NT 2024 Summer Holiday to Mid-Lancashire
If you were unable to join us on our 2024 holiday in mid-Lancashire, you have missed a great opportunity to explore that often-overlooked area of the country. It is an area blighted by prejudice that it is one of dark satanic mills, dull rainy days and people scuttling about, straight out of a Lowry painting. In reality there is a wealth of interesting places to visit, beautiful countryside ranging from moorland via picturesque valleys to the seaside. All this together with the warm welcome from the locals, proud to share their region with us.
We started at RHS Bridgwater Gardens, formed from the terraced grounds of the Earl of Edgerton’s Worsley New Hall. Its only their third year of opening; still a work in progress with many areas to be developed, but already has many completed features, including the 11-acre walled garden, the Chinese Garden and walks through the extensive grounds. We started with a garden, and we finished the holiday at Tatton Park where after high tea we had a chance for a stroll in their gardens.
The Lowry Centre had a fascinating exhibition which includes much more about Lowry’s own history such as his childhood, family life and how his art developed and was influenced by other artists such as the Newlyn group.
A guided boat trip around Salford’s docks helped us to appreciate how important it had been in enabling shipping to speedily bring raw cotton and other goods direct to the Manchester region, bypassing delays at Liverpool’s docks. A different form of transport was the steam train ride on the East Lancashire Railway, a lovely, scenic journey of 12 miles from Bury, to Rawtenstall, travelling up through the now quiet valley of the River Irwell.
Salford’s oldest building, Ordsall Hall dates back 800 years, it has had many owners, been put to many uses and subsequently suffered great neglect. It was in a sorry state when Salford City Council invested much time, money and effort into its rescue, and it is now run as a museum with children from local schools regularly visiting. Legend has it that Guy Fawkes and the then owner, Robert Gatesby, planned the Gunpowder Plot in its Star Chamber.
Gawthorpe Hall, is an interesting Grade 1 Jacobean house owned by the NT but managed by Lancashire County Council, Unlike Ordsall, its tired appearance illustrates the difficulties cutbacks are having on council’s abilities to meet their responsibilities. Hopefully things will improve before too long.
Rufford Old Hall. also Grade 1 listed but in a better state originates from 1530 but only the Great Hall with its original Tudor moving screen survives. There is a strong possibility that Shakespear came here on ‘work experience’. In 1661, after Charles II succession to the throne, the revival of the family’s fortune enabled a Jacobean style brick extension to be built. A brick 3-storey wing was added In 1820s and in 1860s a castellated tower to connect the Great Hall with the Jacobean wing.
Leighton Hall in the north of the county is the home of the Gillow family whose original designs and high-quality furniture was fashionable during the 1700s. Still lived in by the Gillow family it has the natural welcoming atmosphere of a loved family home and still having many examples of the Gillow furniture and artefacts. While there many of us were enjoying a birds of prey display; until our leader hustled us back to the coach for the long journey to our hotel!
We also got to see the sea at Southport but only from a distance. It had been in very recently but was now well on its way back out again. However, It was nice to be able to inhale the sea breeze even if only a few people actually put a toe in the water. Also included was a visit to the British Commercial Vehicles Museum (formerly Leyland Truck Museum) which proved to be surprisingly entertaining and interesting. As so often with this type of museums, the guides are ex-employees of the business, and their enthusiasm was catching.
We stayed at The Last Drop Inn, just outside Bolton, very comfortable with friendly and helpful staff. Our coach was Johnson’s and their driver, Tim, coped with all potential problems with a smile. Yet again our Centre has produced a very well planned and organised holiday, with something for everyone. We are truly grateful to Chris and Denise for their diligence and attention, while arranging everything, thus enabling us to just sit back and enjoy ourselves without a care. Things like our holiday and the summer outings will only be able to continue if more members join in their arranging. Please give it serious thought for the Centre’s future.
Katey Fletcher