Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, January 11th, 1979 5


WHENEVER I am in isolated parts of the Hodder Valley I am reminded of the strug­ gle between man and nature brought vividly to mind by the words of authoress Honor Tracey. Talking of this sort of


the so r t of h o r r o r s described by Honor Ti acey


happened. You will, no doubt, have


visited the uplands four miles north of Slaidbuin where the River Hodder is


born. Here, betwixt Callow


isolation, she wrote: “I have not been with them when the weather was wild or the wind screaming round their lonely cabins, or when someone falls ill, or a woman begins labour, and the doctor could not cross to them, or when the body of one of them was recovered . . Such conditions, when


and Lamb Hill Fells, the headwaters drain from the mosses and heather to form a river unsurpassed anywhere in the British


COUNTRY OtARY


1947 were particularly bad in this region, which is almost 2,000 feet above sea


The winters of 1941 and


Isles. At all seasons it is wild


country — appealing in spring and summer, but wild and desolate in winter when the weather is bad or when snow makes it some­ what forbidding.


we have the telephone, good roads and the like, s e em f a r of f, and associated with the Victo­ rian era. Yet, we need only go back 30 years, within 15 miles of Clitheroe, when


On a dark gloomy win­ ter’s day the surroundings


can be desolate and abo­ minable, striking fear in those who are accustomed to the bright lights, the constant sound of voices or the roar of traffic.


level.Such is the isolation that, during one wintry spell, Catlow and Lamb Hill farms had no postal delivery for eight weeks. To keep in touch people had to walk across the snow-covered wastes to Slaidburn — about five miles away. The nightmarish ordeal


not difficult to contemp­ late, particularly as it was the lambing season. With the vast acres covered in snow and ice, the disaster could not have occurred at a worse time for men or livestock. The white blanket made


also be said of his then unborn son — now mature and vigorous. In these times it is hard


First ever SUPER SA VINGS SALE


to comprehend that such places can be beleaguered


it impossible to herd stock to lower ground and with ewes soon to be heavy in lamb,


feared.Many, of the ewes died through lack of exercise. Being snow-bound and in many cases buried or fro­ zen to the ground, the cre­ atures were helpless. Others, eager to sur­


the worst was


in 1947 began at the end of January and continued until March 16th. The snow lay four to


vive, struggled from the higher ground only to find


eight feet deep on most of the exposed places. Wall- ed-in roads and deep gul­ lies were filled to the brim. The consequences are


Stream pollution complaints


FOLLOWING com­ plaints about severe pollution of the stream running through Wor- ston there is to be a survey of the village’s drains and sewers system.


the Ribble Valley Council’s Health Committee there can be severe pollution to a stream which is lethal to fish life, without being a health hazard. In the report, however,


According to a report to


rainfall the brooks contains a higher percentage of semi-treated effluent. The drains from proper­


soon as staff resources permit. Clitheroe Rural District


ties to treatment tanks are repaired and maintained by the property owners. The question of off­


it is stated that at no time has it been possible to say that the stream at Worston could be classed as a nui­ sance in public health terms. The problems of sewage


loading the responsibility for repair and maintenance on to the local authority, by asking for the drains or sewers to be vested in the authority has never arisen, due to the fact that a large proportion of the costs would be recoverable from the respective owners. A further disincentive is the introduction of separate sewerage rating. The exact legal status of


disposal from Worston’s 29 properties, all built before 1936 and the majority before 1900, are long standing.


into the brook after pas­ sing through some form of treatment tank. Most of these are merely holding receptacles with an over­ flow, offering minimum treatment only, and nearly all discharge into the stream. At times of low


The drainage discharges


looked into the possibility of sewering the village as far back as 1950, but pro­ ceeded no further. In the late sixties the council looked into the possibility of connecting to the exist­ ing Upbrooks sewer in Clitheroe, and the council arranged for pipes to be put under the Clitheroe- Whalley bypass. In 1973, a Leeds firm


these old drains and treat- ment tanks cannot be established without obtain­ ing details of their age, construction, situation and


usage.


recent allegations that a number of these drains and treatment tanks are legally “public sewers” and tanks which should be main­ tained by the North West Water Authority, the Rib­ ble Valley Councils Techni­ cal department, as agents for the water authority, is carry out a survey as


However, in view of _ . ,


prepared a scheme and there are records of the position of all drains and tanks. AnoLher factor is that the new foul sewer to serve the proposed indust­ rial sites at Salthill quarry will have spare capacity which could be linked up to Worston.


which discusses the legal requirements, the NW W A has a duty to satisfy itself that the brook is not pol­ luted and, should pollution be proved, has the power to remedy the situation. Af te r he a r ing the


According to the report,


themselves in deep gullies and ghylls where, out of reach of the shepherds they succumbed to the


for almost two months, with little respite from hel­ lish conditions in which snow ploughs or tractors were of little use. South from Lamb Hill to


Slaidburn the drifting snow reached depths of 15ft., choking all paths. But the village had to be


reached in order to replen­ ish food stocks. To obtain the weekly order from Boothman’s, of Wadding- ton — who usually sent out the goods once a month — there was an exhausting toil across the snowy wil­ derness to Woodhouse Gate, three miles distant. From Woodhouse Gate


freezing climate. There were those who


also were on the border of starvation. Predators such as magpies and carrion crow, also starving, waited and many were the sheep with eyes and tongues torn out, as they lay helpless targets to the feathered


menace.At Lamb Hill there were 1,600 sheep — after the storm half remained alive. At Lamb Hill Farm the snow, at one time, reached the roof of the house, to add to the hardship and discomfort of the occup­ ants, one of them expect­


commencing Wednesday, January 10th at


Jack Eglin’s all branches


Europe’s fastest, driest wash! HOOVER


ELECTRONIC 1100 with 3 spin speeds


to Slaidburn, the narrow road was kept open by the constant efforts of the then occupants and by the council men working from Slaidburn village. It was a thankl es s


iSoeaifan £)


undertaking with the wind filling the road each night. I speak from some


Hsa r


experience. I have a pic­ ture of myself standing on that particular stretch of road surrounded by 12ft. drifts. And when it all came to


ing a child. For several weeks coun­


cil workers tried to open a road from the Slaidburn side, and the farm staff themselves dug away from the opposite end. No doctors could get


m


an end, the dead sheep were brought down 100 at a time to their final resting place beneath the now green sward.HORACE COOK


Winning design


through. Dr Murray tried from Clitheroe and Dr Bleasdale, then at Slaid­ burn, found the task beyond human endeavour. the then farm manager


at Lamb Hill, Mr Jack Greenwood was deter­ mined to break the bloc­ kade. Unable to tackle the Slaidburn Road, he began to drive his Austin Seven north towards Bentham, his vehicle travelling peril­


ously on top of the ice- covered snow six-feet


report, the committee has asked the Water Authori­ ty’s Rivers’ section, to look into the matter and take appropriate action.


deep.He managed to reach the boundary line near the Cross to' be greeted by a surprised group of diggers working their way from the Bentham side of the fell in order to reach the


A YOUNG Slaidburn artist has won a prize in a competition to design a Christmas card. Fifteen- year-old Pamela Red- mayne, of Chapel Street, has won a £20 second prize in the 12-16 section of the compet i t ion organised jointly by the Yorkshire Post and Rust Craft Greet­ ings Cards (UK) Ltd., of


the competition. However a trip to Rust Craft’s fac­ tory for the prizewinners has had to be cancelled owing to the journalists’


Dewsbury. More than 3,000 entered


JACK EGLIN


dispute._________ _ Beech Close


isolated farms. Jack is still very active these flays and this can


THE cul-de-sac serving the new council properties at the back of Millthorne House is to be called Beech Close.


11-13 PLUMBE STREET, BURNLEY 8-12 WELLGATE, CLITHEROE 116 BRIERCLIFFE ROAD, BURNLEY 43 LOWERHOUSE LANE, BURNLEY 115-119 BURNLEY ROAD, PADIHAM


Hii w*.


*■ \ _ PRICE SALE £18 59.9


You wi l l p ro b a b ly never be able to buy at this price again!


Save over £28 FERGUSON 3920 music centre 99.90 usual price £228.15


PLUS e Free delivery and installation • Trade-in allowances. O HP and credit facilities. O Full after sales service.


OTHER SALE — FEATURE BARGAINS 1


Junior Model U1036.......................................... ;........^ o n Junior Deluxe...............................................................


Senior Cleaner...........................................................Jog 5 Hoovermatic Deluxe................................................. Dishwasher 7014............................................................


Electronic 800............................................................u Hoover Steam Iron....................................................... Hoover Automatic Kettle............................................ Hoover Automatic Toaster.........................................


Decca 20in. Colour TV..............................................t2b9.3b


Doric 22in. Colour TV................................................ .. (including 4 year tube guarantee)


MUSIC CENTRES


Philips AH970................................................................... CASSETES


RADIOS ITT Tiny.......................................................................... Trade-in offer HOOVER JUNIOR


CLEANER Model U1012


IWhen you trade-in your old Hoover upright up to 18 a


£39.95 years old


'


Saie price £46.90 wi thout trade-in


‘•SSJf 3 q- nr pon 75 U


Tel. 28165 Tel. 27161 Tel. 20061 Tel. 28406 Tel. 71338


NATIONALLY KNOWN UPHOLSTERY ©©..HAVE SUFFERED


SEVERE FLOODING ON SEVERAL HIGH QUALITY LOUNGE SUITES


O U R ®#®B IS TO SELL THEM___________


Superior Corner Unit Group in Top duality Cover with Loose Cushions and Matching


Occasional Poufffe/Bed RETAIL PRICE £695 A FEW ONLY AT £ 2 9 5


LOT 2 A Large Chunky Style Suite with Showood Pine Frame Loose Cushions RETAIL PRICE £695


TO CLEAR £ 1 9 9 SOME ARE VERY WET, OTHERS WILL REQUIRE MINIMAL DRYING


SEVERAL OTHER DAMP SUITES AT NONiSEiMSE PRICES


DUE TO THE URGENCY. THERE WAS NOT TIME TO PUBLISH PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE GOODS (ALL DAMP SUITES SOLD OUTSIDE MANUFACTURER’S NORMAL WARRANTY)


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22