31.03.20 Rambles around Rawdon

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Wed, 15th Apr 2020, 6:57pm

This is my third account of walks around Rawdon. Starting from my home I walked past Rawdon cricket club and the Emmott Arms ( an old coaching inn) taking the steep path down Well Lane to meet the main A 65 road. On my way down I came across a hanging garden of periwinkle draped over a stone garden wall. Looking backwards I saw green alkanet covering some steep steps. 

On the opposite side of the A65 is Low Green yet another small village separated from the rest of Rawdon by the road and fields. It consists of a cluster of weavers cottages (originally farm workers cottages) and a Friends School established by the Quakers in1822 for boys and girls.On the right along an avenue of trees is Rawdon Hall built in 1625 by George Rawdon. It was previously called Low Hall as it lay below Layton Hall further up the hillside. Charlotte Bronte visited the Hall when she worked as a governess at Upperwood House. 

I continued my walk down a cobbled lane with stone walls on either side. The edges of the path were covered by the leaves of Jack by the Hedge. There were good views of the fields and woodlands in the valley also a small pond where a pied wagtail was bathing. At the cross roads at the bottom of the path was a glorious glade of celandine.  

At this juncture I turned right down a carriage way laid by a wealthy Victorian mill owner Herbert Dewhurst which led to Buckstone Hall built in 1884. It's grandeur led to it being called "Little Windsor". The whole area called Cragg Wood has a very different feel from the rest of Rawdon. Today the grand houses have been subdivided into spacious apartments. This is a heavily wooded area where on other walks I have seen woodpecker and mistle thrush but not today although there was plenty of evidence of a woodpeckers presence in the old trees. 

My return journey took me up hill through Rawdon golf course ( no golfers around so no need to duck out of the way of a golf ball). I walked past Buckstone Rock a sandstone promontory where John Wesley had preached to the people of Rawdon. I returned home via the Cross Roads and a steep climb up hill. 

Photos included

Margaret

  

    

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