Landscape Character Assessment · 2015-12-02 · A Landscape Strategy for LancashireA Landscape Strategy for LancashireLandscape Character AssessmentLandscape Character Assessment

Landscape Character Assessment Environment Directorate

Published by Environment DirectorateLancashire County CouncilDecember 2000Design - Graphics Unit - Environment Directorate

Copies of this document from:Environment DirectorateLancashire County Council Cross Street Winckley House Preston PR1 8RDWeb: www.lancashire.gov.ukTel: 01772 264115

Web: www.lancsenvironment.com© LCC & Countryside Agency

supported by:

The Lancashire Landscape Strategy was commissioned by Lancashire County CouncilEnvironment Directorate with grant aid fromthe Countryside Agency and financial supportfrom the following local authorities;Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council,Burnley Borough Council,Chorley Borough Council,Fylde Borough Council,Hyndburn Borough Council,North Yorkshire County Council,Pendle Borough Council,Preston Borough Council,Ribble Valley Borough Council,South Ribble Borough Council,West Lancashire District Council,Wyre Borough Council.

The study was prepared for LancashireCounty Council by:Environmental Resources ManagementEaton House,Wallbrook Court,North Hinksey Lane, Oxford OX2 0QS

Geological Map based on British Geological Survey Information.

Based upon the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproductioninfringes Crown copyright and may lead toprosecution or civil proceedings.Lancashire County Council.Licence Nº LA 076716 2000.

A Landscape Strategy for Lancashire Landscape Character AssessmentA Landscape Strategy for Lancashire Landscape Character Assessment

CONTENTS

1 Introduction 1

1.1 The Scope and Context for this Study 1

1.2 Purpose of the Landscape Character Assessment 2

1.3 Approach and Methodology 3

1.4 Structure of the Report 3

2 The Evolution of Lancashire 8

2.1 Physical Influences 8

2.2 Human Influences 10

3 Lancashire’s Landscape Character 26

4 Lancashire’s Urban Landscape Types 111

4.1 Historic Core (1100-1800) 111

4.2 Industrial Age (1800-1930) 113

4.3 Suburban (1930 ONWARDS) 115

Glossary 117

Bibliography 121

Acknowledgements 122


LIST OF FIGURES Page

Figure 1 Study Area 5

Figure 2 The Character Map of England - The North West 6

Figure 3 Previous Landscape Assessments 7

Figure 4 Historic Landscape Types 21

Figure 5 Geology 22

Figure 6 Landform 23

Figure 7 Habitats 25

Figure 8 Landscape Character Types 28 & 29& Landscape Character Areas

Figure 9 Urban Landscape Character Types 30 & 112



LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHSPhotograph Title and Credit Page No.

1 Downholland. Mike Williams 1

2 Sabden, Forest of Bowland in winter. © Countryside Agency/Mike Williams 1

3 Low tide, Morecambe Bay. Jon Sparks 2

4 Enclosure walls and heather. Mike Williams 2

5 Aughton across the Lune Valley. Jon Sparks 3

6 Roman Ruins, Ribchester. Lancashire County Council 11

7 Rock cut graves, Heysham. Jon Sparks 13

8 Textile Mill, Rossendale. Lancashire County Council 14

9 Stonyhurst College. Lancashire County Council 17

10 Terraced housing. Lancashire County Council 18

11&12 Upland Habitats, Littledale & Corn Marigolds, Rufford. Jon Hickling 24

13 Saltmarsh, Silverdale. Jon Sparks 24

14 Worsthorne Moor. © Countryside Agency/Mike Williams 31

15 Trough of Bowland. Mike Williams 35

16 Langden Brook at Hareden. Mike Williams 36

17 Forest of Rossendale. Mike Williams 41

18 Parlick, Forest of Bowland. © Countryside Agency/Mike Williams 43

19 Slaidburn. Mike Williams 49

20 Read Village. Mike Williams 55

21 Brierfield fringe. Mike Williams 56

22 View from Millennium Footpath. Mike Williams 59

23 Rawtenstall in Winter. Jon Sparks 63

24 Anglezarke Reservoir, Chorley. Mike Williams 65

25 Tarnbrook Wyre. Mike Williams 69

26 Frosty Morning, Crook O’ Lune. Jon Sparks 73

27 Drumlins near Bolton-le-Sands. Mike Williams 77

28 Drumlin Field west of the Lune at Melling. Mike Williams 81

29 Walled Lane south west of Gisburn Forest. Mike Williams 85

30 Coastal Plain, Burscough. © Countryside Agency/Mike Williams 89

31 Downholland Moss. Mike Williams 93

32 Glasshouses near Banks. © Countryside Agency/Mike Williams 94

33 Hesketh New Marsh. Mike Williams 97

34 Warton Sands, south of Silverdale. Mike Williams 99

35 Sand dunes at Lytham St Annes. Peter Jepson 103

36 Warton Crag, view west to Morecambe Bay. Jon Sparks 105

37 Limestone Pavement, Gait Barrows Nature Reserve. Jon Sparks 106

38 Limestone outcrop, Leck Fell. Mike Williams 109

39 Preston Flag Market. Lancashire County Council 111

40 Backyards, Colne. Lancashire County Council 114

41 Suburbs, south Lancaster. Jon Sparks 115

Cover illustration: View across Burscough - Landscape Character Type 15, The Coastal Plain.© Countryside Agency/Mike Williams. Rawtenstall in Winter. Jon Sparks


Flow Diagram showing links between the landscape assessment, historic landscape assessment andproduction of landscape strategy and landscape policy.


LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENTEvolution of Lancashire -

Physical InfluencesHuman Influences

Classification (Types & Areas)Description (Types & Areas)

Urban Landscape Types

HISTORIC LANDSCAPEASSESSMENT

Classification (Historic Types)Description (Historic Types)

Value and PerceptionsForces for Change

ImportanceSafeguarding the Type

LANDSCAPE STRATEGY

Forces for Change (Study Area Wide)Key Environmental Features (Types)

Local Forces for Change (Types)Implementing the Strategy

Indicators of Landscape ChangeMonitoring Landscape Change

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT

Programme for Monitoring ChangeTargets

LANDSCAPE POLICY

COUNTY COUNCIL

Structure Plan PolicySupplementary Planning Guidance

DISTRICT COUNCIL

Local Plan PolicyDetailed District Landscape

Assessments and Policy Guidance:West Lancashire District Council’s

‘Natural Areas and Areas of LandscapeHistory Importance’

(Potentially) Other District LandscapeAssessments

(Potentially) Design Guidance

(1) Countryside Commission (1987) Landscape Assessment: a Countryside Commission Approach, CCD 18, Countryside Commission, Cheltenham.


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1 IntroductionIn October 1999, Environmental ResourcesManagement (ERM) were commissioned byLancashire County Council, in partnership withthe Countryside Agency, District Councils,Blackburn with Darwen Unitary Authority,North Yorkshire County Council and CravenDistrict Council, to undertake acomprehensive integrated landscape andassessment of Lancashire including the urbanareas and to produce a landscape strategyinformed by the landscape characterassessment process.

The overall study consists of two separatereports; a Landscape Character Assessment anda Landscape Strategy. This first report, thelandscape character assessment, is an objectivedescription and classification of the Lancashirelandscape. It forms the basis for the evaluationand guidance provided in the landscapestrategy.

The timescale of the Landscape Strategy is tobe concurrent with and reviewed during thereview period of the next Joint LancashireStructure Plan 2001-2016.

1.1

The Scope and Context for this StudyThe study area is shown on Figure 1. Itincludes all of the administrative county ofLancashire, and Blackburn with DarwenUnitary authority and part of the CravenDistrict of North Yorkshire up to theboundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

This area was included to provide detailedassessment of the whole of the Bowland Fells,Bowland Fringe and Pendle Hill and LancashireValleys Countryside Character Areas asdefined in the Character Map of England. Forthe purpose of the report the Study isreferred to as a Landscape Strategy forLancashire.

The landscape character assessment uses as astarting point the Countryside Agency’sCharacter Map of England (Figure 2), andincorporates as far as possible informationfrom a number of earlier landscapeassessments carried out across the county, aswell as making reference to studies in adjacentareas. (Figure 3). In 1993 the County Councilcarried out a landscape evaluation for thepurposes of the Structure Plan Review basedon Countryside Commission guidance (1) toidentify landscape character areas within theCounty. These landscape character areas haveformed the basis for landscape policy in theLancashire Structure Plan 1991-2006.Landscape character assessments have alsobeen carried out in recent years in the twoAreas of Outstanding Natural Beauty(Arnside/Silverdale and the Forest ofBowland), in the South Pennines (CountrysideAgency Character Area 36) in West Lancashire(Natural Areas and Areas of LandscapeHistory Importance) and Wyre Districts, andin the adjacent authorities of Sefton andCumbria. Significantly, this assessment has beeninformed by the historic landscape assessmentof Lancashire carried out by the County

Photo 1. Downholland.

Photo 2. Sabden, Forest of Bowland in winter.

Archaeology Service, which commenced inJanuary 1999. The project characterised thedistinctive, historic dimension of Lancashire’surban and rural environment and iscomplementary to this landscape characterassessment.

The Flow Diagram overleaf shows therelationship between landscape assessment,historic and strategy.

This assessment draws together previouswork, producing a comprehensive integratedcharacter assessment using up-to-daterecommended methodology. Where existingDistrict guidance is operative as in WestLancashire, the Landscape Strategy willcomplement it and should encourage theproduction of further detailed Districtassessments and guidance.

1.2Purpose of the Landscape CharacterAssessmentThis landscape character assessment adopts anholistic approach which considers thelandscapes of Lancashire as a mosaic ofdifferent landscape types and character areas,each with particular characteristics and subjectto particular forces for change. Theassessment is intended to provide anunderstanding of the area’s landscape and toform a basis for the landscape strategy andguidelines.

The study as a whole will inform the newStructure Plan and local plan policies onlandscape, as well as supplementary planningguidance. It will also assist local planningofficers in development control and will guideand inform project planning and landscapemanagement by the Lancashire CountrysideService. The strategy is also intended to fulfil awider remit by helping to promote publicawareness of landscape character and theimportance of conservation and enhancementof landscape.

The landscape character assessment has fourmain objectives:

• to outline how the landscape of Lancashirehas evolved in terms of physical forces andhuman influences;

• to classify the landscape into distinctlandscape types identifying key characteristicsand sensitivities and providing principles toguide landscape change;

• to describe the current appearance of thelandscape, classifying it into distinct zones ofhomogeneous character, summarising the keyfeatures of each landscape character area;

• to describe the principal urban landscapetypes across the County, highlighting their historical development.


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Photo 3. Low tide Morecambe Bay.

Photo 4. Enclosure walls and heather.

(1) Countryside Commission (1993) Landscape Assessment Guidance, CCP 423, Countryside Commission, Cheltenham.(2) Countryside Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage (1999) Interim Landscape Character Assessment Guidance.

1.3Approach and MethodologyThe study used accepted, systematic methodsof landscape assessment (1) supplemented bythe new guidance on landscape characterassessment (2). The main tasks were:

• familiarisation with the study area throughoverlay mapping, desk study and compilationof material onto detailed field survey forms.

• site survey including completion of field surveyforms for character areas, mapping oflandscape types and landscape characterareas at 1:50,000, and preparation of aphotographic record.

• background research into the geological andphysical evolution, human influences on thelandscape, and ongoing land use change anddevelopment pressures.

• consultations with key individuals andorganisations to assist the team inunderstanding local landscape character andforces for change.

• report preparation, including descriptions oflandscape character types, landscapecharacter areas and the physical and humaninfluences which have shaped their character.

Development of a sound landscapeclassification laid the foundations for allsubsequent work.

1.4Structure of the ReportThis report presents a full description andclassification of the landscapes within the studyarea, together with an analysis of its geologyand topography, and the historic evolution ofpatterns of land cover, land use andsettlement. It will provide a valuable source ofinformation for planning and land managementin Lancashire.

The landscape patterns that we see todayhave evolved gradually over thousands ofyears, through both natural and human forces.The Report begins, in Section 2, by describingthe principal influences that have shaped thelandscape in the county. Important anddistinctive geological, cultural, historic andhabitat features are highlighted, and theirdistribution is described.

This sets the scene for Section 3, whichreviews landscape character across the studyarea, presenting the classification of landscapecharacter types, urban landscape types andcharacter areas and drawing attention to thosecharacteristics and features that areparticularly distinctive, rare or special. Suchcharacteristics and features may be found evenamong the non designated landscapes; and animportant aspect of the new approach tolandscape is to recognise that all landscapesmatter.

Section 4 describes theprincipal urban landscapetypes found within thestudy area. The descriptionis accompanied by noteson the evolution of urbanform.The report concludes witha glossary of key terms, abibliography andacknowledgements of thesteering group andconsultees whocontributed to the study.


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Photo 5. Aughton across the Lune Valley.


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5

Figure 1: Study Area


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Figure 2: The Character Map of England- The North West


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Figure 3: Previous Landscape Assessments

2The Evolution of Lancashire In the Lancashire study area, it is the irregularjuxtaposition of contrasting rocks that formsthe basic structure of the landscape. Butgeology is not the only factor to have shapedthe landscape; the intricate interplay ofgeology, geomorphology, pedology,biogeography and human activity have all hada significant influence. Figure 4 shows therange of historic landscape types found inLancashire; it identifies broad but distinctivepatterns of fields, settlements and land coverwhich have developed through a long historyof human habitation and exploitation. Thespatial distribution of resources, such as waterpower, coal, metals, building stone and timber,the development role of technology and thedistribution of agriculture are all keyinfluences on the most recent and visible layerof the landscape (1) .

2.1Physical Influences

2.1.1Geology and TopographyThe underlying geology of Lancashire (Figure5) is comparatively simple and is formed fromfour major rock types from three maingeological periods. Rocks of the UpperCarboniferous include the Millstone Grit andCoal Measures. The Lower Carboniferousrocks include the limestones of Silverdale andthe Ribble Valley which run through Clitheroeinto Yorkshire. Permian and Triassic rocksinclude the sandstones and mudstones whichmake up the west of the county. Theunderlying geology, combined with climate andtopography, has had a profound influence overthe industrial development of Lancashire.Geology is reflected most noticeably in thedistribution and variety of building materialsused across the county.

These geological strata are covered by layersof glacial and fluvio-glacial sediments whichdate from the end of the Pleistocene Ice Age.These form a skin of superficial deposits, ordrift, which in places are so thick as toeradicate all visual clues as to the nature ofthe underlying solid geology. This drift is

modelled and shaped by fluvial, marine, aeolianand frost processes which combine to createdistinctive features and landscapes.

The county can be divided into three broadtopographic zones - the lowlands, the uplandsand the river valleys (Figure 6). The lowlandsare generally formed of Permian and Triassicrocks which are overlain by thick deposits ofglacial drift, blown sand, peat, alluvium and silt.These are soft, gently rolling landscapesinterspersed with eskers (gravel ridges) andlow hillocks (drumlins). Occasionally higherand more irregular relief, such as the ridgesaround Chorley and Leyland, indicates that theunderlying rocks have emerged from beneaththe drift. Most of the uplands are formedfrom Carboniferous rocks which rise highabove the plain; they are characterised byfeatures such as boulder erratics. Thegritstone plateaux are surrounded by steepglacier smoothed slopes. In the Silverdale arealimestone has created a characteristiclandscape of crags and valleys and otherlimestone features.

2.1.2Natural FeaturesEnglish Nature’s Natural Areas, reflect thedistribution of wildlife habitats and naturalfeatures throughout the countryside asdetermined by their underlying geology, pastland use patterns and the cultural history ofindividual areas (see Figure 2). They provide aframework for planning and implementationof nature conservation objectives andBiodiversity Action Plan (BAP) targets. SomeNatural Areas are conterminous with theCountryside Agency’s Countryside CharacterAreas (CCAs), whilst others encompass twoor more Countryside Character Areas.


8(1) Whittow, John, Geology and Scenery in Britain, Chapman & Hall, 1992.

(1) English Nature, Natural Areas in the North West Region, English Nature, 1999.

Box 2.1 Natural Areas in Lancashire - Key Characteristic Habitats (1)

Natural Areas Key Characteristic Habitats

Cumbria Fells & Dales • extensive limestone pavements, rock ledges and crevice vegetation

(only Morecambe Bay • limestone coastal cliffs overlooking extensive saltmarshes

Limestones CCA in • mixed ash woodland, juniper scrub and yew woodland

Lancashire) • lowland calcareous grassland, and herb rich neutral pastures

• calcareous lakes and reedbeds (Leighton Moss is the largest

reedbed in NW England)

• remnant lowland raised bogs

Lancashire Plain & Valleys • arable field margins, ditches and boundary hedgerows

• lowland wet grasslands, including coastal and floodplain grazing marshes

• isolated fragments of species-rich neutral grasslands,

• fragments of lowland raised bogs

• small pockets of lowland heathland and acid grassland

• large numbers of small field ponds throughout the coastal plain

Forest of Bowland • extensive areas of blanket bog on fells

• extensive areas of wet and dry upland heathland

• purple moorgrass and rush pastures on upland fringes

• upland oak and mixed ash woodlands in cloughs and valleys

• fast flowing streams and rivers

• fragments of herb-rich neutral hay meadows in valleys

• small areas of upland calcareous grassland on limestone outcrops

Southern Pennines • extensive areas of blanket bog on moorland tops

• impoverished areas of wet and dry upland heathland

• large areas of upland acid grassland

• frequent springs and flushes

• fast flowing streams and rivers, and reservoirs

• some upland hay meadows in valleys

• grasslands upland oak and mixed ash woodlands in valleys

Urban Mersey Basin • lowland oak and mixed ash woodland

• arable field margins and boundary hedgerows

• small pockets of herb-rich neutral grassland

• fragmented areas of lowland raised bogs

• large numbers of small field ponds

Yorkshire Dales • limestone pavements, rock ledges, crevice and gorge vegetation

(only Leck Fell in • upland calcareous grassland on limestone outcrops

Lancashire) • upland mixed ash woodlands in cloughs and valleys

• large areas of wet and dry upland heathland

• frequent springs and flushes

• fragmented areas of basin and valley mires

Liverpool Bay • large expanses of saltmarsh within the Ribble Estuary (some of the most extensive in

the country)

• extensive areas of inter-tidal sand and mudflat

• fragmented areas of sand dune along the Fylde coast

Morecambe Bay • large expanses of ungrazed saltmarsh on the Wyre estuary

• extensive areas of inter-tidal sand and mudflat (second largest in the UK)

• intertidal and subtidal boulders and cobble skears with associated mussel beds

• vegetated shingle

• occasional brackish pools on the landward side of sea walls


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Figure 7 provides a broad indication of theprincipal habitats found in Lancashire. Habitatssuch as moorland, scrub, woodland, pasture,arable fields and marsh are derived from thecomplex interplay of geology, soil andlandform, but the influence of man in clearingand settling the land is a key determinant ofland cover and, ultimately, habitat value.

2.2Human Influences (1)

2.2.1Palaeolithic (c.500,000-8000 BC )Palaeolithic culture flourished during thePleistocene, when glaciations wereinterspersed with long periods of slightlywarmer climate. Britain was still joined tocontinental Europe at this time and in periodsof intense cold – such as the last glaciation25,000–12,000 years ago - populationsretreated to the warmer parts of thecontinent; although even during the glacialperiods they made seasonal food gatheringforays into the area that is present-day Britain.

Evidence has been discovered at Poulton-le-Fylde where a skeleton of an elk wasunearthed which displayed evidence ofhunting. It is thought that the elk survivedbeing hunted, but that it escaped and died ofits wounds, sinking into a muddy poolcomplete with one of the hunters spearheads.

Apart from this find, evidence of this period isrelatively unknown in Lancashire althoughrecent work in the wetlands has indicated thatfurther investigation may reveal more evidenceof occupation. For instance evidence of UpperPalaeolithic activity was discovered on thefringes of the permanent snowfields of theLake District and in the tundra around what isnow Morecambe Bay.

2.2.2Mesolithic (c.8,000-4000 BC)Gradually, as the climate improved at aroundc.8500 BC, the glacial ice sheets retreated andmeltwaters separated Britain from theContinent. The climate became warmer andwetter and by c.6,500 BC pine forests hadgiven way to denser, deciduous woodland.Oak and elm would have occupied slightly

better drained slopes, whilst exclusively oakwoodland was predominant on poorly drainedlow-lying ground.

The Mesolithic is far better represented in thearchaeological record than the Palaeolithic.The improved climatic conditions suitedsettlement by large numbers of people andbands of hunter gatherers roamed the uplandand lowland landscapes of Lancashire followingthe herds and collecting wild food. A site atRushy Brow, Anglezarke showed remains oftemporary shelters and flint implements. It isthought to represent a temporary huntingcamp of this period. Flint scatters discovered inthe uplands between Saddleworth andBurnley, indicate that there were otherseasonal summer hunting camps in the hills.These are important finds as some of the flintand chert implements were from Lincolnshireand east Yorkshire and indicate that regularlong distance trade had already becomeestablished during the Mesolithic.

2.2.3Neolithic (c.4000-2,500 BC)A shift from hunting and gathering to a settledagrarian society characterises the Neolithicperiod. In the archaeological record, thischange is manifested by the appearance ofnew artefact types – querns, sickles, potteryand polished stone axes which began toreplace the cruder tools of the Mesolithicperiod. Neolithic finds are more widespreadthan those of the earlier Mesolithic and mayindicate more successful clearance andsettlement of the densely wooded lowlands.

Environmental remains, such as pollen fromthe lake muds and peats of the Lancashiremosses confirm that vegetation cover wasextensively altered by the arrival of farming.Climatic deterioration in the latter part of thisperiod into cooler wetter conditions probablycombined with human clearance of the forestsand the impact of their grazing animals toreduce tree cover and encourage theformation and growth of peat mosses acrosslarge tracts of the county. Sophisticated stoneaxes, arrowheads and other implementsprovide evidence of Neolithic occupationthroughout Lancashire. Evidence of trade isshown by the finds of stone axes from theLangdale area of Cumbria . Elsewhere in the


10(1) The principal source for the information in this section is Crosby, Alan, A History of Lancashire, Phillimore 1998.

UK new types of site emerged in theNeolithic, including permanent settlement andlarge ceremonial monuments, althoughevidence is rare in Lancashire. There isevidence of burial in large ridge cairnshowever, for example at High Park, above LeckBeck.

2.2.4Bronze Age (c.2,500 –750 BC)Metalworking technology, along with newtypes of flint-tool and pottery design wereintroduced from continental Europe at thestart of this period. Cereal crops and stockrearing remained the mainstays of theeconomy, although changes in socialorganization were reflected in the increasingnumbers of burial and ceremonial sites withround barrows and cairns, which manyarchaeologists now see in the context of rituallandscape form. These are evident throughoutthe Lancashire landscape.

In the Late Bronze Age, radical social andeconomic change led to the declining use ofcairns and round barrows in favour ofcemeteries which are less traceable features,and to the introduction of new ceramic styles,including jars, bowls and cups. Evocative sitesdating from this period can be found at HighPark, above Leck Beck and at Portfield aboveWhalley, where settlements suggest occupationfrom the Neolithic. During this period, thecontinuing deterioration in the climate tocolder and wetter conditions appears to haveforced early Bronze Age farming activitiesdown from the higher fells, which may havebeen utilised for formal or informal pastoralfarming by the end of the period.

Accidental finds in the mosses of the Fyldeand south of the Ribble, where conditions areright for preservation of organic matter, haverevealed bog bodies, burials, traces of woodenstructures and trackways, as well asimplements of stone and bronze. At PrestonDock in 1855, 30 human skulls werediscovered along with two dugout canoes, 60pairs of deer antlers, 43 ox skulls, two pilotwhale skulls and a bronze spear head. Thesefinds may possibly indicate the presence ofsome sort of marsh dwelling.

2.2.5The Iron Age (c.750BC-AD79)Iron working was among the new technologiesintroduced to Britain from the continent in theIron Age period. Population growth led tocompetition for land and the development ofa more territorial society; hillforts anddefensive enclosures were manifestations ofthis social shift. Nothing is known of thepolitical or territorial organisation of the areauntil just before the Roman conquest althoughit is known that most of the region wascontrolled by the Brigantes. The Setantii, oneof the smaller tribes ruled by the Brigantes, arebelieved to have occupied the Lancashire Plainand its adjacent foothills.

The visible remains of the Iron Age within thelandscape are generally confined to hillforts atCastercliffe and Warton Crag and a number ofdefended farmstead sites.

2.2.6Roman Period (AD 79-410)The Roman invasion of Britain started inAD43 with a landing on the south coast.Pacification of the indigenous tribes and theestablishment of client kingdoms on theirfringes progressed over the years, with theestablishment of formal tribal capitals (Civitas)in romanised towns and a military roadnetwork, guarded by a series of forts. InLancashire Roman military activity may wellhave slightly preceded the formal and welldocumented advances of Agricola in AD79,although traces are few. Agricola’s campaigns,


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Photo 6. Roman Ruins, Ribchester

which may have been prompted by thedestabilisation caused by internal conflictwithin the controlling Brigantian tribe, utilisedship-borne troops who landed in the estuariesas well as a land army. Forts were establishedor formalised at Dowbridge near Kirkham,Ribchester, Lancaster and Over Burrow,although the first of these seems to have hadonly a short life (1) . These sites seem to havebeen rebuilt during the AD 120s and a militarystyle although not necessarily formally fortifiedindustrial settlement was established atWalton-le-Dale, probably to supply goods tothe Roman Army.

Pre-Roman settlement was widespread andcontinued under Roman occupation. Some ofthe native populations were relativelyunaffected whereas others took advantage ofopportunities for trade and adopted moreRomanised practices. Roman army engineersbuilt more substantial roads with metalled andcambered surfaces, to expediate themovement of soldiers, food and equipment.Naturally these roads were also exploited astrade and communication routes. The Romanroad network in Lancashire grew around theprincipal south-north route from Manchesterthrough Ribchester to Over Burrow andCumbria and the west-east route fromKirkham-Ribchester along the Ribble Valley intoYorkshire. Some sections of these roads werequickly abandoned for long distance travel andare consequently well preserved and can betraced for miles; others, including routes whichstayed in use and were thus worn out andrebuilt on many occasions, can be difficult totrace. Another road travelled fromManchester to Lancaster along the margin ofthe plain although details of its route areuncertain. Despite their low survival rates,Roman roads can be seen in the course ofmodern routes, lanes and in the lines ofhedges and field boundaries. Their alignmentsare important and tangible traces ofoccupation and movement.

The Roman empire was in decline by thefourth century as weaknesses in the empirecaused by political instability were exploited bybarbarian raids. At Lancaster the fort onCastle Hill was reconstructed about AD330-340, probably to defend against sea-borneraiders from the Irish Sea. The economicdisruption and endemic insecurity stopped the

growth of romanised civilian settlements suchas Lancaster, or caused their abandonmentand, after AD 400, the economy is likely tohave been almost completely agricultural andrural. For the majority of the Lancashirepopulation, lives would have continued as theyhad done before the Roman conquest. By themiddle of the 5th century direct Roman rulehad been replaced by local governance andthe armies had retreated to defend moreimportant frontiers.

2.27British, Saxon and Scandinavian Period(AD 410-1066)After the Roman occupation much of theRoman infrastructure ceased to be used. Priorto the Norman conquest, Lancashire wasinfluenced by Saxon and British realms. Placenames prove to be one of the few sources ofinformation about these societies as they didnot keep documents. They suggest that wellinto the seventh and eighth century thecounty was populated by British speakingpeoples. Places such as Pendleton, andPenwortham, contain the British word ‘penno’,which means a prominent steep ended hill.The best known of these is Pendle Hill, whichcan be literally translated to ‘hill, hill, hill’ as theSaxons added the suffix ‘hill’ to its originalBritish name ‘Penno’ producing Pennehill, whichwas later corrupted to Pendle and which hasbecome known as Pendle Hill.

A significant number of place names displaycombined British and Anglo Saxon influencesand by the late sixth century the tribalkingdoms of North Lancashire were absorbedinto Anglian Northumbria. Lancashire southof the river gradually became incorporatedinto Northumbria and after a time Mercia.

Conversion of the Anglo Saxons toChristianity had begun in 620 and many placenames ending in suffixes of ‘hamm’ (as atKirkham and Heysham) and ‘tun’ (as at Haltonand Preston) indicate centres of importancecontaining early churches which governedwide tracts of the surrounding countryside.Place names containing ‘ecles’, which in Celticlanguages is derived from the Latin ‘ecclesia’meaning a place of worship, are evidence ofearly places of Christian worship within Britishsettlements. Such settlements include


12(1) K Buxton et al., Excavations at Dowbridge, 1999.

(1) Eilert Ekwall,The placenames of Lancashire, Manchester University Press, 1922.

Eccleston near Chorley and Great Eccleston inthe Fylde.

By the ninth century place name evidencesuggests a gradual and peaceful settlement ofhitherto unused land by Hiberno-Norsepeoples.The Ribble Valley is likely to havefunctioned as a major routeway from theViking York kingdoms to the Irish kingdoms. AtCuerdale on the banks of the Ribble in 1840, amassive hoard of Viking silver was discovered.It was dated to around 905 and containedcoins from as far afield as Afghanistan.

Place name evidence (1) is again testimony tothe activities of a non documentary society,although it is likely that the new settlersrenamed existing villages as well as establishingnew sites. Goosnargh incorporates thepersonal name Gusan and Grimsargh that ofGrimr. In south west Lancashire the suffixes‘by’ meaning farm (Formby, Crosby and Roby)and ‘skeith’ (Hesketh) which itself means aplace for horse racing, both indicateScandinavian settlement. In the north, placenames of ‘Ireby’ (farm of the Irish) indicatessettlement by Irish Norse men and othersuffixes such as fell, force, gill, thwaite, beck anddale indicate more general Norse influences.

2.2.8Medieval (AD 1066-1500)At the time of the Norman Conquest therewas no administrative district of Lancashire,and within the Domesday Book, southLancashire was described as inter Ripam etMersham meaning between the Ribble and theMersey. North Lancashire was described asthe ‘Kings lands in Yorkshire’.

To ensure the security of this peripheral partof the Kingdom from the threat of attacks anduprisings, the English-held estates wereconfiscated and allocated to followers of theKing. This was part of a policy of creatingpowerful lordships which could act as a frontline of defence against invaders and keep thelocal population under control. A number ofcastles were therefore built at strategic anddependable locations. The early type weremotte-and-bailey castles positioned to controlimportant routeways and the local population.An example is the well preserved CastleStede which was one of a string of at leastnine castles on the Lune.

Roger de Poitou, under whom most ofLancashire was united in one lordship,established his capital manor at Lancaster bybuilding a stone castle in this strategic location.Clitheroe was another important castle. It


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Photo 7 Rock cut graves at Heysham Chapel.

was located on top of the limestone knoll andcontrolled the important Ribble-Airerouteway.

The county was recognised in its own right in1181-2 when an official of the royal exchequerwrote out a separate parchment in anaccounts document headed ‘Lancasra quia nonerat ei locus’ (Lancaster, because there is noplace for it in Northumberland). Before thisthe area which is modern day Lancashire wasincluded in annual financial statistics whereverthere was space on the parchment rolls. Aftera century, this formally recognised Roger dePoitou’s land grant as a county in its own right.

Following the upheaval of the conquest, thereallocation of English Lands to French noblesand the subjugation of rebellions in the north,the medieval period was one of greatprosperity with economic expansion and rapidpopulation growth. The frontiers ofsettlements and agricultural activity wereexpanded to feed new populations; newsettlements were established and more difficultterrain bought into use, wetland was drained,woodlands cleared and vast tracts of pastureploughed up. This growth was howeverchecked in the fourteenth century by acombination of disease, bad harvests andwarfare. The Black Death, which ravaged thecountry between 1348 and 1351, killed half ofthe Lancashire population. This resulted in an

important alteration in the balance ofagriculture. Ploughing for arable crops wasreplaced by the extension of pasture forlivestock farming, including large scale sheepfarming to supply wool for the English andcontinental markets. Textile manufacture waswell suited to Lancashire as the water wasideal for cloth making, and there were largetracts of land for grazing sheep. As a result ofthese factors, the textile industry expandedrapidly.

Over most of the county nucleatedsettlements were rare and most peopleinhabited small hamlets and isolatedfarmsteads. This pattern can still be seen inthe countryside between Parbold, Mawdesleyand Heskin and in much of the uplands. Theexceptions to this pattern include the plannedvillages of the Fylde such as Elswick andClifton.

In east Lancashire the ‘fold’ pattern wascommon and involved several cottages andfarms sharing a common yard. Examples ofthis can be found at Horrocks Fold andaround Wardle and Littleborough. In theuplands, where unfavourable soils, climate andtopography discouraged arable farming, the‘infield-outfield’ system was adopted. Cropswere grown for subsistence close tosettlements and the wider landscape wasdevoted to summer grazing. By contrast, in


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Photo 8. Textile Mill, Rossendale

the lowlands, arable farming was widespreaduntil demand forced a change to livestock andmarket gardening. Most lowland communitiesoperated an open or common field system,although this was rarely the rigid three fieldsystem of the midlands as the scarcity of drierland meant that a fallow year waseconomically unviable. The legacy of ‘ridge andfurrow’ earthworks, which result fromploughing in strips, confirm that the open-fieldsystem was present. The raised strips werepreserved from later ploughing by thereversion to pasture. Beyond the open arablefields, many towns had areas of commonpasture which were frequently referred to as‘moors’, and are still identifiable in place namessuch as Moor End outside Halton in the Lunevalley. Surviving relict medieval landscapes canbe seen in many places, for example atLongton, south west of Preston, and in theRibble Valley.

Many of the townships in lowland Lancashirealso contained large areas of wetland. TheFylde, the shores of Morecambe Bay and thebroad stretch of land from the Ribble throughOrmskirk included vast areas of Mossland.These areas contained many pools and lakes;Martin Mere was at one time the largestlowland lake in England, extending for somesix miles. These areas, although described as‘waste’ in later centuries, provided importantresources for rural communities. Peat was avaluable source of fuel, reeds were used forthatching and rushes for candles. Water fowland fish were important sources of year-roundfood and many acres of land were secured asrough grazing for livestock. Between 1100 and1300 population pressures forced the drieredges of the mosslands to be regarded aspotential farmland. The small scale drainageworks to bring these marginal mosslands intocultivation were the precursor of one of themost important long term changes toLancashire’s landscape; that of wetlanddrainage.

Woodland clearance also resulted frompopulation pressure and was widespread inthe 12th and 13th centuries along the fringesof the Pennines and Bowland. Theseclearances are evidenced in the numerousplace names which originate in this periodwhich include the term ryding (cleared land)such as at Ryddings Farm at Aighton, rod

(clearing) such as at Blackrod and stubbing(clearing land of tree stumps) such as atStubbins Nook which is near Longridge. Theeffect of this was the creation of a small scaleintimate landscape of scattered farms linked bywinding lanes and irregular fields with patchesof surviving woodland on stream-sides andfield edges. This landscape is still prominent inareas such as the Lune valley and the Ribblevalley.

Medieval forests in Lancashire were located inthe uplands. Forest in this period meant ‘landset apart’ and was subject to Forest Law.Woodland would have been economicallyimportant to medieval settlements as a feedingground for swine, a source of timber for houseconstruction, fuel, and bark for tanning, as wellas for its forest animals. In Lancashire therewere two main areas of forest. North of theRibble were those of the Earldom of Lancasterwhich included Bowland and to the southwere the forests of the Honour of Clitheroewhich included Pendle and Trawden. It isprobable that these forests were created soonafter the Conquest as special hunting grounds.Gradually, local landowners created privatedeer parks which themselves became muchdesired features of country estates. As huntingdeclined in the wider landscape, vaccariesbecame more important. These wereextensive carefully managed hillsides occupiedby herds of freely wandering cattle.

Between the 12th and 14th centuriesLancashire formed part of the debatableborder lands between the English and Scottishkingdoms. As a result, some of the wealthierinhabitants erected tower houses or dugdefensive moats around existing halls.

Many of the industries which becameimportant to the Lancashire economy havetheir origins in the medieval period. Depositsof iron ore were worked in this period andthere is evidence of iron working at Pendle,Trawden, and at Quernmore on the westernfringe of Bowland. Most of the coal fieldswere beginning to be exploited by the MiddleAges and stone quarrying was developing as asignificant industry in this period. The mostimportant industry however was that of textilemanufacture, especially woollen cloths, linenand canvas. Spinning and weaving wereundertaken on a domestic scale, althoughfinishing and cleaning was carried out at a


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more industrial scale within water poweredmills.

It is also in the medieval period that town lifegathered apace and many of the greatpopulation centres acquired urbancharacteristics. Initially these were formedaround the markets which became establishedoutside important churches or castles, such asPreston and Lancaster, or at manorial holdings,and soon exerted a strong pull over theirsurroundings. For example, surnamesappearing in Preston during the medievalperiod suggest a large number of the town’snew settlers were being attracted from theFylde and the Ribble valley.

2.2.9Early Modern Period (AD 1500-1750)Lancashire’s early modern period saw agradual progression from a predominatelyrural county with a traditional pattern ofsettlement and land use into a county ofindustry with large towns, high levels of literacyand well developed trade andcommunications.

Industrialisation with its origins in textilemanufacture gathered pace. The domesticmanufacture of woollen cloths and fustiangained importance and provided additionalincome for thousands of families otherwiseengaged in agriculture. This dual economymade it possible for large portions of theLancashire population to survive on otherwisenon viable agricultural holdings (1) . The rurallandscape was in many places devoted tosupplying the needs of the small scaleindustries; flax and hemp were grown in thewest to meet the needs of the ‘linen men’ andother small scale manufacturers. Saltmanufacture is noted as an important industryduring this period There is evidence of earlyproduction from the extensive sandflats atSilverdale/Warton and Pilling/Cockerham. Saltwas one of the few methods of preservationin the days before refrigeration and wasextensively used as a means of preservingmeat and fish.

Coal extraction similarly became moreexpansive and specialised to meet the demandcaused by the rapidly growing population anda move to the use of coal rather than peat orwood as a domestic fuel. Deeper mines

became possible with the invention of steamdriven drainage pumps, and gradually becamecommon on the coalfields.

Religion in Lancashire up to the early modernperiod was dominated by Roman Catholicism,although after the Reformation Lancashiredeveloped remarkable religious diversity,particularly after the Toleration Act of 1690.Perhaps the most notable Lancashire exampleof this diversity is George Fox who in 1652,on the summit of Pendle Hill, experienced avision which later led him to the home ofThomas and Margaret Fell near Ulverstonwhere the Quaker movement may be said tohave been founded.

By the 1750’s most of Lancashire’s commonarable and meadow was enclosed. Thismovement had a far reaching impact upon themoors and mosses as after the early 16thcentury, opportunities for greater financialreturns from land drainage and improvementensured many landowners saw reclamation ofotherwise less profitable land as an attractiveprospect. This was made possible and easierwith improvements in technology as windmillsaided increasingly ambitious drainage schemesby the early 18th century. Thesedevelopments made drainage an importantfeature of the Lancashire landscape from the17th century onwards. A notable example ofthis is the spectacular drainage of Martin Mere.Although some reclamation had begun duringthe medieval period, the pace of reclamationaccelerated from the late 17th century and,despite being hindered by repeated flooding,was completed successfully by the 1850’s. Theprocess was aided by steam pumps andproduced a vast tract of highly valuableagricultural land.

The sheep population increased during the15th and early 16th centuries in line with theexpansion of the woollen and textile industry,although after 1600 a reduction of theindustry resulted in a smaller demand forsheep in the south of the county in particular.Cattle gained importance and sizeable andprofitable herds appeared the mid 18thcentury. Dairying emerged as the mainstay ofthe Lancashire agricultural economy, with beefherds being driven to markets in the growingtowns to meet the demand of the rapidlyexpanding urban population.


16(1) C B Phillips and J H Smith, Lancashire and Cheshire from AD 1540, Longman 1994.

During the mid 16th century, stone or brickbecame the preferred building material (1) andstimulated an ever increasing demand forstone and slate. Sandstone quarries in thesouth west, limestone quarries aroundClitheroe and slates and gritstone quarriesaround Pendle all expanded rapidly. Themajority of the half timbered halls were rebuilt,particularly in the south east of the countyand now only their later stone and brickreplacements survive. However the survivalrate of stone and brick farmhouses is goodand many remain visible today.

As industrialisation gathered pace, thetransport of bulk commodities such as coalfrom south Lancashire, cloth from the east ofthe county and salt from the coastal saltpansbecame important. Roads were generallymaintained by the manor or by religioushouses prior to the Dissolution of themonasteries in the late 1530s and early 1540s.Turnpike roads maintained by trusts andfunded by tolls were introduced to the countyafter the 1720s. It is also around this periodthat schemes to improve river navigationappear.

2.2.10Industrialisation and the Modern Period(AD 1750-1900)The gradual developments of previouscenturies accelerated from the middle of the18th century, with rapid changes to create adynamic, industrialised society. The large scaleapplication of technology resulted in a move

from a rural to an urban economy and placedincreasing pressures on agriculture, mining,quarrying and the transport network.

Textile manufacture continued to dominatethe economy of Lancashire and cotton beganto become more important than wool assupply of raw cotton from the coloniesbecame available through the ports, and thesuitability of Lancashire’s damp, mild climate forspinning cotton became evident. Existingwater power and labour allowed this shift tobe easily made. Other locally importanttextile industries were: silk, produced atGalgate near Lancaster and sailcloth atKirkham. Initially the mills were waterpowered and located in chains along valleys,although by the early 18th century steampower was being introduced This allowedmills to be situated close to canals andrailways for easy movement of raw materials,finished products and the vast quantities ofcoal required by the boilers. Despite theintroduction of steam power for spinning, handlooms were still used for cotton manufactureand for weaving cotton. Weaving becameworth pursuing as a profession in its ownright. This also required purpose builtaccommodation, including a loom shop whichwas usually recognisable by its multiplewindows. These ‘weavers cottages’ areconspicuous in the east of Lancashire. After1830 however, the application of steam powerto weaving resulted in large factory-styleweaving sheds in the towns and the decline ofthe cottage industry. The weaving sheds withtheir north facing roof lights are still a featureof East Lancashire towns.

The improvements during this period of thecounty’s transport network were central tothe success of Lancashire’s expanding industrialeconomy. The increasing globalisation of tradefrom Lancashire, principally with the WestIndies and the Baltic, required the expansionand creation of ports such as Lancaster,Fleetwood, Heysham and Preston to meetdemand. The Corporation built one of thelargest and most ambitious docks in thecountry at Preston which required theconstant dredging of the Ribble and for whichthe town is still paying the debt charges. InLancaster the establishment of St. GeorgesQuay in 1750-1755 reflected increasingprosperity. This was part of a boom which


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Photo 9. Stonyhurst College.

the city enjoyed from the middle of theeighteenth century which has left a legacy offine Georgian architecture. From the later18th century the Leeds and Liverpool Canaland the Lancaster Canal were constructed.The construction of the network of Turnpikeroads also accelerated in the 1750’s and animportant second phase of road constructionoccurred between 1790-1842 when 750 milesof new road were constructed followingrelatively direct routes.

Lancashire occupied a pioneering position inthe history of the railway network. Initiallywooden tracks facilitated the movement ofcoal tubs in the Lancashire coalfield and theintroduction of iron rails followed shortly aftertheir invention. A wave of passenger lines wasconstructed between 1840-60 linking industrialsettlements. In the latter part of the centurythey played a major role in the transport ofpeople to the newly developed coastalresorts.

The population of Lancashire increasedsevenfold between 1801 and 1901. Thisperiod of 100 years saw a shift from a 10%urban population to almost 90%. Thisnecessitated the expansion of old settlementsand establishment of new towns. In the late19th century wealthy patrons and officialsmade efforts to create an urban identity andstamp mature civic pride on communities. Thesqualid slum areas were swept away for theconstruction of civic buildings and railwaystations. By the 1870’s urban authoritiespassed laws imposing minimum building

standards and by the late 1880’s neat brickterraces of houses were laid out to strict gridpatterns. During this period quarries such asthat at Britannia Quarries were blasted forgritstone which was needed to constructchurches, public buildings and the great feats ofVictorian engineering such as the reservoirs.

Along the coast a string of resorts appearedafter the middle of the 19th century to meetthe growing demand for leisure andrelaxation. Blackpool and Morecambe, alongwith Lytham and St Annes developed fromagricultural and fishing villages and attractedvisitors in vast numbers

The pressures of urban population growth onthe rural economy were profound and lasting.Higher levels of demand created newincentives for investment and improvement inagricultural practices. In south Lancashirereclamation of mosslands continued and someof the best agricultural land in the UK wascreated. Market gardening emerged as anintensive industry during the early 19thcentury in areas around Ormskirk andBurscough. The improved communicationswere essential to the success of these venturesas they provided opportunities to import ashand manure as fertilisers and export freshproduce to the cities. In the Ribble Valley andthe Fylde, a switch from arable production toraising dairy herds was an importantdevelopment, caused by the growing demandfor fresh milk in the cities.


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Photo 10. Terraced housing.

From the end of the 18th to the middle of the19th century pressure to create moreproductive arable land resulted in a dramaticnew landscape of large square fields enclosingareas of previously open moorland. Thegeometric pattern is in evidence throughoutthe county; endless miles of straight stonewalls and verged roads replaced pre enclosuretracks and less regimented field boundaries.

Up to this period the landscape wascharacterised by numerous small farmsalthough, as the opportunities for wealth fromfarming emerged, many landowners looked toextend their properties by purchasing adjacentfreeholds. Meanwhile, a traditionallyconservative and catholic gentry sought toexpress their wealth by rebuilding countryhouses in fashionable styles. Between 1800and 1880 dwellings surrounded by attractiveparkland were developed throughout thecounty, although many in later years becametoo expensive to maintain and were sold forinstitutional uses.

In 1842 Barclay’s Complete and UniversalDictionary summarised the county as;

A county of England lying on the Irish Sea, andbounded by Cumberland,Westmoreland,Yorkshire, and Cheshire. It is 75 miles in length,and 30 in breadth. It is divided into 6hundreds, which contain 27 market towns, 62parishes, and 894 villages.This countycomprises a variety of soil and face of country;there being mountains of more than 2000feet high, in the north and eastern parts, withwide moorlands or heaths amongst them;extensive bogs or mosses, which yield only turffor fuel, and are very dangerous; and somemost fertile land for agricultural purposes. ityields iron, coal, slate, and other building-stones; salt, &c. &c. Grazing is more attendedto than agriculture.The fisheries, both in therivers and the sea, are valuable. As acommercial and manufacturing county,Lancashire is distinguished beyond most othersin the kingdom. Its principal manufactures arelinen, silk, and cotton goods; fustians,counterpanes, shalloons, baize, serges, tapes,small wares, hats, sail-cloth, sacking, pins, irongoods, cast plate-glass, &c. Of the commerceof this county, it may suffice to observe, thatLiverpool is now the second port in the UnitedKingdom.The principal rivers are the Mersey,

Irwell, Ribble, Lune, Leven,Wyre, Hodder, Roche,Duddon,Winster, Kent, and Calder, and it hastwo considerable lakes,Windermere andConiston Water. Lancaster is the county town.Population, 1,667,054. It returns 26 membersto parliament.NB:This extract refers to the CountyPalatine and not the present administrativeboundary

2.2.11Recent History and Current Trends(1900- Present)Up to World War I Lancashire was consideredto be a prosperous county, famed for itsindustrial and commercial power,unquestionable prosperity and proud cities,many of which had grown from humblebeginnings only a century before. Followingthe war, foreign competition, diminishingoverseas trade, outdated technology andrapidly decaying inner cities threatened toundermine its success. By the 1930s thecounty was suffering from a protracteddepression from which it has taken half acentury to emerge.

The inter war decline of Lancashire’straditional industries was swift. Despite a briefboom following the war, cotton production felldramatically. Some firms switched to syntheticfibre production, but nothing could be done toavoid the mass unemployment created by thecollapse of the textile industry and its ancillarytrades. Preston for example suffered 55%unemployment at this time.

Coal mining entered a rapid decline during the1950s. This was largely due to the antiquatednature of many pits and to foreigncompetition, but also resulted from the un-avoidable problems posed by geology and aproven lack of long term resources. By 1960almost all pits in Rossendale and midLancashire had been abandoned. Today nopits are operational save a small number ofshallow, open cast workings.

By the 1930s unemployment levels were veryhigh across the whole county and, as a meansof reversing the trend, the governmentdesignated ‘Development Areas’ where newlylocating industries could gain subsidies.However by the 1980s, these were phased


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out in favour of enterprise zones anddevelopment corporations, which encouragedregeneration through the private sector. Theseproved prosperous in the south west of thecounty, but less so in the north and the southeast.

In recent years, sustained economic andemployment growth have been concentratedin the service sector and light industry.Tourism, leisure, education, financial services,retailing and administration are also allincreasing rapidly. In Preston for example, theUniversity, Borough and County Council are byfar the largest employers; the town is onceagain a service and market town, as it wasprior to the Industrial Revolution 200 yearsago.

The transport network, which grew in tandemwith industrialisation, suffered as the post wardecline became established. For instance inthe first half of the 20th century, the canalnetwork contracted and many miles fellderelict. This trend is however, being reversedwith major schemes to rejuvenate the canalsas a leisure resource. For example, a newstretch of canal is to be built to link theLancaster Canal to the Ribble estuary. Inaddition there is potential for re-opening ofrailway stations in East Lancashire and on thewest coast main line.

Despite a general decline in the transportnetwork, the success and widespread appealof the motor car has ensured a certain degreeof growth. The 1920s saw dramatic new roadschemes and later in the century the CountyCouncil planned a new motorway network.The Preston Bypass, the first motorway in thecountry, was opened in 1958 and in thefollowing 20 years Lancashire saw theemergence of a well integrated transportnetwork, which proved so successful thatcapacity was reached by the 1980’s and hasrequired a major new improvement scheme.

Towns and cities have suffered profound andlasting change during the 20th century due tothe combined effects of population decline,suburbanisation and economic change.Overcrowding problems of the urban poorwere tackled by the urban clearanceprogrammes of the 1950s and 60s, followedby the construction of large council estatesand high rise flats, although the latter proved

so unpopular that many have since beendemolished. The creation of overspillcommunities was also tried, building onattempts in Manchester during the 1930s. Asa result Skelmersdale was constructed toaccommodate 70,000 of overspill populationfrom Liverpool and rejuvenate a small miningcommunity which was suffering severeunemployment problems. The last quarter ofthe twentieth century has also seen anattempt to link Preston, Chorley and Leylandinto a city of fi million people called theCentral Lancashire New Town. New industrialareas were constructed but the vision failed tomaterialise as the fashion for new towns faded.

The major industrial centres all suffered wartime bombing, although towns such as Prestonand Blackburn escaped serious damage. Thesetowns were substantially remodelled as aresult of post war planning schemes in which18th and 19th town centre buildings werecleared and replaced with contemporarystructures.

During the 1960’s nuclear industry arrived inLancashire with the construction of the powerstation at Heysham and the B.N.F.L plant atSpringfield in the Fylde. In more recent timeswindfarms have begun to appear on the westfacing moorland summits providing greenenergy for the flourishing Lancashirepopulation.

The countryside, despite the effects ofintensification and the application of newfarming methods since 1939, has enjoyed agreat deal of protection, with the designationof large areas such as the Forest of Bowland,and Arnside and Silverdale Areas ofOutstanding Natural Beauty. Other areas alsoenjoy protection for ecological and geologicalreasons such as the marshes and mud flats ofthe Ribble estuary and Morecambe Bay, thelimestone pavements of Silverdale and themoorlands of Bowland and the SouthPennines.

Enjoyment and management of thecountryside for recreational purposes hasbeen promoted since the late 1960s, with theopening for example in 1970 of the BeaconFell Country Park and the provision ofcountryside recreation services particularly inthe West Pennine Moors and the AONBs.


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A Landscape Strategy for Lancashire Landscape Character Assessment

Figure 4: Historic landscape Types

Scale approx 1:325,000 at A3 page size

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Figure 5: Geology


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Figure 6: Landform


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Photo 11. Upland habitats,Littledale

Photo 13. Saltmarsh, Silverdale

Photo 12. Corn Marigolds, Rufford


Figure 7: Habitats


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3.

Lancashire’s LandscapeCharacterSince the Industrial Revolution, Lancashire hasbeen a county of contrasts; large urbancentres with a legacy of historic industrialbuildings are juxtaposed with the exposeduplands of the West Pennine Moors and theexpansive, wild mudflats of Morecambe Bay.The county’s agricultural landscapes includemarginal upland pastures, the extensivegrasslands and wooded river corridors of theRibble Valley, the arable fields of the Fylde andthe drained horticultural landscape of themosslands.

Lancashire is also characterised by long views;the inter-visibility between the distinctivelandscape types adds to the county’s appeal.On a clear day there are views across thewhole county from the high Bowland massif:north and west to the drumlins which borderthe North Yorkshire hills; southwards acrossundulating farmland to the industrial foothillswhich surround the conurbations of Blackburnand Burnley; and westwards to the coastalplains and mosslands which fringe the IrishSea. Similarly, from the flat coastal mosslands,the agricultural plain or the cities of Prestonand Lancaster, views eastwards to themoorland hills are a constant reminder of thecontrasting landscapes which can be accessedin a thirty minute drive.

In north Lancashire, Coastal Drumlins, DrumlinFields, Rolling Upland Farmland and theFloodplain Valley of the Lune are thepredominant landscape types. These are ruralareas where clipped hedges divide thelandscape into a neat tapestry of grazed fields,although in the rolling upland farmlandlandscapes, stone walls, beech stands, knollsand rock outcrops vary the texture of thewider landscape considerably. Views ofLancaster, Morecambe and Heysham arereminders of the proximity of theselandscapes to urban populations. On thecoast, north of Lancaster, there is a transitionfrom Open Coastal Marsh to the WoodedLimestone Hills and Pavements of Arnside andSilverdale, where dramatic cliffs, limestonepavements, and numerous archaeological sitescombine to create a rare and unique

landscape. On the northern fringes ofLancashire, Leck Fell, part of the Limestone Fellswhich extend northwards and westwards intoYorkshire, is the highest point in the county.

The centre of Lancashire is dominated by thedramatic Bowland massif, where the remoteand exposed Moorland Plateaux aresurrounded by gentler Moorland Hills ofheather moor, blanket bog and acid grassland.Here uninterrupted views across vast areas ofsurrounding countryside are punctuated byglacial erratics, woodland blocks, ruinedfarmsteads and stone walls. These also act asa reminder of the geological and human forceswhich have shaped what appears on thesurface to be a wild and untamed landscape.The lower slopes of the Moorland Fringesshow a gradual transition to the verdantgrasslands of the Undulating Lowland Farmland,where there is a rich tapestry of hedged fields,farm woodlands, copses and picturesque stonevillages. The Floodplain Valley of the Ribbleweaves its way through these landscapes andcontributes significantly to the aesthetic appealof the area; the presence of numerousarchaeological sites indicates its prolongedimportance as a major communication routeand ancient territorial boundary.

To the south of the Ribble lowlands, the urbanareas of Accrington, Blackburn, Burnley, Nelsonand Colne are surrounded by the small scale,complex landscape of the Industrial Foothillsand Valleys, where remnants of mills and millcottage terraces are a tangible reminder of thearea’s past. There are also large countryhouses and landscaped estates, which reflectthe great wealth generated by entrepreneursand patrons during the period. In south eastLancashire, the Settled Valleys of Rawtenstalland Bacup dissect the high plateau of theEnclosed Uplands and provide one of the mostdistinctive landscape types in the county.Along the valley floor, the dense urbandevelopment contains many clues to the area’srich industrial heritage. In the nearby ReservoirValleys Victorian engineering was put to workto supply clean water to the rapidly expandingtowns close by. The reservoirs and theirsurrounding valleys represent a valuablerecreational resource. To the south east of thecounty, there is a steep transition to theMoorland Hills and Moorland Plateaux of thePennines.


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The landscape of west Lancashire ischaracterised by the flat or gently undulatingfarmland of the Coastal Plain. Here the largearable fields are punctuated by smalldeciduous woodlands and shelterbelts. Theseopen landscapes offer a dramatic contrast tothe undulating and more intimate countrysideto the east. Settlement character consists ofclusters of 18th and 19th century red brickfarm buildings, rural villages and towns whichhave been heavily influenced by 20th centurymodernisation and development. Towards thecoast, ancient peat deposits, which have beendrained since the medieval period are typical.These Mossland areas are criss-crossed withdrainage ditches and straight narrow roadswhich link modern farms and glasshouses.Beyond this reclaimed farmland, the EnclosedCoastal Marshes are defined by man-madeearth bunds protecting large square fieldsdedicated to improved pasture. The estuariesof the Ribble, Lune and Wyre are fringed byOpen Coastal Marsh and intertidal flats.Thefine sward, etched by a maze of creeks andchannels, is an attractive and much valuedlandscape, with a prolific birdlife.

This landscape character assessment providesa detailed review of Lancashire’s landscapes.The landscape has been described andclassified into landscape units of similarcharacter. There are two types of landscapeclassification. Particular landform andlandcover elements may combine to producedistinctive landscape character types. These arelandscapes with a range of distinctive butgeneric characteristics that can recur indifferent areas, for example a particular type oflanduse or historic field pattern. Landscapecharacter areas are units of landscape whichare geographically specific and have their ownindividual character or ‘sense of place’. Whilstthe current strategies relate to the landscapecharacter types, the character areas will proveparticularly useful in planning and managementand in the generation of policies or actions canbe applied at a local level.

The Landscape Character Assessment recordsthe specific character of 21 landscape typesand 81 landscape character areas, focusing onfamiliar local landscape patterns.

The landscape classification is shown in Figure8. There is a more detailed map at 1:50,000 inthe back pocket of this report. A glance back

at Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 will highlight therelationships between landscape character andthe landform, underlying geology, habitat typesand the historic development of the landscape.Together the landscape character types andlandscape character areas provide a newdescriptive map of the study area which drawsattention to the contrasts in landscapecharacter which we so often take for granted.

Following this introduction, each of the genericlandscape character types is described in turn.The physical (geological, geomorphological andecological) influences and human influenceswhich have shaped the character of thelandscape are also noted and the specificlandscape character areas found in eachlandscape character type are described.

These landscape descriptions and notes onthe evolution of landscape character form thebasis for an analysis of landscape sensitivity andvulnerability to change. This, together withstrategic recommendations for each landscapetype, is found in the Landscape Strategydocument.

The built environment of the major urbanareas in Lancashire has also been characterisedinto three generic urban landscape charactertypes. The historic processes which shapedthese urban types and their appearance todayare described in detail in the section followingthe landscape character types. The urbanlandscape character types are illustrated inFigure 9.


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Figure 8: Landscape Character Types & Landscape Character Areas


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Figure 9: Urban LandscapeCharacter Types

1a

1b

1

MOORLANDPLATEAUX

Character Areas

1a South Pennine Moors

1b High Bowland Plateaux

Landscape CharacterThe high, Moorland Plateaux are the mostremote and exposed landscape type inLancashire. They are generally characterisedby a level or gently rolling landform althoughthey may include steep high level escarpments,and are found at elevations between 300 and600 metres. Landcover is predominantlyblanket bog, and trees are generally absent.Rock outcrops occur in some areas and somemoorland summits are strewn with gritstoneboulders. Soils are poor and a vegetationcover of dwarf shrub heath, purple moor grassand/or cottongrass is typical of these acidmoorlands. Localised erosion of the soils hasexposed the underlying rocks and gravelsgiving rise to crags and peat hags. Theplateaux have a sense of elevation andopenness, with uninterrupted views across vastareas of surrounding countryside. The openlandscape also creates a sense of wilderness,remoteness and space, which is furtherstrengthened by the enormity and dominanceof sky in these large scale landscapes. Colourstend to be muted, although in autumn heathermoorland provides vivid expanses of colour.Typical view - photo 14 below.


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Physical Influences The underlying geology has created terracesor plateaux and escarpments. The highstream-dissected Moorland Plateaux occur atapproximately 300-600m AOD and arecomposed of layers of sandstone and shales ofthe Millstone Grit series. Harder layers ofgritstone outcrop to form distinctive featuresof the rugged moorland scenery. Soils are thinat such elevations - thin podsols and gleyedclays are common although large areas of peatformed during prehistoric times and nowdominate the Moorland Plateaux.

Gritstone crags are also a feature of thelandscape; they outcrop along the hill sideswhere the softer shales have been eroded.The crags are of geological interest, as well assupporting a number of interesting plants. TheSouth Pennine Moors SSSI and Bowland FellsSSSI are designated for their extensive areas ofunenclosed heather moorland which supportblanket bogs with species rich acidic flushesand mires. Birds of prey including hen harrier,merlin and peregrine are particularlyimportant in some areas, as are other birdssuch as skylark, curlew and golden plover.Some heather moorland has been lost tograss moor due to management changes.

Human InfluencesEvidence of settlement on the plateaux is rare,although mesolithic hunter-gatherers whomigrated seasonally with the herds utilised thelandscape. The discovery of flint and chertimplements over most of these plateaux hasbeen taken to indicate the presence of theirsummer hunting camps. Neolithic forestclearance and agricultural intensification in theBronze Age on the fragile upland soils, coupledwith climatic deterioration to cooler wetterconditions, is thought to have encouraged peatformation across much of these areas. Therewas abandonment of unproductive land andmuch has remained uninhabited, althoughconsiderable remains of later prehistoric andRomano British activity in the south Penninesshowed it was still utilised.

Extensive areas are dominated by roughgrazing. The peat (which developed from5,000 BC) is a valuable resource as it containsa wealth of environmental and archaeologicaldata.

Despite a general sense of the landscape beingdevoid of human impacts, there are occasionalboundary fences. Evidence of recentsettlement and economic activity is largelyrestricted to the South Pennine Moors andmost particularly in Rossendale. This includesoccasional isolated ruined farmsteads and fieldbarns in areas which were later left to revertto moorland. Quarries and reservoirs areevidence of Victorian and post Victorianexploitation of the Rossendale plateaux tomeet the demands of the rapidly expandingindustrial settlements in the lowlands. Modernexploitation includes shooting and out-grazingalthough traces of these activities do little toreduce to sense of isolation and remoteness.


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CHARACTER AREAS - MOORLAND PLATEAUXThe Moorland Plateaux landscape type may be subdivided into two local landscape character areascomprising the Forest of Bowland in the centre of the county and the South Pennine Moors on thesouth-eastern border of the County.

Local Character Areas Description

1a South Pennine The South Pennine Moors in the south of the study form a long high Moors plateau, most of which lies outside the study area boundary. However,

the Moorland Plateaux landscape type occurs as the fragmented moors at Scout Moor and Heald Moor as well as the vast expanse of high uninhabited moorland around Worsthorne Moor and Boulsworth Hill in the north. This large scale sweeping exposed landscape contrasts dramatically with the surrounding urban areas and intersecting industrial valleys which lie close below. Boulsworth Hill is characterised by a steep high level scarp slope. The proximity of the urban areas has affected the landscape of this character area and resource exploitation is visible in the form of electricity pylons, wind turbines, reservoirs and mineral extraction sites which appear as quarry scars on the edges of the plateaux. Disused quarries are a feature of this area and are important for specialised plant communities and species such as bats and peregrines Britannia Quarries are a good example of stone extraction by mining. The strong skyline ridges and expansive views instill a sense of remoteness and isolation which has been a source of inspiration for writers such as the Bronte sisters. The concentration of later prehistoric and Romano British remains are important evidence of exploitation and settlement of these areas. This is a landscape which, although low in species diversity, supports nationally and internationally important populations of bird species including twite and golden plover; as a result it is particularly sensitive to change.

1b High Bowland The Moorland Plateaux of the Forest of Bowland occur as a series of widePlateaux flat-topped ridges scattered with gritstone boulders. These are

Tarnbrook Fell, reaching 561m AOD at Ward’s Stone, Baxton Fell at 469mand the ridge linking Holdron Moss, Bleasdale Moors and Brown Berry Plain which lies above 400m. These large scale flat ridge tops coincide with deposits of peat which support extensive areas of blanket bog managed as rough sheep pasture. Peat hags have developed in eroded areas, particularly along the edges of the blanket bog. These plateaux may contain important archaeological material, which as yet has largely remained undiscovered due to its low visibility and the remoteness of the landscape. The remoteness of the Bowland Moorland Plateaux and different patterns of land tenure mean they have not been severely affected by the drainage, heavy grazing, burning and pollution associated with the moorland plateaux of the South Pennine Moors. Heather moorland and blanket bog in the Forest of Bowland are recognised for their nationally important plant communities and internationally importantbreeding raptors and other upland birds.


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2a

2b

2c

2d

2e

2f2g

2

MOORLAND HILLSCharacter Areas

2a West Pennine Moors

2b Central Bowland Fells

2c Longridge Fell

2d Waddington Fell

2e Pendle Hill

2f White Moor/Burn Moor

2g Beacon Fell

Landscape CharacterThe rolling Moorland Hills are generally atlower elevations than the higher MoorlandPlateaux. Although grit crags and glacialerratics provide some texture to the smoothprofiles, the steep escarpments createdistinctive and dramatic landforms which aresteeply incised and drained by fast flowingstreams. Hillsides allow long views across widevalleys or the surrounding lowlands.Landcover is typically blanket bog, heathermoor, and acid grassland although thepresence of several large woodland blocks,both broadleaved and coniferous, distinguishesthese lower moorland hills from the highmoorland core. Colours are generally muted ,although the moorland vegetation createsstriking seasonal effects. The open, exposedcharacter of the hills creates a wild andwindswept experience. Small, isolated hamletsand stone farmsteads, although rare, are focalpoints in the landscape and fields in theirvicinity are enclosed by an undulating networkof stone walls: however most of this landscapelies above the upper limit of enclosure. Themosaic of upland habitats are of significantnature conservation value and there isconsiderable evidence of settlement and landuse since prehistoric times, particularly in theform of industrial monuments and landscapes.Typical view - photo 15 below.


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Physical Influences The Moorland Hills are formed by theMillstone Grit series. These rocks were laiddown in alternating thick bands of coarse,cemented sand and gritstone separated byweaker shales. The gritstones form the felltops, while the softer rocks form lower areas.The slopes are of even gradient and arecovered by shallow podzolised soils. Peatgenerally covers higher summits (above400m). The area tends to have a soft roundedtopography, the slopes having been smoothedby ice and further softened by the boulderclay mantle of glacial deposition.

The erosive action of water flowing off themain hill summits has cut deeply incisedvalleys, ravines or cloughs. These form a radialpattern of drainage from the higher ground.The area’s physical characteristics and its land-use history has created a range of natural andsemi natural habitat types, many of which arerecognised as Sites of Special Scientific Interestor non-statutory Biological Heritage Sites.These form a rich mosaic of heathermoorland, ‘grass moor’, wet flushes and springs,blanket bogs and semi-natural woodlandswhich support a wide range of characteristicplants and animals. In Bowland, extensiveareas of the heather dominated blanket bog,have been sustained by management ofgrouse, which has created ideal conditions forupland wildlife such as merlin, hen harrier,curlew, peregrine and golden plover. TheBowland Fells SSSI is the largest area of semi

natural habitat in Lancashire and constitutesmainly blanket bog and heather moorland.The largest breeding colony of lesser blackbacked gulls in Europe has become establishedon Mallowdale and Tarnbrook fells. In theWest Pennine Moors heather is returning tosome areas following a reduction in thegrazing pressure from sheep. The deepcloughs and high level oak woods of themoorland slopes provide additional wildlifeinterest, as do Millstone Grit crags where theyare protected from burning and grazing.

Human Influences Mesolithic hunting camps probably existedhere, although the ephemeral nature of theremains means that visible evidence is rare.Forest clearance by Neolithic and Bronze Agefarmers contributed to the spread ofheathland and probably mosses and blanketbog.This led to the decline in the naturalwoodlands which have never since recovered.Evidence of the Bronze Age is well distributedacross the area. Despite early clearance it ispossible that large tracts of the Moorland Hillsremained under forest cover until it was felledduring the Anglo-Saxon and Norse periods.Place name evidence suggests that Norsepeoples settled in the spaces available in theseareas; especially north of the Ribble namessuch as gill, fell, moss, thwaite and beck allindicating a strong Viking influence.

Parts of the Moorland Hills were includedwithin the Royal Hunting Forests of Bowlandand Pendle in medieval times and were subjectto Forest Law. Wolves survived until the 17thcentury within the Forest of Bowland and thisis reflected in place names such as Wolf Fell.Later, landscape change occurred as a result ofthe enclosure and improvement of moorlandand woodland wastes to meadows andpasture from the middle of the 16th century;this pressure on land was created bypopulation and economic growth. The shapesof the fields indicate the type of enclosure;irregular patterns suggest piecemeal, enclosureby individual farmers which althoughtechnically illegal, was condoned in many areas.More geometric patterns indicate systematicdivision of the commons, usually of the 18thand 19th century. This process created a non-nucleated settlement pattern of individual


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Photo 16. Langden Brook at Hareden.

farmsteads which now forms the predominantfarming unit on the Moorland Hills.

Farm buildings and boundary walls areconstructed of stone and form most of theoldest buildings of the area. Whilst there hasbeen little new development in the last 150years, changes have occurred as a result ofabandonment of farmsteads, desertion of themore marginal lands, reversion to rushypasture and other changes in vegetationmanagement. The suitability of the fells andpopularity throughout the modern period ofgrouse shooting has ensured the continuedmanagement of heather moorland.


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CHARACTER AREAS - MOORLAND HILLSThis landscape type occurs as outlying Moorland Hills to the west of the main Pennine Ridge (the WestPennine Moors); the centrally located Bowland Fells and its outliers Longridge Fell,Waddington Fell,Pendle Hill and White Moor/Burn Moor.


2a West Pennine The West Pennine Moors are to the west of the main Pennine ridge. TheMoors moorland occurs in a number of discrete blocks at Withnell, Anglezarke

and Rivington Moors; Darwen and Turton Moors; and Oswaldtwistle and Holcombe Moors. They are generally slightly lower in altitude than those of the main South Pennine spine, although they include some notable high points, for example at Winter Hill on Rivington Moor. The hills can be seen from long distances and form a significant backdrop to the surrounding towns of Blackburn, Darwen and Accrington. The area is of considerable archaeological importance reflecting past land use and settlement history and has been the subject of some detailed archaeological research. On the West Pennines the sense of isolation is diminished because of the proximity of the urban areas, however the sense of wildness can be heightened by the contrast afforded by the dramatic and panoramic views across the adjacent urban areas of the Lancashire Plain and the East Lancashire Valleys.

2b Central Bowland This distinctive landscape character is defined by land above the limit of Fells enclosed farmland occurring on the central massif of the Bowland Fells. It

encompasses the smooth heather clad profiles of the escarpment slopes on the western limit of the fells, the wide undulating areas of open craggy moorland, and the deep upland valleys within the core of the Fells. The landcover is semi-natural and is typical of acid upland areas; areas of heather moor are described as `black moor’, for example at Black Fell andareas of acid grassland, rushes or cottongrass known as `white moor’, for example at Lythe Fell. There are few intrusive elements in this landscape,although the geometric conifer plantations along the River Dunsop Valley,at Thrushgill Fell and Gisburn Forest are prominent locally and are unsympathetic to the landform’. A wind farm on Caton Moor is highly visible from the Lancashire Plain to the west and Victorian aqueducts,waterworks and water-carrying structures are a reminder of the water supply function of the Bowland Fells. However, the remoteness of the landscape is unaffected by these elements - there are few routes across the moor. The Trough of Bowland is the most popular of these, providing access to some of the most remote areas of the County. There are magnificent views from the edges of the Fells; views from the parking spotat Jubilee Tower stretch for miles across the Lancashire Plain on a clear day.

2c Longridge Fell Longridge Fell is an isolated ridge of hard millstone grit which stands proud of the softer lowlands of shale and limestone and separates the valleys of the Ribble, to the south, from the Hodder to the north. As its name suggests, it forms a long prominent ridge whose distinctive silhouetteis extensively visible from the surrounding lowlands as well as the adjacentgrit hillsides; making it the ideal location for a beacon in the 16th century.Its smooth, rounded profile supports moorland to the west of the summit but elsewhere this is largely obscured by an extensive conifer plantation which creates a dark ridgeline. The plantation provides many opportunities for recreation and forest walks. Picnic spots and viewpoints


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are all regularly visited by the local population. There is one minor road traversing the ridge which partly follows the course of a Roman Road. Theline of the Roman Road can still be seen crossing the ridge at Jeffrey Hill.The ridge provides good views over the Ribble Valley.

2d Waddington Fell Waddington Fell is a grit outcrop, separated from the central core of Bowland Fells by the softer limestones of the Hodder Valley. It is largely open and supports a moorland vegetation cover of principally upland heath and acid grassland with some blanket bog. There are just two passes over the fells; one minor route at Marl Hill and another, more frequently used, road which climbs to 352m on Waddington Fell from where there are magnificent views of the surrounding lowlands. Conifer plantations are restricted to less dominant blocks compared to some of the other Bowland outliers, allowing the hills to retain their open exposed character. An active quarry and communications mast are visual detractors.

2e Pendle Hill Pendle Hill is a millstone grit outcrop with a particularly distinctive landform; its steep scarp to the north and flat plateau top gives rise to a profile which is a landmark for many miles around; a 16th century beaconwas also sited on Pendle Hill at ‘Big End’.The flat summit supports deep deposits of raw peat soils which infills hollows and produces a smooth undulating surface of blanket bog. The area is free from development pressure; no conifer plantations, quarries or communication masts detract from the visual appeal of the landscape. Erosion of the vegetation as a result of heavy grazing and recreational pressure is severe in places. It is only accessible by foot and there are a number of routes to the summit ofthis famous landmark. Views from the top at 557m are stunning.

2f White Moor/ An area of rounded hills to the east of Pendle Hill.. The higher summits Burn Moor of White Moor, Burn Moor and Twiston Moor support heather moorland,

with acid grassland on the lower slopes.There are occasional isolated stone farmsteads together with a network of footpaths crossing the hills,including the Pendle Way. Views from the slopes and summits are dramatic and contrasting, with the rural Ribble Valley and hills of Yorkshire stretching away to the north and east and the industrial towns of the Calder Valley with the backdrop of the South Pennines to the south.

2g Beacon Fell Beacon Fell is a small, but distinctive grit outcrop which lies to the south ofthe main Bowland massif, its name reminding us of the 16th century beacon which was located on it. Its natural landcover has been obscured by coniferous forestry which provides cover for a range of recreational activities. Designated as a country park, it provides outdoor recreational activities for visitors, including forest walks, and visitor facilities. The one way road system allow visitors to move freely, providing a number of pull-off points with dramatic views over the surrounding lowlands. On a clear day views stretch as far as Blackpool Tower, south Lakeland and the Isle of Man.


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3a

3

ENCLOSED UPLANDS

Character Areas

3a Rossendale Hills

Landscape CharacterThe upland plateau of the Rossendale Hills hasa relatively level landform with only the peatcapped ridges and summits providingdiscernible pattern and diversity in thelandscape. The distinctive character of theseexposed uplands is derived from a long historyof settlement and exploitation of the mineralwealth of the moors. A network of gritstonewalls encloses virtually the whole of theupland area and the landscape is dotted with anetwork of small, remote farms. Many ofthese are now abandoned and in ruins asfarming has retreated downslope. The area’sindustrial history is reflected by the landscapeof miner-farmer small holdings, squattersettlements, abandoned coal mines andquarries. The overall impression is of asomewhat derelict landscape with rushinfested pastures and tumbled stone walls.Views of the prominent high tension powerlines which cross the plateau top, reinforce thesense of bleakness. The landscape type is onlyfound in the Rossendale Hills.Typical view -photo 17 below.


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Physical InfluencesThe underlying solid geology is largely formedby the Lower Coal Measure comprisingbedded sandstones, shales and mudstones.Rocks of the Millstone Grit series outcropabove the valley of the River Irwell and oftencap the hills. Thick peat deposits cover highflat summits such as Cribden Hill, Small ShawHeight and Swinshaw Moor. The lowertopography holds deposits such as glacialboulder clay indicating the area was glaciatedin the last ice age.

The distinctive sharp topography of edges andledges characteristic of the Millstone Grituplands is confined to the terraces above theIrwell Valley; overall the impression is of anundulating, undramatic landform. The upland iscleaved by valleys which divide the plateauinto three discrete areas. Other small scaletopographic variations include the undulatinghummocky landforms arising from former coalworkings and stone quarries. The open,elevated topography creates a feeling ofspace, although any sense of remoteness isdiminished by the proximity of urban areassuch as Accrington, Burnley, Rawtenstall andBacup.

The vegetation is dominated by grass moorwith patches of rush frequent in the less welldrained pastures. Heather moorland isvirtually absent, largely as a result of past landmanagement. The peat covered ridges andsummits at Cribden Hill, Swinshaw Moor andSmall Shaw Height comprise purple moorgrass and cotton grass. The climate, altitudeand grazing pressures means that trees arelargely absent from the high plateau, althoughsmall areas of woodland are associated withthe reservoirs and willow scrub has begun tocolonise abandoned agricultural land on themore sheltered fringes. Important wildlife siteshave been identified on the peat coveredpeaks which comprise a mix of blanket bog,acid/base-rich flushes and acid grassland.However, compared to the open, unenclosedmoorland, the nature conservation interest ofthe area is generally limited. The grasslandhabitat and rushy pasture is, neverthelessimportant for upland birds.

Human InfluencesIn the medieval period the Forest ofRossendale was established under the feudallords as a hunting forest; forest in this periodmeaning land set apart with separate legalstatus. It covered the whole of the uplandarea. This area has undergone extensivechange over the last 300 years. Most of themoorland common and waste of theRossendale Hills was taken in and enclosedduring the eighteenth and nineteenth centurieswith robust stone walls climbing the hillsidesto as much as 350m above sea level. The landwas ‘improved’ and partially drained to createsheep pasture. Cultivation, enclosure andsettlement were pushed to their limits withthe final wave of enclosure embracing all butthe highest summits. The coal measurespresent throughout this area have been minedsince at least the Middle Ages, as indicated byseveral small scale mining sites known as ‘dayholes’ and shallow ‘bell pits’. It is likely that thescattered dwellings high up on the plateauhave their origin as miner-farmer squattersettlements. A particular cultural feature ofthe area is the dense network of footpaths,which possibly relate to early industrial activityand high level routes linking the intersectingvalleys. Water collection during the last 100years has been important to supply the needsof the expanding urban populations andseveral small late Victorian reservoirs wereconstructed in natural depressions in thelandscape. Recent history has seen a dramaticdownturn in the economics of sheep farming,and the area remains on the margins ofeconomic viability. There is a sense thatfarmsteads and stone walls are often poorlymaintained.

CHARACTER AREAS - ENCLOSED UPLANDSThe Enclosed Uplands landscape type is foundonly in one geographic area on the RossendaleHills.


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4a

4b

4c

4d

4e4e

4f

4g4i

4h

4d

4d

4j

4

MOORLAND FRINGECharacter Areas

4a Trawden Fringe

4b Rossendale Moorland Fringe

4c Blackburn Moorland Fringe

4d Bowland Gritstone Fringes

4e Bowland Limestone Fringes

4f Longridge Fell Fringes

4g South Pendle Fringe

4h Leck Fell Fringe

4i North Pendle Fringe

4j West Pennine Fringes

Landscape CharacterThe fringes of moorland areas are transitionalenclosed landscapes between the inhospitablemoorland fells and the more intensivelyfarmed land of the lowlands. They occur,generally above the 200m contour, throughoutthe study area and are characterised by arolling landscape of marginal pastures dividedby stone walls which reflect the underlyinggeology. Sheep grazing forms the predominantland use of these fringe areas which haveoften been improved either from semi-naturalacidic, neutral or wet grassland. There is agreat diversity of landform, colour and texture.Tree cover is sparse in these landscapesalthough trees are usually associated withfarmsteads and gorse is common along theroadsides. Isolated stone farmsteads are oftenprominent on the steep slopes and arereached by dead-end lanes. There are alsoterraces of weavers’ and other workerscottages and sparse linear settlements,particularly along the winding roads towardsthe foot of the slopes. There is goodpreservation of archaeological sites in thesemarginal locations as a result of the nonintensive agricultural practices adopted.Typicalview - photo 18 below.


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Physical InfluencesThe Moorland Fringes are almost entirelyunderlain by rocks of the Millstone Grit Series.The solid geology is overlain by soils whosethickness varies according to elevation andtopography; the gentler, more sheltered slopesand broad terraces above the valleys have athicker covering of soils than the moorlandsummits. This landscape type occupies thehigh ground fringing the main moorlandblocks, typically at an altitude of between 215and 250 m above sea level, sometimesextending to 300m or above.

The land which remains as unimprovedagricultural grassland is extremely valuable fornature conservation and, with the moorlands,forms an intimate part of the rich mosaic ofupland habitats in Lancashire, especially inBowland. Of the drier meadows, the fewwhich are traditionally managed to produce asummer hay crop, support a range ofcharacteristic plants including lady’s mantle,sneezewort and adder’s tongue. Where partsof the in-bye land are still undrained, moistureloving plants such as marsh marigold, yellowiris, ragged robin and marsh thistle thrive.Traditionally managed meadows also providefeeding grounds valuable for twite, while thewet rushy pastures support nationallyimportant populations of birds such ascurlew, redshank, lapwing and snipe. Acidicgrasslands are also important for the survivalof several upland bird species.

Human InfluencesThe hillside areas, which are set above thedensely wooded valleys and below theexposed summits of the open moors, have along history of land use and settlement. Aparticularly good example of this continuity isevident at High Park above Leck Beck. Thecomparatively small size of some land holdingsresults from the system of land inheritancewhereby land was divided equally betweensons. On good farmland this has created alandscape of scattered farmhouses in relativelyclose proximity. A large number of farmhousesare distinctive ‘laithe houses’ which were parthouse, part stall/hay loft. The pace ofenclosure grew during the 16th and 17thcenturies and continued as a result of theParliamentary Enclosure Acts of the 18th and19th centuries.

There are a number of important trackwaysincluding the Long Causeway from Burnley toHalifax. Whilst some may have an ancientorigin, possibly dating back to the prehistoricperiod, the network grew from industrialpressures and the need to transport finishedgoods and raw materials between urbancentres. The packhorse ways associated withthe transport of salt and wool, formparticularly distinctive features of thelandscape.

Recent landuse has focused upon sheepgrazing; most farms have rights for summergrazing on the open moorland which forms anintegral part of the hill farming system. Theland has traditionally been used as in-bye landfor winter grazing and to make hay in thesummer to feed livestock through the wintermonths. The lower gentler slopes compriseolder enclosures distinguished by their smallsize and irregular shape. On the higher slopesand steeper areas the later ParliamentaryEnclosures are represented by large regularrectangular fields enclosed by robust walls. Inthe late 20th century, big bale silage hasreplaced hay making and many of the uplandfields have been improved by drainage andreseeding to enhance productivity. Changes infarming practices ensure that damp pasturesand hay meadows are now rare. With thedecline in upland farming, more marginal farmshave been abandoned and the fields takenover by rushes. Increasingly farmers areseeking to diversify to supplement fallingincomes. Diversification is evident inoccasional weavers’ cottages whichincorporated a weaving workshop.


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CHARACTER AREAS - MOORLAND FRINGEThe Moorland Fringe landscape type occurs on the edges of moorland, generally above the 200mcontour, throughout the study area. Their character is influenced by the underlying geology whichreflects the character of buildings and field boundaries.


4a Trawden Fringes The narrow moorland fringe of the western escarpment of the South Pennine ridge is a relatively narrow band of small-medium sized fields enclosed by gritstone walls and supplemented by post and wire fences. The grassland is generally improved, but some acid grassland remains in places. Shallow valley cloughs, containing remnants of semi-natural woodland, feed into the Calder. Many of these valley heads havebeen dammed to create small reservoirs at the junction with themoorland. There are also a number of small quarries which now supportrich wildlife habitats. The settlement pattern is of scattered isolated localstone farmsteads. There are a number of parking and picnic places whichhave encouraged visitors; rubbish and fly-tipping indicate proximity to largecentres of urban population. The wind farm at Coal Clough is a dramaticlandscape feature on the edge of the moorland plateaux.

4b Rossendale This character area fringes the smaller, fragmented blocks of moorland Moorland Fringe within Rossendale. The moorland fringe is generally above 350m here, a

higher altitude than is typical. The field patterns indicate a late stage of enclosure with large regular fields enclosed by stone walls, which are generally in a poor state of repair, and large farmhouses at the end of narrow lanes at a high altitude. The predominant land use is agriculture with a combination of sheep and cattle grazing. However, there are also strong links with the urban/industrial economy and activities such as haulage, scrap metal recycling and small scale forestry; the farm complexes frequently include large sheds/barns and makeshift structures associated with these diversification activities. Quarrying has been an important land use with both active and disused quarries seen at the junction with the moor. Most grassland is improved, but the remaining unimproved/acid grassland provides important wildlife habitats.

4c Blackburn These steep north facing slopes are cold and exposed, forming a link Moorland Fringe between the Pennine uplands and the urban fringes of Blackburn and

Accrington. The character of the landscape is influenced by its proximity to these urban areas; a large number of roads and footpaths diminish its rural and remote character. It is a bleak upland landscape of fields, manyreverting back to rushy moor grass due to lack of management. The walled field boundaries are also in a poor state of repair and the whole area conveys a sense of neglect. The presence of roads, traffic and views over the urban areas diminish its sense of remoteness and enclosures. Thetower on top of Darwen Hill provides a local landmark.

4d Bowland The northern and western edges of the Central Bowland Fells are Gritstone Fringes marginal farmed landscapes in the narrow, steep transitional zone

between upland unenclosed moorland and the lower wooded fringes of the River Lune to the north and the Lancashire Plain to the west. This area falls at a relatively low altitude, between approximately 150m and 250m AOD. It is highly rural, unaffected by exploitation of resources, and sparsely populated; isolated farm dwellings at the end of dead-end tracks


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are built of distinctive, dark local gritstone. The underlying geology is also reflected in the gritstone walls whose dark colour contributes to the bleak appearance of the landscape. Rough pasture, low growing gorse, bramble and small windswept hawthorns add to the texture and exposed character of the gritstone fringes.

4e Bowland These fringes contrast with the gritstone fringes in that they have a Limestone distinctive brightness of character. The underlying limestone influencesFringes the soils, vegetation and landform of the limestone fringes; although the

moorland fringe occurs again between 150m and 250m AOD the landform is less dramatic and this transitional zone therefore occurs as a wider belt. The distinctive brightness is a result of the lusher and greener pastures, and the strong patterns of white limestone walls and barns. Thelandscape of the limestone fringes is also more wooded than that of the gritstone fringes. Limestone knolls, sometimes still supporting species-rich limestone grassland, are distinctive features in these limestone fringe areas.They are seen as smoothly rounded hills, although occasional rock outcrops and the presence of disused lime kilns are other clues to the underlying geology.

4f Longridge Fell The undulating edges of Longridge Fell, are above the 150m contour line,Fringes and are influenced by its proximity to urban settlement. This area has

been particularly affected by built development such as caravan parks,reservoirs, suburban development and golf courses, which offer alternative uses to agriculture but diminish its rural character. The settlement of Longridge, which overlooks the Ribble Valley, influences the character of the moorland fringe at its western end where the suburban edges of the settlement encroach into the rural upland landscape of the Moorland Fringes. Stone walls and Victorian reservoirs are particularly distinctive features of this landscape, although lack of management has led to barbed wire fences acting as stock proofing where walls are degraded andgaps have appeared. Well used roads, which travel through the area,afford excellent views to the surrounding lowlands.

4g South Pendle The South Pendle Fringe surrounds the gritstone moors of Pendle Hill,Fringe White Moor and Burn Moor. It is a highly textural landscape; gorse,

rushes, wind blown trees and upland stone walls all contribute to the traditional character of the moorland fringe. Although it is a typical gritstone fringe, it is influenced by its proximity to the East Lancashire valleys below, both in terms of development and recreational pressure.

There is a particularly dense network of footpaths and winding lanes, andthe distinctive form of Pendle Hill forms a backdrop to views from them.The settlement pattern is dominated by scattered stone farmsteads andhamlets, with the villages of Barley and Roughlee nestling within the valleyof Pendle Water. Tourism impact is evident at Roughlee where there aretwo caravan parks and at Barley, which has a visitor centre and outdooractivity centre and is the focus for outdoor activities, as well as a base forwalking in the surrounding hills. The narrow valley of Pendle Water is asignificant feature and contains areas of woodland, mainly coniferplantations.

4h Leck Fell Fringe The fringe of Leck Fell is notable for its large scale smooth landform,limestone walls field barns and farmsteads. Farms are marginal andpasture is rushy. The area contains a number of regular plantations andother mixed woodland, mainly associated with large estates. Leck Beck is


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a significant feature, traversing the area on its route from the fells to jointhe river Lune. High Park is an extensive area of multi-period settlementfrom the Neolithic to post Roman times. The presence of a medieval deerpark has contributed to the excellent preservation of these early earthworks.

4i North Pendle The North Pendle Fringe has a much smoother landform and more rural Fringe character than the South Pendle Fringe. Although the main features of the

moorland fringe are all present, this area is sheltered from the impacts of the urban conurbations by the dramatic grit outcrop of Pendle Hill. The difference in topography may be attributed to its geology; layers of limestone and sandstone and boulder clay overlie the millstone grit on thisedge producing a relatively smooth profile.

4j West Pennine A transitional landscape between the unenclosed land of the west Pennine Fringes moors and the enclosed landscape of the industrial foothills below on the

west fringes of the West Pennine Moors. The underlying millstone grit is close to the surface on the moorland fringe and the landscape is characterised by marginal pastures with scattered farmsteads. As is typical of the West Pennine Moor fringes, the character is influenced by Industrial activity with reservoirs, mines and quarries scattered across the upper hillsides. A high density of public footpaths provides good public access and the wooded gardens on the hillside above Rivington Reservoir provide an unusual feature in the moorland fringe.


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48

5a

5b

5c

5d

5e

5f5g

5h

5i

5j

5k

5i

5

UNDULATING LOW-LAND FARMLAND

Character Areas

5a Upper Hodder Valley

5b Lower Hodder and Loud Valley

5c Lower Ribble

5d Samlesbury-Withnell Fold

5e Lower Ribblesdale (Clitheroe to Gisburn)

5f Lower Ribblesdale (Gisburn to Hellifield)

5g South Bowland Fringes

5h Goosnargh-Whittingham

5i West Bowland Fringes

5j North Bowland Fringes

5k Cuerden-Euxton

Landscape CharacterGenerally below 150m, the UndulatingLowland Farmland lies between the majorvalleys and the moorland fringes Theunderlying geology is largely masked by heavyboulder clays and hedgerows predominateover stone walls. This lowland landscape istraversed by deeply incised, wooded cloughsand gorges. There are also many mixed farmwoodlands, copses and hedgerow trees,creating an impression of a well woodedlandscape from ground level and a patchworkof wood and pasture from raised viewpointson the fells. Some of the most picturesquestone villages of the county occur within thiswell settled landscape type. The towns ofLongridge and Clitheroe also occur within thistype, but are not typical of the settlementpattern. The area also has many countryhouses whose boundary walls and designedlandscapes add to the species diversity andvisual appeal. There is a high density of farmsand scattered cottages outside the clusteredsettlements, linked by a network of minorroads.Typical view - photo 19 below.


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Physical InfluencesThe Undulating Lowland Farmland forms atransitional zone between the low lying plainsof soft glacial deposits and the high fells ofBowland, formed from Mill stone Grit. To thewest of the Forest of Bowland, running alongthe line of the M6, a substantial fault separatesthe soft Triassic rock of the lowlands from theharder Carboniferous rocks of the fells. TheClitheroe Reef Knolls SSSI, located betweenWorston and Downham, comprise animportant geological feature. This is one ofseveral Reef Knolls which support species-richcalcareous grassland.

This landscape type, whether composed oflimestone, grit, shale or sandstone, is of gentletopography when compared to the fells andhills. Glacial action has accentuated thedifferences by further tempering the relief ofthe low-lying areas by the deposition of glacialdrift. Deep drift is conspicuous where hedgespredominate over stone walls, as quarrying isonly possible where the drift is sufficiently thin.

Many of the woodlands which survive on thesteep slopes of the deep cloughs and valleysides are of ancient origin and represent a richnatural resource. They include alder and ashwoods on the base-rich soils of the valleyfloors grading through to lowland oakwoodsand upland oak woods on the upper valleysides. Red Scar and Tun Brook Woods,situated east of Preston between Ribbletonand Grimsargh are classified as SSSI’s and areimportant for their extensive examples of ash-wych elm woodland and alder woods. Hedgesand hedgerow trees are also important ashabitats in an otherwise intensively managedlandscape.

Standing bodies of water are importanthabitats within the area; especially for birds.Rough Hey Wood, located south east ofGarstang is designated as a SSSI and containsone of Britain’s largest heronries.

Human Influences The landscape proved more favourable toearly settlers than the nearby uplands. AtPortfield above Whalley, large earthworks ofIron Age date defend the neck of a steep-sided promontory whose flat top had beenutilized since the Neolithic period. Thepresence of a large aisled barn of probably

18th century date points to an earlier, perhapsmedieval, successful farmstead, attesting to thefavourable nature of the site.

By the Roman period it is probable that muchof this landscape type was already settled fairlydensely and the fort established at Ribchesteris known to have had some civiliangovernment functions. Whilst Roman remains(besides roads) outside the immediate area ofthe forts are poorly represented in the record,the presence of Roman Kilns at Quernmoreshow that they exploited the natural resourcesof the area.

Medieval population pressures, which saw theutilisation of small areas of the mosslandselsewhere in Lancashire also led to thecontinuation of small woodland clearancesalong the Ribble and the Lune. This created asmall scale intimate landscape of scatteredfarms linked by winding roads with irregularfields and patches of surviving woodland onstream and field edges, a landscape which hasremained intact to this day.

The majority of enclosure dates from themedieval period and has created a landscapeof small fields which are mostly hedgedalthough stone walls are evident wheregeology lies close to the surface.

Country houses are a feature of the area andare often surrounded by parklands and wellmanaged estates. They are evidence of thedeveloping industrial enterprise and increasingwealth between the 16th and 19th centuries.Architecturally distinctive yeoman and gentryhouses are also characteristic of this type anddate from the 17th century onwards.

During the 17th century lime was used for landimprovement in these lowland fringe areas andmany small farm kilns remain in the landscape,along with the larger industrial kilns andquarries of the 19th and 20th century. Themining of Millstone Grit also proved to beimportant in this landscape type. Wheresuitable stone was available, querns andmillstones could be quarried and manufacturedto meet the needs of the population. Remainsof 19th century millstone production nearQuernmore can still be seen on the flanks ofClougha Pike. Lead and Silver were extractedin Rimington from the 17th century and minedand manufactured in places such as atQuernmore to meet the demands of therapidly industrialising county.


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CHARACTER AREAS - UNDULATING LOWLAND FARMLANDUndulating Lowland Farmland occurs on the lower fringes of the uplands, below about 150m AOD,across the whole study area.


5a Upper Hodder This is a unique hidden area of settled farmland enclosed by shale andValley limestone uplands and the grit moorland of the Bowland Fells. It is a lush

oasis in the middle of a bleak landscape. The landscape is centred aroundthe upper River Hodder and its tributaries and is well wooded. The underlying geology is largely overlain by boulder clays although the underlying limestone is evident as outcrops known as `Reef Knolls’ as well as in the white stone walls, bridges and limestone built villages, such as Slaidburn. The Reef Knolls are particularly characteristic of this area as are stands of beech which are often visible on hill tops.

5b Lower Hodder This area forms part of the Undulating Lowland Farmland to the south ofand Loud Valley the Forest of Bowland and includes the deeply incised wooded course of

the Hodder below Whitewell and its tributary, the River Loud, as far as its confluence with the Ribble. The underlying bedrock is limestone which is overlain by good soils, providing lush green pastures and good tree growth.The course of the Hodder is particularly well wooded and the pattern of incised minor wooded tributaries is distinctive to this character area. The area is little affected by modern development and the picturesque limestone villages of Chipping and Waddington have retained their vernacular character.

5c Lower Ribble The Lower Ribble is an area of lowland gritstone farmland betweenLongridge Fell to the north and Mellor Ridge to the south. It has adistinctive broad valley landform; the north and south valley sides areseparated by a flood plain which contains the meandering course of theRiver Ribble. There is a particularly distinctive pattern of wooded cloughswhich descend the valley sides, their streams emptying into the Ribble. Acomplex pattern of hedges and woodland form links to these woodedcloughs, giving an overall impression of a well wooded landscape.Although a rural valley, the area is well settled; a dense network ofwinding country lanes and tracks link the large number of stone farmbuildings. Other features of this area are the country houses anddesigned landscapes, for example Stonyhurst College, Huntingdon Halland Showley Hall. The Roman settlement of Ribchester is sited at anhistoric crossing point of the Ribble, a tranquil village in the centre of thevalley.

5d Samlesbury- An area between the Ribble Valley to the north and the Industrial Withnell Fold Foothills to the south. It is underlain by millstone grit and sandstone, but

the landscape is influenced by the mantle of glacial till which covers the surface, producing a gently undulating landscape of large lush green pastures divided by low cut hedgerows and hedgerow trees. Dramatic steep sided wooded valleys wind their way through the landscape carryingthe River Darwen and its tributaries. Designed landscapes and parkland associated with Samlesbury Hall,Woodfold Hall, Pleasington Old Hall and Hoghton Tower add to the overall woodland cover in this lowland landscape and Witton Country Park provides a countryside resource on the edge of Blackburn. It is also influenced by infrastructure (major road


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and rail routes), industrial works, the airfield at Samlesbury and built development on the edges of Preston.

5e Lower Ribblesdale This area forms the southern valley side of the Ribble, between Copster (Clitheroe to Green and Gisburn, on the lowland fringes of Pendle Hill. It is a Gisburn) particularly well settled area and provides a corridor for communication

routes along the Ribble Valley. The A59(T) runs the length of the area,linking the settlements of Copster Green,Whalley, Clitheroe, Chatburn and Gisburn. The railway links the valley to Blackburn and Yorkshire. This communication structure has encouraged built development and industry;the large cement works at Clitheroe is a prominent visual landmark for miles around. This character area is underlain by limestone and has somegood examples of limestone reef knolls, particularly around Clitheroe;Clitheroe Castle is located on top of one of these knolls.

5f Lower Ribblesdale This character area follows the upper reaches of the River Ribble between(Clitheroe to Bolton-by-Bowland and Long Preston on limestone geology. It occurs on Gisburn) the fringes of the Slaidburn Rolling Upland Farmland between 100 and

150m AOD. It is a highly rural area which is dominated by lush green pastures divided by hedgerows with many hedgerow trees. The mixed plantation woodlands associated with estates of Bolton Hall and Halton Place and the ancient woodlands along the Ribble itself contribute to the wooded character of this landscape character area.

5g South Bowland This character area forms the lowland fringes of Waddington Fell, to the Fringes south of the Forest of Bowland. It is a well wooded area whose limestone

slopes are particularly notable for their pattern of wooded cloughs - the tributaries which descend the valley side before feeding into the Ribble.The villages of Waddington,West Bradford, Grindleton and Holdon are located at the foot of wooded cloughs. Browsholme Hall has an influence over landscape character; shelter belts and beech hedges are features of the area around Cow Ark.

5h Goosnargh- The undulating lowland farmland on the north-east fringes of Preston Whittingham forms a transitional landscape between the upland landscape of the

Bowland Fells to the north-east and the agricultural Amounderness Plain to the west. It is an historically interesting area on the fringe of the Forestof Bowland AONB. The landform gently descends from 150m at the moorland fringe of Beacon Fell to the 30m contour (approximately) whichdefines the edge of the sandstone agricultural plain of the Fylde.However, this is not a clear boundary and the visual transition from one tothe other occurs across a broad area between the M6 and main Preston to Lancaster railway line. As a result of this gradual transition it demonstrates characteristics of both the Fydle and the Bowland fringes. Itis a pastoral landscape which is relatively open and intensively farmed with much hedgerow loss and few trees or woodlands although hedgerowsalong the network of lanes are important landscape features. There are often clear views over the plain below. The area is under pressure from built development as a result of its proximity to Preston. Vernacular buildings are of local stone, although a number of incongruous materials are seen throughout the area. The area is rich in evidence for Roman occupation.


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5i West Bowland A transitional landscape between the gritstone scarps of the Bowland Fringes Fells and the coastal plain of Amounderness. A fault line provides a

corridor along which the motorway, road and railway run and provides a transition to the agricultural plain. However, this transition is softened by glacial deposits, for example at Galgate where the lowland farmland merges imperceptibly with the low drumlin fields. However, at Quernmore, there is a dramatic wooded ridge (7c) which forms a definite boundary between the grit lowland fell edges and the adjacent glacial landscape to the west. The transition from fringe to fell is quite striking,particularly to the north-west below Claughton Moor where it occurs over a short distance. The valleys of the Brock, Calder and Wyre are also relatively dramatic, descending from the fells in deeply incised wooded valleys. There are exceptional views of the Amounderness Plain from the hillsides and the scarps of the Bowland fells are never far away.

5j North Bowland The north-facing gritstone slopes, known as the Forest of Mewith, is an Fringes area of undulating marginal farmland on the northern edges of the

Bowland Fells It is bordered by a drumlin field to the north which influences the landform of the lowland fringe; the broadly undulating landform contrasts with the steep scarps of west Bowland. This is a rural area which is crossed by a dense network of footpaths and farm tracks; a number of small stone farm holdings are found at the end of these dead-end farm tracks.

5k Cuerden-Euxton The rural character of this landscape is largely obscured by builtdevelopment which has taken place since the late 1970s. Motorways andmotorway junctions dominate the northern sector. The principal landscapefeature is Cuerden Valley Park, based upon the woodland and valley of theriver Lostock. The park is managed for nature conservation andrecreational use and is an important local resource. Pockets of farmlandand vernacular buildings survive as a reminder of earlier land use andsettlement pattern.


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54

6a

6b

6c

6d

6a

6b

6

INDUSTRIALFOOTHILLS AND VALLEYS

Character Areas

6a Calder Valley

6b West Pennine Foothills

6c Cliviger Gorge

6d Adlington-Coppull

Landscape CharacterThe Industrial Foothills and Valleys are acomplex transitional landscape of relativelysmall scale with intensive settlement. The areahas a more gentle landform and variedvegetation cover than that of the nearbyhigher ground. Trees thrive around farmsteads,along stone wall boundaries and in small-medium sized woodlands. Fields are enclosedby gritstone walls or hedgerows. There is adense network of narrow winding lanes in therural areas and major roads link settlementsalong the valley floor. Settlement is heavilyinfluenced by a history of industrialdevelopment in the villages themselves andthe neighbouring urban areas.Thus thelandscape character shows a mixture of ruralagricultural and industrial land uses. Gritstoneis the characteristic material of farm houses,laithe houses, mills, and cottages. The frequentmill terraces, industrial buildings and moremodern housing developments (often built ofbrick), reflect the proximity to large industrialand commercial centres and lowland claylands. Typical view - photo 20 below.


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Physical InfluencesSouth east Lancashire is predominantlyunderlain by Millstone Grits and sandstoneswith coal measures. These measures survivedbecause they were downfaulted or deformedinto basin structures during Carboniferous/Permian times. Where increasingly thick layersof drift deposits overlie the coal, along theeastern fringes of this landscape type,extraction is limited and the landscapecharacter is more agricultural. Where coaldeposits lie closer to the surface, moreextensive coal extraction has been possibleand large scale exploitation, dating from thefirst phases of the Industrial Revolution hassubstantially altered the pre-industriallandscape in places.

The Industrial Foothills and Valleys are typicallyfound between 100 and 250 m above sealevel; the higher limits form the transition tothe moorland fringe. The lower slopes aregenerally less steep with even gradients. Onthe whole the Industrial Foothills are gentlerand more sheltered compared to the moreexposed Moorland Fringes.

Nature conservation value is limited althoughimportant habitats are found in the streamvalleys. The main concentrations of seminatural woodland are found within the valleysof the Calder, Sabden, Hyndburn and PendleWater between Nelson and Accrington.Occasional private estates and designedparklands are significant locally.

Human InfluencesWithin the Industrial Foothills and Valleys,extraction and industry has to some extentmasked the evidence of early development ofthe area, although in places the origins of fieldpatterns and boundaries can be discerned.Some early sites survive, such as the Iron Agehillfort at Castercliffe, along with the intricatenetwork of fields, tracks, lanes, scatteredhamlets and villages which combine to giveevidence of the historic landscape.

The origins of industrialisation of the area dateto before the 16th century as a cottageindustry based on a dual economy ofagriculture and industry. It was dominated byweaving, with some small scale mining andmanufacturing activity. Wool came from the

South Pennine hillsides and flax from theLancashire and Amounderness Plain. Thetextile industry grew rapidly and factoriesappeared, which gradually replaced thedomestic system. The weaving communitiescontinued to grow and the proliferation ofmills and residential development created afragmented landscape.

Since the 1920s the textile industry has beenin decline but the remains of mills andworkers’ houses are distinctive landscapefeatures.

Coal mining activity increased in the mid 16thcentury and a number of small mines weresunk around Burnley. During the 18th and19th centuries the shallower, more easilyworked seams were being mined on anindustrial scale and were employing largenumbers of men. Industry required goodtransport links. Roads, railways and canals areconspicuous elements of the landscape andreflect the industrial age. Whilst some routeshave become disused, many are still importanttransport routes today for commuting,commerce, industry and recreation. Evidenceof coal extraction is frequently minimal due tosubsequent reclamation and naturalregeneration.


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Photo 21. Brierfield fringe.

CHARACTER AREAS - INDUSTRIAL FOOTHILLS AND VALLEYSThe Industrial Foothills and Valleys landscape type occurs in two distinct character areas, both locatedon the Lancashire Coalfield in the south of the study area.


6a Calder Valley This landscape character area encompasses the landscape of the broadvalley of the River Calder outside the urban settlements. It extends fromthe moorland fringes of the South and West Pennines (to the south) andPendle Hill and Mellor Ridge (to the north) to the urban fringes ofBlackburn, Darwen, Accrington, Burnley, Nelson and Colne. Agriculturalactivity is productive with lush, improved pastures utilised for dairy farmingas well as sheep grazing. Stone walls remain the predominant boundarytype on higher ground, although there are frequently hedgerows and postand wire fencing on the lower slopes and valley bottom.The landscape iswell populated; there are many houses, footpaths and large farms. Stonewalls and farm buildings are important remnants of earlier landuses,particularly where modern developments threaten to obscure the visualand cultural appeal of the area. Modern houses are conspicuous for theirrendering or use of alien materials and their gardens and ornamentalplants. Designed landscapes, such as Huntroyde and Read Park, areimportant locally to the visual and cultural qualities of this character area;they also contribute an important wooded element to the landscape.Mills, mill terraces and handloom weavers houses are reminders of a verydifferent lifestyle and are usually located closer to the centres of urbanareas. The urban fringes of Colne, Nelson and Burnley exert an influenceover the landscape; close to the urban edge there are pockets ofneglected land and urban fringe land uses such as horse paddocks,garden centres and retail or industrial buildings.

6b West Pennine This rural area forms the rolling foothills to the West Pennine Moors.Foothills Although it has the same undulating landform, underlying geology and

industrial influences as the Calder Valley, it is more rural in character It is dominated by sheep grazed pastures and includes a number of designed landscapes, with associated country houses. The villages reflect their industrial basis with rows of terraces, and sandstone quarries are present.Urban influences include allotments, horse paddocks, street lighting and kerbs, electricity pylons, communication masts, golf courses, suburban housing and road signs. Evidence of past quarrying can be seen in the numerous remnant spoil heaps which are common landscape features, forexample near Withnell. The many public footpaths are an important recreational resource from which walkers may experience distant views of the urban conurbations stretching out below them.

6c Cliviger Gorge The Cliviger Gorge is a dramatic feature which was carved out by glacialmeltwaters and is significantly different to the other character areasincluded within this type, and indeed to any other landscape in Lancashire.It is one of the most spectacular examples of a glacially over-deepenedvalley in the Central Pennines and a well-loved local landscape which hasaffinities with other similar valleys in the Hebden Bridge area of WestYorkshire. The incision of a glacial meltwater channel along the valley hascaused the tributary streams to be left ‘hanging’ and these are nowactively cutting down into the bedrock, producing natural exposures ofCarboniferous rocks which are of great geological interest and which havein the past been exploited for coal. The steep slopes also have extensivelandslips with a very distinctive landform. Rocky outcrops may be seen


57


high on the valley sides, most obviously at Thieveley Scout. There isscattered settlement along the A646(T) on the valley floor. There areimportant small blocks of woodland around the settlement of HolmeChapel. These are mostly stands of late 18th century tree planting,dominated by beech and sycamore, which is part of a wider designedlandscape. Industrial remains such as the silver and lead mine atThieveley are important as a reminder of the area’s past.

6d Adlington- This area is bordered by the Coastal Plain to the west and the town of Coppull Chorley to the north. Much of the area lies on the Coal Measures and

has been extensively mined in the past, notably at Chisnall, Birkacre and Duxbury. This industrial past is reflected in the expanded industrial settlements of Coppull and Adlington. Whilst there is some evidence of early mine shafts and adits, much of the land has been reclaimed or has re-vegetated naturally. There is also evidence of sand quarrying, some disused, some ongoing, as at Rigby House. Whilst the area is not generally well wooded, it contains important semi-natural woodland within the Yarrow Valley and plantations associated with large reclamation schemes. The area is traversed by major transport routes, including the main west coast railway and M6 motorway. A major leisure facility is located at Park Hall and a large golf course at Duxbury Park. The area isunder considerable pressure for further built development.


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7a

7b

7c


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7

FARMED RIDGES

Character Areas

7a Mellor Ridge

7b Upholland Ridge

7c Langthwaite Ridge

Landscape CharacterThese gritstone outcrops are relatively low incomparison to the Bowland Fells and outliers,their distinctive ridge profiles set them apartfrom the adjacent lowland agriculturallandscapes. Wooded sides, which risesometimes dramatically from the farmedplains, are visible for miles around and providea sense of orientation when in the lowlands.The ridges themselves support a mosaic ofmixed farmland and woodland which providesa textural backdrop to the surroundinglowlands. The landscape character one side ofthe ridge may be totally different from thecharacter on the other, despite their proximityto each other. The local vernacular is clusteredstone built villages with scattered outlyingcottages and farmsteads strung out along localroads, but more recent ribbon developmentand new houses display an incongruous mix ofmaterials. There is a good network offootpaths, parking and picnic spots with viewsover the surrounding lowlands. The ridges alsosupport some forestry and provide ideal sitesfor reservoirs and communication masts.Typical view - photo 22 below.

Physical InfluencesThe ridges are formed from high areas ofMillstone Grit which rise dramatically fromthe surrounding landscape to elevations ofbetween 140 and 230 metres.The MillstoneGrit outcrops in places, but is largely overlainby Boulder clay. Upholland Ridge isorientated in a north south direction. It is cutin two by the valley of the River Douglaswhich also carries a railway line and the Leedsand Liverpool Canal. The lower, eastern slopesof the ridge shelters coal deposits, whichshelve gradually into the surroundinglandscape.

The Mellor Ridge, which runs in a east westdirection, has been cut off from the largermass of Pendle Hill by the River Calder. TheCalder to the east, the Ribble to the northand the Darwen and Hindburn Brook to thesouth, have shaped the ridge by fluvial andglacial processes.

The Langthwaite Ridge is orientated north-south and is separated from the Bowland Hillsby low lying land of glacial sands and boulderclay drift. To the west lie low drumlins.

Intensive farming practices, mostly concernedwith the grazing of beef, dairy cattle and sheeplimit the nature conservation value of the area,although the small woodlands associated withthe steeper sides of the Upholland Ridge areimportant for their wildlife value.

Human InfluencesThe elevated nature of the ridges and theexcellent views of the valleys and LancashirePlain have ensured that they have beenimportant strategically and symbolicallythroughout history.

There is evidence of a Roman signal station atMellor, which was strategically placed toobserve the surrounding lowlands and routesalong the Calder and the Ribble.

Upholland was so named to distinguish it fromDown Holland, the name referring to itslocation on the spur of a hill.

Intensive farming in recent history threatens toremove traces of early enclosure, although theearly origin of field patterns is still discerniblein the landscape.

The relative height and views from the ridgeshave more recently attracted communicationmasts, housing developments and recreationalactivities. The ridges continue to be resourcesfor agriculture, stone and water to supplynearby urban populations.


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CHARACTER AREAS - FARMED RIDGESFarmed Ridges occur in three distinct areas where outcropping millstone grit forms distinct ridges inthe lowlands.


7a Mellor Ridge A prominent lowland ridge which forms a south-western gritstoneextension to Pendle Hill, separating the rural Ribble Valley from theindustrial Calder Valley. It is under pressure for urban development, butdespite this influence it appears rural in character from the surroundingvalleys and provides an important buffer between the intensely urbanlandscape of Blackburn and the rural landscapes associated with theRibble Valley. The prominent ridgeline is viewed from the busy A59 andM65 transport routes to the north and south respectively. There are alsooutstanding views from the ridge itself across the Ribble Valley to thenorth, over Whalley Abbey at its eastern end and across Blackburn to thesouth. Built development has taken advantage of these views and Melloris sited on top of the ridge where it enjoys long views across the adjacentlowlands.

7b Upholland Ridge An intensively farmed, but wooded gritstone ridge which stretches fromHarrock Hill in the north, past Upholland and the M58 into GreaterManchester and Merseyside. The Upholland Ridge forms an importantbuffer between the urban landscapes of the NW Manchesterconurbations and the rural landscapes of the West Lancashire CoastalPlain. The productive mixed farmland is punctuated by a strong pattern ofhedgerows and woodland which provides a textural backdrop to viewsfrom the surrounding lowlands.The Douglas valley is an major feature,running through the Upholland Ridge. The valley is an important transportcorridor and also contains several heronries, country houses and designedlandscapes including significant ornamental lakes at Wrightington Hospital.Development has taken advantage of the views - it is a well settled ridgewith gritstone walls and terraces. The farmsteads, which are local stonewith slate roofs, add further texture and character to the area. However,as the intensity of farming increases, field size is enlarging and hedgerowsare being lost, weakening the field pattern. This is a popular recreationalarea for residents of the extensive local urban conurbations and there aremany parking areas and viewpoints on top of the ridge, most notably atParbold Hill, as well as a country park and golf course at Beacon Hill.Reservoirs and communication masts are again a feature of the area anda number of quarries indicate the mining of local materials for building.

7c Langthwaite Ridge This gritstone outcrop forms a prominent rounded ridge which forms asouthern extension to the Docker-Kellet-Lancaster Drumlin Field. Itseparates the city of Lancaster and developed coastal drumlin landscapefrom the rural landscapes of the Bowland Fells. It is distinguished fromthe adjacent drumlin field by its smooth rounded form. It is typical of afarmed ridge with a rich mosaic of pasture, woodland and parkland. Itforms a setting for the city of Lancaster and scattered built developmenttakes advantage of views from the ridge. It provides suitable location forreservoirs and communication masts which stand out against the skyline.Mixed woodlands are a feature of this area, associated with theQuernmore estate and the reservoirs. The largest block is Knots Wood,managed by Forest Enterprise.


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62

8a

8

SETTLED VALLEYS

Character Areas

8a Irwell

Landscape CharacterThe narrow, high sided valleys of the RiverIrwell and its tributary streams, dissect the highmoorland plateau of the Rossendale Hills andprovide one of the most distinctive landscapetypes in Lancashire. Along the valley floor theurban settlements between Rawtenstall andBacup, which originated at river crossingpoints, have now merged to form a denseribbon of urban and industrial development.The textile mills, with their distinctivechimneys, dominate the urban skyline and area hallmark of this South Pennines landscape.Gritstone terraces form characteristic featuresof the hillsides and valley floor and roads areconcentrated in the narrow valley floor.North facing slopes usually remain free ofdevelopment and there are frequently viewstowards woodlands, the patchwork of in-byepastures and the moorland edge. Broadleavedwoodlands cling to the steep slopes and fill thesteep valley side cloughs, reinforcing the senseof enclosure within the valleys, although theIrwell Valley has relatively little woodland.Pockets of adjacent farmland are often under-used with attendant derelict structures. Typicalview - photo 23 below.


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Physical InfluencesThe alternating geological layers of gritstone,coal and glacial deposits of sand and gravelhave been cut by the swiftly flowing rivers toform a distinctive stepped valley profile. Alongthe steepest valley sides sheer faces of theunderlying rocks are exposed and createdramatic features. Elsewhere the sides aremantled with a thin soil cover.

The deeply incised valleys, which dissect theupland landscapes, are cut by the Irwell and itstributaries. The river flows in a westerlydirection, fed by a ladder pattern of tributariesfrom the surrounding hills. The steep valleysides are typically 200m in height with anarrow valley floor.

The woodlands on the steep slopes of thevalley sides include remnants of ancient oakwoodland, but are largely planted and make avital contribution to an otherwise urbanlandscape. The species composition reflectsthe harsh industrial climate of past centuries,with a predominance of pollution tolerantspecies such as sycamore.With the reductionin industrial pollution, the Irwell and itstributaries provide important green links.Together with the few surviving mill lodgesthey provide valuable fresh water habitats.

Some of the in-bye pastures are herb-rich,whilst there are many wet flushes of wildlifeimportance.

On the valley floor the rivers create importantgreen links and, with the reduction in industrialpollution, many provide valuable freshwaterhabitats.

Human InfluencesInitially part of the medieval Forest ofRossendale (also known as Brandwood), thevalleys would have been utilized from earlytimes as routeways. Settlement in the laterpart of the medieval period would havefocused on the “Booths” or farmsteads withinthe Forest. Later official and unofficialencroachment on the Forest would haveexpanded upon these and developed as smallhamlets.

The Settled Valleys contain a remarkablelegacy relating to our industrial heritage, whichitself masks remnants of pre industrial

settlement and landuse. They include the earlycommunications infrastructure of the railwaysand canals and the very distinctive vernaculararchitecture of the textile industry; theenormous factories and chimneys and therows of Victorian terraced housing. Originallypeople would have exploited the water powerof the rivers, particularly in the steep sidevalleys, but as coal became an increasinglyimportant source of energy, the factories wereconcentrated in the main valley floor wheremajor transportation routes were developedand the existing labour force could beexploited. The urban landscapes generated bythe process of industrialisation are one of thespecial and significant features of these valleys.Urban areas, which were confined bytopography, tended to grow along thebottoms of the valleys and have tight-kniturban centres. They are dominated by largetextile mill buildings with terraces of stonecottages with their characteristic contrastingstonework and pointing, running along thelower valley sides. Many mill buildings survivedue to their continuing use in the footwearindustry as textile manufacturing has becomeless viable. Grand civic buildings and urbanparks built on the wealth generated by thetextile industry are important features of thesetowns as they reflect the late 19th centuryfashion for creating strong urban identities andimproved conditions for workers in what werethe squalid and overcrowded industrial towns.The towns also contain Victorian churches,chapels, schools and engineering features, oftenretaining the steep valley sides for housing orindustrial development.

CHARACTER AREAS - SETTLED VALLEYSThe Irwell Valley is the only landscapecharacter area associated with the SettledValleys landscape character type within thestudy area. It is found in south-eastLancashire.


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9a 9b9c

9d

9e

9

RESERVOIR VALLEYS

Character Areas

9a Rivington

9b Turton-Jumbles

9c Haslingden Grane

9d Belmont

9e Roddlesworth

Landscape CharacterThe Reservoir Valleys are characterised bylarge reservoirs constructed in the mid-latenineteenth century to supply water forLancashire’s growing urban population. Theyare dominated by large expanses of water andtheir associated engineered landforms ofbunds and embankments. The Victorianlandscape is evident in the form of mixedwoodlands, gothic architectural detailing andsturdy dressed stone walls. The valleys arepredominantly rural in character withattractive areas of pasture and broadleavedwoodland surrounding and linking the waterbodies. The extensive woodlands andplantations allow the valleys to absorbrelatively high numbers of recreational visitorsfrom the surrounding urban areas, withoutbecoming overcrowded and recreational use isnow an important influence on landscapecharacter. Typical view - photo 24 below.


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Physical InfluencesThe Reservoir Valleys follow faults in thebedrock along a roughly south-east to north-west axis. The whole area was heavilyglaciated during the Pleistocene and theretreat of the glaciers formed a deep overflowchannel from Brinscall to Horwich. This overdeepened valley is now occupied by theAnglezarke and Rivington reservoirs. Thevalleys contain much evidence of past miningand quarrying, especially for sandstone. TheLeicester Mills sandstone quarry at Rivingtonwith its high sandstone edge is now animportant landscape feature and recreationalresource. Important semi-natural woodlandssurvive, particularly in the Rivington andBelmont valleys. Farmland and embankmentsadjacent to the reservoirs are oftenecologically important; species-rich haymeadows and pastures and grasslands containnationally rare plants.

All of the reservoirs, and particularly Jumbles,Wayoh, Delph and Belmont and Rivington areimportant to wintering wildfowl. Belmont isalso significant for the breeding waderassemblage associated with adjacent in-byepastures. The woodlands and plantations arealso valuable for breeding birds includingwoodcock, redstart and pied flycatcher.

Human InfluencesEvidence of pre-industrial uses of the valleysinclude field patterns on the lower valley sides,abandoned farmsteads and features such asthe medieval manor house at Turton.However the construction of the reservoirsand pre-reservoir mining has destroyed manyearly remains of land use and settlement.Evidence of later settlement is widespreadthroughout the valleys for example nearAnglezarke remnants of 18th century leadmines containing a waterwheel pit, pumpingshaft and stream sluices can still be seen.

In the mid-late 19th century the rurallandscape of the valleys was transformed bythe construction of numerous large waterbodies to supply the growing populations ofthe surrounding conurbations. Theappropriation of the land by the waterundertakings and consequent depopulationhad a significant landscape impact. Theremains of these farms are still extant. The

reservoirs represent important feats ofengineering and constructions, such as feederconduits, overflow cascades and slipways,embankments and tunnels, are of historicalsignificance. Victorian detailing of the builtfeatures of the reservoirs, including gothicstyle valve towers and crenellated stone wallswith decorative reliefs, are important pieces ofarchitectural heritage. Similarly remnants ofconstruction workers’ dwellings and places ofworship are important reminders of themassive human input involved in theirconstruction.

Much of the mixed woodland plantingassociated with the reservoirs originated as19th century catchment plantings andcontinues to be managed by the waterauthorities today.

Lever Park is a designed landscape close toRivington reservoir. Lord Leverhulme, thefamous soap manufacturer and art collector,purchased Rivington Hall in 1904 andcommissioned Thomas Mawson to design thepark and gardens. These were later given tolocal communities as a public park. It is nowan important local recreational resource andfeature of the landscape.


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CHARACTER AREAS - RESERVOIR VALLEYSThe Reservoir Valleys are a distinctive type of flooded valley which emerge from the West PennineMoors in the south of the study area.


9a Rivington This wide shallow valley is almost entirely water-filled containing the threelarge reservoirs of Anglezarke, Upper and Lower Rivington and Yarrow.These waterbodies, built by Liverpool Corporation in the mid-nineteenthcentury, cover the courses of three separate streams on this western edgeof the West Pennine Moors. Much of the character of the lower part ofthe valley is owed to the influence of Lord Levehulme who had his homeat Rivington Hall. His interest in architecture and landscape design isreflected throughout the valley and includes long tree lined avenues, anetwork of footpaths, the Rivington Terraced Gardens and a replica ofLiverpool Castle ruins on the banks of the reservoir. The listed historiclandscape of Lever Park now forms part of Rivington County Park and isan extremely popular area for recreation. The landscape of the upperpart of the valley is dominated by the engineering structures associatedwith the reservoirs, including the overflow cascades, bridges andembankments. The valley forms the transition from the high West PennineMoors to the low-lying plain of Leyland Hundred.

9b Turton - Jumbles This valley is formed by a line of three reservoirs to the north of Bolton,two of which (Entwistle and Wayoh) supply Bolton with the majority of itsdrinking water. Each is surrounded by extensive woodland, much of whichis in the form of conifer plantations. Originally the valleys in which thesereservoirs are sited fed the Bradshaw Brook, which became a local focusof industrial activity. The success of textiles and bleaching provided thestimulus for reservoir construction in the area. Entwistle was the first inthe 1830’s and indeed one of the first in the country at such a scale,followed by Wayoh thirty years later, and more recently by Jumbles in1971 to provide compensation water to Bradshaw Brook. The reservoirsare now a focus for recreation and nature conservation, with walking,fishing and informal pursuits located at Entwistle and Wayoh, and theCounty Park centred around Jumbles Reservoir offering more formalrecreation. A feature of particular note is the Armsgrove Viaduct whichcarries the Bolton to Blackburn railway over the Wayoh Reservoir. Thevalley includes the attractive settlements of Chapel Town and TurtonBottoms.

9c Haslingden Grane The Grane valley is a somewhat remote wide valley to the west of thetown of Haslingden. The valley floor is occupied by three large reservoirs;Calf Hey, Ogden and Holden Wood, while the valley sides contain a mix ofconiferous and broadleaved plantations and open pastures. Quarriedcrags and edges overlook the valley and border the surrounding highmoorland. This was once a well populated valley with farmers, quarryworkers and a number of mills. The entire valley was depopulated inassociation with the reservoir construction in a effort to reduce the risk ofwaterborne diseases. Today, the scattered abandoned farmsteads, ruinedcottages and pastures and packhorse tracks are remnants of the pre-reservoir landscape. The Grane valley is gradually being discovered byvisitors and is increasingly used for informal recreation with car parks andfootpath links established.


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9d Belmont The Belmont, Delph, Springs, Dingle and Wards Reservoirs are sited in anincised valley high above Bolton. The village of Belmont, on the route ofthe A675, forms a focus for this area. Despite the presence of settlementit is a quiet valley with few recreational opportunities compared to theother reservoir valleys. There are a few public footpaths including the

Witton Weaver’s Way which passes through the coniferous plantationsurrounding the Delph Reservoir. This valley is more rural than many ofthe other reservoir valleys; ancient woodland still clings to the steepcloughs which have not been dammed.These also contain importantwetland habitats.

9e Roddlesworth The Roddlesworth and Rake Brook Reservoirs sit within an extensivelywooded valley of mixed plantations above the towns of Blackburn andDarwen. A number of public footpaths pass through the valley and roadspass either side of it. It is a quiet and remote landscape dominated bythe reservoirs.


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10a

10b


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10

WOODED RURAL

VALLEYS

Character Areas

10a Wyre Valley

10b North Bowland Valleys

Landscape CharacterDeeply incised and heavily-wooded valleysradiate out from the central upland core ofthe Forest of Bowland. Their dramatic valleyprofiles have been formed from the erosiveaction of the fast flowing rivers which cascadethrough rocky gorges and channels within theMillstone Grit. The secluded, humidenvironment of the Wooded Rural Valleys is instark contrast to the surrounding openmoorland of the fells, providing shelter andcover for a great variety of flora and fauna.Ancient woodland, interspersed with someconifer planting and pasture, clings to the steepvalley sides. Small settlements are clustered atriver crossings and contained within the steepsided valleys and stone mills and bridges are atestament to the historic use of the rivers forharnessing power; these areas were alsomanaged to supply charcoal and wood for thebobbin mills. Farmed land is confined to theedges, above the level of the wooded valleysides; pastures are sheep grazed and dividedby gritstone walls. A few herb-rich pasturesand meadows survive and a network ofminor winding and undulating lanes dip in andout of the valleys. Typical view - photo 25below.

Physical InfluencesThe Wooded Rural Valleys cut through hardMillstone Grit and radiate out from the centralupland core of the Bowland landscape. Someof the valley sides expose sections of thelayers of the underlying geology which includessandstone, shale and silt.

The deeply incised, narrow valleys wereformed by fast flowing streams and glacialmeltwaters. Local areas of landslip arecommon on the steep valley sides and createa distinctive hummocky local topography. Asthe streams cut through sequential layers ofMillstone Grit they have created a landform ofstepped terraces on the harder geology andsteep drops where the softer shales have beeneroded away.

The valleys contain substantial areas of ancientwoodland which survive as remnants of largerwoods cleared for agriculture or habitation.These range from the base rich ashwoodlands or alder/willow fringing thestreams, to upland oak woodland alongelevated parts of the valley sides. Remnantareas of wet meadow along the valley floorare also of considerable interest. This is ashady, humid environment in which ferns,mosses and other specialised plants thrive.These valleys support characteristic riparianbirds such as grey wagtail, dipper and commonsandpiper.

Human InfluencesThere is less obvious evidence of humanactivity in the Wooded Rural Valleys as farmsare generally located above the level of themain wooded areas, however the woods areinterspersed with rough pasture and narrowriverside meadows. The stone bridges, whichoften represent ancient crossing points are aninteresting feature of the valleys.

The presence of charcoal hearths suggest apast history of woodland management. Theswift streams provided water power for earlyindustrial activity and occasional historic millsites remain. on the valley floors, include tracesof mill ponds, races, sluices and weirs. Theremaining mill buildings are good examples ofthe local vernacular and have often beenconverted into private residences.

Herb-rich flower meadows have fastdisappeared since the last war from thesevalleys due to intensive farming practices.Only a few now remain.


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CHARACTER AREAS - WOODED RURAL VALLEYSThe Wooded Rural Valleys landscape type is found on the northern and western gritstone slopes of theForest of Bowland fells.


10a Wyre Valley The Wyre Valley, which descends the western flanks of the Bowland Fellsstarting at the Trough of Bowland, is particularly characteristic of thislandscape type. In the upper reaches, remnant ancient woodland stillclings to the clough sides and man’s activity is at a minimum. However,further downstream the result of man’s influence begins to affect thecharacter of the landscape.The historic textile village of Dolphinholmeclusters in the valley bottom and there is a series of weirs along thecourse of the river, the first controlling water flows at the Abbeysteadreservoir. Further downstream a series of open lakes (resulting from gravelextraction) has produced a unique mosaic of open water and woodlandwhich, although picturesque, is alien to the natural environment. There aremany public footpaths and lanes in the area providing access to the valleyand potential threats to its seclusion and rural character. Furtherdownstream the M6, mainline railway and parking, picnic and campingsites have eroded the secluded character of the valley.

10b North Bowland The North Bowland Valleys of the Artle, Roeburn and Hindburn are Valleys relatively rural in character. They form the archetypal examples of this

landscape type. The Roeburn and Hindburn have a particularly high proportion of remnant ancient woodland and little settlement. Waterfalls,weirs and fords are all features of this character area. Steep lanes wind their way through the gorges, crossing the river course on stone bridges.The banks of the fast flowing rivers contain evidence of former water powered mill sites.


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11a

11b

11c

11d


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11

VALLEY FLOODPLAINS

Character Areas

11a Lower Ribble Valley

11b Long Preston Reaches

11c Aire Valley

11d Lune Valley

Landscape CharacterThe broad, flat open floodplains on the valleyfloors of the larger lowland rivers are subjectto periodic flooding and their rich alluvial driftdeposits support fertile grazing land for cattleand sheep. Although part of the widerlandscape of the valleys, the floodplains havedistinctive landscape patterns and land usepressures. They are characterised by largeriver meanders, eroded bluffs and terraces,standing water and steep wooded banks,which enclose the floodplain and determine itsedge. Large fields are divided by post andwire fencing, hedgerows or stone walls andmature floodplain trees are characteristic ofthe pastoral landscape. The presence ofRoman roads, numerous archaeological sitesand motte and bailey castles along the lengthof these major lowland valleys suggest theirearly and prolonged use as importantcommunications routes. Many settlements onthe fringes of the floodplain mark importantcrossing points where impressive stone bridgescross the water. The floodplains themselvesremain rural and unpopulated except for thevisitors who fish or walk the riversidefootpaths. Typical view - photo 26 below.

Physical InfluencesThe rivers of the Valley Floodplains have cutdown through the underlying rocks, but thevalley floors are smothered with glacial till andriver gravels which bury the rocks beneath.Alluvium deposits have enriched the valleyfloors, creating good soils for agriculture.Within the valleys, protected hollows andundulations have preserved accumulations ofpeat. The Lune, Ribble and Aire Rivers alloriginate on the high land of the YorkshireDales. Their floodplains meander gently acrosswide green pastures, in places the river crossesa flat valley floor bordered by distinct bluffs,but elsewhere the floodplain rises gently tothe undulating landscape beyond.

Classic floodplain features, such as oxbow lakesand abandoned channels, are importantlandscape features and wildlife habitats andindicate the shifting position the river hasadopted. The river channels provideimportant linear freshwater and wetlandhabitats which support diverse aquatic plantsand invertebrates, as well as birds and fish .However agricultural intensification, drainage,flood defence work and urban/industrialdevelopment ensures that nature conservationinterest is concentrated in remnant areas ofneutral grassland, wet meadows, domedmosses, areas of standing water andmarshland.

Small areas of woodland on the valley sidesand hedges and isolated trees fringing the riverchannels also provide important resources fornature conservation. Areas of river shingle andshallow wet margins are important forbreeding birds and other wildlife, whilsteroding banks are an essential nesting habitatfor kingfisher and sand martin.

Human Influences Land above the marshy valley floors of theValley Floodplains have provided importantrouteways and communication routes sincethe earliest times, offering relatively easyroutes through the surrounding hills andmarshes.

Roman forts at Ribchester and Over Burrowoverlooking the Ribble and Lune and theirassociated Roman roads indicate theimportance of controlling these key routes

through the hills. After the invasion, theNormans, built motte and bailey castles tocontrol important centres or routeways. Manyformed part of a chain to defend a vulnerablefrontier zone, for example on the Lune, atleast nine such castles were constructed.

The wide valleys continue to provide animportant communication route for mainroads, rail lines and canals.

In general terms, the valley floodplains aredevoid of settlement. The valley floors wereoften supported common grazing.Parliamentary enclosure is evident in theregular pattern of field boundaries. Many fieldsare now devoted to improved pasture,supporting the famous cheese making industry.The majority of these are hedged, but in theupland floodplain of Ribblesdale the highoccurrence of river rolled boulders ensuredthere was enough material to construct stonewalls. In places modifications of the riverprofile are evident in bank retention walls andlow bunds, which possibly date to moreintensive grazing and to increasing planting offorage crops on the floodplains afterenclosure. Sands and gravels are now beingworked at Higher Brockholes (Ribble).


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CHARACTER AREAS - VALLEY FLOODPLAINSThe Valley Floodplains landscape type is found on the valley floors of the course of the major lowlandrivers throughout the study area.


11a Lower Ribble The open flat and fertile plain of the lower Ribble is a pastoral , tranquil Valley landscape containing the meandering course of the river. Its extent is

defined by the steep wooded bluffs and terraces which enclose the floodplain. Lush green fields of semi-improved pasture are grazed by sheep and cattle. The large regular fields are defined by gappy hedgerows, supplemented by sections of post and wire, wooden fencing or stone walls. This array of materials and styles conveys a lack of visual unity despite the natural beauty of the landscape. Mature floodplain treesare notable features in this character area; ash and oak stand in the floodplain, their silhouettes striking against the open landscape. There is little settlement within the floodplain itself, but a number of large farms and country halls are positioned along the edges of the floodplain.Settlements, such as Ribchester, Great Mitton,West Bradford, Grindleton and Sawley, are also sited on the adjacent river terraces, their extremities sometimes extending onto the floodplain. There are a number of historic crossing points which coincide with these settlements where old stone bridges are important historic features of the floodplain.

11b Long Preston Reaches Further upstream of the Ribble, and at a higher elevation, is the uplandfloodplain known as Ribblesdale. The flat plain contrasts dramatically withthe surrounding steep sided drumlins and hills typical of more uplandscenery. It is a particularly distinctive character area because itscontinuous network of stone walls has been constructed from roundedriver rolled boulders. The plain is open and expansive; floodplain treesstand out a prominent visual elements. Pasture is marginal and oftenwaterlogged with rushes growing freely. There are also areas of domedmosses and standing water within the flat valley bottom. Stone bridgesare again a distinctive feature at the few crossing points. The northernpart of the area is dominated by the settlements of Settle andGiggleswick. These are typical stone Yorkshire towns which have exploitedthe river terraces of the Upper Ribble. The valley provides an importantcommunication route; the A65(T) and mainline railway pass along the footof the Yorkshire Dales, crossing the floodplain below Giggleswick.

11c Aire Valley The broad, deep, glacial valley of the Aire cuts through the rolling limestoneuplands of the South Pennines. The valley floor is mantled with layers ofglacial drift deposits which form wide green floodplains containingmeandering river channels. In the more sheltered eastern parts of thevalley, trees and hedges are common, the hedges supplementing the stonewall boundaries. The gravel terraces and alluvial fans which stand higherthan the floor of the valley, are attractive areas for settlement. The townswhich have exploited these natural features have not been confined bythe restrictive landform of the narrower valleys elsewhere in the studyarea. The transport corridor is a distinctive feature of this landscape; theriver, roads, canal and rail routes form an important and historicallysignificant communication route through the uplands. Skipton is a historicsettlement which has arisen at a junction of communication routes, butmodern expansion is also evident and reflects the demand for living closeto major transport routes. The patchwork of fields in the valley floor ismostly enclosed by stone walls and is almost entirely pasture. The


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landscape has good tree cover, with trees being present along some fieldboundaries as well as along the course of the river. The river terracegravels and glacial sands have been exploited for sand and gravelextraction.

11d Lune Valley The Lune floodplain is a flat floodplain surrounded by rolling drumlins andhills. The Lune is a major lowland river with a classic pastoral, tranquilfloodplain; medium-large, regular fields of lush green pasture are boundedby low clipped, often gappy, hedgerows with hedgerow trees. Riverterraces and bluffs along the edge of the floodplain are sculpturalelements which often support stone farm buildings and the remains ofmotte-and-bailey castles. These mottes provide visible evidence for thehistoric importance of the Lune as a routeway. The well preserved CastleStede at Hornby was part of a string of at least nine castles on the Lunedefending a potential route of a Scottish attack and means of controllingthe local population. Stone bridges are again a feature and mark historiccrossing points of the river. There is also evidence of the industrial pastand present; the route of a dismantled railway is still visible in thelandscape, Low Mill is a former textile mill which has been converted tohousing, while the brick work’s at Claughton is still in operation, linked to aclay pit on Claughton Moor via aerial ropeways.


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12a

12b

12c

12a

12

LOW COASTALDRUMLINS

Character Areas

12a Carnforth-Galgate-Cockerham

12b Warton-Borwick

12c Heysham-Overton

Landscape CharacterAreas of low, whaleback hills around 40m high,with broad rounded tops towards the north-west coast of the study area. The landscape ischaracteristically gentler and of lower altitudethan that of the Drumlin Field and individualdrumlins are more isolated; there are oftenareas of poorly drained pasture, standingwater and occasionally mosses, fens and fenmeadows between the drumlins. Thealignment of drumlins gives the landform adistinctive grain. The strong pattern ofpastures emphasises the undulatingtopography, with neat, low cut thorn hedgestraversing the drumlins. Trees and shrubs arelimited in this agricultural landscape, althoughsmall copses occur on the tops and sides ofthe drumlins. Scattered large farmsteads arereached by a network of winding hedged lanesand tracks, but large housing estates andindustrial development are also features of thelandscape today. All settlement is sited abovepoorly drained land on the shallow valleyslopes. Minor roads and the canal windaround the drumlins while overheadpowerlines and major transport routestypically cut across these areas, paying noattention to the natural landform. Coastalcliffs of boulder clay are significant featureswhere the drumlin landscape meets the sea.Sand and gravel pits, creating lakes and pondsreflect the ongoing exploitation of thedrumlins as a resource. Typical view - photo27 below.


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Physical Influences The Low Coastal Drumlins are around 40mhigh. The hills, which have broad rounded topsand frequently steep sides, were created as aresult of erosional and depositional processesof the glacial ice sheets moving through thearea. Outwash sands and gravels, or boulderclays were moulded to form oval whalebackhills. These are isolated and generally moresubdued than drumlins of the Drumlin Fieldlandscape type. The alignment of the LowCoastal Drumlins gives a distinctive grain tothe landscape and provides importantevidence of the movement of the glacial icesheets in the quaternary period.

Agricultural improvement through drainage,fertilisation and reseeding has reduced thewetland habitat to those areas which cannotreadily be drained. Boulder clay coastal cliffs,which occur at Cockersands Abbey, south ofHeysham Head and between Hest Bank andCarnforth are important for their semi-naturalgrasslands, scrub and woodland. Gravelextraction and canal construction has createdimportant wildlife resources, valued for theiropen water and marginal swamp and fenhabitats.

Human Influences Whilst it is likely that these drumlins havebeen farmed and settled since the earliestperiod, medieval and later ploughing appearsto have destroyed much of the physicalevidence.

The introduction of Christianity was importantin the development of the area; it containsmany pre-conquest churches and the chapelof St. Patrick at Heysham dating from the late7th to 9th centuries.

The most conspicuous element of theagricultural landscape is the regular hedgedenclosures of the Parliamentary Acts, whichdivide the landscape up into neatly farmedunits, punctuated only by small copses,wooded brooks and isolated hedgerow trees.The pattern of fields has changed little since1850.

Large settlements have developed around keystrategic or trading settlements such asLancaster, Heysham and Morecambe. Howeverthe rest of the landscape is relatively rural,

though well settled, with villages and farmslinked by winding lanes.Villages have beenexpanded by modern development whichtends to dominate, especially along the A6.

The Low Coastal Drumlins have provedattractive sites through which to locatecommunication routes such as Roman roads,canals, railways and modern main roads. Theseweave between the higher drumlins and linklarge villages to the main urban areas.

An important remnant of the industrial past isGlasson Dock. It was opened in the 1780swhen the increasing size of vessels renderedaccess to St Georges Quay at Lancaster moredifficult. After 1927 the dock was the seawardterminal of a short branch of the LancasterCanal. Today the dock maintains somecommercial trade and the canal and marinaare important for leisure.


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CHARACTER AREAS - LOW COASTAL DRUMLINSLow Coastal Drumlins are found on the north-west coast of the study area where the last retreatingice sheets left a series of rounded boulder clay hills in their paths.


12a Carnforth-Galgate- The Low Coastal Drumlins, on or near which Lancaster and Morecambe Cockerham are built, extend along the coast behind Morecambe Bay from Cockerham

in the south to Carnforth in the north. This landscape supports an extremely high proportion of built development including the large settlements of Lancaster and Morecambe and recent built development along the A6.The Low Coastal Drumlins provide a convenient transport corridor; the Lancaster Canal, M6, A6 and mainline railway run side-by-sidein a north-south orientation. The canal, which weaves through the drumlins, is an important reminder of the area’s industrial heritage; a branch emerges into the Lune at Glasson Dock.To the west of Cockerhamsettlement is sparse and dominated by scattered large scale farmsteads in contrast to the towns and large villages further north. Fields are largely of post medieval pattern, however there are areas of older enclosure and settlement, notably at Cockersand Abbey.The drumlins provide elevated points from which there are views over the salt marshes to Morecambe Bay. Near Thurnham there is a significant are a of mossland lying betweenthe drumlins, allowing long distant views towards the coast. Traditional farmsteads and older settlement cores are built of stone but the modern development is often built using red brick. Buildings on top of the drumlin hills are particularly visible. Woodland is limited to small plantations,woods associated with former estates and rarely, fragments of ancient woodland in unusual hilltop or hillside settings.

12b Warton-Borwick The Low Coastal Drumlins around Warton are more rural in characterthan those immediately to the south. Large pastures are divided by lowclipped hedgerows or stone walls, some of which are degraded or missing.There are areas of waterlogged, rushy pasture and standing water in thelow lying areas between the drumlins. The River Keer winds its waybetween the low drumlins, draining into Morecambe Bay at Carnforth.Historic Halls and estates are associated with the river Keer atCapernwray and Borwick. Gravel extraction has had an impact on thislandscape in the creation of open water bodies which attract wildfowl.The largest of these is Pine Lakes. There is considerable developmentassociated with the M6, A6 and railway such as motels and a lorry park.Parking areas and caravan sites are also features of coastal parts of thisarea.

12c Heysham-Overton This is a coastal area where marine transgression has caused partialdrowning of the drumlin field resulting in low, washed out, drumlins at themouth of the River Lune south of Heysham. It is a pastoral landscapewith flat areas of reclaimed land where grazing is rougher and rushesmark the course of drainage channels. Hedgerows form field boundariesbut there are few trees; those which exist are found sheltering the largestone built farmsteads on the low drumlin forms which protrude from theplain. Other built development, including villages and industrialdevelopment, is also restricted to the higher land and pressure for holidayaccommodation has resulted in a number of static caravan parks whichhave become a feature of the landscape.


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13a

13b

13c


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13

DRUMLIN FIELD

Character Areas

13a Gargrave Drumlin Field

13b Bentham-Clapham

13c Docker-Kellet-Lancaster

Landscape CharacterThis distinctive landscape type is characterisedby a `field’ of rolling drumlins. The consistentorientation of the hills gives the landscape auniform grain, which is sometimes difficult toappreciate from within the field. The regulargreen hillocks are between about 100m and200m high with steep sides and broadrounded tops. However, there are often solidrock outcrops within the field where theunderlying bedrock is exposed, for examplethe reef knolls in the Kellet area which havebeen quarried for limestone. The moreelevated gritstone outcrops are sometimescovered in moor, for example at Docker Moor.Pasture predominates and fields are boundedby clipped hedges or, more often, stone walls,which rise up over the hillocks accentuatingthe relief of the hills. Ridge and furrowpatterns on drumlin sides reflect historic landuses. Narrow streams wind through thedrumlins draining the field. Small mixedwoodlands and the many designed landscapesassociated with large country houses, forexample Coniston Hall and Broughton Hall)contribute to the rural wooded character.Major roads often cross or skirt the edge ofthe drumlin fields; settlement is dispersed, withsmall hamlets and farmsteads in sheltered siteson the mid-slope of the drumlins. Typical view- photo 28 below.

Physical Influences The Drumlin Field landscape was created bythe erosion and deposition actions of glacialice sheets. The ice moulded dense boulderclay into oval whaleback hills. The alignment ofthe drumlins gives a distinctive grain to thelandscape and provides important evidence ofthe movement of the glacial ice sheets in theQuaternary period. Becks and immaturerivers wind through the hills and there areoccasional tarns in the hollows between them.

Agricultural improvement through drainage,fertilisation and reseeding has reduced theextent of valuable grassland and wetlandhabitats to pockets of species-rich grasslandand remnant mires. Important ancientwoodland survives on the steep scarp slopesabove the Lune and its tributaries, whilstlimestone woodland, although severely affectedby quarrying is still found in the Kellet area.

Rivers and streams provide importantfreshwater habitats for an range of species andthe small areas of swamp and tall herbvegetation associated with the margins ofwater bodies are important as feeding andbreeding sites for amphibians andinvertebrates.

Human Influences The gentle slopes of the free draining drumlinshave proved attractive areas for settlementand farming from the middle of the prehistoricperiod. Old English place names ending in ‘ton’and ‘ham’ predominate, although there aresome clusters of Scandinavian place names.Roman roads and other remains occur in theCraven area. Whilst there is evidence ofParliamentary enclosure on the higher ground,many fields are considerably older, some havingtheir origins in medieval field systems.

Whilst Lancaster and other towns are on theedges of the Drumlin Field the landscape isgenerally rural. The landscape is generally ruralwith isolated historic farms, hamlets andvillages linked by winding lanes. Neverthelessimportant transport routes including roadsand railways and in one area the Leeds andLiverpool canal traverse the Drumlin Fields.The most obvious evidence of recent industryare the extensive limestone quarries ofNether and Over Kellet.


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CHARACTER AREAS - DRUMLIN FIELDDrumlin Fields occur inland, on higher land than the Low Coastal Drumlins. They are found on theedges of upland areas where the retreating ice sheets left moulded boulder clay deposits in their paths.


13a Gargrave This area of drumlins occurs to the east of Ribblesdale, at the far easternedge of the study area. It is a typical drumlin field consisting of largescale regular hillocks reaching over 200m AOD. Associated with thedrumlins is the localised feature of Salterford flats, a former glacial lake.Although the drumlins have been formed from boulder clay, the underlyinglimestone geology is evident in the stone walls and local stone buildingswhich punctuate the scenery. Major communication routes cross the area.The A65(T) and A59(T) cut across the landscape, bearing no relation tothe grain of the drumlins; they pass through on embankments and incuttings. The railway lines skirt around the edges of the area while theLeeds and Liverpool canal winds its way through the drumlins.The A56and a dismantled railway follow the valley of the Earby Beck fromFoulridge to Broughton. The line of the Roman road can be clearlydistinguished near Barnoldswick and Thornton-in-Craven along with theremains of a Roman fort at Burwen Castle.Whilst the settlement patternis dominated by farms, hamlets and villages, the small towns ofBarnoldswick and Earby also lie on the edge of this area.There are alarge number of designed landscapes in this area: Coniston Hall,Gledstone Hall, Hellifield Peel and Broughton Hall, which all enhancevisual amenity locally. There are long distance views from the highest hills.

13b Bentham-Clapham The drumlin field along the north-eastern boundary of the study area,between Kirkby Lonsdale and Giggleswick, follows the foot of the YorkshireDales. It therefore supports most of the infrastructure and settlement onthe edge of the Dales; the A65 and A687 are amongst these majorroutes.The Roman road can be traced running south from Over Town,close to the Roman fort at Over Burrow.This is a neat, well maintainedlandscape of grazed pasture divided by a network of stone walls andneatly clipped hedgerows. Some of the hills are up to almost 200m AOD;for example Newby Moor which shows signs of marginal pasture,moorland grasses and gritstone walls. Although the field occurs at arelatively high altitude the individual drumlin forms are not alwayspronounced due to partial drowning of the drumlin field, particularly closeto the Lune. The river courses of the Leck, Greta and Wenning wind theirway through the peaceful drumlins; camping and caravan site arescattered along the banks of these picturesque wooded rivers. Scatteredstone farmsteads with slate or grit stone roofs and the traditionallimestone or gritstone villages of Clapham, Newby, Ingleton and Burton inLonsdale are characteristic of the area.

13c Docker-Kellet- This drumlin field has a distinctive north-east, south-west grain and runsLancaster from the edge of Lancaster northwards into Cumbria. The area is

underlain by limestone and is distinguished by large scale undulating hills of pasture, some formed from glacial till and others which are outcrops of limestone, or reef knolls. These are particularly evident around Over and Nether Kellet where the limestone is exposed; significantly by the extensive quarries where limestone extraction is ongoing. The smooth rolling scenery is emphasised by the network of stone walls. Greater variety of texture is provided by the isolated areas of moorland which protrude from the field, for example at Docker Moor, and the River Lune


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which cuts a gorge through the hills at Halton. This gorge provides a major transport route through the hills with a number of parking, picnic and camping sites scattered along its length. Woodlands are often associated with designed landscapes and built development takes advantage of views from the hill tops, for example the Ashton Memorial on the edge of Lancaster which sits atop a drumlin and is a landmark for miles around. The drumlins create a setting for the city of Lancaster and its university.


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14a

14b

14

ROLLING UPLANDFARMLAND

Character Areas

14a Slaidburn-Giggleswick

14b Lothersdale and Cringles

Landscape CharacterThe combination of carboniferous mountainlimestone and Millstone Grit has created asoft, rolling pastoral landscape which appearsverdant in views to the muted hues of theMoorland Hills. Prominent knolls andlimestone outcrops on the exposed hill slopesprovide a sharp contrast to the gentler rollingform of the grazed hills. Moorland grassescover the higher summits and there arestunted hawthorns and gorse on roadsidesand the steeper hillsides. The winding, narrowroads are often bounded by stone walls, givinga sense of enclosure and obscuring views.Beech stands are features of the steeper rockyslopes and outcrops and are often enclosed bya rounded boundary wall. Scattered isolatedstone farmsteads with stone barns are thedominant building type, although smallclustered stone villages occur on south facingslopes and there are some small linearsettlements. Development is always confinedby the steep topography. The Rolling UplandFarmlands are favoured sites for reservoirs,wind turbines, forestry plantations andquarries. Typical view - photo 29 below.


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Physical InfluencesThe combined presence of Millstone Grit andlimestone has created a gentle landscape ofrolling hills. This is further softened by theeffects of glacial gravel and clay deposits, whichin places have been eroded to expose rockyoutcrops. The underlying geology is alsoexposed by the materials used in boundarywalls and in farm buildings.

The Rolling Upland Farmland is undulating incharacter ; the majority of streams beingconfined to areas where Millstone Grit isdominant. The most important habitats arethe freshwater streams and unenclosedmoorlands, such as Glusburn and Elslack. Treesare common as individual and linear featuresthroughout the landscape and provide localhabitats and wildlife corridors. Occasionalancient woodlands survive and constitute animportant ecological resource.

Despite modern agricultural practices someisolated hay meadows and herb-rich pasturesof national importance have survived,particularly at Lothersdale and east ofSlaidburn. Plantations, notably Gisburn Forest,which are fenced to exclude grazing, attractsmall mammals to the dense understorey andbirds of prey such as kestrel, and the shorteared owl. Due to a dense canopy, the moremature woods support fewer mammals,although species such as gold crest, coal tit,siskin, and rarely black grouse are all found inthe plantations. Forest rides provide habitatfor a number of uncommon plant species.

Human InfluencesSmall groups of round cairns are found inLothersdale and Cringles in elevated positionsand are evidence of early occupation.

The modern landscape is shaped by years ofsheep grazing. Stone farmsteads, many ofwhich are located next to streams, andboundary walls, illustrate the proximity of theunderlying rocks. The boundaries representwhat appears to be Parliamentary enclosureof once marginal land.

Roads are narrow and winding, traversing theareas to link dispersed settlements.

Reservoirs at Stocks, Elslack and Chelkerreflect the demands of the rapidly expanding

urban populations in industrial centres duringthe Victorian period.


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CHARACTER AREAS –ROLLING UPLAND FARMLANDRolling Upland Farmland occurs throughout the study area where limestone is found in combinationwith millstone grit, producing a large scale rolling farmed landscape.


14a Slaidburn - A large area of upland hills underlain by limestone, between the BowlandGiggleswick Fells to the west and the Ribble Valley to the east.The hills are drained by

a series of narrow wooded becks which flow into the Hodder and the Ribble. This is a particularly rural area of intensively farmed land; regular large scale pastures are divided by a continuous network of dry stone walls. The landform becomes more convoluted towards the east, where the topography is influenced by glacial till. Pasture is marginal in the highest areas and there are a number of farms sharing their name with the moors they graze. Rocky limestone knolls, which often support stands of beech, are an important feature of the landscape as they provide texture and reference points in an otherwise open rolling landscape.Roads are winding and closely bordered on each side by dry stone walls,which themselves shelter stunted hawthorns and oaks. A large number of scattered stone farmsteads are located at the end of farm tracks where farm buildings are generally tightly grouped around the house. There are few pressures for built development in this rural area, although the landscape around the Stocks Reservoir has been dramatically influenced by the large area of open water and the plantation which surrounds it,known as Gisburn Forest.

14b Lothersdale and The combination of limestone with Millstone Grit has created a soft Cringles landscape of rolling hills. The land is divided into a patchwork of improved

pastures by stone walls, characteristically lighter than those of the gritstoneareas, and punctuated by small stands of trees. Moorland is confined to the higher rounded summits where it is more extensive than in the other character areas, for example Elslack Moor and Skipton Moor.Trees are conspicuous in the landscape and produce strong patterns on the hillsides where they fill cloughs and steep crevices associated with the becks whichdrain them. Round cairns are found on Elslack Moor and Low Bradley Moor. Settlements are infrequent and the majority of the population is concentrated in the scattered farmsteads. This character area includes a quarry, reservoir, conifer plantations, communication masts and a wind farm, which are conspicuous in an otherwise rural and pastoral landscape.


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15a

15b15c

15d

15e

15f

15

COASTAL PLAIN

Character Areas

15a Ormskirk-Lathom-Rufford

15b Longton-Bretherton

15c Croston-Mawdesley

15d The Fylde

15e Forton-Garstang-Catterall

15f Knott End-Pilling

Landscape CharacterGenerally below 50m, this landscape type ischaracterised by gently undulating or flatlowland farmland divided by ditches in WestLancashire and by low clipped hedgeselsewhere. The Fylde landscape in particular ischaracterised by a high density of small marlpit field ponds. Many hedgerows have beenremoved to give very large fields, open roadverges and long views. Although woodlandcover is generally very low, these views arepunctuated by small deciduous secondarywoodlands, mostly in the form of shelter beltsor estate plantations; they provide a backdropto views. The history of the area as an arablelandscape is reflected in the farm buildings,particularly the highly distinctive red brickbarns with brickwork detailing. Settlement isrelatively dense in this lowland landscape;clustered red brick farm buildings, hamlets,rural villages and historic towns are all present.Older farm sites and red brick barns are oftensurrounded by recent development and themany converted barns now providecharacterful homes. There is a denseinfrastructure network; meandering roadsconnect the farms and villages while majorroads and motorways provide a fast routeacross the landscape, linking major towns.Typical view - photo 30 below.


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Physical InfluencesGlacial and post-glacial deposits of clays, sandsand marine alluvium have completely maskedthe solid geology of mudstones andsandstones. However, the drift is relatively thinbetween Scarisbrick and Skelmersdale,exposing a broad band of sandstone. Thelandscape is therefore strongly influenced bythe surface drift which constitutes boulder clay,penetrated by pockets of glacial sand andgravel and deposits of post-glacial blown sandwhich form distinctive landscape features. Thelandscape is gently rolling, and, until recently,peat accumulated in low-lying areas within theglacial till to form mosses which have largelybeen reclaimed for agriculture.

The land is highly productive and has a verylow proportion of semi natural vegetation.Wildlife habitats are therefore typically smallscale and fragmented. Ancient woodland israre, although estate plantations offerimportant refuges for many species of floraand fauna. Carr House Green Common nearInskip is a mosaic of semi natural grasslandsand scrub and a Biological Heritage Site. It is arare survival of a Fylde landscape little changedfrom the 19th century.

Species-rich meadow or pasture is almostentirely restricted to small areas of secondarycolonisation along man made features such asroads and railways although arable weeds suchas corn marigold and poppy still persist locally.The nationally rare purple ramping fumitoryoccurs in a few places. Flooded marl pitswhich are an integral part of the agriculturallandscape together with more occasional brickclay working s and subsidence pools are oftenrich in species diversity, for example LongtonBrick Pits.

In places, low boulder clay banks mark theedge of the coastal plain and represent theboundary with either inland marsh and mereas at Holmeswood near Rufford, or withformer coastal marsh before reclamation.These banks often support remnant semi-natural vegetation such as relict ancientwoodland, species-rich grassland and scrub.

Human InfluencesEvidence of early inhabitants of the area hasbeen found in areas which were at the fringesof the ice sheets. The best example is atPoulton-le-Fylde, a skeleton of an elk wasdiscovered which displayed evidence ofhunting.

Environmental remains, such as pollenevidence from the lake muds and peats of theLancashire mosses, confirm that vegetationcover was extensively altered by the arrival ofNeolithic farmers, with deliberate destructionof the forests to make way for farming andsettlements. In the mosses of the Fylde and tothe south of the Ribble, where conditions areright for the preservation of organic materials,there is evidence that people visited andutilized the landscape from a timber trackwayand stone and bronze implements. There islikely to have been settlement on higherground fringing the mosslands.There isevidence at Pilling of Neolithic and Bronze Agesettlement and at Kirkham there is an earlyRoman fort.

Population increased during the 12th to 13thcenturies, along with changes to agriculturalsystems. There was a rapid extension ofpasture to supply wool for the growing Englishand Continental markets. The regularity ofstreet plans in many settlements of the periodsuggests the planned rebuilding or extensionof some villages as a result of populationpressure. Elsewhere settlement remained asisolated hamlets and farmsteads. Thistraditional settlement pattern is still evident inthe landscape today between Parbold andMawdesley. Older settlements are generallylocated on higher, free draining deposits andare typically brick built.

However the plain remained largelyunpopulated until the early 16th century, whenpressures on available land forced furtherimprovements and reclamation of mosslands.This occurred across the landscape and atOrmskirk and Burscough some of the bestagricultural land in the country was created.Market gardening became important to thelocal economy. Improvement also occurredon sandy soils where marl was added to thesoil.

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a featureand created important links to the cities for


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the export of produce and the import ofmanure and ash for fertilisers. The flattopography and strong prevailing winds havehistorically provided good conditions for windpower.Wind pumping mills aided the drainageof the landscape and windmills were used forgrinding grain. These features still exist andcan be found near Martin Mere and Pilling.

Important local industries from the earlymodern period include the widespread clayextraction for brick making and also the exploitation of salt from the brine wells to thewest of Pilling. These have resulted insignificant flooded quarries and subsidencepools respectively.


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CHARACTER AREAS - COASTAL PLAINThe Coastal Plain landscape type occurs in six distinct areas, all within the lowland landscapes ofwestern Lancashire.


15a Ormskirk-Lathom- The undulating lowland farmland around Ormskirk is characterised by Rufford large fields and red brick built farms which reflect the arable agriculture

typical of the area. Old red brick barns with diamond shaped detailing onthe end walls are particularly characteristic of the area; many can be seen scattered amongst the residential streets of newer settlements.There are a number of designed landscapes associated with large houses,such as Rufford Old and New Halls, Scarisbrick Hall, Lathom Hall, Blythe Hall and Moor Hall, which provides some enclosure to an otherwise open landscape. This area is relatively elevated and there are some long views over the adjacent flat mosslands. The area has good conditions for wind power and wind powered corn mills, now disused or converted to private residences, are a feature of this landscape character area.

15b Longton-Bretherton The Longton landscape character area lies close to the south-westernurban fringes of Preston. The proximity to a large urban centre hasinfluenced landscape character. The network of minor lanes is dominatedby dense ribbon development and the A 59(T), now a dual carriageway,links the former villages of Hutton, Longton,Walmer Bridge and MuchHoole. Red brick is the dominant built material in these areas. Theagricultural landscape is influenced by urban fringe elements such asschools, colleges, nurseries, glass houses, hotels, horse paddocks,communication masts and electricity pylons; the network of hedgerowsand hedgerow oaks is gradually being eroded by these uses.The village ofBretherton has remained separate and therefore displays a moretraditional character; a former windmill lies on its western edge.

15c Croston- The sandstone which underlies this character area exerts a strong Mawdesley influence over the landscape; it is a gently undulating agricultural

landscape with steep sided shallow valleys and hedged fields which support rich pasture or arable crops. The landscape is relatively well wooded, with small farm woods and wooded valleys, for example at Yarrow Valley Park. Field hedges are notable for their hedgerow oaks and high proportion of holly. Country halls, moated farms and designed landscapes provide historic and cultural links. Red brick is used throughout the area; the subdued tones of the older brick houses and farmsteads are well integrated within the landscape. Villages are traditionally clustered, but show signs of rapid expansion with ribbon development. New housing on the outskirts of settlements, which is often built of imported bricks, creates a harsh edge to villages when viewed from the surrounding countryside.Where screen planting is attempted it often incorporates alien plant species, which further urbanises the


attractive rural setting. In addition to its historic rural agricultural land use,the landscape has more recently been influenced by urban fringe activities such as nurseries, schools, camp sites, hotels, equestrian centres,golf courses, traffic and built development, which indicate its proximity to the western edge of Chorley. Urbanising influences such as kerbs and lighting are increasingly evident on major roads.

15d The Fylde The gently undulating farmland of the Fylde occurs between Blackpool tothe west and Preston and the M6 corridor to the east. It has beenformed of boulder clay deposits which lie on soft Triassic sandstones andmudstones and is naturally poorly drained. Field ponds are a particularlycharacteristic feature of this area and provide important wildlife habitats.The predominant land use is dairy farming on improved pasture andlowland sheep farming with a small amount of arable on the freerdraining soils. Red brick nineteenth century two storey farmsteads withslate roofs and red brick barns are dominant built features of thislandscape character area; occasional windmills also reflect the historicimportance of the area for corn milling. Other features of the area are thebrine fields around Stalmine which have been reclaimed by ICI and form arare and distinctive land use. Field size is large and field boundaries arelow clipped hawthorn, although hedgerow loss is extensive. Blocks ofwoodland are characteristic, frequently planted for shelter and/or shootingand views of the Bowland fells are frequent between the blocks. There aremany man-made elements; electricity pylons, communication masts androad traffic are all highly visible in the flat landscape. In addition, views ofBlackpool Tower, the Pleasure Beach rides and industry outside Blackpoolare visible on a clear day.

15e Forton-Garstang- This area of lowland farmland forms a transition between the fringes of Catterall the Bowland Fells and the lowland raised bog of Winnmarleigh. A

geological fault runs along the eastern boundary of the area and,although the motorway and railway broadly follow this line, the transition between the Millstone Grits to the east and the sandstones to the west ismasked by glacial deposits and river alluvial fans which produce a gently undulating landscape. The area is a rural farmed landscape dominated byimproved pasture and scattered with historic halls, farms and woodland. Anetwork of lanes link the villages of Cockerham, Forton, Garstang and Catterall, although the A6 provides a fast route along the length of the character area. Garstang and Catterall have seen a particularly large amount of urban development and this area is affected by urban fringe activities such as golf courses, hotels and schools which have eroded the rural character of the landscape. The area forms a sudden edge with the mosslands at Winmarleigh; stone built houses on this higher land overlook the moss.

15f Knott End- The coastal plain around Pilling is an intensely farmed, settled landscapePilling with a post medieval enclosure pattern. There are many hedgerows, some

ancient in origin, and trees shelter scattered farmsteads. The farmsteads and villages are linked by a network of raised lanes and stone bridges connect farms to roads. A large amount of infill development at Stake Pool, Pilling and Knott End-on-Sea contributes an array of more modern building styles and materials. Pumped drainage continues to allow the land to support some arable crops.


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16a

16b

16c

16d

16e

16f

16g

16

MOSSLANDS

Character Areas

16a North Fylde Mosses

16b South Fylde Mosses

16c Martin Mere and South West Mosses

16d Skelmersdale Mosses

16e Tarleton Mosses

16f Heysham Moss

16g Hoole and Farington Mosses

Landscape CharacterThe Mosslands are an extremely flat, low lyinglandscape comprised of peat deposits whichwere formerly an extensive series of lowlandraised mires. These are now largely reclaimedand managed for particularly intensive cropproduction, including market gardening and toa lesser extent, dairying. Fields are typicallylarge in size and geometric in shape, definedby straight drainage ditches and post and wirefences. Hawthorn hedgerows are restricted tothe straight, narrow roads which cross themosslands and shelter belts, often of poplar orScot’s pine, are visible on the horizon. Thereare extremely long views across this openlandscape and vertical elements, such aselectricity pylons, are particularly visible. Olderbuildings and small, loose-knit linear villages aresited on low sand and gravel or boulder clayridges on the edges of the peat. The lack oflighting and kerbs maintains a rural character,although a variety of modern building stylesand materials are evident. Typical view - photo31 below.


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Physical InfluencesThe Mosslands are underlain by soft Triassicmudstones and sandstones, but the solidgeology is deeply buried by glacial and otherdrift deposits. Small scale glacial features areevident, for example Marton Mere SSSI(Blackpool), was formed by water filling aglacial kettle hole formed over 14,000 yearsago. Low lying peat mosses have formed overlarge areas of the low lying surface till which,until drained, combined with large open areasof water (principally Martin Mere,WestLancashire) to create an incredibly richecological resource.

The intensive drainage and farming of themosslands means there is little semi-naturalhabitat left except for fragmented small areasof remnant carr woodland, natural watercourses and some of the semi-improvedgrassland. The network of drainage ditchesand channels are also of great value to wildlife.Winmarleigh Moss and Heysham Moss aredesignated as SSSIs and are the best examplesof the few remaining uncultivated peatmosslands. Habitats here include dry heathover deep peat, mires over active sphagnummoss, birch scrub and woodland. Togetherthey support rare insect species including thelarge heath butterfly and bush cricket. MartinMere is a (Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust)reserve developed on part of the site of theoriginal drained mere. It is now a wildfowlreserve of international value.

Farmland too is of wildlife importance asgeese, swans and waders roost and feed onarable fields and pastures during the wintermonths.

Human InfluencesThe landscape is almost entirely a result ofdrainage from the medieval period however itis likely that incursions by all societies from theMesolithic onwards, hunted and gathered foodfrom the rich habitats of the Mosslands.Evidence of such activity awaits discovery inthe peats of the drained mosses.

Drainage of the mosses and coastal marshesbecame an important feature of estatemanagement from the early 17th century,aided by the use of windmills for pumping.New watercourses were dug, fields were

drained and small settlements and isolatedbrick built farms housed the largely agriculturalcommunities. The most spectacular projectwas the draining of Martin Mere, begun inearnest in 1694, and completed in the 1850s,when steam pumps were available to facilitatethe process. The landscape around TarletonMoss retains much of the original network ofsmall rectangular fields, bounded by drainageditches.

Later drainage and agricultural use of the mossis evident in the larger, more geometricarrangement of fields, roads and farms east ofSouthport. Settlements on the sand andgravel or boulder clay ridges, such as Sollomand Becconsall, are potentially very importantarchaeologically as they represent the areaswhich were historically more congenial forland use and settlement on the fringes of themossland.


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Photo 32. Glasshouses near Banks.

CHARACTER AREAS - MOSSLANDSThe Mosslands landscape type occurs throughout the lowlands, in the west of the study area, andcoincides with the distribution of lowland peat.


16a North Fylde This landscape character area, located within the Fylde, includes Pilling,Mosses Cockerham,Winmarleigh, Rawcliffe and Stalmine Mosses. Winmarleigh

Moss is the largest surviving area of uncultivated peat mossland in the county. The reclaimed mosses are devoid of development, but the low islands surrounding the mosses support a network of minor lanes and modern houses. Dead end raised tracks run from the farmsteads into themosses, where the dominant land use is improved pasture for dairy herds.The principal building material is red brick and modern styles and materials are common. The fields are large and some shelter belts of Scot’s pine and beech together with occasional birch copses on dried out peat, give a sense of a well wooded horizon. Raised roads are hedged and bordered by ditches. Vertical elements such as telegraph poles and pylons are prominent in this landscape and there are distant views to Blackpool Tower, the Pleasure Beach rides and industrial development on the outskirts of Blackpool. Geese and over-wintering birds use pastures forwinter feeding.

16b South Fylde Lytham Moss, on the eastern edges of Lytham St Anne’s and Blackpool,Mosses is influenced by the proximity of these urban areas. It is typical of a

mossland landscape in its underlying geology, landform, drainage and land use. The rows pylons which run from east to west across the landscape toBlackpool dominate the horizon however trees in small copses and shelterbelts are more pleasing vertical elements and help provide a backdrop and sense of scale in the landscape. Just north of Lytham,Lytham Hall is an important and established landscape feature as the 18th century landscaped grounds contain many trees. The proximity of Blackpool and Lytham is influential and the presence of golf courses,camp sites, new built development and industry erode the rural and tranquil character usually associated with this landscape type. Marton Mere, located two miles to the east of Blackpool, is a SSSI which provides an attractive habitat for water birds and 35 species are known to use the mere as a breeding site.

16c Martin Mere and This landscape character area occurs in pockets on the West Lancashire South West Plain, consistent with the deposits of peat. It is a relatively new Mosses landscape, being more recently drained than the Tarleton Mosses to the

north. The area is confined by the urban form of Southport to the west and to the east and south by the Coastal Plain of Ormskirk and Chorley.It is an arable landscape of large geometric fields, geometric woodlands and small villages. Although there is much modern built development,there is important evidence of pre-drainage occupation.This occupation,along with the windmill and pumping sites, are important archaeological and historical sites.The dominant built material is red brick. There are several wetlands and meres which are of great importance ecologically;Martin Mere is a popular visitor attraction for bird watching and the area is an important winter feeding ground for over-wintering birds.

16d Skelmersdale The reclaimed mosslands south of Skelmersdale occur between 30 and Mosses 70m AOD. They have been largely reclaimed for farming and have

become an intensively farmed arable landscape interspersed with a


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number of small geometric woodlands. Although some sites of historic interest remain, the area has been overlain by recent enclosure and heavily influenced by new built development and also electricity pylons.Simonswood Hall and the medieval deer park represent historic settlement of the boulder clay mossland periphery. Small scale peat extraction continues in this character area today.

16e Tarleton Mosses This distinctive area of reclaimed moss, located to the north-east ofSouthport, is distinguished by its dense settlement and abundance of glasshouses. It is defined to the north by the more recently enclosed Ribbleestuary coastal plain and to the south by the A565(T). It is a highlyproductive area of market gardening; green houses indicate intensivemarket gardening and exploitation of the rich peat deposits. Builtdevelopment is dominated by modern bungalows which have extendedalong banked roads between the older settlements of Tarleton, Banks andBecconsall. These older settlements are located on low ridges and containevidence of a long settled history. Further from the smallholdings andgreen houses are arable fields separated by ditches and fences. Shelterbelts are important to local wildlife, as are the roadside hedges, whichcontain views from the narrow roads into the flat surrounding landscape.

16f Heysham Moss Located between the built up areas of Lancaster to the east andHeysham to the west only a small part of Heysham Moss is nowuncultivated. It is largely a pastoral landscape where fields are drained bystraight ditches and divided by post and wire fencing, resulting an openand expansive landscape. Electricity pylons, associated with the nearbyHeysham Power Station, are particularly noticeable as they cross themoss. The A683 between Lancaster and Heysham also crosses the moss,bringing traffic movement into the open landscape.The proximity of thecity of Lancaster influences the character of the mossland in the north ofthe character area where trading estates, residential estates and caravanparks spill out onto the mosslands, obscuring the landscape pattern anderoding the rural nature of the landscape.

16g Hoole and This small area of mossland is almost entirely fringed by settlements Farington Mosses lying on the higher ground above the moss. The town of Leyland lies to

the east, whilst to the north are a series of expanded villages running fromFarington in the east to Much Hoole in the west. The small village of Bretherton lies on a ridge of higher ground to the south west. The moss islargely cultivated and is drained into the Carr and Wynott Brooks which feed into the River Douglas. However there is a pocket of moss with remnant bog vegetation at Much Hoole Moss, which is a Biological Heritage Site. The Liverpool to Preston railway crosses the moss and straight lanes penetrate into it from the edges, with associated farms and modern brick houses. A number of footpaths associated with boundary ditches link these lanes and properties.


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17a

17b

17

ENCLOSED COASTAL

MARSH

Character Areas

17a Clifton and Hutton Marsh

17b Cockerham Coast

Landscape CharacterThe Enclosed Coastal Marshes are flat,expansive tracts of coastal land which havebeen recently reclaimed by drainage. The landis divided into large square fields surroundedby drainage ditches and post and wire fencesor low clipped thorn hedgerows. Improvedpasture predominates and is used for cattle orsheep grazing, although arable crops grow inwell drained areas. The ordered enclosedmarsh is sharply demarcated from the opencoastal marshlands by sea dykes where gorseand other scrub is often conspicuous. Treesare generally very scarce, allowing long viewsacross the landscape to distant factories, hills,farm buildings, pylons and tree silhouettes onthe horizon. Settlement is modern andrestricted to dispersed red brick farmsteads.There is a major landfill site at Clifton, withongoing phased restoration. Agriculturalimprovement has tended to reduce theecological value of these areas, although theditches and some of the former salt marshcreeks provide important wetland habitats andthe enclosed marsh provides a feeding groundfor geese, swans and other over-winteringbirds. Where agriculture is less intense areasof wetland support a rich wildlife. Typical view- photo 33 below.


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Physical Influences The Enclosed Coastal Marsh is characterisedby marine alluvium, formed recently ingeological terms, and masking the underlyingsandstones and mudstones.

The flat landscapes of the Enclosed CoastalMarsh are enclosed and defined by man-madeearth bunds. Agricultural improvement throughdrainage, fertilising and reseeding limitsecological interest mainly to hedges andditches. Coastal fields, protected by banks,such as those around Pilling, are attractiveareas to over wintering roosts and feedingsites for wildfowl. Fields which have notundergone dramatic agricultural improvementprovide grazing and nesting sites for coastalbirds, for example Newton and FreckletonMarshes.

Human Influences Although it is likely that the Enclosed CoastalMarsh was exploited from the earliest timesfor its resources, today’s landscape is a resultof modern large scale drainage and theenclosure of marshland. Habitation dates fromthe late 19th to 20th centuries and is evidentin the predominance of modern brick builtfarms.


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CHARACTER AREAS - ENCLOSED COASTAL MARSHEnclosed Coastal Marsh occurs in two distinct areas, adjacent to the open salt marshes of the shelteredwaters of the west coast of Lancashire.


17a Clifton and Reclaimed and relatively recently enclosed marsh, located to the west of Hutton Marsh Preston, separated from the unenclosed salt marshes of the Ribble Estuary

by sea dykes. Large geometric pastoral and arable fields are drained by numerous parallel ditches which produce a regimented, productive landscape. Fields are bounded by low clipped thorn hedgerows and tree cover is restricted to narrow linear plantations which function as shelter belts. There is a feeling of isolation with straight dead-end tracks ending at isolated farm houses which are constructed from a mixture of materials, but red brick is the most common.Where seas defences allow some inundation, and where agricultural practices are not intensive, areas of wet marsh exist alongside intensive agriculture, for example at Newton,Freckleton and Lea Marsh which are attractive to birdlife. The grasslands are of international importance for feeding wild geese and swans. A large landfill site is located at Clifton Marsh.

17b Cockerham Coast The enclosed salt marsh which backs the Cockerham Sands is anextremely open, exposed landscape of large geometric grazed fieldsdrained by dykes. It is a relatively new landscape reclaimed from marshand as a result there is no settlement, although large farm buildings ofmodern styles and materials are scattered along the A588, which formsthe southern boundary of the character area. Hedgerows are almostentirely absent and post and wire or wooden post and rail fences providestock-proof field boundaries. The distinct lack of vegetation cover allowsextremely long views to the coastal edge. The lack of vegetation alsomeans little shelter from sea breezes and an exposed coastal character.The bird life in this area is a feature of the landscape; fields of geese, andskies of seagulls provide dynamic scenery, whilst the fields are alsoimportant for roosting and feeding wading birds.

18a

18b

18c

18d

18e

18

OPEN COASTAL

MARSH

Character Areas

18a Ribble Marshes

18b Hest Bank-Silverdale Marshes

18c Wyre Marshes

18d Lune Marshes

18e Pilling and Cockerham Marshes

Landscape CharacterSalt marshes and intertidal flats occur aroundthe sheltered waters of the west coast ofLancashire and extend to the low water mark.The Open Coastal Marshes are flat, expansivecoastal areas formed on marine alluvium. Theyare separated from the Enclosed CoastalMarshes and coastal farmland by man-madesea dykes and in places by boulder clay andlimestone cliffs. The simplicity of the landscapepattern is visually appealing: usually the finesward surface is closely grazed and is etchedby a maze of creeks and channels which givestexture to the flat, expansive landscape. Themarshes are open, except for occasionalpatches of scrub just beyond the high watermark, whilst the few marshes which areungrazed are a riot of colour in high summer.There is a striking absence of settlement orman-made features. This sense of remotenessis a dramatic contrast to the surrounding man-made landscapes. Another notable feature isthe prolific bird life which brings movement tothe landscape and provides a changing scene.Typical view - photo 34 below.


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Physical InfluencesAreas of saltmarsh and mudflats, which includeareas of sandy shingle occur in the shelteredwaters around estuaries and rise almostimperceptibly from the high tide level wherethey are often marked by low erosion cliffs ofboulder clay and at Silverdale, of limestone.Most of the marshes are enclosed by manmade sea dykes.

The saltmarshes are constantly changing.Thereis accretion by sediments at high tides andriver channels continuously cut new courses.The seaward edge is characterised by a systemof dendritic creeks and erosion cliff tops andthere are a series of terraces within themarshes. Creek migrations and sections ofcreek can be cut off leaving isolated sectionsof water known as pans or ‘floshes’.

Ecologically the salt marshes and mud flats areinternationally important for their vegetation,as roosting and feeding grounds for tens ofthousands of wildfowl and wading birds,including geese swans and ducks. Manyspecies come from as far afield as Canada andGreenland. The seaward edges arecharacterised by pioneer species such asglasswort and seablite, whilst middle reachesare dominated by common salt marsh grasswith herbs such as scurvy grass, sea thrift andsea lavender-depending whether they aregrazed or not. Transitions to fresh watermarsh and dry land have been truncated byreclamation, but are marked by other speciesonly slightly tolerant of salt water andoccasionally by brackish pools.

A small area of sand dunes is found at PottsCorner south of Heysham and is important asit supports dune vegetation not foundelsewhere on this section of coast (Knott End-Silverdale).

Some of the Wyre marshes such as Barnaby’sSands Marsh and Burrows Marsh remainungrazed and are particularly important fortheir floral diversity. The open coastal marshesof the Ribble estuary are part of a majorprotected landscape and constitute one of thelargest areas of salt marsh in Great Britain.

Human InfluencesThe rich resources of the coastal marsheshave been exploited since the earliest times bymigratory peoples or societies settling on thedrier and more stable areas inland. Huntingwild game, collecting shrimps, cockles andmussels, or grazing animals on the drierlandward edges all would have given greatrewards.

Grazing rights on the marshes ensure that thesaltmarshes have long been an importantcomponent of the local economy. The salt -marshes to the south of Silverdale aremanaged by common grazing of sheep andcattle and in some areas turf cutting has takenplace to supply ornamental and bowling greenindustries. Tracks across the marsh lead tolanding jetties, fisheries and historic saltworking sites.

CHARACTER AREAS - OPENCOASTAL MARSHThe Open Coastal Marsh landscape typeoccurs in five distinct areas around thesheltered waters of the west coast ofLancashire.


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18a Ribble Marshes An extensive and expanding area of unenclosed coastal marsh occurs inthe sheltered estuary of the River Ribble, most of which is protected andmanaged as a National Nature Reserve. This area is characterised by afine green sward stretching out to sea. Its amorphous, natural formprovides a dramatic contrast to the regular enclosures of the adjacentHesketh Marsh and the urban form of the Warton Aerodrome. Urbanbuildings are never far away and provide a backdrop to views. A largenumber of visiting birds are encouraged by the standing water. Largenumbers of waders and wildfowl are attracted to the marshes, adjacentmudflats and estuary.

18b Hest Bank-Silverdale These marshes are on a raised platform backed by cliffs of sand and clayfrom Hest Bank to Carnforth and by the steep limestone cliffs of theArnside and Silverdale wooded limestone hills further north. The frontedge of the platform is eroding significantly at the point where it meetsthe sea.The marshes are open areas of sea-washed turf, grazed by cattleand sheep, and patterned by narrow rills, winding muddy creeks andbrackish pools.Traditional turf cutting activities take place resulting in apatchwork of stripped and naturally regenerating areas on the southernhalf of the marsh.There are a number of access points to the marsh andit is visited by many people who walk, park and picnic upon the marsh.There is a recent landfill site on the edge of the marsh at Cote Stones, aswell as remnant slag heaps from the historic iron workings at Carnforth.

18c Wyre Marshes The Wyre Estuary provides a sheltered environment for the developmentof salt marsh.The proximity of the urban areas of Fleetwood andCleveleys to the west affects the character of this area both visually andphysically, whilst the east bank of the Wyre remains rural in aspect.Distinctive low boulder clay cliffs back the marshes in places and formlinear features along the estuary. The area is relatively inaccessible torecreational users, and the salt marsh has been reduced to the west byencroaching industrial development and landfilling at Fleetwood Unlikeother coastal marshes in Lancashire however the lack of grazing gives acolourful sward of sea lavender, sea aster and other herbs in summer.

18d Lune Marshes The sheltered mouth of the Lune Estuary supports an extensive saltmarshwhich stretches almost into the centre of Lancaster and provides adramatic contrast to the built environment of the city and its industrialedges.This area includes the important remnant sand dunes at PottsCorner.There are a number of footpaths, nature trails, cycle routes andviewpoints alongside the marsh which ensures that the area is well visitedand highly visible. This, and the area’s proximity to the centre of Lancastermeans the Lune Marshes are under pressure from visitors and fromdevelopment. This is evident from the reclamation of the marshesimmediately downstream of Lancaster.

18e Pilling and The intertidal salt marsh and sands of Preesall, Pilling and Cockerham Cockerham form the southern bank of the Lune Estuary. The open flats are Marshes separated from the mainland by recently reinforced sea dykes which

define the southern edge of the character area. The more exposed western end, by Knott End on Sea, is characterised by sand flats while the more sheltered eastern end of the character area is more typical of a salt marsh landscape.The sands and salt marshes are of international importance as a refuge for many pink-footed geese in late winter.


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19a

19a


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19

COASTAL DUNES

Character Areas

19a Fylde Coast Dunes

Landscape Character The Coastal Dunes occur between the seaand farmland or urban land which lies inland.The landform varies from the natural form ofthe hummocky dunes at St Anne’s to moremodified areas, some of which have beenlevelled and are now managed as amenitygrassland. The dunes are located in open andexposed sites with sea views and dominantskies. They comprise small remnants of a onceextensive system in a narrow discontinuousband sandwiched between the built coastaldevelopment and the sea wall or promenade.Their extent is determined and substantiallyreduced by the surrounding Victorian streets,car parks, tourist accommodation and golfcourses. The vegetation is dominated by semi-natural grassland which is sometimes grazed.Access is by a winding, undulating network ofminor paths or from the seafrontpromenades. Modern buildings and car parks,set within the dunes, are often linked totourism development and are incongruouselements against the wild scenery.

Typical view - photo 35 below.

Physical Influences Coastal Dunes were once extensive along theFylde coast, although holiday resortdevelopment has encroached and thelandscape type is now limited to shortstretches between Lytham and St. Anne’s andFleetwood The most important remnant isthe Starr Hills SSSI Local Nature Reserve at StAnne’s.

The dunes formed behind wide sandy beacheswhich dried out at low tide allowing sandgrains to be blown inland by the wind. Sanddunes show a characteristic sequence ofzonation which is determined by their positionin relation to the shore, mobility and age.Mobile or yellow dunes are succeeded inlandby a band of grey dunes which accumulateorganic matter. These fixed dunes are severelytruncated by development although remnantssurvive, for example at Lytham golf course.The mobile dunes are an important localrefuge for species such as marram grass, seabindweed, bloody crane’s - bill and burnetrose.

The grey dunes have a richer assemblage ofplants including sand sedge, sheep’s fescue,thyme, wild pansy and lady’s bedstraw,although the degraded and limited scale of thedunes limits the species diversity. Dune heathdominated by heather is restricted to Lythamgolf course.

Human Influences The dunes may cover evidence of ancienthabitation or trackways to the shoreline andthere is some evidence of historic humanactivity in the inter-tidal areas. The dunesthemselves show no signs of habitationalthough hunting or trapping of rabbits andother vertebrates may have occurred onthem.

In the past large quantities of sand wereextracted for built development. Erosion ofthe remaining areas has been accelerated byunmanaged recreational use. Only in the StarrHills Local Nature Reserve is there aprogramme of active management.

CHARACTER AREAS -COASTAL DUNESThe Fylde Coast Dunes are a series of smallremnants representing the Coastal Duneslandscape type in the study area.


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20a20

WOODED LIME-

STONE HILLS AND

PAVEMENTS

Character Areas

20a Arnside and Silverdale

Landscape CharacterThe Wooded Limestone Hills and Pavementsis a diverse, small scale landscape of rollinghills, species rich grassland and scrub, ancientwoodlands, rocky outcrops, limestonepavements, reed beds and pools and a smalleutrophic lake, Hawes Water. Some of theland is rough grazing, much of it tending torevert to scrub woodland: like the improvedpastures it is bounded by a network oflimestone walls. The woodlands areparticularly characteristic; ancient woodland,much of which has been formerly coppiced, isdominated by ash and hazel with oak, small-leaved lime and yew. Scattered clumps ofveteran trees in the secondary woodlandsindicate the presence of ancient woodpasture. The landscape is rich in visible historicfeatures including evidence of former industryand historic field patterns; lime kilns indicateburning of lime for a variety of uses.Abandoned limestone quarries are a featureand often provide valuable habitats forwildlife, or are used for recreational activities.The parkland landscape of Leighton Hall,including some mixed woodland also adds tothe variety of landscape elements within thearea. Typical view - photo 36 below.


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Physical InfluencesThe variety of landforms reflects theunderlying geology of Carboniferouslimestone. These rocks were depositedbeneath the warm shallow waters of anancient sea which subsequently becameuplifted to form limestone hills.

During the Quaternary, huge ice sheetsrepeatedly covered the area, sweeping awayoverlying soils and eroding weaker beds oflimestone. The grykes on limestonepavements have formed as the result ofsolution by mildly acidic rainfall. Permanentstreams are absent due to the permeability ofthe limestone. Soils are predominantly neutralto alkaline, although in some areas fine windblown loess creates patches of acidic soil.

The area supports a rich and diverse range ofnatural habitats, many associated withlimestone conditions. Unimproved calcareousgrasslands, scrub and woodland cover much ofthe hills and cliff tops. The flora and fauna isoutstandingly rich with many rare speciesincluding the Lancastrian whitebeam (Sorbuslancastriensis), which is entirely confined to thelimestones around Morecambe Bay. As

livestock grazing has diminished over the last50 years, secondary woodland has expandedconsiderably. Ash and birch species dominate,with oak and an understory typically of hazel,hawthorn and holly.

Scattered clumps of ‘veteran’ trees particularlyoak, elm and yew are important features andmay be remnants of ancient wood pasture.The principal areas of ancient woodland aredesignated as SSSIs; sites such asCringlebarrow and Deepdale, Eaves Wood andGait Barrows, are likely to represent trulyancient semi - natural woodland. They containa significantly higher proportion of sessile oaks,and in particular small leaved limes. A richwoodland ground flora is able to flourish dueto the light shade cast by the high proportionof ash, which has also led to importantcommunities of fungi, invertebrates andmammals such as roe, red and fallow deer.

The hill-top mosaic of semi-natural calcareousgrassland and limestone pavement outcropsprovides a rich range of habitats for insectsincluding butterflies such as the high brownfritillary, northern brown argus and duke ofburgundy fritillary. In summer wild flowerscarpet the limestone grasslands. Nationallyrare and scarce plants occur in the grassysward, and on the bare rocky scars andpavements.

Human InfluencesThe earliest evidence of human influence isfound in the limestone caves at the foot ofWarton Crag, although permanent habitationcannot be confirmed until the Neolithic.Pollen evidence and stone axes found atStorrs Moss indicate forest clearance andcultivation. Material discovered at WartonCrag provides evidence of ritual activity. Bythe Bronze Age, it is believed the area wasbeing intensively farmed as burial moundsindicate occupation by a settled population.

An Iron Age fort on the top of Warton Cragmay be indicative of the unsettled nature ofthe later prehistoric period.

Place name evidence suggests some Vikingsettlement, whilst other sites have Old Englishor Norman origins.The pattern of nucleatedlinear villages, is still evident in Yealand,Wartonand Hale. Settlements were associated with


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Photo 37. Limestone Pavement, Gait Barrows Nature Reserve.

communal ‘open fields’ of arable land andsurrounded by areas of common grazing andwaste. In some places 17th century enclosureretained the furlongs of the open fields. Incontrast to this farmed eastern fringe, the‘interior’ supported isolated farms andcommunal grazing. Woodlands were a fullyintegrated part of the local economy and theircharacter today reflects management practiceswhich originate in the medieval period.Almost all of the woodlands were managedfor foraging and pasture grazing for livestock,as a source of timber and by coppicing andpollarding to provide a ready source of youngwood or ‘poles’. The crop of young wood wasof great value to the local charcoal burningiron furnaces, to the local bobbin industry andfor manufacturers of a range of woodlandproducts such as swill baskets and hurdles.

19th century enclosure, apparently late forLancashire, and subsequent improvements ledto great changes in the landscape. Many smallquarries (mostly now abandoned) weredeveloped as commercial and privateenterprises by individual farmers, while otherswere owned communally and provided thebuilding materials required for a parish.Limestone was also roasted in local quarries,the principal ones being at Warton Crag andTrowbarrow, to produce limewash, mortar andplaster and fertiliser. Mines for copper andiron ore are also found in the area. Themines were usually shallow workings atlocations where the ore outcropped at thesurface, as on top of Cringlebarrow in YealandRedmayne.

Leighton Moss is an extensive area of wetlandwhich is composed of a mosaic of Phragmitesreed beds, open water, willow scrub and afringe of semi-improved pasture. This area wasdrained and used for agriculture, howeverpumping ceased after the first world war andit reverted back to wetland. It is now animportant bird reserve owned and managedby the RSPB. The chimney which was part ofthe pumping house still exists below WartonCrag.

CHARACTER AREAS -WOODED LIMESTONEHILLS AND PAVEMENTSArnside and Silverdale is the only landscapecharacter area in the study area in theWooded Limestone Hills and Pavementslandscape character type within the study area.It is found in the far north west of the countyand extends into Cumbria. This landscapecharacter area falls within the Arnside andSilverdale AONB.


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21a

21

LIMESTONE FELLS

Character Areas

21a Leck Fell

Landscape CharacterThe high Limestone Fells on the north easternedge of Lancashire geologically and scenicallyform part of the Askrigg Block in the YorkshireDales. Leck Fell, rising to 627m is the highestpoint in Lancashire.This landscape type ischaracterised by outstanding limestonescenery which provides important scientificinterest and visual appeal. The natural featuresare the result of erosion by glacier ice andsubsequent weathering which has produced adistinctive landscape of open moorland,rounded valleys, crags and hills. This type oflandscape is particularly well known for itslimestone formations such as scars, caves,gorges and limestone pavements. Thedominant land use of the high fells is grazingand the landscape of dry stone walls and fieldbarns reflects the farming traditions. Landcover is typically rough grassland and heathermoor although calcareous grassland is afeature of this upland landscape. Colours aregenerally muted, although the heather createsstriking seasonal effects. The mosaic of uplandhabitats are of significant nature conservationvalue and there is considerable evidence ofsettlement and land use since prehistorictimes, particularly in the form of place namesand field patterns. Typical view - photo 38below.


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Physical Influences The Limestone Fells lie on the Askrigg Block,part of the Pennine Fault Block. The pre-Carboniferous rocks which form the block areexposed only in deeply cut valleys. The blockis covered by Lower Carboniferous strata,comprising the Great Scar Limestone andsandstones and shales of the Yoredale Series.

These fells form steep sided, rounded hills withdeeply incised rounded valleys. The fells arecovered by shallow podzolised soils and peatgenerally covers higher summits (above400m).

This limestone scenery is characterised by thevirtual absence of surface drainage and anextensive subterranean drainage networkwhich has resulted in cave systems and sinkholes which provide geological andgeomorphological interest.

The landcover is typically heavily grazed openmoorland of rough grass and remnant patchesof heather with little or no tree cover. Thereis strong biological interest in the vegetationassociated with limestone pavements, cliffs,potholes and gorges. Plants of the limestonegorges include rigid buckler fern, limestonepolypody and mossy saxifrage, whilst acidrocky ground supports species such as fur clubmoss, hard fern and beech fern. The base-richflushes are important for pale forget-me-not,lesser club moss and pyrenean scurvy grass.The expanses of moorland support species ofupland wader such as curlew, snipe andredshank. Heather moorland adds colour inlate summer and is important for bilberry,cowberry and cloudberry. It also supportsmerlins and golden plovers. Leck Fell formspart of the Leck Beck Head Catchment AreaSSSI

Human Influences Traces of prehistoric and later activity can beseen across the fell sides. The higher, moreexposed land has probably been used forsummer pasture and hunting since prehistorictimes, but there is evidence of settlement onsuitable sites on the lower slopes. It seemsprobable that this represents the upper limitof extensive Neolithic to Romano-Britishsettlement, the best preserved area of which isat High Park, on the lower moorland fringe to

the north of Leck Beck. The pasturing ofanimals, along with changes in the climate inthe later Bronze Age, is likely to havecontributed to deforestation of the open fellsides and the development of hill peatdeposits. Place name evidence points tosignificant Norse settlement and it is likely thatthey continued to use the fells for hunting andpasture. By the medieval period a routewayhad been established over to Dentdale andrights of ‘Turbary’ – the cutting of peat or turffor fuel – are recorded. The present landscapeis dominated by long straight enclosure wallsof later 18th or 19th century date, allowingbetter management of the flocks of summer-pastured sheep. More recent landmanagement has concentrated on the heathermoorland for grouse shooting, but the leisureactivities of walking, climbing and potholinghave also had an impact.

CHARACTER AREAS - LIMESTONE FELLS This landscape character type occurs mainlyoutside Lancashire and is typical of theYorkshire Dales National Park. The countyboundary of Lancashire extends onto thesefells in just one place, at Leck Fell.


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4.

Lancashire’s Urban landscapetypesLancashire’s urban areas have grown rapidly inthe last three hundred years although manymay have origins deep in prehistory andphysical and human influences have combinedto dictate the siting and growth of settlements.Expansion, contraction, rebuilding anddemolition have all left traces of past activityand it is possible in many towns to plot theirdevelopment from evidence such as the typeand style of buildings and the spatialarrangements of streets, roads and openspaces.

4.1Historic Core (1100 to 1800)

4.1.1Urban Landscape CharacterToday the Historic Urban Core is typically a

relatively small, characterful area at the heartof Lancashire’s larger settlements. A historicchurch and market place are often sited at thecentral convergence point of the principalradial routes. Most Historic Urban Cores havea denser urban fabric than other parts of thetown, with tall red brick or stone buildings andangular streets. There is a general lack of openspace and vegetation, although market squaresdo survive in some towns. In some cases thehistoric core appears as an isolated islandwithin later development. This may result fromthe demolition and re-planning of towncentres, or from the fusion of isolated smalltowns by expansion of one or bothsettlements. Often the historic core is onlyvisibly represented by the street pattern andproperty boundaries. Apart from churchesand castles the earliest visible fabric are rare16th and 17th century buildings, but typicallythe oldest buildings of the historic core are18th or 19th century.

Overall, the most enduring feature of theHistoric Urban Cores is the organic, windingarrangement of streets and alleys and the


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Photo 39. Preston Flag Market.


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Figure 9: Urban LandscapeCharacter Types

distinctive character of historic publicbuildings.

4.1.2EvolutionIt was not until the 12th and 13th centuries

that many of the county’s existing settlementsexpanded and took on the administrativefunctions previously carried out by themanors. Often settlements expanded aroundthe markets which were held outside ancientand important churches. Although small bymodern standards, these towns exerted apowerful influence over the surroundingcountryside. A few towns in Lancashire, suchas Ormskirk, may have resulted fromdeliberate planning in the Norman period butthe majority developed in a piecemeal way.

By the end of the medieval period Lancashirehad a developing urban system. Many areaswere thinly populated, but industrialisation,long distance commerce and trade werebecoming increasingly important andprompted in the gradual growth of certainsettlements. Growth was often restricted bythe impacts of war, epidemics and economics -the urban poor of industrial towns were oftenovercrowded in densely-packed yards andbacklands which quickly degenerated intosqualid slum areas. The more prosperousinhabitants preferred to move to the relativepeace, quiet and cleanliness of the urbanfringe.

By 1700 large towns were extending everoutwards along main roads and the spacesbetween developments were being infilled bylandowners selling or leasing housing sites. It isinteresting to note that until the 17th centurymost urban buildings were timber framed,mirroring the black and white architectureevident today in Cheshire. During the secondhalf of the 17th century however thereplacement of timber by stone and brickhastened as a result of war time devastationand by accidental fires which were an everpresent danger. This resulted in the loss ofmany excellent pieces of Tudor architecture.Despite the preference for brick in manyareas, particularly in the west of Lancashire,stone was quite often used for theconstruction of churches and large publicbuildings. A few churches date back toNorman times, but most have been

substantially rebuilt, particularly in the 18th and19th centuries.

4.2Industrial Age (1800-1930)

4.2.1Urban Landscape CharacterThe planned development typical of Victorianand Edwardian residential areas ischaracterised by a unity of architecturalcharacter, with small red brick or stone builtterraces in working class districts and largerbrick or stone semi-detached villas in broad,tree-lined streets in areas dominated bymiddle class residents. The street pattern isrectilinear, on a regular grid. Prominent stonepublic buildings, built by wealthy patrons, largepublic parks, promenades and urban squaresare landmarks in central districts. This periodleft a legacy of attractive urban areas, with aformal character.

Within this urban landscape type, squares,parks and to a certain degree, urbancemeteries, contribute significantly to thequality of life enjoyed by residents andworkers. Many sites retain elements of theiroriginal design and planting; for some, however,neglect, vandalism and inadequatemanagement has created a rather utilitarianappearance.

4.2.2EvolutionThe industrialisation of Lancashire was anastonishing phenomenon, noticeable in thecountryside, but most dramatic in thedevelopment of the urban areas. The teemingsqualor and the awesome scale of commercewas a fascinating attraction to visitors fromaround the world. There was enormousdemographic change, with new industriesattracting workers from the surroundingcountryside on a scale not experiencedbefore.

Cotton textile manufacture was arguably themost important of Lancashire’s industries.During the early phases of industrialisation,there was a shift from domestic production tofactories. The Factory System, which operatedfrom the 1790s, involved the separation ofhome and work. It led to the construction ofmassive factory complexes adjacent to long


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rows of rented terraces of stone or brick andslate which ran along cobbled axial roads.They were built by speculators and millowners who were keen to keep close controlof the workforce. These early Factory Houseswere generally of poor quality; they werearranged back to back with no sanitation oryards. The Police Act of 1844 effectivelyended poor quality back to back housingprovision in Lancashire’s industrial towns andin the late 19th century the mill terracehousing was built to a higher standard. Forthis reason there are few (if any) examples ofback to back housing surviving in Lancashiretoday.

As a result of the Police Act,Victorian plannedhousing was often located along broad,drained streets. Most houses had four roomsand a privy/ashpit accessible by a back alley, orby ginnels between houses, for the removal ofrefuse. Despite a bleakly utilitarianappearance, standards were much higher thanin previous decades. In the west and south ofthe county houses were predominantly ofbrick, in parts of east Lancashire and inLancaster, houses tended to be built of stone.It was also during the mid 19th century thatthere was a real attempt to make proper

provision for clean water. This resulted in theconstruction of massive reservoirs in the gritstone hills surrounding the valley towns.

The improved standard of living of theworking classes and their relative affluencecreated a new fashion for taking vacations toescape the grime and toil by going to theseaside. Along the coast, resorts such asBlackpool, Morecambe and Lytham St Anne’sgrew rapidly during the Victorian period. Theywere designed to cater for the recreationalneeds of thousands of visitors, eager to spendtheir disposable income. The most well knownof these seaside resorts is Blackpool whererelatively haphazard and unplanned growthcontributed to its charm. The Winter Gardens(1878),Tower (1894), sea, beach piers andamusements catered for visitors needs andrailways were the principal means oftransporting thousands of holiday makers toand from their destination.

By the mid 19th century Lancashire hadsecured the great majority of the UK’s cottonoperatives and other industries were alsoshowing rapid growth and sophistication. Itwas during the Victorian and Edwardianperiods that the old traditions of a semi-rurallifestyle gave way to an acceptance of thedisciplines of living and working in large unitsof industrial and urban society. Urbanemployers were keen to enlist the goodwill oftheir workforce; municipal improvement usingpublic funding and private munificence was akey feature of the period. The emergentmiddle classes often held positions on localcouncils and they were also keen to expresstheir power and good will. These factorscombined to create a phase of urbantransformation.

Many towns initiated major schemes of publicworks, including the provision of water andsanitation and the passing of new laws settingimproved standards of housing. There werealso symbolic gestures, such as theconstruction of town halls, churches,universities, schools, hospitals libraries and artgalleries. The architecture involved oftenreflected the tastes and aspirations of thepatrons. A notable example is the GreekRevival Harris Museum and Library (1882-93)which dominates the Market Place in Preston.Public parks and urban squares are significantfeatures of the period. These resulted from a


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Photo 40. Backyards, Colne.

mixture of commercial enterprise, paternalism,civic pride and philanthropy. The naturalisticelements of their designs provided clean greenspaces for the deprived urban populations.Geometric elements offered an opportunityfor leisurely promenading and for civic displayand refinement.

Planned industrial housing usually took placeon land on the fringes of existing built upareas and in areas where earlier poor qualityhousing had been demolished. Public parksand municipal stone buildings were locatedtowards the centre of the towns and wouldhave required the demolition of earlierbuildings. On the edges of the towns, awayfrom the factories and workers’ areas, themiddle classes built themselves large familyhouses, arranged on airy, tree lined streets insuburbs. Suburban villas, quite often had largegardens, where the growing fashion forcollecting exotic plants could be indulged. Inthe rapidly expanding tourist towns, acombination of terraces and higher qualityhousing was designed to accommodateworkers, holiday makers, commuters andthose retiring to the coast. Such developmentusually took place on farmland as thesesettlements grew outwards from their historiccentres.

4.3Suburban (1930 onwards)

4.3.1Urban Landscape CharacterThis urban landscape type includes a widevariety of architectural styles and layouts. Themajority of urban areas are characterised by aspacious pattern of street, low buildings,garages and gardens, although there are alsoexamples of high-rise tower block estates, withcommunal amenity grassland and extensiveparking.

Early suburban housing (1930-40) is typicallysemi-detached, built of brick and arranged increscents and wide streets with large front andrear gardens. This type of older suburbanhousing often forms ribbon developmentalong principal urban routes, with access tomore recent housing estates behind. 1950s to60s estates tend to have predominantlystraight streets with some cul-de-sacs and withgardens and garages. Since the 1970s, housingdevelopment has been concentrated inrelatively dense estates with cul-de-sac layouts,curved streets, small gardens and garages andare often a mixture of many different styles,frequently pastiches of old styles.


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Photo 41. Suburbs, south Lancaster.

The use of many different materials, usuallynot of local origin and standardisedarchitectural detailing of particular styles hasresulted in a loss of regional identity; the samehouse designs recur across the whole country.

4.3.2EvolutionLancashire’s urban centres have experiencedprofound changes from the inter war periodonwards. At the time of the First World War,many older industrial centres had reachedtheir peak populations, although the combinedimpacts of suburbanisation and economicdecline resulted in depopulation. This processwas accelerated by deliberate decentralisation,a fundamental planning strategy between 1945and 1975.

In urban areas local authorities had inherited,by modern standards, a legacy of sub-standard19th century housing and Lancashire’s localauthorities were keen to clear the slums andto develop estates on the urban fringes.Suburbanisation during the 1930s and 40screated large areas of private and councilhousing in estates on the fringes of the towns.

After 1945 national house buildingprogrammes and the introduction ofindustrialised building methods were thecatalyst for widespread inner-cityredevelopment and the relocation of wholecommunities to the edges of towns. The newestates, which included a substantial elementof high rise building, were sited on the edgesof towns or in redeveloped urban centres. Bythe end of the 1960’s this type of housing wasalready proving unpopular and incidents ofslum clearance declined, to be replaced byrehabilitation and housing improvements.

The creation of overspill communities andnew towns involved social engineering andplanning on an enormous scale. The mostcelebrated example is that of Skelmersdalewhich was intended to take 70,000 peoplefrom Liverpool and regenerate a small miningtown with severe unemployment problems.Although the town has proved a success thesocial and economic difficulties it has faced haslimited the population to just over fifty fivethousand. Another designation, the CentralLancashire New Town (1974), originallyplanned to link Preston, Leyland and Chorley

into a city of half a million people. Althoughsubstantial industrial and housing areas werecreated, the result has been a series ofexpanded villages and new estates veryclosely linked by suburban ribbondevelopment.

Many urban centres were transformed duringthis period by the combined effects of postwar planning and commercial ambition. It is acommon misconception that the clearance ofurban centre buildings was the result of wartime bombing. The undistinguished designs,which were often built of concrete during the1960s and 70s, are conspicuous in manyLancashire towns. Such redevelopment wasundertaken with little regard for the fineexamples of 18th and 19th centuryarchitecture it was replacing, however somepioneering modern developments did takeplace, such as Preston Bus Station.

The 1980’s saw an increasing appreciation ofurban heritage and a new theme of urbanplanning has seen the use of traditional urbanforms, sympathetic materials and reuse of oldbuildings. A notable example of this is thesuccessful conversion of St. Marks church inPreston to flats.

The recent boom in house building is resultingin further expansion of the urban areas withthe provision of new housing estates on thefringes of the towns and the development ofbrownfield sites in the inner urban areas.

A significant element of the urban andsuburban scene are fragments of ‘encapsulated’countryside and other areas of informal openland, including land formerly developed butnow re-vegetated either naturally or by design.These provide important wildlife habitats(unaffected by intensive agriculture) andrecreational space for local residents. Theirvalue may be enhanced when such areas formgreen corridors allowing movement of wildlifebetween urban areas and the surroundingcountryside.


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GLOSSARYLandscape Technical Terms with an explanation of how the terms arebeing used in the context of the LandscapeAssessment and Strategy.

Analysis - the process of breaking thelandscape down, usually in descriptive terms,into its component parts in order tounderstand how it is made up.

Approach - the step-wise process by which alandscape assessment is undertaken.

Assessment - an umbrella term used toencompass all the many different ways oflooking at, describing, analysing and evaluatinglandscape.

Character - a distinct pattern or combinationof elements that occurs consistently in aparticular landscape.

Character Area - a unique geographic areawith a consistent character and identity, whichforms part of a landscape character type.

Character Type - a generic term for landscapewith a consistent, homogeneous character.Landscape character types may occur indifferent parts of the county, but whereverthey occur, they will share commoncombinations of geology, topography,vegetation or human influences.

Characteristic - an element that contributesto local distinctiveness (eg narrow windinglanes, vernacular building style).

Classification - a process of sorting thelandscape into different types, each with adistinct, consistent and recognisable character.

Description - description of what a landscapelooks like. This is usually carried out in asystematic manner, but it may also includepersonal reactions to the landscape.

Element - a component part of the landscape(eg hedges, roads, woods).

Feature - a prominent, eye-catching element(eg wooded hilltop, church spire).

Landcover - combinations of land use andvegetation that cover the land surface.

Landform - combinations of slope andelevation that produce the shape and form ofthe land surface.

Landscape - the term refers primarily to thevisual appearance of the land, including itsshape, form and colours. However, thelandscape is not a purely visual phenomenon;its character relies on a whole range of otherdimensions, including geology, topography, soils,ecology, archaeology, landscape history, landuse, architecture and cultural associations.

Other Technical TermsAeolian processes - a term pertaining to thewind. Wind-borne, wind-blown or winddeposited materials are referred to as aeolian.

Ancient woodland - woodland area which hashad a continuous woodland cover since atleast 1600 AD and has ony been cleared forunderwood or timber production. It is anextremely valuable ecological resource, with anexceptionally high diversity of flora and fauna.

Backland - an enclosed space within an urbanblock.

Beck - a local term in the north of Englandfor a rapidly flowing stream.

Biogeography - the study of plant and animaldistrbutions together with the geographicalrelationships with their environments overtime.

Blanket bog - upland peat bog formed underconditions of high rainfall. It drapes over themoorland plateaux and obscures mosttopographic features. Depending onmanagement the vegetation can vary from wetsphagnum dominated communities tomoorland grasses and ericaceous shrubcommunities.

Brownfield site - a development site which isre-using land previously developed.

Bund - man-made mound, usually intended toprovide a visual screen, often in conjunctionwith planting.

Cairn - a mound of rough stones built as amonument or landmark - the most commonexamples being clearance cairns , when stoneswere cleared from a field in preparation forcultivation, and funerary cairns covering gravesor burial chambers.

Carr woodland - marsh or fen woodland inwaterlogged terrain. Characteristic treesinclude alder and willow.


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Chert - a hard silicaeous rock, which occurs asbands or layers in sedimentary rocks. Flint is avariety of chert.

Clough - a local north England term for asmall, steep-sided valley.

Cobble skear - cobble bed in inter-tidal zone.

Conurbation - extensive urban area, wheretwo or more settlements have become linked.

Coppicing - the traditional method ofwoodland management in which trees are cutdown to near the ground to encourage theproduction of long, straight shoots, which cansubsequently be harvested.

Crenellated - a building with battlements orloopholes (narrow vertical slits in high walls).

Dendritic - branching, often a term applied toa network of streams which have formed onrelatively uniform terrain where faulting isinsignificant. An entirely random networkdevelops due to the absence of structuralcontrols.

Drumlin - a streamlined, elongated egg-shapedhillock of glacial drift formed under a movingglacier during the ice age. The long axis of thehillock is aligned parallel to the direction of theice flow. Drumlins usually occur in swarms or‘fields’.

Erratic - a large rock fragment which has beentransported by moving ice away from its placeof origin and deposited in an area of disimilarrock types.

Esker - a narrow sinuous ridge of partlystratified coarse sand and gravel formed bysub-glacial stream. Eskers frequently bear norelationship to the modern drainage pattern.

Eutrophic - the state of a water body when ithas an excess of nutrients usually derived fromagricultural fertilisers.The process by which awater body becomes overloaded withnutrients is known as eutrophication and leadsto a dense plant population, thedecomposition of which kills animal life bydepriving it of oxygen.

Fault - a rupture or fracture of rock strata dueto strain.

Flush - an area of soil enriched by transportedmaterials, either dissolved mineral salts or rockparticles.Wet flushes are found surroundingsprings and rivulets and appear as bright green,

rushy areas on a hill slope.

Fluvio-glacial - a term referring to theprocesses and landforms related to the actionof glacial meltwater.

Geomorphology - the scientific study of theorigin of landforms based on a cause andeffect relationship.

Ginnel - a narrow alleyway between terracedhouses, to access the backyard.

Gley soils - one of the seven major groups inthe soil classification of England and Wales.They are characterised by being affected byperiodic or permanent saturation by water inthe absence of effective artificial drainage.

Gryke - a deep cleft in a bare limestonepavement, formed by solution along a line ofweakness.

Laithe house - a dwelling which incorporates abarn under the same roof.

Limestone pavement - a glacially planed andsmoothed surface of bare limestone which hassubsequently been dissected by vertical joints(grykes).

Marl pit - small pit resulting from theextraction of marl (a calcareous clay ormudstone) which has often subsequently beenfilled with water to form a small field pond.

Mere - a natural lake.

Mesolithic - (c. 8,000 - 4,000 BC) anarchaeological term meaning ‘middle stone’ ageand used to describe the culture achievedduring the early Post Glacial period. It was aperiod of transition in the early Holocenewhen mankind moved from the huntergathering practices of the Palaeolithic of thelast glaciation but had not yet adopted thefarming practices of the Neolithic.

Mill race - a narrow man-made channel usedto divert water to power a water-mill.

Mosslands - flat low-lying, peatlands, derivedfrom former bogs and mires, typically drainedby a network of ditches and supportingintensive agriculture. Relict areas of formernatural vegetation are rare.

Motte-and-Bailey Castle - the earliest form ofNorman castle established along keycommunication routes after the Conquest. Aninner courtyard was protected by simple earthand wood defences.


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Neolithic - (c. 4,000 - 2,500 BC) anarchaeological term used to mean ‘new stone’age which describes the period of antiquity inwhich people began to use ground stonetools, cultivate plants and keep domesticatedlivestock.

Open-field system - an area of arable landwith common rights after harvest or whilefallow. The fields date from the medievalperiod and are usually without internaldivisions (hedges, walls or fences).Outcrop -the area where a particular rock appears atthe surface.

Outcrop - the emergence of a stratum, veinor rock at the surface.

Outlier - an area of younger rocks occurringin a detached location, away from the mainbody of similar older rocks. The interveningrocks have been removed by erosion.

Outwash sands - the extensive sands andgravels deposited by meltwater streamsbeyond the margins of ice sheets and glaciers .

Oxbow lake - a crescent-shaped lakeoccurring on a river floodplain. It originated asa river meander, but has since beenabandoned after there has been lateralerosion at the neck of the meander and theriver has changed course.

Palaeolithic - (c. 500,000 - 8000 BC) anarchaeological term meaning ‘old stone’ agecovering the period from the first appearanceof tool-using humans to the retreat of theglacial ice and emergence of the Mesolithic.

Peat hag - mossland that has formerly beenbroken up; it could be a pit, break, gap orchasm in the moss, or an area of turfy orheathery ground which rises out of the peatbog.

Pedology - the scientific study of soils

Permian - the last geological period of thePalaeozoic era, extending from about 280 to240 million years ago. In Britain continentalconditions prevailed for much of the time andthick layers of red sandstone were formed.

Pleistocene - the first geological epoch of theQuaternary period, extending from about 2million years ago to 100,000 BP. It was markedby great fluctuations in temperature withglacial periods followed by interglacial periods.

Podsol or (podzol) - a type of soil formed incool, seasonally humid conditions whereleaching is the dominant process. A truepodsol is characterised by a thin layer of rawhumus (organic matter) at the surface, and ablack or dark brown lower section, whichoften contains re-deposited iron, clay oraluminium. The process by which a podsol isformed is known as Podzolisation.

Pollarding - a traditional woodlandmanagement practice in which the branches ofa tree are cut back every few years toencourage new long, straight shoots forharvesting. Differs from coppicing because thecuts are made at sufficient distance from theground to prevent them from being eaten byanimals. Willow trees are often pollarded.

Quaternary - the most recent geologicalperiod of the Cenozoic era extending fromabout 2 million years ago to the present dayand comprising the Pleistocene and Holoceneepochs.This period contains evidence of manypresent day species of plants and animalsincluding modern humans.

Reef knoll - a dome-like mass of limestonewhich has grown upwards from a reef (line ofrocks in the tidal zone of a coast) in order tokeep pace with the deposition of surroundingsediments. The reef knoll may be exposed bydenudation and, because of its poorlydeveloped joint system and its shape, it tendsto resist erosion and to form a cone-shapedhill.

Ridge and Furrow - a distinctive form of up-and-down ploughing of long narrow strips onmedieval or Saxon open-field land. The soilwas thrown towards the centre of the strip,producing a high ridge surrounded by a deepfurrow.

Riparian habitat - riverbank habitat

Saltpan - a shallow salt lake occurring in asmall, enclosed basin.

Semi-natural vegetation - any type of naturalvegetation which has been influenced byhuman activities, either directly or indirectly.

Triassic - the first geological period of theMesozoic era, extending from about 240million years ago to about 200 million yearsago. It succeeded the Permian and precededthe Jurassic. In Britain it consists mainly ofshales, bright red desert sandstones, marls and


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pebble beds. This period witnessed theevolution of the reptiles and contains theearliest known dinosaur remains.

Turnpike road - a gated road on which a tollmust be paid to allow access. Turnpikes wereadministered by turnpike trusts, which wereauthorised by a private act of Parliament tolevy tolls for maintenance of the highway.

Vernacular - buildings constructed in the localstyle, from local materials. Concerned withordinary rather than monumental buildings.

Veteran tree - a tree which is of great age forits species and of interest biologically, culturallyor aesthetically.

AbbreviationsAOD - above ordinance datum

AONB - Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

BAP - Biodiversity Action Plan

CCA - Countryside Character Area (refers tothe broad landscape character areas describedon the Countryside Agency’s Character Mapof England)

LNR - Local Nature Reserve

RSPB - Royal Society for the Protection ofBirds

SSSI - Site of Special Scientific Interest


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BibliographyOwen Ashmore, The Industrial Archaeology ofNorth West England. Manchester UniversityPress, 1982.

Ed. Paul Bahn, The Dictionary of Archaeology.Harper Collins, 1992.

Bennis and J. Dyke, Historic DesignedLandscapes of Lancashire. The ManchesterMetropolitan University, 1998.

K. Buxton et al. Excavations at Dowbridge,1999.

Countryside Agency and Scottish NaturalHeritage, Interim Landscape CharacterAssessment Guidance, 1999.

Countryside Commission, LandscapeAssessment Guidance, (CCP 423). CountrysideCommission, 1993.

Countryside Commission, LandscapeAssessment: a Countryside Commission Approach(CCD 18). Countryside Commission, 1987.

Countryside Commission, CountrysideCharacter Volume 2:The North West (CCP 536).The Countryside Commission, 1998.

Countryside Commission, The Arnside andSilverdale Landscape (CCP 528). TheCountryside Commission, 1997.

Countryside Commission, The Forest ofBowland Landscape (CCP 399). TheCountryside Commission, 1992.

Alan Crosby, A History of Lancashire.Phillimore, 1998.

Cumbria County Council, Cumbria LandscapeClassification. Cumbria County Council, 1995.

Eilert Ekwall, The Place Names of Lancashire.Manchester University Press, 1922.

English Nature, Liverpool Bay Natural AreaProfile. English Nature, 1997.

English Nature, Urban Mersey Basin NaturalArea Profile. English Nature, 1999.

English Nature et. al, Morecambe Bay. TheSecrets of the Sands. Morecambe BayPartnership, 1999.

English Nature, Cumbria Fells and Dales NaturalArea Profile. English Nature, 1999.

English Nature, SSSI Notifications.

English Nature et. al, A Biodiversity Audit ofNorth West England Volume 1. RegionalBiodiversity Steering Group for North WestEngland, 1999.

English Nature, Wildlife Habitats in Lancashire.Lancashire County Council, 1993.

English Nature, Natural Areas in the North WestRegion. English Nature 1999.

English Nature, Lancashire Plain and ValleysNatural Area Profile. English Nature, 1999.

English Nature, Forest of Bowland Natural AreaProfile. English Nature, 1999.

Harper Collins, Dictionary of British History.Harper Collins 1997.

Alison Hirst, The Southern Pennines NaturalArea Profile. English Nature, 1997.

Land Use Consultants (on behalf of SCOSPA),South Pennines Landscape Character Assessment.Standing Conference of South PennineAuthorities, 1998.

MSc Environmental Planning Students,John Moores University, Liverpool. DraftLandscape Strategy for Wyre. WyreCountryside Service. 1995.

Olwen Todd Jones, Where there was brass,there’s heritage, in Landscape Design # 284.The Landscape Institute 1999.

Nikolaus Pevsner, The Buildings of England.Lancashire,The Rural North. Penguin, 1969.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSERM would like to acknowledge the help andsupport provided by Steering Groupmembers and all those consultees who havecontributed to the study.

The Steering Group for the project consisted of:

Olwen Todd-Jones - Lancashire County Council;

John Darlington - Lancashire County Council;

Clare Warburton - Countryside Agency;

Malcolm Barnett - North Yorkshire CountyCouncil;

Amanda Houston and Andrew Hill - West Lancashire District Council;

Julie Winterbottom - Fylde Borough Council;

Julie Dunn - Chorley Borough Council;

Dean Blackhurst - Wyre Borough Council;

Stewart Bailey and Mike Kirby - Ribble ValleyBorough Council.

Contributing Consultees

Consultation Workshops:

Lancashire County Council – Geoff Morries, PhilMegson, Sam Turner, Lindy Andrews, JonathanHaine, Peter Jepson, Nik Bruce, Dave Brackley,Joyce Holden, Rob Wilsher, Nick Osborne, DaveOyston, Ian Hart, Gill Ilett, Steve Edwards, DavePadley,Tarja Wilson, Chris Woodruff, PaulineGoodridge,Will Horsfall,

The Countryside Agency – Ken Burgess

The Forestry Authority – Mike Ingoldby

Groundwork East Lancashire – Adele Adams

North West Water – Brian Tollitt

CPRE – John Nairne

The Environment Agency – Dermot Smith,Heather Airlie, Mark Atherton

Lancashire Federation of Women’s Institutes – Mary Roe

FRCA – Lucinda Thomas, Gill Travis

Clayton-le-Woods Parish Council – Eileen Whiteford

Timber Growers Association – The Hon. Ralph Assherton

Lancashire Wildlife Trust – Dave Dunlop

English Heritage – Andrew Davison

Craven District Council – Jay Everett, MatthewCollins

Pendle Borough Council – Dave Morris

Rossendale Borough Council – John Elliman,Anne Storah

South Ribble Borough Council – Helen Patten

Burnley Borough Council – Peter Milward

Hyndburn Borough Council – Guy Kenyon,Erica Eden

Wyre Borough Council – Mark Sims, AdrianPringle, Alison Bowden

Preston Borough Council – Philip Carr

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council – Dave Wiggins

Additional consultations:Lancashire County Council – Peter Iles, Joy Ede,Don Mckay, Andrew Mullaney, John Geldard

North West Water (Forestry) – Dave Blount

Forest of Burnley – Keith Wilson

FRCA – Kirsty Mckay-Martin

NFU – Veronica Waller

Country Landowners Association – JolyonDodgson

The Forestry Authority – Keith Jones

English Nature – Jon Hickling

The House Builders Federation – PaulBloomfield

Groundwork Blackburn – Peter Wilmers

Lancaster City Council – Steve Gray, IanHenderson


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