Tidy views where river once ran red

From the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, first published Saturday 10th Nov 2001.

Drive & Stroll, with Ron Freethy - this week, in Edisford Bridge

I EXPLORED this area on the Sunday that the clocks went back and after an early morning period of heavy rain the sun came out and made walking a pleasure.

Edisford Bridge itself is a lesson in history because there are a dozen masons marks carved into the structure. Each mason made this mark to prove that the work was theirs. If anything went wrong those who paid them would know who to blame.

Edisford has always been the vital route between Clitheroe and the West Coast and a wooden bridge probably mounted on stone pillars was present as early as 1339. During the reign of Edward III (1327-1377) a toll (known as a pontage) was charged at the rate of four pence for a cartload of fish and one farthing for a fresh salmon. The Ribble is still an excellent fishing river and the Environment Agency have erected a platform on the banks which is suitable for use by disabled anglers.

Close to where the Edisford Bridge Hotel now stands there was once a leper hospital. This was a common disease in the Middle Ages and was probably brought back from the Crusades.

It is difficult to know just how they defined leprosy in those days. Any skin disease was so labelled. In the days when fresh green food containing Vitamin C was a rarity in winter, lepers must have been more common and they were shunned because people thought that it was highly contagious.

Before there was a bridge, Edis-Ford was an important crossing point and some signs of this can still be seen when the water is low. There was no chance of seeing the ford on this particular Sunday, however, because the heavy overnight rain had swollen the Ribble and its waters were roaring through the arches of the bridge.

In 1137 a mighty battle took place at the ford when the Norman forces based in Clitheroe Castle were ambushed by an army of Scots and were butchered. It was said that the Ribble ran red with blood.

The only splash of red on this eventually sunny autumn morning were the berries of hawthorn, dog rose and especially the round fruits of Guelder Rose. Later on in the autumn the leaves of the Guelder Rose also turn a delightful shade of red.

Another feature along the whole of this walk is the number of litter bins provided by the local council. The refreshing thing is that people are making use of them. I have long admired the sterling efforts of the Tidy Britain Group but all their good work can be undone by what is often a selfish minority.

Not only should we dispose of our own litter but we could all help by cleaning up after others. I always carry a couple of plastic bags and I collect litter as I walk in the countryside.

The joy of my walk along the riverside at Edisford is that I only collected two crisp packets, a single chocolate wrapper and a crushed can of coke.

I think that all strollers and anglers could do their bit to help the local council and Tidy Britain Group.

Easily reached from Clitheroe, Edisford Bridge is well signed and is within walking distance of the castle. There is ample pay and display parking close to the swimming pool. The bridge over the river is obviously on the Ribble Way long distance footpath and therefore provides excellent walking both upstream and downstream. There are lots of picnic benches and tables and you can make yourself cosy even in cold weather if you don't mind sharing your grub with mallards, magpies and chaffinches.

Archive Home