Midge Walkers

Walk  No. 75

Tulketh Mill and St Walburgs Church Circular

Two walks in one month hardly gives you time to get your breath back.Once again the starting point was Morrison’s car park on Preston docks. This time the enthusiasm had permeated to just 11 adults, 5 children and a dog.

 

We duly left the starting venue at 13.55 pm and took a route along the dock basin, passing the Green Frog and exiting docklands to cross the main road into Pedders Lane and along the side of Ashton Park. This brought us to the main Blackpool Road which we crossed taking a route along Cottam Lane and under the railway bridge to Haslam Park. Passing through a nature reserve area, during which time a fine film of rain forced us to adopt protective head gear, we ultimately arrived at the canal towpath at Bridge no 15.

It was around this time that Alice, who is well versed in adult requirements, took it upon herself to share a mighty fine bag of sweets amongst us, of which we all partook with grateful thanks. Journeying along the canal path brought us to the distinctive sight of Tulketh Mill, and under the Blackpool Road where we were informed Margaret and Rodney had at one time had a house nearby.

Having had it pointed out to us that that to-days walk was predominantly selected to be basically flat and on well prepared pathways thus avoiding the perils of mud, one of our number, was heard to express that she really missed the styles. ( Judy what were you thinking about.) Our route continued to the end of the canal where we left at the junction of Aqueduct St and Fylde Rd.

Taking to the main road we continued towards the town centre until reaching Maudland Bank which brought us towards the inspiring site of St Walburgs Church with its distinctive spire, the highest church spire in the country excluding cathedrals. Taking time to enter the church and viewing the elaborate stained glass windows and other artefacts, left us impressed at the workmanship of bygone eras.

Continuing our route down Wellfield Rd to the junction with Marsh Lane and turning right to Strand Rd took us along the sight formerly occupied by the Dick Kerr works, which ultimately became British Aerospace and produced military aircraft throughout the war years and beyond, starting in 1869 until its closure in 1993. A plaque exists depicting the many models of plane built here during its long and memorable history.

Reaching Watery Lane our route took us back along the outer perimeter of the docks to a pathway back into the car park where we had originated some 3 hours earlier, alas too late on this occasion to avail ourselves of the café facilities.