Around The Ashworth Valley

Please join me for a ramble through the Ashworth Valley, near Norden, Rochdale. We will walk through the valley itself, which takes in Chapel Lane, School Lane, Carr Woods, Coal Bank mill and Black Pits chimney. On the way there we will take a look at photos showing the ruins of what was once a rich and thriving industrial area - in particular we will look at Coal Bank mill and bleach works in Carr Woods, where the lovely Naden Brook flows, in what is now a very picturesque place, hidden deep inside the woods and where old industrial ruins merge in with the flora and fauna - as if time has stood still even though the industrial revolution and Coal Bank mill have been almost obliterated from what is now a "very" tranquil place.
                                                                         

Our little ramble starts at St James' Church on Chapel Lane (SJ8506 1390). The chapel dates from the early 1500s, being built by the Holt family of Ashworth Hall for their tenents. Go past the pub (Egerton Arms, now a private house) and turn left onto Ashworth Road and then left again onto School Lane to look at Ridd Cottages and the old school/parish hall. The tiny school-house was built by Wilbraham Egerton in 1838 for the Ashworth Estate. It closed in 1900. Today it is St James' parish hall. Carry on along School Lane to Carr Woods. At the bridge over the Naden Brook notice a gated driveway on the right-hand side. Here was the entrance to the former Carr Woods tea rooms (now a private residence). Now go back up the lane a bit and take the footpath on the right- hand side (between the two gates) and walk along here through the woods beside the steep-sided, precarious bank along which the Naden brook flows. Follow this path, which is a former tramway, for half a mile until you reach a modern curved wooden bridge. Here Mill Croft brook joins the Naden brook at Wolstenholme Fold, near Norden.

Here at Coal Bank in Fester Clough (Ordnance Survey Grid Reference: SD 85592 14167) we have now reached the objective of our ramble the site of a cotton-spinning mill beside the Naden brook. Although the cotton spinning mill-cum-bleach-works has been almost obliterated - if you look closely you can still find the ruins of this one-time industrial enclave. In the 19th century the place began life as a cotton spinning mill, but in the late 19th century the mill became  a bleach works.  Then in the early part of the 20th century the works closed down for good after a fire consumed the building in 1916. Much of the mill building was then pulled down and great quantities of the stonework taken away to local places. Part of a wall still stands as do the foundations of buildings, including the lodge? The Coal Bank mill chimney has recently been pulled down and the site levelled somewhat in order to make way for new pathways and modern wooden bridges - and to make a nice place to stroll and enjoy one's self in this peaceful place.

Now follow the path across the little bridge and turn to the left in the direction of the Black Pits Chimney and the Norden bus terminus. The very tall chimney is, now very sadly, all that remains of the Black Pits cotton-spinning mill that had flourished during the 19th and the early 20th century. A new modern housing estate now fills this once thriving industrial valley along which flows the Naden brook. Notice also a spring of water flowing into a water trough at the side of the footpath; this would have been used by thirsty horses pulling carts along the cobbled trackway. We now reach the end of our ramble.

                                       

Copyright © RayS57, 2012 (Updated 2023).

Around Bacup

Here we go again with another short ramble, but this time around Bacup looking at some of the curiosities in and around the town. We shall look at the famous 'Wall of History', the Bacup Natural History Society museum and a couple of war-time memorials and, anything else that we might find of interest along the way. So, come along on this little ramble and enjoy.

Start at the 'Wall of History' in the Heritage Garden (originally called Newgate Gardens) a little way along Todmorden road, just past the N.A.T museum. Here we find many things of interest including old date stones, foundation stones, carved heads, stone lions and a manually-operated stone grinding machine complete with a huge millstone sitting upon a round-shaped pathway. Running through the central hole of the millstone is a wooden beam that would have been pushed round by either a person, or maybe a mule ?

One of two stone lions guard the entrance to the garden -- this one survives intact and bears a shield with a worn inscription. This carved lion obviously came from some very grand house in Bacup and could well be 19th century in date.

This rather gruesome looking stone-head is built into the wall of the garden here. And, although often considered to be Celtic in origin it is, in fact, a 19th century carving that was rescued from the wall of the Rockcliffe Vale mill chimney in Bacup in 1913 and later given to The Bacup Natural History Society Museum. The mill itself was built in 1837. They then had the head and a similar head, of an animal, placed in the History Garden next to their museum building. It is what one might call a Victorian "fake" Celtic head, but it is very, very convincing nevertheless.

Here is another curious stone which is built into the 'Wall of History' in The Heritage Garden. This one is obviously a date stone from some religious building or meeting house that once stood in Bacup. Carved onto the stone is A & B Hill along with some religious symbolism and the date 1821. An angel blows a horn while the lamb of God carries a cross and a sun symbol can be seen.

Here's another curious date stone set into the wall of the garden. This one is inscribed with the name J.M.W. 1855. Pleasent View. So, did this stone come from some rather grand house or maybe from a Victorian industrial building in Bacup? There is what looks like a blacksmith's forge, two heads and two trees at either side. A very odd one indeed.

 

 

Now as you leave the garden by way of the steps down onto the path you will notice two stone heads built into the wall at either side. But now very worn one in particular looks like the head of some notable local personage or the benefactor of a church, or some other establishment. By the look of the hat the figure could be from the late medieval period ? And lastly we will take a look at The Bacup Natural History Society Museum (N.A.T.S), so go back down towards the town a short distance and the little building is there in front of you on the right-hand side.

 

Here is the Bacup Natural History Society Museum (N.A.T.S). There's lot of Antiquarian stuff inside the museum from prehistoric to more recent times from in and around Bacup and, one or two other surprises to! The museum is open every Thursday evening from 7.30 pm for lectures and for people to come and have a look around.