Saturday 11^th October 2014

In the summer of 2015 ERG will be offering a guided walk as part of the UWHG’s summer programme. So today we set off on a gentle stroll along our proposed route in order to start thinking about what we were going to point out along the way.

Unfortunately David was unavoidably detained and couldn’t join us for the walk, but our newest ERG member, Caroline, was able to join us. It was a beautiful day as we set off from the car park in Embsay. We aimed at between 2 and 3 hours, and managed to keep within that time, with lots of stops to consider points of historic interest along the way. 

Chris & Caroline discuss the historic landscape; Tony contemplates the clapper bridge at his feet; while Ruth & Sue have a good old gossip behind                          (c) Jane Lunnon

The main question will be what to leave out of course, as there is so much we could include.

Interested onlookers at Mawking hole  (c) Jane Lunnon  

Having seen virtually no one along most of the walk through Eastby, along Bark Lane and over the fields toward Halton East, we were rather overwhelmed to suddenly leave the peace and quiet and be thrown into the lively crowds at Calm Slate Farm’s ice cream parlour where families were out enjoying the Indian Summer. But the queue for those delicious ice creams was worth it. We managed to find a table with benches where we could have a natter, before returning to Embsay.    

At our house, we enjoyed a cup of tea and David turned up, which was good because we were then able to have an impromptu meeting to discuss preparations for our presentation at the UWHG Members’ Night in December.

Caroline then very kindly gave us a quick look at the little complex of buildings which make up the Embsay Children’s Centre so that we could try to understand the relationship of the former chapel (built in 1911) to the buildings shown on the 1847 Tithe Map, and mentioned in other records. Since this is where the British School used to be it was also of great interest as we are currently transcribing the school log books.

All in all, a packed day, very productive, and I think everyone enjoyed it.

Jane Lunnon