The Great Tommy Sleep Out ---Completed.

 24th March 2025.

On A very pleasant evening Gordon (Who hasn't been in a tent for longer than he can remember) and I fulfilled our task for "The Great Tommy Sleepout". 

The purpose was to raise funds and awareness for the many forces veterans that return from duty and find themselves homeless. Just writing that sentence makes me feel disgusted at our government. 

Anyway, Gordon and I have raised £723  for the RBLI which was way more than the £200 we were hoping to raise. We thank everyone who donated so much and sent such kind words.

Our evening was spent around an open fire having a wine or two and reminiscing as you do. We eventually hit the sacks at midnight. Around 4am it started raining and it was great to hear that sound on the tent. Something I have missed greatly. The rain changed to drizzle around 6 o'clock according to Sheila who crept round the tents expecting to make a snoring video. It didn't happen, there was no snoring.

At 8am we rose from the tents and was very pleased that the Coffee Cupboard at Smalley Hall provided us with coffee and toast.

Thanks ever so much everyone for your support.

If anybody would like to donate to the cause then please click on the link below and on that page you will find a donation link.

http://alanrayneroutdoors.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-great-tommy-sleep-out.html?m=0

Circular hike around Delph Reservoir, Turton, Bolton.

 Wednesday, 26th February 2025.

We had tried a couple of times to have a free day for one of Phreerunners day walks but for one reason or another it wasn't to be. So it was fortunate that we had a clear diary day for todays walk.

 Overnight the rain had poured but the morning showed some promise. The forecast was for showers spreading from the west. We set off to the start point which was 19 miles from home. It took us 1hr 20 mins. The motorway was a parking lot. Thankfully I no longer have to endure this torture everyday.

Sue, Martin and Andy were already there so after a brief chat we set off. There was a bit of a delay as after  6 or 7 minutes I realised I had left my camera on the back seat of the car. I had to go back for it.

A brief section of road walking brought us to a footpath leading up to where Parrs farm used to be. James Marsh was the last farmer but today you will have to look especially hard to find any signs of a property. Jeremiah Marsh occupied the property in the census for 1770.

Route to Parrs location.

Looking back towards Parr's farm location today.

A short steep section gave us our first glimpse of Delph reservoir. As the track levelled out to cross Turton Heights the views opened up. When a kind of dyke appeared, which I presume was an original drainage ditch spoil heap we followed this to a stile on the horizon. The "dyke", is now part of the Witton Weavers path but looking at the old maps this was never a footpath at all.

Path up onto Turton Heights.

First glimpse of Delph reservoir.

Walking along the "dyke" on todays Witton Weavers track.

Looking back towards Rivington Pike.

A quagmire of a stile. Cheetham Close top in the background.

Between the stile and Cheetham trig point there are stone circles marked on both the 19th century map and the latest OS map. Last time we were up here the grass was quite high and even though we searched the area we didn't find them. This time it was different and we quite quickly found the stone circles. Only one Druidical circle is marked on the old map but more are shown on the new map. We found two circles. We also found a flat stone with markings which I think points the way over Cheetham Close. Just a guess of course. We also passed a Bolton Corporation Boundary post.

An unusually marked stone.

Cheetham Close Trig Point without it's brass plate. It was never fitted according to OS Data.

Which way from here?

A wonderful viewpoint for Delph Reservoir and Rivington Masts.

From here we should have retraced our route back to the stile, crossed over and followed the wall west. However, I had it in my head that on our last visit in 2021 we went diagonally left to a gate in the wall. I was wrong, there was no gate but there was some through stones in the wall which were good enough to clamber over. Myself, Sue and Sheila did the wall climbing but Martin who has a sore knee, along with Andy retreated to the stile. Sorry guys, my fault.

We dropped down to a good path that eventually passed Horridges Farm, a survivor from before the 1746 map of Turton. John Warburton was the tenant in the 1770 census. A JCB 3CX with a 4 in 1 bucket with forks attachment was parked up and it looked like it doesn't get used much. I hope he oils those loader cylinders.

View across to Horridges farm which is in the trees upper right of centre.

After a brief stop for a brew we headed down the lane passing Dimple Hall where the path leaves the lane on the left crosses a field to a side road then follows a small stream down a pleasant wooded glade to the A666. It's a devil of a road.

Dimple Hall. (May have been called Tomasons previously.)

Crossing the road the right of way goes across a field to lane which passes by a very nice house that was originally Howarth's farm. The farm was occupied in 1770 by John Hamer.

We decided that as the field was very boggy we would use the track which goes to Howarth's. 

Unfortunately for us or fortunately depending on your viewpoint we were told that the entrance gate and first 30yds of the track is private property. I think we all thought he meant the whole track rather than the first 30yds because looking at the OS map below the PRW does actually use the farm track past the front of the house. So although the guy was correct to point out our minor trespass  I think it was a little pedantic. But he was in his rights to point it out. We apologised as we should have and there was no shotgun exit.

The PRW in question was from the red letter A to the red letter B. The private bit was where the black arrow points which is the way we went instead of starting at A.

Back on track we crossed a field to a lane by Walmsley Chapel and old Sunday school. Turned left and followed a good track made by the Water Corporation which crosses a well made bridge and exits onto Longworth Road. Although a minor road it can be quite busy and there is no footpath.

The reservoir overflow. I think the tower is a pumping station.

The reservoir was intended to be the first of five new reservoirs, but this one was the only one ever built. In 1908 it was intended to take 5 yrs and cost £250,000. However difficulties arose and then so did the 1st World War. This pushed costs up to £400,000 but Delph Reservoir was ready to use in 1921.

Reaching the modernised and much extended Critchley Fold a new footpath sign points the way down to Longworth Clough. A Takeuchi mini excavator was hiding behind the horse stables.

Once down by the stream we took advantage of a low bridge wall to have lunch. There used to be a mill here with a long water leat or goyt feeding the power source. All now long gone.

The mill was called Longworth Mill. It was a cotton mill and demolished in 1912.

A welcome lunch break taken in the location of Longworth Mill. (Thanks to Martin for the image).

Belmont or Eagley Brook. Different names for the same brook.

A pleasant walk was had alongside the brook which showed many signs of the recent storms and much flooding was obvious. Sue took advantage of a well built weir which provided the water for the goyt which went to the mill. We passed the now derelict old paper mill which must have been a huge place in its day. Then across the bridge and up to Longworth Road for a second time.

At the top of the hill the view into Manchester City centre could clearly be seen as was Rivington masts. 

We had a brief shower, nothing to write home about but the sky went very black for a short period of time. There's nothing left to see of Longworth Hall which stood a few feet away from the crossroads we were at.

A relatively new quarry got our attention as it isn't shown on the maps of 1830-1880 and it only appears on the 1940 map. The quarry is now completely full of water with many signs warning of the dangers involved in swimming there. It does seem tempting though.

Disused and flooded quarry at Valentines crossroads.

Manchester City centre.

Rivington Masts from Longworth Road.

The next section of the walk was new to me and planned by Martin to extend the day to around 12km.

Back up onto Turton Moor on a good track for a little while. The sky turned dark again and we had another short shower. A rainbow appeared and luckily I managed a photo before it disappeared.

Sue and Sheila in chatting mode.

Today these moorlands are empty but in the 18th and 19th century they would have been busy. Its hard to imagine as we walk round. Most of the industry and farms need to be searched out as very little remains. Old coal mines and iron workings too are hard to find. There was accommodation here and I think Coopers tenements may have been just that for all the quarries that once worked here. 

Coopers can still be seen in the distance as it's wall and window openings stand aloof.

Coopers tenements in a landscape which reminds me of Bronte Country.

A steep drop led us down to Owshaw Clough were mining workings can be found. Across the bridge and and a steep up.

Two shots of the crossing of Owshaw Clough.

A bit more boggy moorland was crossed before we handrailed Moss Side Plantation. Again it showed the devastation of storm damage with so many uprooted trees. The "Path" was crossed by numerous trees which had us finding diversions and many quagmires until eventually we came to the minor road which got us back to the car.

We managed to do the whole walk without waterproofs so that was a bonus. I didn't wear gaiters which was a mistake due to the numerous water courses and bogs we crossed. All in all it was a grand day out. It was good to be back out with Martin and Sue and good to meet Andy for the first time.

Thanks Martin for putting the walk on your agenda.

Here is the route map. Just a little under 12km.

The Great Tommy sleep out.

 The sleepout is a national charity event to help homeless veterans from our armed forces. In the 21st century this should not be happening but here we are. 

In conjunction with our local village hall I decided along with Gordon Tilstone Aka GT to do our bit for them. So we will be sleeping out on the 24th March to raise funds for the charity. 

Any donations will be gratefully accepted. Thank You.

Please click on the link below.

https://socialsync.app/fundraiser/cr-5kjrndm5q0l4m

Lincoln Castle.

 Wednesday 15th January 2025.

Lincoln castle as we see it today goes back to the days of William the Conquerer, roughly a 1000 yrs old. But there has been a fortification on this site going back to the Romans and beyond. With it being a high hill it was perfect for monitoring the surrounding lands. It is also the home of an original Magna Carta, a Victorian Prison and a still working crown court.

Image Courtesy of "Lincoln Pride". 

William had the castle built in 1068 because of the trouble makers from the north and to show everyone that the Normans were now in command after they won the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

The Romans built their own fortress here and the stonework from the city then named Lindum Colonia was used in the Norman wall construction. Prior to this a wooden palisade had been constructed. A stone keep was built replacing a wooden one which can be seen today called Lucy Tower. Upper left in the image above now covered with foliage.

The castle has been in the wars over the years.

In 1141 King Stephen was in a war with his cousin Matilda over the English Crown and whilst this was going on it was claimed by Ranulf, the Earl of Chester. Stephen didn't get it back for seven months. This encounter was known as "The Joust of Lincoln".

Whilst under the leadership of Nicola de la Haye, 50 yrs later, the castle withstood a 40day siege by Richard 1st's chancellor, Longchamps, when he demanded the loyalty of supporters of the kings younger brother, Price John.

Nicola de la Haye was quite some lady, she was a wealthy landowner and administrator who had inherited it lands in England and Normandy from her father, Richard de la Haie. She inherited the title of Constable of Lincoln Castle.

She defended the castle once again in 1217, during a civil war caused because King John wouldn't honour the Magna Carta in 1215.

Rebel barons and the French forces allied to Prince Louis seized control of much territory including Lincoln town. However the castle was a Royalist stronghold guided by Nicole de la Haye and held out. If the Royalists had lost then England could have become ruled by the French.

The last battle was in 1644 where the Royalists were defeated by the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War.

Weather wise the day was forecast to be deteriorating so we opted to do the castle walls walk while it was still reasonable. We bought our tickets and made our way through the electric turnstiles and up the many steps of the large spiral staircase leading to the wall.

The route up to the walls.

View of Lincoln Cathedral from the Castle Walls.

Once on the wall we headed in an anticlockwise direction, the first point of interest being Cob Hall.

Cob Hall was a defensive tower in the North East quarter. Built round to deflect barrages. You can enter the "hall" via steep steps and even further into the dungeon cellars. The walls of the dungeons have graffiti scratched into them from prisoners. The arched ceilings suggest that it was possibly used as a chapel as well. From 1817 until 1859, 38 hangings took place on the roof with vast 15,000 crowd watching.

Looking down into the dungeons of Cob Hall.

The last prisoners to be hanged were called Pickett and Carey who were murderers.

The frontage of the Georgian Gaol. Opened 1788. The later Victorian Gaol can just be seen at the rear.

Outside the walls a large Keep like structure draws the eyes. We at first thought it was something to do with the castle but it is actually a water tower called Watergate. It hides a steel tank inside and was built between 1909 and 1911. It holds 3 million gallons of water which is piped 22 miles from Elkesley in Nottinghamshire. You can go into the tower and is probably worth a visit.

Westgate water tower on a murky day.

We passed the Law Courts which is itself a fine building still in use today. It does say outside that the public can enter the courts. However when we tried we were told that it wasn't part of the "Castle Tour". So we left abruptly.

The Law Courts.

In Georgian times there were numerous prisoners held in the Gaol in solitary confinement however this basically made the people into lunatics. So a lunatic asylum was built just outside the castle walls.

The columned frontage of the Lunatic Asylum. Opened 1820.

The asylum also took private patients as well as from the prison. It is documented that the asylum treated patients more humanly than other asylums where inhuman treatments including physical restraints and being locked up for hours took place. Straight jackets in Lincoln were done away with in the 1830's.

When public hangings ceased at Cobb Hall in 1868 the gallows were re-sited to the south wall known as Lucy's Tower. The first prisoner hanged at the new site was a female, Priscilla Biggadike. She was also the first female privately executed in England.

She was wrongfully executed for the murder of her husband when their lodger admitted to the murder a year later.

We made our way downwards before rising again to Lucy Tower. The tower stands on the same site as the first Norman Castle. It used to be a story higher and had the living quarters of The Constable of the castle and was built of wood. The grounds today include a cemetery of those hanged or died of natural causes in the prison.

Lucy Tower

Lucy Tower cemetery

One of the grave markers.

Prior to finishing the wall trek we passed the back of the Victorian prison exercise garden with it's high wall.

The victorian prison and exercise garden. The Observation Tower in the background was not accessible to visitors. I presume it to be unsafe at this time.

In the gloom is the front aspect of the Law Courts.

Walking past the Observation Tower brought us back to the large spiral stairway and the end of the wall.

The prison and the Magna Carta which are within the castle walls will be the subject of a separate post.

The Castle complex is an ideal place to spend the day, the staff are exceptionally helpful and knowledgeable. They helped greatly to put this post together.