Wiswell while you walk

SINCE the ancient parish of Whalley was bypassed by modern roads, some peace has returned to the grand old spot - but it can still be very busy at times.

But even if the peace and tranquillity which once typified the 14th century Cistercian abbey has been eroded, there are still plenty of delightful hamlets around Whalley.

These are best appreciated on foot and Wiswell is one of the prettiest.

It has a fine old pub - The Freemasons' Arms - some delightful cottages and farms, and the only thing it lacks is a church.

This was not needed because it was close enough to walk to the Parish Church at Whalley.

Before this church was built in Norman times there was a Saxon settlement and crosses from this period still stand in the churchyard.

Wiswell also had a preaching cross and this can still be seen to the right of the road into the hamlet.

The shaft of the cross is modern but the site is ancient.

It is thought by some - but not all - historians that Wis was the name or part of the name of a pre-Christian chieftain and the hamlet was developed because of a well which provided essential water - hence Wiswell.

Whalley is also thought to mean the place of the wells.

It is hard for many of us to imagine the importance of a reliable supply of water. We complain when we can't use hosepipes but in ancient times a reliable supply of clean running water was jealously guarded. Wiswell - known better locally as Wisel - was in former times known as the damson blossom village.

I am sure this is why a few years ago in the autumn I saw a hawfinch.

This chaffinch-like bird has a huge powerful bill which is tough enough to crack damson stones and get at the kernel inside.

The hawfinch is very rare in our part of Lancashire but it is more common in the Lake District, where damson trees are common. My walk through Wiswell revealed a profusion of flowers, including comfrey, which used to be known as Knitbone and is still used for breaks, cuts and bruises.

Also growing in the hedge close to the well, which is still full of water, I found the delightful blooms of the Welsh poppy.

This glorious yellow flower is common throughout upland areas of Lancashire so why it is called Welsh beats me.

Wiswell Farm, on the outskirts of the village, has been constructed on the site of Old Wiswell Hall, which was the birthplace of John Paslew. He went on to become the last of the Abbots of Whalley. John prayed hard to become Abbot but he lived like a Prince before getting the wrong side of Henry VIII.

He joined in the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536 which tried to prevent Henry from cutting himself off from the Pope and establishing the Church of England.

The Abbot died for his faith and the Abbey was dissolved.

The ruin is still there and open to the public. I still love to walk from Wiswell to Whalley, especially in early summer.

The church bells of the Parish Church mingle with the sound of birdsong and the hum of traffic is stilled.

This is what walking through Lancashire is all about.

It is still possible to walk in the footsteps of Paslew, the 16th Century monk.

It is also possible to cool your fevered brow on a hot day by mopping up a drop of water from "Wise's Well."

Don't drink it, though. Just content yourself with soaking up history.

Previous news story

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