Down The Pipeline

DTP02 : Jubilee Tower to Dolphinholme

Friday 15th November 2019

I had never head of Perseveranda, have you?  I couldn’t even have made a guess as to what it meant.  The word was the great revelation of the day.

Rather than undergo the road-slog up from Quernmore (as we should have done, were we being faithful to the book), we parked at the Jubilee Tower.  This was erected, surprise, surprise, to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in 1887. It is quite a view point and, yes, you can see Blackpool Tower.

The trail from the Jubilee Tower, past the invitingly named Slurry Lagoon, was particularly memorable for its fine views and boggy or otherwise unsavourily slurry terrain.

The route took us progressively closer to the River Wyre.  Eventually, on meeting Plantation Lane, we found ourselves with firm ground under our feet.  There was a sign for a Quaker Burial Ground so we sought it out.  A  part from the incessant yapping of a nearby dog, it was a very peaceful last resting place and, for the living, a welcome coffee stop.

The Lane led us to Lentworth House and Hall.....

..... then down a steep track though some woods to the River Wyre.

We were now on the “Wyre Way” which we followed west, through more open and, at times, boggy fields.  Guess what we spotted?  One set of Pipeline covers. The only evidence on the whole walk!  Soon we reached the Dolphinholme bridge where there are many fine old cottages around the mill area.

It is a steep climb up to the Church, an attractive Paley and Austin design but sadly locked.  The curved, hedged approach is particularly picturesque.

It was a bit of a road slog from the village to the Fleece Inn but worth the effort for the fish finger butties and the range of beers- 3.7% for me. 6.8% for Ian!

Now, if you have been paying attention, you will have noticed that apart from the opening paragraph, no mention has been made of Perseveranda.  That is because until sitting in the pub I had no knowledge whatsoever of the word.  I had never encountered it.  But the girls had.  They had seen it carved on a lintel above a barn door at one of the farms though which we had passed.  They were not sure which.

We were all puzzled by its significance so we asked Uncle Google.  He informed us that Saint Perseveranda was a Spanish lady who, in 762 A.D., fled from persecution by King Oliver but died exhausted by hunger and fatigue.  

However, why her name should be inscribed above a barn door in the wilds of Lancashire is a mystery that still escapes us (and him).  Perhaps we need to return on 26th June- her Saint Day.

Don,  Friday 15th November 2019