Villages of Bowland

You will see a contrast in the villages of Bowland - some are typical estate villages where buildings are of a similar age and design, for example, Downham, Slaidburn and Abbeystead. Others are more haphazard farming settlements or industrial hamlets. They each have their own distinctive charm and ‘sense of place’.

Abbeystead in Over Wyresdale

Nothing much is known of the history of Abbeystead before the Norman Conquest, except that it was occupied from at least the middle of the prehistoric period. The name is derived from "The site of the Abbey" and relates to the short-lived presence of a house of Cistercian monks in the reign of Henry II. The traditional site of the monk’s house is just below the junction of the Marshaw Wyre and the Tarnbrook Wyre, on the north side of the Reservoir.

There are a number of notable buildings in the Abbeystead area - the Cawthorne Endowed School rebuilt in the 19th century, Holme Farm opposite also 19th century and Abbeystead House built in 1886 by the Earl of Sefton. Records trace the chapel to the west of Abbeystead back to the 14th century. The church was rebuilt in 1733, with a spire and new chancel added during restoration in 1894. The Abbeystead reservoir was built in 1855 by the Corporation of Lancaster to supply mills lower down the River Wyre in the dry season. Although the reservoir is no longer in service it still features an attractive curved overflow weir visible from the footpath.

Bolton-by-Bowland

Bolton-by-Bowland is a tranquil and charming little village, with two village greens. The smaller green contains the remains of a 13th Century stone cross and old stocks. The village was recorded as Bodeton in the Domesday Book, meaning bow in the river. The church has many ornamental carvings and a font dating from 1500, which bears the arms of the Pudsay, Percy, Tempest, Hammerton and other families. The famous Pudsay tomb has an engraved figure of Sir Ralph Pudsay in full armour with the figures of his three wives and 25 children. Overlooking the River Ribble is Rainsber Scar, which is a beautiful spot - known locally as Pudsay’s leap where William Pudsay is said to have made the leap on horseback when being chased by soldiers for illegally minting his own coins.

Visit the Bolton-by-Bowland village website

Caton and Brookhouse

Caton lies amidst woodland and farmland in the beautiful Lune Valley. First recorded in the Domesday book, the village is thought to stem from the name of Kati (Old Norse) or C(e)atta (Old English), probably the name of an early settler with local influence. The Romans were present here, as is evidenced by the discovery of a Roman milestone in Artle Beck. In more recent times, the village grew to support several cotton mills following the industrial revolution, for example, Low Mill off Mill Lane. Whilst in the area, it is worth visiting the church in nearby Brookhouse, with a doorway dated to the twelfth century and a sixteenth century tower.

Visit the Caton village website

Chipping

Chipping is a picturesque village on the slopes above the River Loud. In Medieval days no less than five water mills were sited along Chipping beck. This is a conservation area with stone-built cottages, 17th century school and almshouses endowed by John Brabin, dyer and cloth merchant. The village also has a 13th century church, which was partly re-built in 1505 and in 1706 and again in the nineteenth century. The font has been in use for over 400 years. Chipping has a cheese maker, a chair factory, and a craft centre. Several attractive Inns are to be found in the village centre. Chipping is also home to the oldest continuously trading shop housed within the village’s quaint Post Office.

Visit the Chipping village website

Downham

Nestling under the bulk of Pendle Hill this is one of the loveliest villages in Lancashire, quiet and unspoiled, with a gurgling brook running past the village green and stone-built cottages. The church tower is a splendid example of 15th century architecture. Successive generations of the Assheton family have lived at Downham Hall since 1558; the present squire is Lord Clitheroe of Downham. A large stone by the entrance to Downham Hall is said to mark the final resting place of two legionnaires who died on the Roman road during trouble with the Brigantes. The village was used as a location for the famous film ‘Whistle Down the Wind’ and more recently the popular BBC drama ‘Born and Bred’ was filmed here. It also has associations with Old Mother Demdike and other infamous Lancashire witches.

Dunsop Bridge

Dunsop Bridge is the entrance to the famous Trough of Bowland. Lovely winding paths from here through the moors to Lancaster are popular with thousands of fell walkers. With resident ducks and grassy banks it is the perfect place to stop for a picnic or a cup of tea and a cake at the café. At St Hubert’s Church the painting of a horse on the ceiling above the altar is supposed to be of the 1861 Derby winner ‘Kettledrum’. Owned by the Towneley family it is said that the church was paid for with the horse’s winnings. Ordnance Survey have declared Dunsop Bridge as the official centre of the British Isles, the famous explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes unveiled the plaque that verifies this.

Hornby

The Lune Valley was at one time a major route through to Scotland and the North East. It retained a strong coaching trade throughout the 18th century and the Castle Hotel was one of the principal stabling points. Across the road is the parish church of St Margaret, dating from medieval times, but much restored in the 19th century and with gargoyles prominent on the unusual octagonal tower.

The main street is lined by Georgian dwellings; beside Lamb’s garage is a fine Victorian drinking fountain where a crest depicts a cat with a rat in its mouth. This is said to refer to Mr Pudsey Dawson, the one time owner of Hornby Castle, bringing in a large number of cats to clear the castle of a plague of rats in the middle of the 19th century.

From the bridge over the Wenning there’s a fine view of Hornby Castle, an imposing crenellated dwelling dating mainly from the 19th century although the peel tower dates partly from the 13th and 16th centuries. It is not open to the public. North of the village, above Loyn Bridge, is the site of an earlier motte and bailey castle known as Castle Stede, of which substantial earthworks remain.

Visit the Hornby village website

Hurst Green

The beautiful and idyllic village of Hurst Green is situated in the heart of the Ribble Valley. The village is reputed to be haunted by the Highwayman Ned King, who is thought to be the ghostly figure seen riding through the village late at night. Numerous reports of the hauntings have been made throughout the years. In life he came to his end not far from the Punch Bowl Inn. The Shireburn Arms is a 17th century hotel, named after Richard Shireburn who owned the land around the village. Hurst Green is also home to the beautiful church of St. Peter’s and Stonyhurst College, a world famous Roman Catholic boarding college. The magnificent buildings are set in extensive parkland with two huge ponds that were excavated in 1696. The college houses a wonderful museum collection including a 7th century Gospel of St. John. Cromwell stayed here in 1648. In 1811 the building became the first public building to be lit by gas. Conan Doyle creator of Sherlock Holmes is among many famous ex scholars of the college. The college was the setting for the novel ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’. You can even walk in the footsteps of author J.R.R. Tolkien, who regularly stayed there, on the famous ‘Tolkien Trail’ which explores the richly beautiful surrounding countryside that inspired him. A number of names which occur in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ are similar to those found locally.

Newton

The journey to this attractive spot over Waddington Fell provides views of breathtaking beauty. John Bright the Quaker spent two years of his early life here in the heart of the Hodder Valley. The Friends Meeting House dates from 1767.

Slaidburn

Slaidburn is a picturesque grey stone village set on the banks of the Hodder in the moorland region of the Forest of Bowland AONB. The 10th century ‘Angel Stone’ carving can be seen at Slaidburn Heritage Centre. The centre provides tourist information and houses displays, artifacts and an audio-visual presentation about the village’s heritage and the Forest of Bowland. The church of St. Andrew is mostly fifteenth century but has a history that can be traced back over ten centuries. Here you can see an 18th century three-decker pulpit complete with fringed cushions, massive ancient doors, a Jacobean chancel screen and unusual undisturbed Georgian box-pews which still retain the makers adze marks. Much of the woodwork is seventeenth century.

Visit the Slaidburn Village Hall website

Wennington

Wennington Hall dates originally from the 14th century, but the building you see today is a Victorian reconstruction, now used as a school. The village green would have been the site of both markets and fairs in past centuries and an old pound can be seen on the left near to the river, where stray animals would have been secured. The former Punch Bowl Inn, overlooking the green, is long closed. The narrow bridge over the River Wenning marks the boundary of the old Norman Lordship of Lonsdale.

Wray

At one time Wray was a local textile centre with silk mills, tanners and coopers, clog and basket makers, taking advantage of the fast flowing waters of the Roeburn and Wenning. The sublime mix of 17th century yeoman’s houses with cottages and alleys dating from the 18th century, give this village considerable character, as do the cobbles and corbelled doorways. Visit during the May Bank holiday and find the village inhabited by scarecrows during the annual scarecrow festival.

Visit the Wray village website

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