Latest Images by Martin Stockdale http://www.geograph.org.uk 2008-07-26T07:52:57GMT text/html 2005-08-06T16:56:31GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/387 Martin Stockdale 54.245064 -2.715070 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/34127 Many people assume that canals are like large ponds and that the water does not flow. In fact, canals were built like an artificial river, and have a natural 'flow' of water along them. One of the important design considerations when a canal was being built was the supply of water. One of the main sources of water for the Lancaster Canal is Killington reservoir (SD5891) which will be familiar to anybody stopping at the M6 services near Junction 37. The reservoir was built specifically to feed the canal, and the water from it flows about 15km along Killington Beck and Peasey Beck before being diverted into the canal here. Because this feeder is north of where the canal was blocked to build the M6, the water had to be culverted under the motorway to feed the rest of the canal. As a result, this stretch is still in water but is not navigable from the rest of the canal. text/html 2005-08-06T16:45:04GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/387 Martin Stockdale 54.236078 -2.714914 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/34123 The Lancaster canal was built in the 1800's as the main trade route from Preston to Lancaster and Kendal. When the M6 was built in the 1960's, the canal was considered of no importance and therefore was blocked here (and in two other places) by the building of the motorway. Interest in canals has increased so much recently that there is a serious effort underway to raise funds to undo the damage caused and re-open the 'Northern Reaches' of the canal. text/html 2005-06-19T15:39:29GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/387 Martin Stockdale 53.785847 -2.843835 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/19878 This bridge is extremely popular with local motorcyclists and drivers of 'loud' cars - it has excellent acoustics so it's great fun to drive through! text/html 2005-06-19T15:31:09GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/387 Martin Stockdale 53.785739 -2.859011 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/19875 This picture shows Spen Brook (overgrown and nearly dry at this time of year) leading off through the country towards the centre of Kirkham. text/html 2005-06-14T13:38:50GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/387 Martin Stockdale 57.072117 -4.847137 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/18582 When the dam on the River Garry is releasing water (the dates are a closely guarded secret) the river becomes a kayaker's paradise. text/html 2005-06-14T13:21:14GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/387 Martin Stockdale 53.679141 -2.660027 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/18575 Old Worden Hall is another historic building which has been hidden for many years within the grounds of the Royal Ordnance site. Now that the site has largely closed and the land is being redeveloped for housing, it is possible to once again see this Hall. Whether it will be renovated or demolished remains to be seen - it certainly can't stay as it is once the houses are built! text/html 2005-06-13T14:38:49GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/387 Martin Stockdale 53.672849 -2.660080 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/18205 In the heyday of the surrounding Royal Ordnance factory, Euxton (pronounced x-ton not youx-ston) station was heavily used by workers travelling to and from work from the surrounding towns of Leyland and Chorley. The Royal Ordnance management offices are still present at the right of the picture and form a business park (now called Xton business park [groan]), the factory covered the whole area to the left of the picture. The station itself has been demolished (centre of the picture), although there is talk about building a new station here. text/html 2005-06-13T14:32:35GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/387 Martin Stockdale 53.688129 -2.660168 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/18203 As described in SD5620, this whole area was until recently a Royal Ordnance weapons factory. The land is now being redeveloped into a large housing development. This picture shows the first stage of the development. text/html 2005-06-12T21:27:54GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/387 Martin Stockdale 53.679141 -2.660027 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/18039 Buckshaw Hall appears in both the 1940 and the current OS map, but neither map shows the history of the area. From the 1940's until very recently, this whole area was a Royal Ordnance weapons factory. The factory has now largely closed, and the land is being redeveloped into a large housing estate. Buckshaw Hall is one of three halls within the area which have been hidden from view and largely untouched for many years. The presence of scaffolding and plastic covers suggest that restoration work is planned. text/html 2005-06-12T21:21:08GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/387 Martin Stockdale 53.786159 -2.798308 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/18035 A Winding is a widening of a canal, build to allow narrow boats to turn around since they are too long to turn around in the normal width of the canal. The trees in the background hide Salwick Hall (SD4632). text/html 2005-06-12T21:15:25GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/387 Martin Stockdale 53.795146 -2.798478 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/18028 This small cluster of houses do not appear on the 1940's map - they are at the junction in the bottom left of the square. Their style is that of 1960's council houses, and they present a somewhat jarring image when passing through otherwise open farmland. text/html 2005-06-12T21:08:24GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/387 Martin Stockdale 53.786259 -2.783131 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/18023 The "Sitting Goose" and "The Saddle" are two long established country pubs in this square. There is nothing else of any significant interest in this square. text/html 2005-06-05T14:57:27GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/387 Martin Stockdale 53.795246 -2.783299 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/15491 Former home of the Birley family which played an important part in the commercial, civic and social life of the town of Kirkham. Now a country hotel. text/html 2005-06-05T14:43:26GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/387 Martin Stockdale 53.786259 -2.783131 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/15484 The only significant feature of this square is the presence of two country pubs, the Saddle and the Sitting Goose. Local opinions vary about which is the better pub, but for the purposes of Geograph, the Sitting Goose is marginally the more attractive of the two. text/html 2005-06-05T14:40:42GMT http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/387 Martin Stockdale 53.786259 -2.783131 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/15483 The only significant feature of this square is the presence of two country pubs, the Saddle and the Sitting Goose. Local opinions vary about which is the better pub, but for the purposes of Geograph, the Sitting Goose is marginally the more attractive of the two.