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Jaguar XK8/R - Ribble Valley Scenic Run

Sunday 16th . September 2007

Guidance Notes and Points of Interest

• Ribble Valley

The Ribble Valley has several claims to fame. It was in the national headlines when it was revealed that the Queen would like to retire to the Ribble Valley (in ' Elizabeth ', the Queen's biography, by Sarah Bradford).

Ordnance Survey has declared the village of Dunsop Bridge to be the official 'centre of the kingdom'. In 1992 the famous explorer Sir Ranolph Fiennes unveiled the 100,000th payphone, located by British Telecom on the riverside green in the village. The payphone's plaque actually confirms its national grid reference as S.D. 6377 5655 the United Kingdom centre. It is fortunate that Dunsop Bridge is one of the most attractive parts of the kingdom, a fitting setting for such an important location.

The scenery is so breathtaking that it has often been said to be J.R.R. Tolkien's inspiration for the setting of the Shire in his book 'Lord of the Rings'. Tolkien wrote most of his book in the Ribble Valley after having visited Stonyhurst College . Many of the local walks bear names that made it into his books and a drive around the countryside takes in many places with an uncanny resemblance to the home of the Hobbits.

 

•  Stonyhurst College

( http://www.stonyhurst.ac.uk/article_4.shtml )

Stonyhurst as an entity has two histories, which are outlined here. The building, now known as Stonyhurst College , was originally a Manor House, owned by minor gentry of Lancashire, whilst the school itself was originally based in St Omers, until it migrated to Lancashire .

•  Stonyhurst Hall

The building of Stonyhurst Hall was founded by the Roman Catholic , Richard Shireburn, who built the gatehouse and towers on top of an older settlement from 1592 (Shireburn ancestors: the Baileys lived here previously). During the Civil Wars, Oliver Cromwell spent a night at Stonyhurst and slept on a table in the middle of the Great Hall before the Battle of Preston in 1648. He slept in full armour to stop his potential murder at the hands of the Catholics, who were also supporters of the King. He was quoted as saying it was "the best half house" he had seen.

Gardens built by Sir Nicholas Shireburn, with sports fields in foreground, Stonyhurst College

His successor and grandson, Sir Nicholas Shireburn, began a massive building plan to extend the "half house", and completed the great hall, gardens and avenue so that it could be a great manor house.

Unfortunately, his son Richard was poisoned in the gardens in 1702 and with no male heir, Nicholas ceased building. On Nicholas' death, in 1717, the buildings passed to his wife and then onto their sole heir: Mary, the Duchess of Norfolk. The Duchess was married to Thomas Howard, 8th Duke of Norfolk , and lived in Arundel Castle , many miles from Stonyhurst, so the buildings began to fall into disrepair.

Eventually, the houses were inherited by her cousin, Thomas Weld in 1754. Already living in Lulworth Castle , and not needing an extra Hall, Thomas donated it to the Society of Jesus in 1794. Thomas was a member of a prominent Roman Catholic family, several of whose members had been associated with the school .

No longer in use, Cromwell's Bridge once carried a packhorse trail over the River Hodder, about a mile from its confluence with the Ribble.

It earned its name after Oliver Cromwell's parliamentary army crossed the bridge on their way from Gisburn to where they fought the King's men in the Battle of Preston.

This is the lowest crossing point of the Hodder and it seems an earlier bridge preceeded this one. The “Brig of Hoder ” is referred to in a judgement by Richard Sherburne in 1430. That bridge was damaged by floods. It was a later Sir Richard Sherburne, presumably a descendant, who provided the stone and paid the masons to build Cromwell's Bridge, as it was later to be known.

 

( http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=683 )

This village at the entrance to the Trough of Bowland has officially been declared the nearest village to the centre of the British Isles . A telephone box marks the spot. The Pendle witches travelled through the Trough to Lancaster for judgement. Brennand Valley is just one of many beauty spots threading the fells near Dunsop Bridge . In Slaidburn's Church Street there is a plaque stating that the school there was endowed and erected by John Brennand, a much-respected benefactor, who died in 1717 .

 

•  Inn At Whitewell

( http://www.innatwhitewell.com/welcome.php )

Excellent 14th Century inn overlooking the River Hodder. Situated adjacent to the village church in the heart of the lovely Forest of Bowland . Has its own fishing rights within 3 acres of grounds and art gallery.

Everybody agrees that proprietor Richard Bowman is a bit of an unusual and quirky character, but this does ensure that a visit to this delightful inn in the tiny, and slightly remote, village of Whitewell , is guaranteed not to be a boring experience.

However, it is also renowned as being one of the finest places to dine in the area, and the numerous awards that it has received during more than twenty years under his ownership are evidence of that. Delightfully different inside, with log fires, colourful rugs and an amazing mix of pieces and pieces, it has a comfortable feel .

Excellent bar food could run to sirloin steak or beer-battered haddock and chips, and a delicious fish pie; the restaurant is a touch more sophisticated with main courses like roast Goosnargh duck with black pudding sausage and tomato and bean cassoulet or local estate venison with walnut and thyme rösti, baked figs and sloe gin sauce.

Wines are very much a feature, and the list has been compiled with great care and expertise, it also provides good value.

•  Slaidburn

( http://www.slaidburn.org.uk/ )

Whilst undoubtedly picturesque, and certainly worth a visit if touring in North-west  England , Slaidburn is most definitely not a heritage "theme park". It is a living, working village still largely dependent on agriculture, with a large number of its inhabitants working in the local area.

Isolated and protected by the surrounding Bowland fells, and largely owned by a single family for almost 200 years, the village has remained un-spoilt by modern development and is virtually unchanged since the early 19th Century.

•  Hark to Bounty Inn – Slaidburn

( www.harktobounty.co.uk )

T he inn is reputed to date back to the 1300s, although most of the existing fabric of the building dates from the 16th century. The inn was known as The Dog until 1875, when the squire of the village, who was also the Rector, had a pack of hounds. One day whilst out hunting, he and his party called at the inn for refreshments. Their drinking was disturbed by a loud and prolonged baying from the pack outside. High above the noise of the other hounds could be heard the squire's favourite dog, which prompted him to call out .... "Hark to Bounty!"

( http://www.francisfrith.com/search/england/lancashire/waddington/ )

A small stream that runs down from Waddington Fell and the Moorcock Inn as it runs right through the centre of the village to join the Ribble.

It was at Waddington Old Hall that Henry VI took refuge after leaving Bolton-by-Bowland , and it was here that he was betrayed and captured in nearby Clitheroe Wood.

The church of St Helen , with its 15th-century tower, can be seen on the skyline. It was largely rebuilt, but very much in keeping with the original style, in 1901.

Many of the Parker family from nearby Browsholme Hall are buried here in the church, and they have their own chapel and pews.

http://www.moorcockinn.co.uk

The Moorcock Inn is ideally placed to explore the beautiful Ribble Valley, thetownof Clitheroe with its famous castle and market is only a short drive away. Thewhole area is steeped in history with Stonyhurst College, Browsholme Hall and Whalley Abbey nearby and the Hotel itself is over 100 years old. 

•  The Shireburn Arms

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