Drive & Stroll, with Ron Freethy: Waddington

IF I were to make a list of what the tourist wanted from an English village, the following would be included: an ancient church, a choice of pubs, an old hall, a stream, a set of alms houses and all this set in open countryside plus plenty of parking.

Waddington has all these, with the possible exception of parking, which can be a problem on a summer Sunday. A winter walk around the village can be a joy. The stream which slices Waddington in half glistened in the sunshine when I arrived and within a couple of minutes of parking my car I was watching grey wagtails and dippers displaying, even though it was only January.

Dippers, however, do breed early and can sometimes raise three broods in the course of a period between February and July.

St Helen's Church in Waddington was probably established in Anglo-Saxon times and there is a lovely piece of stained glass which tells something of the history of the settlement.

Wada was probably an ancient chieftain and his base was known as his Tun.

The name Wada's Tun may account for the village name.

Helen herself was patron saint of wells and she was also the mother of the first Christian Emperor of Rome.

Waddington Hall is privately owned but is still a wonderful building and easily seen from the road.

People like me who love to explore the countryside should always respect the privacy of those who live in buildings or who farm the land. Waddington Hall, although altered over the centuries, dates back at least to the 14th century and equally interesting are the Alms Houses given to the Parker family in the 17th century.

I have a photograph of these Alms Houses taken in 1904 and, apart from the addition of mod cons, little has changed since. Although it not used these days, there is a wonderful old pump bearing the initials RP (Richard Parker) and the date is 1700.

It is also inscribed with a deer, showing that the Parker family were the bowbearers of the area.

It was traditionally their job to ensure that when the King came to visit there were deer there to provide him with sport and a feast.

It is no accident that two of Waddington's pubs are the Higher and Lower Bucks, obviously relating to the days of the deer hunts.

Way up on the hill above the village is the Moorcock Inn and this may have had its beginnings as a shooting lodge.

These days all the local hostelries cater for tourists, with bar snacks very much a feature.

It is good to see a real shift in emphasis, with hotels accepting that drinking and driving is not acceptable behaviour.

What the modern tourist needs is good bar food and either coffee or soft drinks at reasonable prices.

There is nothing like exploring Lancashire's countryside by taking two strolls - one in the morning and one in the afternoon, sandwiching a lunchtime hour listening to the crackle of a log fire and enjoying a good wholesome meal.

Waddington has beauty, birds and beverage; church, coffee and culture - what could be better?

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