Mince Pie walk: Up and Down the Ribble

We set off from Langcliffe along Pike Lane on a damp, cold day towards the Hoffmann kiln. The names of some of the fields bordering the lane were noted using the 1844 Tithe map. In particular Wheat Ridding, Honey Mires, Staney Land, Pesbers - suggestive of their past agricultural use and characteristics. We also noted the agricultural terraces or lynchets and their possible Anglo-Saxon origins. Just before the kiln there are the water-pumping stations for sending water up to Winskill and separately north up to Stainforth and beyond. Across the road under the stone yard lies the old corn mill, once part owned by Leonard Carr who built Manor Farm House in Langcliffe (but not then with that name). We turned south here to follow the river. The nearby land has names of Mill Close, Mill Brow, Mill Field, Mill Meadow. The sewage pipe from Stainforth down to Settle is visible here (how romantic!) and the manholes are seen along the river bank. The land by the river here is known as Thackwood and Quakers’ Thackwood (in 1844) which presumably refers to thatching material but what is the Quaker connection? At the weir at Holmehead the flood control station was noted, along with the eel and salmon ladders.

Then up the lane from Holmehead in deteriorating weather to Manor Farm House for drinks and mince pies. We were pleased to see many more people at the house where some historical documents concerning the house were on display. Trips up the loft ladder into the roof space were remarkably popular. The roof timbers and king posts are unusual; they were recently dendro-dated with dates found in three ranges of 1484-1505, 1564-1589 and 1669-1694. The datestone of the house is 1678.