RIVINGTON, LANCASHIRE

SUNDAY, 10TH OCTOBER 2010

This is an alternative to our planned venue of Lyme Park, as we discovered that the national trust are now not accepting coaches into lyme park unless it is a booked visit to the hall and gardens. Alternative parking/dropping off on the boundaries of the park was investigated but none were found to be viable. Most people booked on the coach have been contacted and their approval obtained for this change, and we apologise to anyone who has not got the message! However, we are sure you will all have a good day at rivington.

The Coach will leave Rivington at 4.30 pm unless otherwise advised.

Please read these coach notes carefully - they will help you to decide which walk will be the most suitable for you. If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to ask the leader for advice. For the safety and enjoyment of yourself and others, please try not to join a walk which is beyond your capabilities.
Please respect the wishes of the walks leader and remain with the walk until the end. If you are struggling - inform the walk leader so that he/she can make a decision to shorten the walk, have more rest, etc.

TODAY'S WALKS

Moderate Leader: Jackie Gudgeon Distance: 9 miles

Today's walk will be a circuit of the Rivington & Anglezarke Reservoirs, as far as White Coppice. Quite a varied walk with good views.

Leisurely/Easy Leader: Derek Lee Distance: 6 plus miles

We head for the castle before turning away from the reservoir and heading up to the Gardens - a steady 500 foot climb. We continue northwards round Yarrow Reservoir and alongside the Rivington Reservoirs back to Rivington.

NOTES ON THE AREA

Rivington and Anglezarke lie on the south-western slopes of the West Pennine Moors, an area of moorland and reservoir scenery. The passage of time and the influence of man has shaped the valley and hillside into the landscape we see today, which undoubtedly has the attraction of a mini-lakeland. Man has populated the area for centuries, remains of Bronze Age settlements and tumuli, long since raided, can still be found up on the moors. There is also evidence of an early influence in the area from place names of a Scandinavian origin.

Rivington has developed over the centuries under several generations of the Pilkington family, who purchased the estate from the de Rivington (or de Roynton) family over 700 years ago. During the early 1600's the estate was sold to joint owners Robert Lever of D'Arcy Lever and Thomas Breres of Preston. A century later, in 1729, the manor passed into the sole ownership of John Andrews, a descendent of Robert Lever. The manorial rights remained with the same family until 1900, when John William Crompton sold the estate to William Hesketh Lever who created Lever Park and the Terraced Gardens. The estate was subsequently acquired by Liverpool Corporation to protect their water supply.

Shortly after William Hesketh Lever (later to become Lord Leverhulme) bought the estate, he began to lay out a series of ornamental gardens around his luxurious home 'The Bungalow'. Lever made his fortune in soap. Born in Bolton, the son of a grocer, he began making soap in Warrington in 1886. By the time he died, Lever Brothers (the forerunner of the multinational Unilever) was the largest firm of its kind in the world, and the new town of Port Sunlight was founded. His grand estate included the mansion of Rivington Hall, dating from the later 17th and early 18th centuries, but later rebuilt and extended. Still standing beside the hall is the Great House Barn, a much older structure which may date from as early as the 11th century. It was used as a tithe barn, but is now a restaurant. The gardens themselves incorporate slanting paths and terraces, sets of steps, plus a range of grottoes, bridges and artificial lakes. Built of dark local granite, these features can look sombre on a dull day but are nevertheless intriguing. The gardens have had an eventful history. Lever's Bungalow was burnt by suffragettes. The exotic plants and buildings fell into decay and became overgrown. In recent years conservation work has opened up the network of paths again. Although the gardens have not been restored to their former glory, their wild and abandoned character is nevertheless attractive and gives them a powerful atmosphere.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

NEXT RAMBLE;

Sunday, 31st October 2010, Cartmel, Cumbria.

Leaders: Strenuous: Rowland Nock, Moderate: Peter Denton, Leisurely: Margaret Black & Steve Balenski, Easy: Sue Daniels.

Bookings Derek Lee. Coach pick-up times: Ormskirk bus station 8.40 am, Railway Road, Skelmersdale 8.50 am, Skelmersdale Baths car park 9.00 am.

Will walk leaders please let Jackie have details of their walks as far before the walk as possible. At least a week would be nice. Thanks. Those who have the technology can e-mail your notes - please use the address on the Contacts page.

SKELMERSDALE CHURCHES RAMBLING CLUB

Saturday, 13th November 2010. Ramsbottom, Lancashire.

Coach leaves Ormskirk Bus Station 8.30 am, Railway Road Bus Stop 8.40 am, Skelmersdale Baths Car Park 8.50 am, Upholland Labour Club 9.00 am. Bookings: Jackie Gudgeon. Coach Fare £9 (non-members £10).

RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION WEST LANCS GROUP

Wednesday, 13th October 2010. 1.30 pm. Hunter' Hill from Hill Dale car park, 1 mile north of Parbold. 5 miles.

Sunday, 24th October 2010. 1.30 pm. Bretherton from Marl Cop in the village centre. Meet by The Old Corn Mill. 5 miles.

Saturday, 6th November 2010. 10.30 am. Delamere Forest from Visitor Centre by Delamere Station. 8 miles.

SEFTON & DISTRICT FOOTPATH GROUP

Sunday, 10th October 2010. 1.30 pm. Worthington Lakes.

Walks are between 5 & 6 miles. Tel: Carol or Clare for more details.

CLUB NOTES

COACH BOOKING

Please ensure that, before boarding your coach on the return journey, you complete your booking for the next ramble. It would be helpful if you could tell the coach booking officer if you do not intend to book for the next coach.

PLEASE TRY TO BE BACK FROM YOUR CUP OF TEA OR PINT IN PLENTY OF TIME TO BOOK THE NEXT RAMBLE BEFORE BOARDING THE COACH. YOU WILL APPRECIATE THAT IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE OTHER PASSENGERS OR TO THE COACH DRIVER IF THE COACH IS LATE IN LEAVING.

Please make every effort to ensure that, when you leave the bus, you take all your possessions with you. Please check the luggage rack, under the seat, etc, not to mention the boot. Please try not to take anyone else's stuff. Thanks.

If anything is left behind on the bus when we get to Ormskirk, I usually take it home with me (being last to get off) so please ring me as soon as you notice if you are missing anything - Jackie.

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SKELMERSDALE RAMBLING CLUB