Our part of East Lancashire and the Ribble Valley never ceases to amaze me.

This week I was reading a new booked called The Archaeology of Rabbit Warrens by Tom Williamson and published by Shire at £5.99.

It tells of the history of rabbit warrens of which a number in our area are listed.

It is probable that the rabbit became extinct in Britain during the ice ages.

It was then introduced by the Normans for its flesh and especially its fur.

In the Ribble Valley there were valuable enclosed warrens around Slaidburn and Rathmell.

Both villages made a good living from the production of hats made of rabbit fur. Slaidburn I know well but the book mentioned above set me off on a fact finding tour of Rathmell.

Rathmell is the first village out of Giggleswick on the lower road. The place was once famous for the setting up of the first college to train nonconformist ministers. It was set up by local boy Richard Frankland who was born on the 1st November 1630. He was educated at Giggleswick School and then at Cambridge where he followed the same course as John Milton.

Always a staunch puritan Richard Frankland refused to accept a new prayer book as laid down after the restoration of Charles 2nd in 1660.

Richard was not as timid as a rabbit and by 1670 he was back home at Rathmell and set up the first college of non-conforming clergy.

College Fold as it is called still exists at right angles to the main street of the village.

Richard was excommunicated and had to keep on the move to avoid being sent to prison but he was pardoned before his death in 1698 and is buried in Giggleswick church.

Rathmell, rabbits and Ribble certainly have fascinating tales to tell!