Midge Walkers

Walk  No. 105

Historic Farrington

Twelve members of the Midge Walkers met at the car park at Todd Lane North on a warm Sunday afternoon, including two new members, Jen. and Barry. Setting off on time at 1.45 pm, we had to cross the busy Dual Carriageway which was no mean feat but then we were on the quiet Old School Lane. This was a repeat of a previous walk but instead of turning right, we turned left and so into new territory.

We walked down a narrow track crossing over a style into a field which we crossed skirting round a sand quarry. At the far end we crossed another style to take alongside the M6 motorway, separated by a very thick hedge. Yet another style took us onto a farm track leading on to Lydiate Lane. A bit of pavement walking now took us onto Stanifield Road and past the entrance to Farrington House (Now a Business Center), and turning on to Centurian Way at Farrington Lodge. Centurian Way is a long wide substantial road built to withstand the Centurian tanks made at Spurrier Works at the end of the road. Over the railway bridge, we turned off to walk along a leafy track to eventually come out at Carr Lane where we were able to see the site of Dewhurst Cotton Mill at the end of Mill Street where several of our party had worked at some time. Back onto Golden Hill Lane and past Morrisons where we were able to look across and see the remains of the original railings and gates of Leyland Motors North Works.

We moved then onto a fairly new estate called The Oaks where we had a coffee stop at a local sculpture which gave rise to a discussion as to what it depicted. ‘Flames’ was the agreed decision but in fact it is three oak leaves (obviously) As the whole area was owned by the Farrington family, we heard about Henry Farrington being knighted at the Coronation of Anne Bolynne and that his son, Edward, was page boy at Anne Bolynne’s wedding to King Henry VIII.

We headed back towards our starting point passing through a lovely wood that eventually came out back on Centurian Way which we went down a little way before again turning off to cross fields behind Farrington House to bring us out in Lostock Hall. Here , we visited the 1st World one memorial. I wonder how many people, like myself, drive past this without realizing what a lovely place it is behind that Memorial.

A three hour walk had educated us all about the very area that we live in without realizing what a rich history that the area had and even though so much of the heavy industry had disappeared, the area was still growing and thriving. Thank you Rodney for all your research and a lovely afternoon