lead navigator missed the turning, John won't be pleased I said we've missed the scarecrows - the festival is in May they won't be there now was the reply and so we were in Hornby dominated by Hornby Castle above the River Wenning.
We followed the route of the River Lune to Gressingham and Kirby Lonsdale where upon Lead Navigator, ignoring lead driver, failed to deliver, believing the direction to Old Town was literally the Old part of Kirby Lonsdale as opposed to the actual place Old Town. Fortunately followers had spotted the deliberate mistake and continued onto Old Town leaving lead driver to follow in their wake. The remainder of the route was seemingly uneventful except when both Liza and I (yes I know the 2 lady drivers of the group) independently decided that there was only so long one could wait at road work traffic lights - yes we know green means go, but there were things to see and places to go ….and any way with so long to wait surely they weren't working !
So it was on to Oxenholme where the station was designed by architect William Tite builder of the Bank of England and the Royal Exchange in Threadneedle St., London and via Kendal an historic market town on the banks of the River Kent and standing as the entrance to the English Lakes District., but we were nearly at our destination and followed the A591 and A590 for our final stop after 75.6 miles of fabulous scenery.
Already busy with Fathers Day diners the procession of both topless and coupe XK's to the Strickland Arms was met with admiring if not inquisitive glances. It was just gone 2pm, Johns' timing was, as always, impeccable. On this trip there was no time wasted, beautiful countryside to enjoy and remember then at the end of a well planned route the opportunity to sit awhile with good food, drink and company to recall the drive of the day ….another unforgettable Lancashire Hotpot Run…Lancashire is a beautiful county - I can't wait for next years Hotpot run, I hope you will join us.
Angela C McNeela