Where Have You Just Been?

[Big Kev]

Red Lane, Smithy Lane (Shirt Neck Harry apparently) round the lower res and back home. Taking advantage of the afternoon sunshine.

20200906_165044.jpg

'Er indoors resting her legs...

[Stanley]

A very good pic of a happy woman! Nice start to the day.

[PanBiker]

Striking camp and getting another Covid test at Settle.

[Stanley]

"Striking camp and getting another Covid test at Settle."
All part of life's rich pattern. Best of luck with the tests...
News from Margaret this morning, she and Mick are in Exmouth just south of Broome in Western Australia on the coast. They are camping like Ian and Sally were but the difference is of course wall to wall sunshine and very rugged country, almost desert. Looking outside at a gloomy Barlick it looks very inviting!

[Big Kev]

I've had a look at some of her pictures, it does look very sunny. They're certainly travelling around a few places.

[chinatyke]

Red Lane, Smithy Lane (Shirt Neck Harry apparently) round the lower res and back home. Taking advantage of the afternoon sunshine.
20200906_165044.jpg
'Er indoors resting her legs...

It was Shetnic 'arry said as one word when I was a lad! Was it sh*t-neck harry or shirt-neck Harry?

[Stanley]

I've heard of Short Neck Harry, is it a pub? At one time all the pubs seem to have had by-names. Just think back to the Barlick Pubs.
Thing that strikes me Kev is that she seems to have a good mobile signal despite the distances and remote locations. Must be something to do with the mines and government establishments on the coast. Sun is the order of the day in the desert, the wonder to me is that there is any water at all!

[chinatyke]

Shirt neck Harry is the lane down to the ford at the outlet from the lower reservoir, near Burwain sailing club. That's what I've always understood. I'm sure there will be information available locally to explain how it got its name.

[Stanley]

And I thought it was a pub! I know the lane you mean. You live and learn China. Thanks.

[Wendyf]

Here you go.....

'Many places in Colne have local names and the ancient Smithy Lane is no exception. It is also known as Blue Slate Lane and is best known to Colne folk as "Shirt Neck Harry". The Harry in question was Harry Rycroft, born in 1775, who as a young man became a navvy on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. He walked up Smithy Lane every day from Blue Slate farm to buy provisions but being a working man wore neither collar or tie. As a local character he soon acquired the name of Shirt Neck Harry. The lane is still known as this even to this day.'

[Stanley]

Wonderful Wendy! And some people question the use of studying local history. That one answer alone gives the lie to them.

[Big Kev]

Aye, I've had a read of The Story of Foulridge by Fay Oldland, lots of fascinating info in there.

[Stanley]

I worked with Fay at Pendle Heritage, a nice lady and in those days she smoked like a chimbley!



Happy days!

[Tizer]

Yesterday we made our first journey away from Taunton since March (barring an emergency visit to a dentist in the next town). We went to Watchet harbour on the Bristol Channel coast and spent most of the day there. It was clear blue skies and would have been mild but for a cold easterly wind. We stayed away from pubs and cafes and took a picnic to the park, then went down to a part of the rocky shore and did some fossil hunting. In the first few minutes I found a nice specimen of Grypheae, Devil's toenail, probably the best fossil we've found on that beach! In the afternoon we walked around the harbour and streets. It was mostly OK but at the main harbour frontage there were groups of people walking four abreast and we had to make a detour to avoid them - they'd probably been in the pubs for lunch and were beyond caring about all that silly business of viruses!

[Stanley]

Do tell us about the 'Devil's Toenail'!

[Big Kev]

Despite living in the area for the past 16 years I've only just found the western end of the Foulridge Tunnel

Tunnel End West.jpg

[plaques]

Never been able to get a picture at that angle. Where you standing in the canal?

Did you manage to decipher the markings round the tunnel entrance?

.

Foulridge.jpg

[Big Kev]

I was just by the red dot, no idea on the markings...

Canal look west_LI.jpg

[Stanley]

The main of the chisel marks are a decorative finish popular around 1800. If you look carefully you'll see mason's marks as well to identify their work for piece work payments and also pride in the job.
I'd question your red dot, wrong angle, weren't you on the path on the opposite side?



That's where I was for this pic in 2000.

I've just realised, is that neg reversed? (Grinning Rat syndrome!)
Back again, if it was reversed wouldn't the printing on the sign be reversed as well? I am confused now!

[Big Kev]

I'd question your red dot, wrong angle, weren't you on the path on the opposite side?

Nope, definitely where the red dot is. I could see right through the tunnel, you can just see the light at the other end in the pic.

Tunnel End West.jpg

[Stanley]

Yes, I have to agree. Sorry I doubted your memory.

[PanBiker]

The embankment where your photo is taken Stanley is merely for access to the tunnel side.. The towpath actually leaves the canal bank at that side and goes over a raised embankment for a couple of hundred yards. Cycled it many times on my bike.

[plaques]

In normal times the 'red dot' side would be full of boats moored up with all the usual bits and bobs of human activity. I've always considered this to be something of a private area so as not to intrude I've kept away.

[Wendyf]

We went to check out that end of the tunnel today. Nice 4 mile walk starting at Foulridge Wharf, past County Brook then through the fields down to Slipper Hill res, round the lower res and back.

[Big Kev]

It was a good morning for walking, shame I was stuck indoors working.