Winter Walk: Ron Freethy visits Newchurch-in-Pendle

AS we approach the new century I decided to enjoy a gentle stroll through one of my favourite villages.

This is Newchurch-in-Pendle, which has changed less than most over the last 400 years or so.

In the old days folk knew the village as 'Th' Kirk.' The church here, however, is hardly new as it was built in the 15th century.

Before the church was built, the settlement was known as Goldshaw Booth - a name that still exists in the parish council's title. Shaw means a wood and booth was the old name for a clearing probably used for grazing cows.

I think that the word gold may well come from the autumn tints of the birch tree which is the dominant species hereabouts.

From Newchurch there are wonderful views over the Pendle countryside and the most famous bit of St Mary's church is the 'eye' carried in the stone of the tower. It is thought that this eye was there to let God keep an eye on their property and stock while the faithful were at prayer.

For once in December 1999 the rain had stopped but I still needed to squelch through mud as I followed the footpath towards Spen Brook.

The hills around can often provide good birdwatching. In summer this can be excellent breeding grounds for skylark, curlew and lapwing. On the day of my winter walk, however, it was the sight of a short-eared owl perched on an old log which was the highlight. There are some wonderful streams in this area, many of which once powered textile mills. One of these was at Spen Brook which was later adapted to become a steam powered factory.

Although the building is not producing cotton any more - it is part of a modern carpet factory - the old mill with its chimney and the workers' cottages associated with it still stand.

These features are still very much part of Pendle's history, as are the names of the local roads.

There is Nanny Maud, for example, which was once the place where Nanny Maud lived. I wonder who she was? These days it is only celebrities who have roads named after them.

And what about Jinny Lane? Was she a lady? No, I don't think so because long ago Jinny was the name for a machine. Hence the name of Hargreaves' Spinning Jenny. Jinny Lane which links Newchurch with Roughlee was obviously once a place where small scale cotton spinning machinery was operating.

If you fancy a winter walk why don't you explore Newchurch and Spen Brook? Look at the church, the main street of the village and the old mill by the stream.

This will help you to roll back the years and see that things have not changed as quickly as you thought.

I would be interested to hear from readers who have their own memories of a favourite village where time stands still.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.