Bent LaneWhilst many people think that the bend in the lane or the bridge gives the lane its name, however, in the Endowed Charities Report published in 1900, there are a number of references to Wrights Farm on Bent Lane. In the description of the farm it mentions, " the middle bent, the lower bent ", being names of fields or land on the estate.
The 1844 Map shows only the Wrights Fold Farm and two groups of cottages near to the junction with Turpin Green Lane, the second group probably disappearing with the building of the first Turpin Green Lane railway bridge between 1878 and 1880. On the 1896 Map, the houses in Strawberry Valley had been built and Wrights Fold Farm still extended over the fields on both sides of Bent Lane.  |
Wrights Fold Farm HouseThis 17th century holding of farm and land once formed part of the Richard Balshaw Trust, which together with the farm and land at School Lane provided the rental monies to fund the Grammar School. The trust land at Wrights Fold stretched from the west side of the railway via the crossing and over the east side of Bent Lane towards Wigan Road in the other direction.
When this ceased to be used as a farm, the land was brought by the Leyland Urban District Council and used as a base for the Refuse Collection department. When they moved out, the surrounding land was redeveloped as the Wrights Fold sheltered accommodation. The farmhouse has now been converted into two separate houses.
Public Footpath over railwayThis footbridge over the railway from Hargreaves Avenue to the recreation ground on Bent Lane follows the line of a field path from Lancaster Lane and Clayton to the centre of Leyland. The bridge replaces Bambers Crossing that was situated at this point and the scene of many accidents over the years.
A little to the south in the cutting prior to Bent Bridge was another crossing called Forty Steps probably named after the number of steps down to the lines and then back up the other side.
Recreation GroundThe area of land between the railway and Bent Lane was used for the extraction of sand being one of many sand pits in this area. This, in common with the pit on Dawson Lane, later became a rubbish dump before being covered over and the present recreation ground was established.
Strawberry ValleyThis was the section of Bent Lane from the recreation ground to the junction with Turpin Green Lane and prior to the construction of the M6 Motorway, Bow Lane. The houses were in terraces on the east side of the road. The house and yard on the left probably cover the remains of the level crossing, now replaced by Turpin Green Lane bridge.
At the top of the incline at the northern end of Bent Lane, turn left to join Turpin Green Lane (B5256), right being Leyland Way and the route to the motorway.
Turpin Green LaneThough some have suggested that Dick Turpin passed through, stayed at or did some other deed around Turpin Green. Unfortunately, the truth is more boring; the name comes from " Turf Pit ", the main form of warmth before coal was successfully mined. Of course, the story of Dick Turpin may have led to the current spelling, though whether we would name a road after a criminal these days remains to be seen.
The only buildings on Turpin Green Lane according to the 1844 Map was a house at the corner of Turpin Green and Bow Lane and the two barns that are better known as the cottages halfway down the lane. By 1896, the terraces on the north side of the lane from Princess Street to Stanley Street had been constructed together with the Methodist Chapel and School at the junction with Hough Lane. However, on the south side of the lane, it was still fields between the railway bridge and Sandy Lane, except for two large houses opposite the entrance to Princess Street.
While Turpin Green Lane only led to Bow Lane and Bent Lane it was a quiet country lane, but first it was linked by Canberra Road to Church Road, this being an unmade road until the early fifties. However, the biggest change came in 1962, when the M6 Motorway was linked via Leyland Way to the new Turpin Green Bridge, the resulting increase in traffic causing endless problems at the junction with Canberra Road.
This was until early 1993 when the powers that be decided to construct the King Street bypass and the two mini roundabouts. The rockery and the old swings that used to front Turpin Green disappeared forever.
Turpin Green BridgeThis rail crossing has seen many changes from the original level crossing complete with a watch house for the crossing keeper in 1838. This was replaced in 1880 when the doubling of the lines resulted in the building of a bridge slightly to the north.
This blue brick bridge lasted until the Motorway link road construction in 1962, required a new bridge again slightly to the north and higher being built. The height of the latest bridge was to facilitate the provision of the overhead power cables for the railway without having to rebuild the bridge again in the early seventies.
The view looking from Bent Lane shows on the left, the houses on the level with the railway though this may have been the site of a group of cottages. The height of the first bridge can be seen in the centre, whilst the new bridge is on the right at the highest level.
Canberra Road Service StationThis service station opened in 1950, the owners, George Damp and Sons Ltd., transferring their petrol retailing business from the previous site on Golden Hill Lane when it was bought by Leyland Motors to make an entrance to the Farington Works. In the days before the corporate identity and the branded outlet, it was possible as seen here for BP and Shell to coexist at the same service station.
This was a branch of the family who also ran the former Smithy in Towngate, running an engineering blacksmiths and also a small hardware and ironmongery shop next door. The service station was totally redeveloped and rebuilt over the years until it today covers the original site and the small field behind.
Looking up Canberra Road, the grass area on the left, has now become the Methodist Primary School, moving here from the old school, which was adjacent to the Church on Turpin Green Lane.
Balcarres GreenThis was formerly the site of a wayside cross opposite Charnock Old Hall. It was also, in the early part of this century, the site of Leyland Baldwin's grand plan for an outdoor swimming pool. The King Street bypass has now covered the green area to the right of the path to Balcarres Road.
The wall on Balcarres Road used to mark the boundary of the Leyland Motors South Works though, when this photograph was taken, the works had been closed down. The extension of King Street was about to commence, the blue huts housing the modern day navvies, while the slogan on the wall, " No four lane road through here ", is now gone for ever.
Turpin Green Lane CottagesThis row of cottages together with the two further down towards the roundabout were originally built as barns appearing on the 1848 first edition Ordnance Survey Map as the only buildings on Turpin Green Lane.
The terraces built in the late 1890's lead up the hill towards Turpin Green Bridge; they had names including Woodville Terrace and Starkie Terrace.
In order to continue the walk, it is now only possible to enter Balcarres Road by foot by either crossing Canberra Road in front of the garage or the new King Street bypass at the zebra crossing, the first building to be seen being Charnock Old Hall.
Balcarres RoadThe name of this road was taken from a former Member of Parliament for the Chorley constituency, Lord Balcarres. He later became Earl Crawford hence Crawford Avenue.
Charnock Old HallCharnock Old Hall, a Grade II listed building, is situated on the length of Balcarres Road that was previously known as Sandy Lane before the building developments of the 1930's. It has been called many names through the years including Blacklache Hall, The Old Hall, Leyland Hall and Charnock Hall. Though its most famous occupants were the Charnocks from Cuerden in the 17th century, who had been living in Leyland for close on 100 years prior to their move to the Old Hall.
When William Charnock died in 1598, his son Roger then aged 11 was left the estate.
These Charnocks were a well-known Roman Catholic family, this being a period when this was not a politically correct position to be in. The estate then passes to Robert Charnock, a Roman Catholic priest, who rebuilt the Hall in 1660 as denoted by the coat of arms above the door and the letters
“ I.H.S. A.M. R.C.1660”.
Before he died in 1670, he conveyed his estate to a Grace Bold, the house and estate to be left in trust for the benefit of the priests and secular clergy. It being his wish that the Hall should one day become the residence of a Roman Catholic Bishop of Lancashire. After a trial at the Lancaster Assizes in 1686, it was declared that the property being so left was illegal. In 1688, the Exchequer declared the property forfeited to the King and following a petition of the parishioners, the house and lands were granted to the Vicars of Leyland as glebe land.
It then became a farmhouse, as the houses encroached from one side and the Motors South Works advanced from the other, the hall eventually being converted to two individual properties.
Leyland Motors South WorksThe site of the South Works stretches from Balcarres Road to Hough Lane, being acquired by the Motors during the First World War. It was first used for the construction of the various types of bodies for the R.A.F. vehicles and the erection of a three-storey building to provide canteen facilities for its employees when their numbers increased during the war.
The body building department eventually covered over 210,000 sq. ft. of floor space, including timber drying kilns, storage sheds, sawmill, upholstery department, sheet metal machine shops, body erection shops, paint and varnishing rooms and finishing shops.
The South Works also housed the chief engineers staff, the chassis and body designers and draughtsmen being accommodated on the top floor of the canteen building with the experimental and research and developments close by. The Apprentices Training Centre, where boys received practical training is now known as Kings Court, this and the Commercial Vehicle Museum being the only buildings left on the site today. | |
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