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Origins - Whalley, Lancashire, England

 
  Photo by "Peter Aldington"

 

I was born in a small village in Lancashire called Whalley in 1965. Growing up in nearby Billington for the first 4-5 years of my life before moving to Whalley itself in 1970. I spent many glorious year there until I moved away in 1986. Since then I have grown apart and now I remember my youth in the village and especially the surrounding areas.

In 1970 the village had a population of around 2,000 people with a likewise count up at Calderstones Hospital, and thus it remained steady until the early 1980's when the village started to expand slowly. The population is now over 11,000 with the closure of Calderstones as a hospital and ensuing re-developement of that area.

Although the village remains much as it was in the centre, it has spread outwards across the Old Bog Field (off Manor Road), and Coates Fields (Opposite Woodlands Drive).

My most happiest memories were not in fact of the village itself but rather the surrounding hills and moors. Namely the River Calder (down from the wier to the Iron Bridge), Spring (Bluebell) Wood, Wiswell Moors and Pendle Hill.

Below are some pictures of the views from my memory.

 

St. Leonards School - my first school

 

Whalley Road, Billington - the village where I spent my first five years of life.

 

View from the Swan Hotel down King Street (the Nab is the background hill)

 

Whalley Church (C of E)

 

 

Abbey Gatehouse (as seen from within the abbey grounds)

 

Calder Row - the short lane leading to the river Calder

 

The Weir, River Calder (from the end of Calder Row)

 

River Calder as seen from one side of the bridge

 

River Calder as seen from the other side of the bridge

 

View from The Nab over the Calder, towards Spring Wood and the Wizwell Moors

 

Graphic representation of Spring Wood Area

 

A carpet of Bluebells in Spring Wood

(Note: copyright remains with original photographers)

 

More photos to follow...