Cockerham - Tues. 14 July 15


Cockerham. Tuesday 14th. July 2015

The start of the walk was delayed slightly as Sue, our walk leader for the day, used her mobile to round up a couple of 'strays' who'd lost their way to the start when their Sat. Nav. packed in. There's nothing to beat an old fashioned road map! Once we were all together, our larger group than of late (23 and 4 dogs) left the village Hall car park and headed past St. Michael's church. Here it is believed there is an unmarked plague pit, where those who died of the Black Death were buried. After a short section of road, we then crossed fields passing the light aircraft/parachute airfield, en route to the salt marshes. The marshes are responsible for the excellent local salt marsh lamb - a local speciality from Hillam Farm.

We then continued along the flood bank to the Lune Estuary, soon arriving at the remotely situated ruin of Cockersands Abbey. Little now remains of what was once one of the richest abbeys in North West England. Founded as a hospital in 1190 by a hermit, Hugh Garth, then again as an abbey in 1230 by Premonstratensian canons, it's sad only the chapter house now remains. After taking in the history, we then returned to the flood bank and continued to hug the shore until Crook Farm, passing Plover Light standing on the far edge of Plover Scar.The light marks the deep water channel of the River Lune. Our lunch stop was on Tythe Barn Hill overlooking Glasson Dock. By now the rather gloomy weather at the start of the walk had given way to bright sunshine, allowing us fine views northwards to the Lakes Hills.

Lunch over we dropped briefly downwards to Glasson Dock, some taking a few minutes off to visit the Smoke House, the others the loos. The harbour at Glasson was opened in 1787, following the demise of Lancaster as a port, and was at it's height the largest port in the North West, importing cotton, sugar, spices and slaves from Africa and the Indies. It is still a thriving port handling over 150,000 tonnes of cargo annually.

From Glasson we turned eastwards along the tow path of the Glasson Branch of the Lancaster Canal, which we followed for 2 to 3 miles to Junction Bridge on the Lancaster Canal itself. Leaving the canal there, we headed across fields to Home Farm and Ellel Grange. Sue having previously obtained permission we were able to spend time viewing the magnificent Grange and the now sad looking grade 1 listed church standing in it's grounds. What a pity English Heritage have imposed such Draconian conditions on the church's restoration. Presumably it will now become a tumbledown ruin. Where's the logic?

Still pondering over what we'd just seen, we continued across fields, skirting Berries Head and passing Up Town on our way back into Cockerham.

Thanks a lot Sue for a very interesting walk. It was the first walk you've led on our behalf and we hope there's more to come.

Stan.