WHALLEY ROAD, HURST GREEN, CLITHEROE, BLACKBURN, LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND  BB7 9QJ

The Tolkein Trail

On the release of the blockbuster film, "The Lord of the Rings", everyone is talking about where, the author JRR Tolkien got his inspiration from for this literary masterpiece. Recently in The Times, Reporter Nick Baty investigated the village of Hurst Green, where Tolkien went to Stonyhurst College. The Shireburn Arms Hotel was said to be a favourite of Tolkien's and in fact there are a lot of clues to suggest that Hobbiton, where Bilbo & Frodo lived in Middle Earth was based on Hurst Green. As you can see from the illustration there seems to be very good evidence to suggest that this is the case. Why not come yourself and visit the Shireburn Arms at Hurst Green and Judge for yourself.

Follow in the footsteps of JRR Tolkien Author of 'The Lord of the Rings' on the Tolkien Trail - a 9km/5.5miles circular walk starting and finishing at the Shireburn

Download the Tolkien Trail leaflet HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Places of interest to be found along the route of the Tolkien Trail

  Map illustration courtesy of Ribble Valley Borough Council

 

The Observatories

The first observatory at Stonyhurst was begun in 1838 and completed in 1845. In 1868, this observatory - known as the Dome Observatory - was completed. It houses a larger telescope than the original building and is still in use by the students.

 

Hill Barn Farm

The Barn, which stands alongside the path, is at least in part probably late medieval. Until as late as the 1820s, a number of 14th and 15th century buildings survived at Stonyhurst. It is possible that the barn dates from the same period, as the roof is supported on 5 massive oak cruck frames. This building technique fell out of favour in the 16th century due to a shortage of timber.

 

Garden Pavilions

The two pavilions, with their elegant curving roofs, were added to Stonyhurst - along with a formal walled garden - by Sir Nicholas Shireburn in the late 17th century. The octagonal building beyond (now used as a tea room) is the old observatory of 1838 (see above).

 

Pendle Hill

Pendle Hill dominates the south eastern flank of the Ribble Valley and is the highest hill in Lancashire at 557m (1860ft). Clitheroe Castle was built in the 12th century on the rocky outcrop overlooking the crossing of the Ribble at Edisford. The castle and adjacent museum are open throughout the year. (For opening times, contact Clitheroe Tourist Information on 01200 425566.)

 

Woodfields and New Lodge

The houses around Woodfields are owned by Stonyhurst College and provide accommodation for staff. J.R.R. Tolkien stayed at nearby New Lodge when he visited his son John at St. Mary's Hall. At that time, it was a seminary for the English College evacuated from Rome. His other son Michael later lived at Woodfields and planted a copse in his father's memory following J.R.R. Tolkien's death in 1973.

 

Hodder Place

This impressive building dates back to 1780, when it was the home of a cotton mill-owner. All traces of the mill, on the river bank below the house, have now disappeared. The building was greatly extended by the Jesuits in the nineteenth century when it was used as a Novitiate and then as a preparatory school until its closure in 1971. It has since been divided into privately owned houses and flats.

River Hodder

The Hodder marks the historic county boundary between Lancashire (this side) and Yorkshire (far side). Much of the land in the Hodder Valley further to the north is owned by the Queen as the Duke of Lancaster.

 

Cromwell's Bridge

Also known as Devil's Bridge, the packhorse bridge across the Hodder was built by Sir Richard Shireburn in 1562, replacing a wooden bridge dating from at least 1331. Legend says that it was used by Oliver Cromwell during his march from Skipton to intercept the Royalists at the Battle of Preston in 1648. It is far more likely that he would have crossed the river at Higher Hodder Bridge.

 

Winckley Hall Farm

In the 12th century, Winckley was part of the estates of the Knights Hospitaller. By the early 13th century it had been granted to John de Winkley. John supported Thomas Earl of Lancaster in his revolt against Edward II in 1318. Although Thomas was executed for treason, John Winkley was pardoned. Little of the early house survives.

 

Hacking Hall

The de Hacking family occupied this site from at least 1200, until it passed by marriage to the Shuttleworth family in the 14th century. The present house was built in 1607 by Sir Thomas Walmsley of Dunkenhalgh, the noted circuit judge, who had married the heiress Anne Shuttleworth. Just upstream of the hall was the ferry service, which operated until the 1950s. The ferryman's hut and the ferry itself are on display at Clitheroe Castle Museum.

 

The Stone Cross

The base of the cross dates to the early Christian period and was originally sited to the north of Cross Gills Farm. It was moved to its present position in 1833 by the Rector of Stonyhurst. At the same time a new shaft and arms were cut to surmount the pedestal.

 

The Aqueduct

The graceful stone aqueduct was constructed in the 1880s by the Blackburn Corporation. It originally carried water from Whitewell via an underground pipeline

Visit the Ribble Valley Borough Coucil website for further information on the Tolkien Trail

 

Telephone: +44(0)1254 826518       Fax: +44(0)1254 82620