The original plan was to walk up Great Hill near Chorley with the Ramblers and my friend Caroline. I had never heard of Great Hill before, or indeed the Lost Farms which the description curiously mentioned. But when the day arrived, we felt less inclined to venture up a hill and decided instead to embark on a more gentle stroll. (Fortunately, we hadn't booked this walk so the Ramblers weren't expecting us).
I had a flash of inspiration - why not have a Teashop Walk adventure? Caroline had given me a book of Lancashire Teashop Walks for a Christmas present and I had been meaning to try out both walks and cafes. Of course there are Wainwrights and long distance trails to tick off, but I also have a Teashop Walk list for days of lower energy when a comforting cup of tea and a slice of cake is needed more than an exhilarating challenge. And this would be a perfect end to the start of the week when a 12-mile walk along the Pennine Trail took me to fabulous waterfalls.
After consulting with Jean Patefield and her Lancashire Teashop Walks, we opted for Walk 9, Worden Park in Leyland. As Leyland was in the direction of Chorley we thought we might as well head in the similar direction.
It wasn't too far off the motorway although not well signposted. Once we arrived, it looked like there was only a small and unfortunately full car park. There was a section for long vehicles but that didn't stop car drivers from parking there. Happily, through the bare hedges, I glimpsed a bigger car park and although busy, this did have spaces. Even better, it was free to park on a Sunday.
Passing footballers playing on the sports fields, we headed into the park. A carpet of snowdrops greeted us on the way. Our first stop was the cafe (the teashop is an important part of a teashop walk mini adventure!) The signs took us into a certain direction until they suddenly disappeared. What is it with signs these days?!
We must have looked lost as a helpful local couple asked if we were looking for the cafe. They lived within walking distance so were frequent visitors. They were very willing to direct us and we secretly decided that the lady was Jean Patefield herself. Of course she would know where the tearoom was as she had written about it!
Feeling slightly guilty about the cheese roll and bottle of water lurking in my rucksack, I opted for tea and left the various tempting cakes well alone. The Folly Coffee House and Deli (which was recently refurbished) was busy with only a couple of large tables available inside but there was ample seating outside which was where we sat. A couple of hours later, at lunchtime, there was a long queue snaking out of the teashop. It was best to have our pot of tea beforehand!
We had enjoyed our pot of tea but it was now time to explore. Our path took us to a woodland where a folly bridge stood.
Leaving the wood, we looked into a craft shop, full of beautiful handmade items for sale.
The formal gardens - where we sat on a bench eating our packed lunches - looked a little drab this dull February day. But I could imagine in spring there would be colourful flowers blooming. The conservatory's pansy and primrose border was a case in point.
While we munched our sandwiches, a model train went past in the distance. (There is a miniature railway in the park). We joked that the Chorley Ramblers were enjoying themselves on that train instead of going up Great Hill.
Past the conservatory, we ventured into the maze. But it was the wrong end and we couldn't go any further! So we headed to the front. Jean had warned in her book that the maze was even more 'fiendish' than the famous one at Hampton Court and warned visitors they needed time to spare and navigation skills. This was off-putting. Caroline was reluctant to go in because of a scene in Harry Potter. I couldn't get Jack Nicholson and The Shining out of my head...
Both the formal gardens and the maze were laid out in the 1850s, designed by landscape architect William Andrews Nesfield, and replaced a previous design.
Worden Hall is a Grade II listed building and was officially reopened in 2022 after a £2.8 million investment which included an extension and a refurbishment of the cafe. As well as being a great place to visit, the building itself is available for event, wedding and community use.
Although it was opened to the public as a park in 1951 after Leyland Urban District Council bought it the year before, it has a long and rich history.
For centuries it has been the estate of the ffarington family (and there is a place near Leyland called Farington so that's where its name comes from) and according to records, a dwelling has been on this site since the 1200s. It has been suggested that one of the ffaringtons, who was secretary to the Earl of Derby in the 1500s, was the inspiration for the character Malvolio in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. So they were notable characters indeed.
Anyone who visits will note that, for a previous stately home, it doesn't seem all that large. Unfortunately what we see is just a remnant of the hall. A fire broke out in 1941, destroying the roof and interior, and while the walls remained standing, these were demolished in 1960. Today all we can see are the Derby Wing, outbuildings and walled kitchen garden. But for a pleasant, easy walk, it's certainly worth a trip.
The park has held the Green Flag Award since the scheme began in 1997, the only site north of London to have done so.
South Ribble Borough Council
No comments:
Post a Comment