29/04/2024
According to the national press we are losing public houses at a frightening rate Across the United Kingdom, the great British public house had become a national institution. A place to meet, A place to have fun, A place full of memories for all of us. However, It seems the 21st century has a problem with these gorgeous old ancient inns that had survived the great recessions and the horrors of world wars. Some feel this is the cost of Alcohol the smoking ban and of course driving under the influence. The names of are inns have always fascinated me, and most importantly pub signs, there are some fabulous names out there, Like Kendal’s C**k and Dolphin now sadly gone, And the golden rule Ambleside to name a few. What I love about these fabulous inns are the stories that they all have to tell, heroes villains’ ghosts and the odd Murder. In 2012 I had an idea that really did catch on in the world of tourism, I live in the beautiful Ribble valley, An area I can only describe as the Lake district meets the Yorkshire Dales. There are some spectacular villages out there that all have their own pubs some dating back to the 18th centuries. All these inns have fascinating stories behind them. I researched a variety of stories relating to the history and characters that frequented them that, I felt would make a very good guided tour in the form of a mini bus tour visiting five ancient inns, And yes having a drink in all of them. The tour starts in Clitheroe by the railway station and we make are way by mini bus straight to the village of Waddington and a fabulous old inn called the lower buck in ,I understand the Buck dates back to 1729.Are story starts on a beautiful may day in 1833 the Bucks landlord is Mr William Southworth by all accounts he was exceptionally good at his job ,He had a wife and eight children that lived with him .This may day was going to prove a very sad one for his family .William made his way across the village to the local butcher to buy meat .The butcher was a Mr Thomas Crowther ,On entering the shop William was somewhat shocked to see Crowther actually hitting Mrs Crowther, He could not just stand there so he intervened ,but in doing so he immediately became engaged in a fight with Crowther. William was quite a powerfully built man, And soon overpowered his opponent Crowther, leaving him on the floor groaning from a punch to the chin. That night Crowther in an alcohol fuelled temper made his way in to the lower buck, Shouting, You have been telling people about me hitting my wife. William protested all I did was rescue your wife from a nasty hiding replied Southworth, Crowther shouted I will have you for this and for the second time inside 24 hours both me came to blows. William was getting the upper hand again when Crowther reached in to his jacket and produced a butcher’s knife, He plunged the knife deep in to William’s chest and pierced his heart, mortally wounded Southworth made his way to the door and collapsed on the cobble stones outside the door. He died shortly after in the arms of his weeping wife and children lamenting at his untimely death. Crowther started to run away ,But was arrested in the next village west Bradford by police constable Pinder . Before 1974 this area came under the west riding of Yorkshire so Crowther was sent to the York assises and put on trial, there he was found not guilty of murder but manslaughter and deported to Tasmania where he was worked to death soon after arriving. However, to this day you can see his graffiti on the outside wall of the York mews museum the old prison. We then after a swift ale make are way back on the mini bus and set of for the village of Slaidburn and the magnificent Hark to bounty Inn again dating back to the early 18th century, The inn owes its name to one of the foxhounds belonging to that famous huntsman John peel ,who said those famous words Hark to bounty whilst enjoying a drink inside ,Bounty of course was barking in a restless manner waiting for the hunt to begin. Because Slaidburn is so isolated the inn was used as a court for offenders to be brought to justice. To this very day upstairs you will find the old law courts, Decommissioned after 1974. The courts did cover quite a horrific murder in .1855 the sad story of a little boy called Thomas gardener ,his only crime in life was to be unloved .His mother grace Isherwood came from Dalton in Furness, She had two sons the youngest being poor Thomas . Grace heard about a job as a housekeeper to a farmer in the Newton area she took her eldest son with her after being successful in her application as house keeper .The farmer took a shine to grace and offered to marry her ,Although she was a lot younger that the farmer she accepted the proposal of marriage .He accepted her son, However grace never told him about the second son Thomas ,She had left him in care at Dalton ,But apparently not sent any money to pay for his keep. Grace received a letter from her sister Isabella wrote to grace informing her that as a result of no money for Thomas’s keep, she was going to bring him to Clitheroe, And told her sister to meet her at the railway station. In those days of course no telephones just communication by letter, So grace had no option but to meet her sister three days after receiving this letter. The train pulled in to Clitheroe station ,Grace met her sister Isabella and little Thomas .Grace shouted at her sister I cannot take Thomas back to the farm my husband will throw me out ,he doesn’t now I have another son .Both sisters thought about the predicament ,And came up with an answer let’s take Thomas to the workhouse and leave him there .It seemed there problems were over and the problem solved .The took the little boy to the workhouse and met the manager ,He said yes we will take the little boy ,But one of you will have to stay as well due to his age .Grace and Isabella decided this was not an option, And politely told the manager no thank you. They then set of on the long walk over the fells towards the village of slaidburn it was at an area known as Langcliffe bridge and the stream there. This was going to be Thomas’s last day on planet earth , The following day a couple Mr and Mrs Bargh came across the boys body in his watery grave lying face down in 18 inches of water .Both women are arrested and an enquiry takes place ,Grace and Isabella told the court that the little boy had died due to being wrapped in rugs to keep him warm .However a post mortem made it clear that he had died due to drowning .It seemed that the evidence against both women seemed very strong .What has amazed historians over the years that both women are found not guilty .So how did Thomas find himself dead in the stream ,Well I will leave the verdict to you .We now climb back in are mini bus and make are way down the hodder valley and on to land owned by his majesty king Charles the third ,And visit the fabulous inn at Whitewell ,A truly gorgeous hotel , With some fabulous tales behind its walls .Are story starts at Townley hall Burnley 1854 and a marvellous gentleman called peregrine Townley , He heard about some land coming up for sale in the village of Dunsop bridge .The land auction would take place at the inns sale room. Peregrine was also fully aware that if he went to the sale people would recognise him as being a very wealthy man and put plants in the auction room to deliberately put the price up .So he concocted a fabulous plan ,He had six weeks to prepare ,in that period of time he didn’t shave ,he grew his hair and on the day of the auction, He got an old suit and ripped the sleeves off and also tore the trousers ,giving the distinct impression that he was indeed a tramp. On the day of the land auction he walked from Burnley to the inn at Whitewell looking very like a gentleman of the road . There was sleet in the air and a howling wind by the time he got to the inn, he was not only soaking wet but also shattered by the journey. However, he looked the part an old tramp. He knocked on the door the inn keeper opened the door to be met by the sight of an old man dressed in rags, Can I help you said the inn keeper. Have you got some soup for an old man replied peregrine, of course said the inn keeper feeling compassion for the tramp. He ushered peregrine inside and placed a steaming bowl of vegetable soup in front of him. A large group arrived outside the tramp asked the innkeeper what are those people doing outside he enquired. Oh, there here for the land auction at 1.00pm the Auctioneer is expecting a very wealthy man from Burnley called Peregrine Townley, they expect him to put the biggest bid in for the land at Dunsop bridge. A wry smile came across peregrines face, Could I please watch the auction he asked, the innkeeper started to laugh you’re a tramp man you have no money what use is an auction to a man with no money. Please can I just watch said peregrine, well it won’t do any harm said the innkeeper on the understanding that the old tramp stands at the back of the action room and doesn’t say a word. At 1.00pm exactly the Auctioneer arrived from the city of London, On entering the room he surveyed all inside, And mentioned have we a Mr Peregrine Townley with us today, We have been informed he will be making the highest bid today, But as he is not here I can only presume he is not interested in today’s sale. The Auctioneer then shouted right gentlemen lets have your bids for the land at Dunsop bridge. From the back of the room the old tramp shouted, I will bid five pounds, The room erupted in laughter as five pounds would not by the land, And secondly an old tramp wouldn’t even have five pennies in his pocket. The room again resounded to laughter as the Auctioneer with tears of laughter rolling down his cheeks, Brought the gavel down, Shouting sold to the old geezer at the back of the room howling with laughter. However, a huge smile came across peregrines face as he made his way to the front of the room to the podium where the auctioneer stood, The Auctioneers tears turned from joy to pure horror as the tramp produced a five-pound note. The room turned to silence as the auctioneer shouted who are you, the tramp replied, Peregrine Townley Townley hall Burnley. That day he purchased land worth hundreds of pounds. The auctioneer ordered a very stiff drink and on returning to London was sacked, his employers had to sell all their assets to pay the land owners a fair price, it seems peregrines plan had worked perfectly. We now make are way back on the mini bus and make are way to the beautiful village of Chipping and a fabulous 1758 inn called the sun inn. The village was awarded the Britain in bloom gold star from the RHS in 2010 something the locals are very proud of .The sun inn is reputed to be the most haunted inn in Lancashire regarding the sad story of lizzie dean. There are many versions of Lizzie’s story this is the one I tend to use .Lizzie was 19 years old when she left the city of London to escape the smog and smoke of the city in 1834, She heard about the textile revolution in Lancashire and obtained work in a factory in longridge however she did need accommodation and made her way to chipping and the sun inn .There she met the landlord and asked him about a room to rent , the landlord replied , A lass as bonny as you would do well working behind my bar, You will bring a lot of custom in. Lizzie thought that’s better than working in the factory, And she accepted a job as a scullery maid. She apparently really enjoyed the job and got on very well with the other staff member Elisia they became good friends. Lizzie thought this is better than living in London fresh air to breath delightful surroundings and a job she really liked. One day a handsome young lad called David arrived on the scene, he took one look at Lizzie and apparently became besotted, within three days he had proposed to her, now lizzie didn’t really no him and David likewise but the moment really struck her Yes she said I will marry you. They couple made there way across the village centre to saint Bartholomew’s church situated directly in front of the sun inn. There they met the reverend and planned there happy day. Lizzie went back to work with a spring in her step, She had never been as happy, A handsome young husband to spend the rest of her life with, A job she liked, her future seemed perfect, Sadly this was going to turn very sour, two days before the wedding David got cold feet and went to see Lizzie. Ime sorry love I don’t want to marry you he said, But I would like to marry your friend Alisia. Poor lizzies’ heart was snapped in two, what a painful cruel thing to say, she was deeply wounded, and as you can imagine her relationship with Alisia became very frosty. On the day of David and Alisia’s wedding, Poor Lizzy absolutely heartbroken made her way to the attic and opened the window, She could see right down the Lenth of the church path to the church door from her vantage point .She tearfully watched the groom arrive then the bride .She shuffled her way in to the window frame , She tearfully made a noose. for herself and attached the end to the bed, She waited for the wedding march, As she watched the church door open ,With David and Elisia arm in arm start to walk down the path she jumped ,breaking her neck. David and Elisia and the wedding party looked up at the window in horror. The landlord quickly got a ladder and cut the poor girls body down. In her clenched fist was a letter saying I wish to be buried at the entrance to the church so David and Elisia will feel remorse for what they have done to me and when they go to church will have to walk past my grave. Well today in the 21st century lizzies grave has dare I say it become a tourist attraction; they say her ghost is a frequent visitor to the Sun inn. We now get back on the mini bus after an excellent pint of real ale and make are way to the most popular tourism village in the ribble valley the village of whalley and the fabulous swan hotel. The swan hotel was built in 1780 ,And to this very day dominates the village centre ,We are now going to turn the clock back to 1842 and a young lady who worked there of the name of Mary lane .Now through no fault of her own she suffered from learning difficulties , But by all accounts’ she was a good worker ,She sadly became pregnant to an unknown guest ,The landlord James Charnley felt she would be incapable of being a mother and told her when she gives birth the baby will be taken away and fostered outside the area . Poor Mary gave birth to a perfectly heathy baby girl, Charnley had the baby taken away immediately. And she was fostered, outside the area Mary may have suffered from learning difficulties but the one thing she did have like any mother was a deep love for her baby daughter, The pain in her heart became so intolerable that she sadly took her life on the upstairs landing. Well it seems she is still in the building as she has been seen on many occasions these past centuries. In 1968 a family from Ipswich Suffolk were making there way up to the lake district and decided to brake the journey ,by stopping in whalley . They drove in to the car park a mum dad two daughters. On entering the swan hotel, the father and the two daughters went to the bar to order refreshments and an evening meal. The mother went upstairs, she was a very talented women to describe her would be a spirit medium, She could see things that you and I cannot. On entering the bedroom of the landing, she became aware of a spiritual presence and made contact through her mediumship skills, Marys ghost told her about the events of 1842, The medium listened and took in the story, She then went downstairs to join her husband and daughters, She went to the bar and informed the landlord about her experience upstairs with Mary lane The landlord who was drying a beer glass at the time, the glass slipped through his fingers and smashed on the floor . His eyes widened in shock to take in the fact this women from Suffolk who had only been inside the swan for a matter of minutes was fully aware of the story of Mary lane. The last confirmed sighting of this poor girl’s spirit was on a pickwick night, When the village celebrates Christmas with street entertainment and indeed a truly excellent Christmas spirit. So, if you would like to book a ribble valley haunted inns tour then please do contact me. [email protected]