~Blackburn to Accrington~
16th February 2011
Another section of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. I took a train from Burnley to Mill Hill (Blackburn) and joined the towpath for a walk back to Oswaldtwistle.
Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....
Stanley Mill, The Engine House
Many old mills have a large doorway to the engine house, also with the arched window. I wonder if this was to accommodate the flywheel on its way into the factory? I walked to the station from work. Look up and you will see the stonework naming the mill and its year of construction - 1891. Stay with this story, there's a bit at the bottom about what lies beneath the pavement!
Burnley Central
When I researched the times of the train, it pointed out that the train would leave from platform 1. Very useful information. Where is platform 2?
The Canal, Mill Hill, Blackburn
The 30 minute rail journey brought me here. It's not a priority, but I might just walk the whole length of the L&L, but not in a joined up way and I'm always looking for public transport to help me construct a long, linear walk.
The Canal, Blackburn
Well, regular readers know that I don't like Blackburn. But, I'll try to be impartial on my walk through this northern town. The large building in the distance is the defunct Blackburn Royal Infirmary. Burnley has a mile straight, this falls a long way short.
Blackburn Locks
Thwaites Brewery
Daniel Thwaites, brewers of fine ales, including "Wainwright Ale".
Blackburn Railway Station
Once a grand Victorian building, now a glorified bus shelter. Here's how it was on 2nd January 1999 - in a sorry state and due for its demolition. My brother and I used to arrive here every morning on our trip to school, my dates being 1972 to c.1978 (circa because we switched to school bus). One day I'll tell you about the chocolate feast from the vending machine!
Photo courtesy of Peter Ratcliffe
Eanam Wharf, Blackburn
Granada Studio
On the left are studios for Granad tv, on the right is an old mill.
Imperial Mill, Blackburn
The observant will notice that Burnley had weaving mills and they were / are stone-faced. Blackburn and Bolton had mainly brick built spinning mills, taller with high ceilings. On the right is the engine house.
Whitebirk
A sense of relief as I walk away from Blackburn, the last bit is here - Whitebirk. Once there was a big power station here and the evidence is all around.
The National Grid
Pylons all around here, they may have removed the power station, but the power distribution facility is still here. You will see many different designs in this area, it's a mecca for pylon spotters!
Canal View
Today is this week's fine day. I climbed up above the towpath for a better look.
Disused Railway Line
There once was a line from Burnley, via Padiham and Great Harwood to Blackburn. I'll have more to say about this on another day.
Canal nr.Rishton
It occured to me that this chap could be me in another 30 years time, if you know what I mean. I'll come back to find out, keep watching!
Hambledon Hill
I'm looking over the fields towards Hambledon Hill. Clayton-le-Moors is in the middle ground.
The Canal at Rishton
Rishton is a small town close to Blackburn. To me, it's not important, but to one person, it's the centre of the universe. If you have a day to spare, click the link: Rishton.
M65 Clayton-le-Moors
This one's for road enthusiasts. I have read somewhere that this is England's hilliest motorway, it's up and down much of the way between Clayton and Walton Summit, near Preston.
Canal nr. Oswaldtwistle
Canal, Oswaldtwistle
This is where I left the canal and took the roadway to Accrington Railway Station. The nearest station would be Church & Oswaldtwistle, but Accrington has two trains per hour to Burnley, whereas C&O just has one and I didn't know the times.
Accrington Railway Station
Well, not much of it, but there were lots of folk stood around and they might have thought I was a rail enthusiast if I brandished the camera on the platform. My dignity was at stake.
Did I promise a little extra?
Under The Engine House
Remember the photo of Stanley Mill's Engine House? Under the floor are corridors surrounding the filled-in pit where the engine once stood. The chamber extends under the pavement and there we have found an old steam-powered water pump. This is fifteem foot below the ground.
The Water Pump
I have tried to work out the role of the pump. The mill had three thirsty "Lancashire" Boliers, it also retains a water tank on the roof. Maybe water was pumped from the well (not in view) to the boilers or to the water tank, or maybe the pump was a fire-fighting machine? The well is another mysterious place. Maybe one day, we'll drop another twenty feet down the well.....
Walkers: Just Me
Time taken: 3hr and 25 minutes over about 10 miles.
Route: Train from Burnley Central to Mill Hill, walk back along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal to Oswaldtwistle and then catch the train from Accrington.
Weather and conditions: Sunny Intervals, getting a little cloudy later one.
Greetings Count: Plenty of walkers on the canalside, but very few greetings, eyes don't meet and smiles don't come so easily in urban landscapes.
Richard's Refreshment Review: Nothing to report today.
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2011 ©
Take me back to the start ....