Tetley was looking at the iPad. "Dad is free this weekend, and the weather looks reasonable so maybe we can get a walk in."
"Well I need tea and cakes to help come up with and idea where to go", said Allen.
"Ha ha", laughed Tetley. "No surprise there, tea belly."
Well as if by magic Shaun, with Little Eric riding on his back and Grizzly arrived with the flasks and cake tins.
"My prayers are answered", cheered Allen with glee, going to get the mugs and plates.
Tetley said, "I'll lend a paw filling the mugs Shaun.
"Thanks pal. It is Ramblears tea of course."
Little Eric said, "the cakes today are mincemeat slice from me, and Grizzly has done his delicious Chorley cakes."
Southey then produced a tin. "I've made some scones. There are cheese, and cherry & ginger."
"Oh thanks pal", replied Little Eric. "You are ace at scones."
There was quiet for a while, then Allen said, "love the Chorley cakes, and the scones are scrumptious."
"So I see", laughed Shaun. "You've had two of each already, cake stuffer."
"Well so has Southey."
Hmm, I'm a cake stuffer too. The mincemeat slice is delicious", Little Eric.
By now the mugs were empty and were refilled, for a third time for Allen!
Finally our thoughts turned to walking. Tetley said, "we're hopeful of getting out on Saturday, so we need a suggestion to put to Dad."
Shaun was quick with a reply. "How about we do the walk to find the carved way markers around Wray."
"It's only just over a mile", queried Grizzly.
"I know pal, but I thought we could start from Hornby following the Three Rivers walk as far as Wray then finding the waymarks and returning by the end of the Three Rivers walk over Bears Head."
"Good idea", agreed Grizzly.
"There is another objective finding the site of Wray Station", went on Allen. "It was only a station for about a year around 1850. There were no platforms as such, just a cottage by the tracks, by the crossing."
"That we have crossed every time on the Three Rivers walk", stated Grizzly, "but never noted the site."
"So, we have a plan", said Little Eric. "Will you go and ask Dad, please Allen."
"Sure, if you will refill my mug again."
"Ahh, he really is the arch tea belly. Love him to bits", laughed Tetley.
Allen was soon back and the smile on his face told us that Dad had agreed.
"Great cheered Shaun, it will be good to get out in the fresh air."
The walk was not too long , so an early start was not necessary. The day was cloudy but dry, as we headed up the Lune Valley to Hornby, and the car park on the left by the River Wenning.
There were a family group getting ready for a walk, and were in fact to follow our route.
Hornby Castle dominates the scene above the village and river. Grizzly said, "will you take a picture to start off our story."
"Take the river too", said Allen. "Our route is along by the right bank."
Shaun said, "Not that you need telling, Dad, but we take the concrete track between the Hair Bank & Institute."
"The Hair Bank is interesting" commented Grizzly. "Before it was the Flower Bank, and then before that a proper bank, being a branch of Nat West."
The family group were indeed following our route, and were ahead of us. After a while the river bent away left, and looking across Little Eric called out, "the snowdrops are very pretty. A sign spring is on the way."
After a gate a sign indicated the path was right through another gate, the path being flooded. Here we caught up with the family group.
"I've never seen it like this. Must be a bit of a blockage in the flow of the stream", commented Tetley.
It was not deep, and Dad took this shot after we had crossed.
Walking ahead and drifting to the left boundary, about halfway along it was over the stile, marked as others in the boundaries of the field, by tall red painted wooden posts.
After crossing the next stile a track was joined that runs parallel to the former railway track bed. This led to the former foot crossing.
"Well this must be where the station was", said Grizzly. "Either to the left or over to the right, but it is blocked off."
Dad took some pictures to the left, but as we were to find out later, it was not the station site.
As we crossed the the former track, Southey said, "obviously the the gates are modern, but I think that the concrete panels enclosing the kissing gate will be contemporary with the railway, and indeed the stone gatepost."
After crossing the field, and passing through a gateway, Southey said, "today we should ignore the stile on the left and keep ahead by the hedge to the cross of paths at Kiln Lane."
Allen said, "this is where the millstone carving is pointing the way into the village, according to the instructions."
We peered about but to no avail. "We have to come back to this point later, so perhaps we will spot it", said Tetley, hopefully.
Ahead we soon reached the main road at Wray. "It's left then right to walk along Main Street", advised Shaun.
"That's an interesting street sign", pointed Grizzly.
As we made to walk the Main Street, Dad paused to take this of the imposing house by the junction.
Passing the entrance to Hoskins Farm, Tetley pointed and called out, "look there's the old date stone and the initials of the original owners."
"The initial of the surname is 'A' and below the initials of the husband and wife", stated Allen.
Later Grizzly did a search, but told us he was unable to find out the full names.
On the opposite side down a path stands Holy Trinity Church.
"Can we visit please", asked Grizzly.
Going down the side, Dad took this showing more of the building.
Grizzly said, "in case we visited I made some notes. Holy Trinity was designed by the Lancaster architect Edmund Sharpe. The foundation stone was laid on 28 May 1839 and construction was completed the following year, although it was not consecrated until 1 July 1841, when the Bishop of Chester performed the ceremony. In 1879–80 the church was enlarged by Paley and Austin. They rebuilt the chancel, reseated the church, and added an organ chamber and a porch. In 1889 the same practice added a new nave roof, and altered the west elevation."
We now went inside, Dad taking this along the nave.
Grizzly went on, "as can be seen the church has a three-bay nave, each containing a triple lancet window."
We walked down to the chancel.
Grizzly told us, "this was added by Paley and Austin. It has two bays and a three-light east window contains Decorated tracery."
He pointed to the fine chancel screen, where we could see that it was erected in memory of Rev. Charles Lavington Reynolds. "He was the fourth vicar of Wray from 1877-1920."
As we returned along the nave he told us, "the west gallery contains the two manual organ made in 1879 by Gray and Davison."
"Thank you pal", said Little Eric. "Once again you have added interest to our day."
At the road, Little Eric called out, "there's the post box."
"I know", replied Dad, hauling the camera out.
At Roeburn Bridge, Shaun instructed, "branch left to take the path by the river."
Tetley said, "we should look for the first of the carved waymarks. The Heron's head."
"There it is", called out Allen. "Set into the bank on the right."
Reading from the instructions, Southey said, "the images were designed by local school children, and carved by people who attended workshops led by local stone carver Boris Howarth."
Adjacent there was a seat. "Let's sit a little while", suggested Tetley. "Then Dad will you please take our picture?"
Settled again in the rucksack, Dad ambled along the path by the river. "We have never walked along here before", commented Shaun. "Nice we still find new paths."
The first section was narrow close by the river, and we kept our eyes peeled to find the next carved waymark. "It's the Salmon & Trout", informed Little Eric.
The path soon brought us to a kissing gate into a large field. "I wonder if we have missed it?", mused Southey.
Looking ahead, Shaun said, "look, there's one."
Soon there we saw it was indeed the Salmon & Trout.
Striding on we soon approached a building. "There's the next carving", called out Tetley.
"It should be the Kingfisher" replied Allen.
We were close now the Meal Bank Bridge, Southey saying, "we should soon spy the sly Fox."
"There", pointed Little Eric. "What a shame part of its face has broken away."
"What is that?" pointed Little Eric
"In the terrible flash flood in 1967, the bridge here was completely washed away. This is the salvaged name stone from it", replied Tetley.
Walking onto the bridge Dad took this of the River Roeburn.
"Here's the sign on the new bridge", said Tetley.
Allen was reading the instructions. "They say, cross the road carefully past the stone 'Tractor', and down the slope to join the bridleway."
We looked about, but in vain as there was no sign of the tractor. "We do not know when these carvings were made. If it was before 1967 it is possible the carving was washed away in the flood" mused Tetley.
"Yes, that's a thought", agreed Little Eric.
The bridleway stretched out before us. Allen commented , "at the least it is not too muddy today."
"This leads to the sewage works, and the carving of the Gull, which we have seen before. The inspiration for doing this walk to find the other carvings", said Southey.
"Being on a plinth, it is a good place for us to have a picture", stated Allen.
"Absolutely pal", agreed Tetley.
Walking the track Shaun said, "this will bring us to the crossroads at Kiln Lane, where we will have to try and find the Millstone."
Here we met a lady with her child and her three dogs. One barked at Dad.
She said, "he seems to do this to people wearing hats. Sorry."
"No problem", replied Dad removing his cap.
Then the dogs were happy to be fussed,
She went along the lane, and then we stared about looking for the carving. Suddenly Grizzly called out, "there by that gate post."
It was getting covered in ivy so Dad cleared it off to fully reveal the design.
The lady with the dogs had returned along the track and Dad pointed it out. She said, "I have walked past here many times but never seen it."
Winding up Allen, who does not like sheep pictures, Little Eric pointed, "look at those sheep by the gate munching on hay."
As Dad snapped the picture, Allen said, "hmph!, I have no chance of avoiding that being included in the story."
"Now we are on the last section of the Three Rivers Walk", said Tetley. "Keep ahead on Back Lane and then it's through gate on right after about 300 yards.
This picture illustrates our route. Through the open gate then across the field to Peasber Barn.
Beyond the fence we walked a short way along the old railway, espying once again the fallen sign that reads 'beware of trains. Stop look and listen'.
Dad did not need any guidance, crossing the adjacent stile and then making for the far left corner where a red topped pole indicated the stile. Then ascending the slope of Bear's Head.
Keeping to the right we came to the stile in the angle and then carefully down the path to another stile and on down to the stile into the farmyard .
"Thank you Dad", said Allen, "I have enjoyed the walk."
"As have we all", called out Southey, "and we were successful in finding all the carvings, except the tractor that seems to have disappeared."
I'm going to stop at Bull Beck for a snack." said Dad as we pulled out of the car park.
This is a busy take-away, so he had to wait a little while after giving his order. This was a bacon and egg bun, Chorley cake and mug of tea. With his hands full he put the Chorley cake wrapped in a serviette on the car roof while opening the hatch. However it slid off onto the muddy ground.
Well, we tried not to laugh, but honestly we had hysterics, Tetley through his laughter saying, "I wonder what wry comment Uncle Brian would have made about this."
Fortunately it landed butter side up. So Dad just scraped away the mucky pastry before eating. Waste not want not!
The Search for Wray Station
At home Grizzly set his paws tapping on the iPad. "I've looked up the old map from 1847 on the National Library of Scotland that Uncle Leo told us about. It shows that the station building was on the side of the tracks nearest to Wray."
"Logical when you think about it", said Allen.
"So we did not actually see it and from the foot crossing access is blocked", stated Shaun.
"We had better tell Dad and see what he thinks", replied Little Eric.
So off Grizzly went, returning a few minutes later, smiling. "Dad is determined to find it, and we are going tomorrow to do this. He wants to be able to send a picture to author Ruth Mansergh, who asked for permission to use the picture of the 'Beware of Trains', sign."
"Great", said Tetley, "then we can put this to bed once and for all."
So Sunday morning found us parked once again in Hornby and headed along the concrete track, and into the large field.
Shaun said, "we must head straight across to the far side to the remains of the foot crossing...
...onto the track bed and left to pass through the gate by Peasber Barn.
"So where now?", asked Little Eric.
Shaun pointed, "down left and through that gate onto track bed again."
This stretched out before us.
Beyond the hut, we were almost at the foot crossing and Allen called out excitedly, "look it opens and in a square on the right. That is where the cottage once stood.
This shot shows just the station site, just a grassy area now.
Grizzly said, "the station was only operational for 10 months and closed in summer 1850. Thereafter it was the crossing keepers cottage." Here is a picture we found on Wikipedia from 1901,
"We must have our picture here" insisted Southey.
"Ok lads get settled."
Then it was just a matter of reversing the route to Hornby.
"I'm going to Bull Beck again for a snack" announced Dad.
"If you are having a Chorley cake, be careful not to drop it", said Tetley stifling a laugh.
It was even busier today. "Must be a gold mine", said Allen.
Dad had the same fare, bacon and egg bun, Chorley cake and tea. The lady serving remembered Dad, and he told her about dropping the Chorley cake.
She said, "I'll put it in a bag, just in case." The bacon and egg bun
was served on a proper plate too. Good food here, and we can heartily recommend it.
Then home, a very happy group having achieved our objective.
18th April 2023
Uncle Eric was keen to see the site of Wray station, so we effectively repeated the walk but combining it all into one. It was the first time we had walked with Uncle Eric since last year, It was great to have his company. A sunny day the wind picking up as time went on. It will soon be he Scarecrow Festival in Wray, so we saw some of the exhibits along the main street. The festival is very popular and attracts lots of tourists.
