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~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.

Canal

Leeds & Liverpool Canal

Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....

Stanley Mill

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

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?

Mill Hill, Blackburn

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.

Canal, Blackburn

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

Blackburn Locks

Thwaites

Thwaites Brewery

Daniel Thwaites, brewers of fine ales, including "Wainwright Ale".

Blackburn Railway Station

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!

Blackburn Railway Station

Photo courtesy of Peter Ratcliffe

Eanam Wharf

Eanam Wharf, Blackburn

Granada Studio

Granada Studio

On the left are studios for Granad tv, on the right is an old mill.

Imperial 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

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.

Pylons

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

Canal View

Today is this week's fine day. I climbed up above the towpath for a better look.

Disused rail line

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

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!

Hamledon Hill

Hambledon Hill

I'm looking over the fields towards Hambledon Hill. Clayton-le-Moors is in the middle ground.

Rishton

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

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

Canal nr. Oswaldtwistle

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

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 floor

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.

Steam Pump

Steam Pump

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 ....

Take me home....