A READER'S LETTER

The following is extracted from a letter from Mr. Bevan Ridehalgh of Stalmine, who kindly wrote after reading the article on an ancient highway in Nateby in the last edition of the journal. We are much indebted to him for the following:-

'In 1902 a toll was imposed by the landowner on a road running to the river at Wardleys. Amongst the entries in the Parish Council Minute Book is the following (part letter) to Garstang District Council. 'The public have had a free right of way with carts, etc. to the ford at Wardleys without let or hindrance from time immemorial. Vessels have discharged grain, manure, slate etc. and taken on potatoes for years and in all cases, gravel, free.'

The minutes do not specify where the road was, but does mention Wardleys Hotel and (as noted) the ford. A road is shown north of the Hotel on the 1840 0.S. map but interestingly is not on the Stalmine-with-Staynall Tithe map of the same era possibly why Stalmine Parish Council lost their case at a public which is enquiry! This road is no longer there but I believe is still easy to find since there is an overgrown gateway in the hedge half way along the caravan site find since there is a footpath marker there pointing further in the road side. Again, this is easy to inland and thus suggesting a "road" system. It seems to me that most of the road that you have investigated so far fell into disuse because there was no further use for it, but if, indeed, this road is the end of the route from Cabus, the short length to the river would remain because it was useful.'

During the autumn of 1998 N. Thompson had the opportunity to walk on the other side of the river opposite to the above and indeed there is a very distinct agger leading up hill away from the river. Whilst the team were aware of a ferry at Wardleys, we did not know of the ford and thank Mr. Ridehalgh for taking the time to write to us.