#travel news lancashire

[walkswithmycamera]

If you know, you know...

The aftermath of the Blackpool Tower fire...

Thanks, Cleveleys News 😎

[world-of-wales]

ＴＨＥ ＲＯＹＡＬ ＣＨＲＯＮＩＣＬＥＳ : Introduction to England .* :☆ﾟ｡ ･

Catherine and Willliam made their final pre-wedding appearance while on their four-stop tour of the UK in Lancashire on 11 April 2011.

They first opened the new school at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy. However, it was their next stop, at Witton Country Park where WillCat were greeted by their largest welcoming committee yet, about 15000 locals and tourists who'd travelled especially to meet the couple.

At Witton Park, they attended sports events with Catherine helping kick a race off and then presented the victors with their medals. Willliam was heard speaking to a wellwisher about how lucky he was to have found Catalina in his life ♡

For the day, Catherine was in a navy blue Amanda Wakeley skirt-suit.

[bonefall]

Clanmew Masterpost

Clanmew is a constructed language made for Warrior Cats that I, @bonefall, run with my buddy @troutfur! I make the vocab and he does the grammar. I hope that this post will become a good, central place to keep links to everything we've done so far.

CURRENT VERSION: 1.0 LAST UPDATE: 6/3/2023

Clanmew is an OSV-order language, made with the sounds cats make in mind. "Base Clanmew" is built around the Clan Culture updates of the Better Bones AU, which means it is made with the ecology of southwestern Northern England in mind and only contains words for plants and animals found there. It also has phrases for cooking and crafting.

(specific regions modeled: Lancashire, Chester, Manchester, Merseyside, Clwydd is modeled for river biomes specifically)

You are free to use it for your own projects! We encourage you to consider how this language would evolve in your Clan's history, and add or remove words to make a dialect that reflects the culture's feelings and needs.

THE BASICS:

Everything you need to know for basic structure is in CLANMEW 101. Start here.

We have a constantly updating LEXICON of all the words we have made so far.

Have you made a dialect? Let me know and I can link you here so others can see what you're doing with it!

Below the cut:

In-universe information; How Clanmew evolved linguistically

"Expansion Pack" posts where I discuss etymology

Pronunciation stuff (until I make that IPA chart I keep promising)

Working translations; Names, parables, OC submissions

Dialect submissions (These are manned by other people!)

Historical Trivia

The linguistic evolution of Clanmew from Old Tribemew and Parkmew

Animals are named for the sounds they make.

How pronouns for objects change based on how the speaker feels about it.

More, using human examples

there is a secret post about cursing but you have to find that on your own ;)

Through Time Travel Shenanigans, Hollyleaf's name evolves into the word "Scourge"

The Clanmew Play-by-Play of that

The word for Everything

How hard is it for speakers of the other in-universe languages to pick up Clanmew?

On nicknames!

Squirrelpaw and Crowfoot discover corn

The names of the three ideologies... also thistles.

The Invalid Five

Expansion Packs

Colors

Directions, way-finding

Spirituality terms

Rocks

Beetles

Follow up: some plant parts

Patch (pattern) vs Patch (plants)

Den, camp, territory, construction

The two violets

Shapes of flowers

Volume

Generic terms

Rollypollies and centipedes

Insults

Rain... because this is England

The Clan Clock; time terms

The four seasons

Clerics and Common Herbs

Roses

Water movement

BIRDS AND BATS

Finches

Texture

Dogs

Mint

Parts of fur

Forest terms

Foxes, parts of a forest

Cuckoo bird

DEER

Shade and understorey

Cedar

Waterside words

Pronunciation Stuff

Closest thing to an IPA chart I currently have

My process for coming up with words based on vibes

I was asked for more behind-the-scenes stuff so here you go?

How I hold my mouth when I speak

Trout Tips

How would Clan cats pronounce the Slavic TS, or the word pizza?

On the Double yy

Working translations

BB!Scourge's new warrior name, Iceheart, in Clanmew... and Nightheart!

Light, moon, wind, BB!Raggedstar's pre-honor title name

OC SUBMISSION: Flameshell, Fogwhisper, Willowsong

OC SUBMISSION: Lichennose, Mudthistle, Longpounce

OC SUBMISSION: Fallensky

PACK PACK KILL KILL

"I love you"

Baby talk

"What have I done?"

"Fool Tale"

How to Clanmew-ify a strange word

Dishonor Title for "Mudpuddle"

OC SUBMISSION: Riverrunner, multiple-word names, walking words

OC SUBMISSION: Firefang, Rabbitdash, Peachfeather, plus a bunch of words for weasel-like animals

Ivypool

The use of tense in names

PROPHECY SUBMISSION: "Dust and flame will combine to destroy home"

Skywatcher

OC SUBMISSION: The Caldwell Family

Foxheart

Runningnose

PROPHECY SUBMISSION: Six will come of every rank

OC SUBMISSION: Witherstrike

"I like this" and also parasitic worms

Prism, rainbow-color

OC SUBMISSION: Piebald Creature

Gayheart

Sneeze and Knockout

OC SUBMISSION: Penny-fitzgerald

OC SUBMISSION: Voidwhisper, Chalkwhistle

OC SUBMISSION: Poppyflare, Spikemane, Blizzardfang

OC SUBMISSION: Burning Hawk-fur

Mistyfoot

BRAMBLESTAR BUTCHERS THE BLOSSOMKIT NAMES

Dialect Submissions

Pfurr Clanmew (@troutfur)

[whencyclopedia]

The Impact of the British Industrial Revolution

The consequences of the British Industrial Revolution (1760-1840) were many, varied, and long-lasting. Working life in rural and urban settings was changed forever by the inventions of new machines, the spread of factories, and the decline of traditional occupations. Developments in transportation and communications meant life in the post-industrial world was more exciting and faster, with people more connected than ever before. Consumer goods became more affordable to more people, and there were more jobs for a booming population. The price to pay for progress was often a working life that was noisy, repetitive, and dangerous, while cities grew to become overcrowded, polluted, and crime-ridden.

The impact of the Industrial Revolution included:

Many new machines were invented that could do things much faster than previously or could perform entirely new tasks.

Steam power was cheaper, more reliable, and faster than more traditional power sources.

Large factories were established, creating jobs and a boom in cotton textile production, in particular.

Large engineering projects became possible like iron bridges and viaducts.

Traditional industries like hand weaving and businesses connected to stagecoaches went into terminal decline.

The cost of food and consumer goods was reduced as items were mass-produced and transportation costs decreased.

Better tools became available for manufacturers and farmers.

The coal, iron, and steel industries boomed to provide fuel and raw materials for machines to work.

The canal system was expanded but then declined.

Urbanisation accelerated as labour became concentrated around factories in towns and cities.

Cheap train travel became a possibility for all.

Demand for skilled labour, especially in textiles, decreased.

Demand for unskilled labour to operate machines and work on the railways increased.

The use of child and women labour increased.

Worker safety declined and was not reversed until the 1830s.

Trade unions were formed to protect workers' rights.

The success of mechanisation led to other countries experiencing their own industrial revolutions.

Coal Mining

Mining of tin and coal has a long history in Britain, but the arrival of the Industrial Revolution saw unprecedented activity underground to find the fuel to feed the steam-powered machines that came to dominate industry and transport. The steam-powered pump was invented to drain mines in 1712. This allowed deeper mining and so greatly increased coal production. The Watt steam engine, patented in 1769, allowed steam power to be harnessed for almost anything, and as the steam engines ran on coal, so the mining industry boomed as mechanisation swept across industries of all kinds. This phenomenon only increased with the spread of the railways from 1825 and the increase in steam-powered ships from the 1840s. Coal gas, meanwhile, was used for lighting homes and streets from 1812, and as a source of heat for private homes and cookers. Coke, that is burnt coal, was used as a fuel in the iron and steel industries, and so the demand for coal kept on growing as the Industrial Revolution rolled on.

There were four principal coal mining areas: South Wales, southern Scotland, Lancashire, and Northumberland. To get the coal to where it was needed, Britain's canal system was significantly expanded as transportation by canal was 50% cheaper than using roads. By 1830, "England and Wales had 3,876 miles in 1760" (Horn, 17). Britain produced annually just 2.5 to 3 million tons of coal in 1700, but by 1900, this figure had rocketed to 224 million tons.

Continue reading...

[workingclasshistory]

On this day, 14 March 1883, German communist Karl Marx died in London, aged 64. He had travelled to Britain after being banished from Germany, and arrested and imprisoned in Paris, from which he managed to escape. The Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser reported that at his funeral Friedrich Engels, Marx's lifelong friend and collaborator, described Marx as the "best hated and worst calumniated man in Europe… [who] had lived, although his work was not finished, to see his views embraced by millions of both hemispheres." Marx was clear that the driving force of history is the fight against oppression, writing with Engels: "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles. "Freeman and slave, patrician and plebeian, lord and serf, guild-master and journeyman, in a word, oppressor and oppressed, stood in constant opposition to one another, carried on an uninterrupted, now hidden, now open fight, a fight that each time ended, either in a revolutionary reconstitution of society at large, or in the common ruin of the contending classes. "The modern bourgeois [capitalist] society that has sprouted from the ruins of feudal society has not done away with class antagonisms. It has but established new classes, new conditions of oppression, new forms of struggle in place of the old ones. "Our epoch, the epoch of the bourgeoisie, possesses, however, this distinct feature: it has simplified class antagonisms. Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other — Bourgeoisie [capitalists] and Proletariat [the working class]." We have a number of works by or about him available here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/books/karl-marx To access this hyperlink, click our link in bio then click this photo https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/2229979087187229/?type=3

[rhapsodynew]

Freddie Mercury made his debut 55 years ago. And it wasn't Queen

In 1969, the Ibex group was founded in Liverpool, where 22-year-old Farrukh Bulsara became the vocalist. By that time, he had already graduated London College of Art in Ealing and change several jobs. At one point he worked as a porter at Heathrow Airport, and at another he sold clothes at Kensington Market.

However, Farrukh Bulsar's thoughts were far beyond the market stalls. In August 1969, he met the musicians of the Ibex band, which was part progressive, part heavy blues band. They had played their first concert just a few months earlier, in May. At that time, Ibex consisted of Mike Bersin on guitar, John Taylor on bass and Mick Smith on drums. Most importantly, they were willing to consider bringing in a new vocalist and embrace some of his new ideas.

Just ten days later, Bulsara had already mastered the band's setlist, added a few moments of his own and traveled to Bolton and Lancashire to perform in front of an audience.

On September 9, 1969, the Ibex band performed at the club "With Sink" in Liverpool, where they performed an encore Brian May and Roger Taylor. It was their first concert together. At that time May and Taylor was a member of the band Smile, which also included Tim Staffell is Farrukh Bulsara's college friend.

Farrukh quickly became a fan of the Smile band, and this joint concert was his last as a member of the Ibex group. He joined the band Sour Milk Sea, which disbanded just a month later.

Sour Milk Sea

Then Farrukh Bulsara had to return to his former band, which was now called Wreckage.

The Ibex band, like Wreckage, have not recorded a single studio album, but a couple of demo recordings have been preserved - a song called "Green" and a cover version of "Rain" by The Beatles. Both of them were included in the album "The Solo Collection" by Mercury, released posthumously in 2000.

The Wreckage band did not last long either, and after its breakup in November 1969, Farrukh Bulsara joined the company of his friends in the Smile band.

Farrukh, always bubbling with ideas, suggested renaming the band Queen, and took the pseudonym Freddie Mercury for himself.

A long twenty-year history has begun...

Much later, Ibex guitarist Mike Bersin in a conversation with a historian Queen John S. Stewart said:

 "We thought that as a trio it would be enough for us to play fairly simple music and not worry too much about stage skills. But Freddie was different. He's always been a star. He was much better at organizing shows and entertaining people."

According to Bersina, Freddie was the "most musical" of all the Ibex band members.

"He learned to play the piano and could write on black keys," explained Bersin. "He said, 'We're never going to achieve anything by playing all this three-chord blues nonsense, we need to write some songs.' A few things came out of it, but now they're all gone."

In particular, concert recordings of such covers as "Crossroads", "Communication Breakdown", "Jailhouse Rock", "We're Going Wrong" were lost.

Yes, it's a pity that these records were not preserved, but in the end, everything turned out as well as possible. And we all know that for sure now.

Mike Bersin added to everything:

 "Freddie knew what he wanted. That's why he became an international star. It wasn't an accident. It happened because that's what he wanted to be from the moment I first met him. He had a purpose and an aspiration."

And that's great!

[merelyroleplayers]

Now playing in the Main House

Act Four of Five: Test your smoke alarms and check your boiler regularly. Otherwise your home can really hurt you.

Coming next on 26 November – Vigil: Tailor Made, Act 5

Programme notes

This production contains strong language, drug use, gunfire, and gory fantasy violence.

Meet actual play podcasters and see some live recordings at the Dragonmeet PodcastZone in London on 30 November.

Back the Slayers Survival Kit and Hunter’s Journal, two new Monster of the Week books.

Luvvie alert! We simply must introduce you to OMEN Investigations, a comedy horror podcast starring three secret agents as they travel the world fighting monsters, ghosts, aliens and other paranormal perils.

Dramatis personae and other definitions

Peggy Tailor: The prodigal daughter of a local family that dabbles in fey frolicking and organised crime, back in town to lay low after a grift gone horribly wrong.

Calistarius Softbinding: A local horror writer with a cult following, who sponsored the construction of a whole new wing of Sherrydown’s library. Calistarius Softbinding is a nom de plume.

Ed Kincaid: A once promising, now disgraced MI5 agent assigned to investigate the more … esoteric threats reported to the national security hotline.

Jinny Greenteeth: Proprietor of the Grove of Oddities, a tacky Sherrydown tourist attraction. In a past life, Jinny was branded a witch after a series of drownings in her Lancashire village.

Department of Omissions (DO, DoOm): The UK government department tasked with preventing harm to citizens from supernatural phenomena. Severely defunded under Tory austerity policies and currently prioritising major urban population centres.

Sherrydown, Brackshire: A historic English market town. One of the first towns to lose its DoOm office.

Omission effect: The rejection of certain beings and phenomena by long-term memory. Recently lifted.

Credits

COMPERE: Matt Boothman

STARRING:

Ellie Pitkin as Peggy Tailor, the Crooked

Chris Buxey as Calistarius Softbinding, the Expert

Chris MacLennan as Ed Kincaid, the Professional

Josh Yard as Jinny Greenteeth, the Spellslinger

with Chris Starkey as Cameron Jarvis

ROLEPLAYING GAME SYSTEM: Monster of the Week, designed by Michael Sands

MUSIC BY: Alexander Pankhurst

SOUND DESIGN BY: Matt Boothman

SFX AND INCIDENTAL MUSIC INCLUDES: Mirage by Kevin MacLeod; and may include others made available to use without attribution.

EDITED AND PRODUCED BY: Matt Boothman

Find us

On Instagram @MerelyRoleplayers

On Tumblr @merelyroleplayers

www.MerelyRoleplayers.com

[scotianostra]

On May 17th 1810 the poet Robert Tannahill drowned himself in a Paisley canal.

Some posts can hit home more than others, anyone who has or is going through the hell of real depression will understand more than others. The stigma of the disease is being more talked about more than ever, it’s not a new thing to be depressed, our own Scottish King Robert III is said to have suffered from it, indeed he described himself as “the worst of kings and the most miserable of men”.

On to Robert Tannahill, who, in his lifetime was as famous as our national bard Robert Burns, he was in the same mould of the Ploughman Poet and was the first Secretary of the Paisley Burns Club established in 1805 he also wrote several poems and songs in Burns’ memory.

Tannahill had friends in Glasgow and neighbouring towns, attended the theatre in Glasgow and, importantly, was familiar with the publishers in Glasgow who were established in selling ballad poetry. His early works were also printed in the Glasgow Courier, leading to his recognition as the leading poet of the periodicals. Tannahill’s first collection was ‘The Sodger’s Return’. a Scottish interlude in two acts, with other poems and songs, chiefly in the Scottish dialect. It sold well, and the latter part of the title is a clear homage to Burns.

Robert Tannahill – the ‘Weaver Poet’in Paisley, the son of James Tannahill and Janet Pollock. Young Robert was apprenticed as a weaver at the age of 12 in 1786 and spent a brief time working at Bolton, in Lancashire, England. He returned home to Paisley and began to compose pieces of verse in Scots which were published by various journals. Scottish weavers had a reputation for literacy and cultivated tastes because their work, often done at a loom with the feet, allowed them the freedom to hold and read books. When his father died in 1802, Robert joined the newly established ‘Paisley Literary and Convivial Association’ which was an outlet for his literary tastes.

In 1810 after having work rejected by an Edinburgh publisher Robert drowned himself in the Candren Burn, his body was discovered by his two brothers.

Tannahill was buried at Castlehead Cemetery, Canal Street, Paisley, in an unmarked grave in what was formerly the West Relief Church. In 1866 a granite monument was erected here to his memory. There is also a statue to Tannahill next to Paisley Abbey, erected by public subscription in 1883.

There is a famous story involving Tannahill’s emotional farewell to James Hogg who had travelled west in the hope of meeting the Paisley poet. Hogg says that, upon leaving Tannhill, he ‘had scarcely reached Edinburgh’ before he ‘read in the newspapers an account of his sad end.’

Again I say about depression, nobody knows what is going on inside the mind of people, it’s an invisible illness, a silent killer, you can be talking to someone who shows no signs of depression outwardly, but inside they are toiling, be mindful with people, never be harsh with your words.

Bonny Winsome Mary

Fortune, frowning most severe, Forc'd me from my native dwelling, Parting with my friends so dear, Cost me many a bitter tear: But, like the clouds of early day, Soon my sorrows fled away, When blooming sweet, and smiling gay, I met my winsome Mary.

Wha can sit with gloomy brow, Blest with sic a charming lassie? Native scenes, I think on you. Yet the change I canna rue; Wand'ring many a weary mile, Fortune seem'd to low'r, the while, But now she's gi'en me, for the toil, My bonny winsome Mary.

Though our riches are but few, Faithful hove is aye a treasure— Ever cheery, kind, and true, Nane but her I e'er can lo'e. Hear me, a' ye pow'rs above! Pow'rs of sacred truth and love! While I live I'll constant prove To my dear winsome Mary.

[dailyunsolvedmysteries]

Disappearance of Jay Slater

On the morning of 17 June 2024, 19-year-old Jay Slater from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire disappeared on the island of Tenerife, Spain after attempting to walk eleven hours back to his accommodation as a result of missing a bus. Slater had attended a music festival in south Tenerife with two friends the day before his disappearance.

Slater attended the three-day NRG Music Festival in south Tenerife on the afternoon of 16 June 2024. After the festival, Slater went to the mountain village of Masca with two men he met at the festival.

On 17 June, at around 08:00, Ofelia Medina Hernandez - the last known person in contact with Slater - told him that his bus was due at 10:00. Hernandez recalled driving past Slater as he "walked fast".

Fifty minutes later, at 08:50, Slater called his friend Lucy Mae Law to tell her that he was "lost", as he walked from Masca to where he was staying in Los Cristianos on the south coast of Tenerife. Slater said that his phone had 1% battery and that he needed water. His last known location is the Rural de Teno National Park. At 09:04, Slater was reported missing.

As concerns grow for his welfare, questions have begun to emerge as to how the apprentice bricklayer has seemingly vanished in an area inundated with tourists.

In his last Snapchat post at 7.30am, Mr Slater tagged Parque Rural de Teno Buenavista del Norte, an area to the north of the island, known for its rugged and sparse terrain.

He is believed to have travelled to the area during the early hours of Monday morning with two new acquaintances, without realising the distance from his apartment in the tourist area of Los Cristianos. Around an hour later, he phoned his friend Lucy to tell her he had missed his bus, and was planning to make the 11-hour walk. He told her he had cut his leg on a cactus, was unsure of his location and had barely any phone battery to use a maps app to make his way back. Search teams are currently scouring the area, with police deploying helicopters, drones and sniffer dogs to help with the search.

Despite being pointed towards a bus stop, Mr Slater decided against waiting another two hours for a bus to take him into town. Given that there is a main road nearby, questions have been raised as to why Mr Slater appears to have wandered into the wilderness. His friend Ms Law said: “What I don’t understand is if he did walk down then why wasn’t he seen by anyone? “It’s a busy time of day, the place is full of hikers and holidaymakers, he could have asked them for help or stopped somewhere but no one has seen him at all.”

After meeting two men, who have been described as British, during the festival, Mr Slater decided to return to their AirBnb while his friends went home. Little is known about them, and they have since flown back to the UK after being questioned briefly by Spanish police.

Slater's friend Lucy started a GoFundMe page to support his friends and family who had travelled to Tenerife while the search continued. Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan, said that she did not want any fundraising pages to be made and has urged people not to donate to any.

He remains missing.

[almostarchaeology]

‘The riddle of the past’: on Tolkien’s archaeological trail

By Adrián Maldonado

When I was a teenager reading The Lord of the Rings for the first time, a weird thing started happening. Whenever I had to walk any distance, I began to imagine I was embarking upon a great journey across Middle-earth. I remember when sitting around waiting for the bus one rainy afternoon, I saw a clump of bushes with a trickle of water streaming out to the gutter, and I thought, that looks exactly like the map of Fangorn and the Entwash.

I wish I could say then I got on the bus, realized I was being a dork and grew out of it. With apologies to Childish Gambino, I never got off that bus. I still haven’t. 

A lifetime later, I realize I’m not alone in looking for Middle-earth everywhere. It’s not hard to find a ‘Tolkien Trail’ of some description near you, wherever you live. There’s a wild one that starts in Lancashire, where Tolkien spent a month once, and ends up in New Zealand by way of Tenerife. I’m surprised they didn’t include the North Pole, which Tolkien at least wrote stories about. 

The North Pole: not on the Tolkien trail yet (source)

But I’m here to say I don’t blame anyone for flying kites about exactly which places they think inspired JRR Tolkien. Comparing someplace to The Shire is a proven strategy of getting me to go there. Just don’t expect me to believe that Tolkien really, truly based this or that chapter on your favourite country lane. The gravy train of finding Tolkien's influences very easily goes off the rails.  

That’s why one of the most-used books on my Tolkien shelves is John Garth’s The Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien (2020). After writing one of the best biographies of Tolkien, Garth has combed through the whole legendarium and then some, diving into the unpublished archive to put forward the most definitive cases for (and sometimes against) the places that really inspired Middle-earth.

New job title: auteur du blog

Recently, I had the life-changing opportunity to visit some of the real-world archaeological (and geological) inspirations as part of a new documentary film (now streaming, only in Europe so far). First of all, I agree with you, it is bonkers that I got this opportunity, and you can tell from the dumb grin on my face at every stop that I’m having the time of my life. But more importantly, going to see these places for myself, to vibe not just with the ancient past but with Tolkien’s imagination itself, reopened some questions for me. Spoiler: the questions are about archaeology.  

Previously on Almost Archaeology 

A blogging resumé for anyone new here: a decade ago in some of the earliest posts on this page, I jokingly referred to Gandalf as an ‘almost archaeologist’ for the research that first led him to correctly identify Bilbo’s magic ring. While working on a follow-up about Saruman, I uncovered some shocking evidence that ol' Sharkey had actually carried out legit fieldwork long before Gandalf stumbled into the library of Gondor.  

Can we burn candles any closer to the ancient scrolls (source)

This productive period of avoiding essay-marking coincided with the release of the (mostly tragic) Hobbit film trilogy, and I had a great time cataloguing the archaeological themes in a trilogy of posts.  

Throughout all this happy procrastination, it slowly dawned on me that Tolkien and other early fantasy writers were busy inventing new approaches to worldbuilding just as archaeologists like V. Gordon Childe were writing their own sweeping European prehistories. Studying Tolkien is actually helping me study archaeology. But can the study of archaeology help us understand Tolkien? 

Chasing Tolkien 

Tolkien fans have always been fascinated by the hints of the real-world sites, texts and ideas he used as inspiration, just as he always bristled at their attempts to pin him down. But I think the search encourages close reading and travel, surely no bad thing overall.

Pub pilgrimage (source)

Most Tolkien fans, if given the chance, will try and visit Oxford some time in their life, maybe have a pint at the Eagle and Child if at all possible. For us it is more than fandom, but a pilgrimage, an act of paying respect, bearing witness, and maybe also, in some ineffable way, entering the story. Searching for his real-world inspirations is no less valid than literary scholars scouring his writings for allusions to ancient texts and medieval poetry. We don’t realize we’re doing it, but collectively, Tolkien scholars and fans alike are building a new canon: the definitive set of works, things and places which provide prophetic insight into the legendarium, a sort of Tolkien Old Testament, works that, if studied and pondered, may lead to a greater understanding of the ‘sacred’ texts.

But this is, by and large, a literary pursuit. How does Garth’s Worlds of Tolkien, dealing in earthly locales, fit in with this project? It presents the authoritative argument for the way that Tolkien’s travels in the material world shaped his vision of a mythical past as much as ancient texts. It shows that inspiration is only very rarely one-to-one, but a layering of experiences, including of real-world objects and places. There’s even a chapter specifically about archaeological inspirations, but Garth, as much as I idolise him, is not an archaeologist, and there's more to build on here. As Dimitra Fimi’s work has shown, and I explored in my worldbuilding post, there is still plenty to excavate from Tolkien’s relationship to the discipline of archaeology, as both were in their formative years at the start of the last century.  

The 'Dragon Hill' beneath the Uffington White Horse (own work)

One example is the fortress of Amon Sûl or Weathertop. Garth explores the possible inspiration for this particular place at the Dragon Hill ‘fort’ beneath the Uffington White Horse which he certainly visited many times. This was a bit of a reach for me, and now having been there, I am less convinced. While the site is certainly striking, it does not dominate the horizon the way I imagine Weathertop, as White Horse Hill looms right behind it. Nor does it have the look of an old, ruined castle. If anything, the older and bigger Uffington Castle, the Iron Age hillfort soaring above them both, would be a better candidate, but neither ring true for me.

Not to worry though, because this is ironically where Garth’s book shines. One of the things it does best is showing how it doesn’t really matter that there is not a one-to-one connection between places Tolkien visited and locations in Middle-earth. 

In the ‘Ancient Imprints’ chapter, and in an appendix dismissing any connections to the Vyne Ring, Garth discusses the relationship between Tolkien and the prominent archaeologist Sir Mortimer Wheeler. Sure, Tolkien famously wrote a note on the god Nodens for the Wheelers' excavations at Lydney, Gloucestershire, but it is not clear that they ever met, much less that Tolkien ever visited the site. (It remains very cool that the site was known as the ‘Dwarf’s Hill’ and had Roman-era mine tunnels, but still.)

Action-packed archaeology: Sir Mortimer Wheeler (source)

Garth discusses the popular, action-packed accounts that Wheeler published in British newspapers during his excavations at Maiden Castle, Dorset Iron Age hillfort in the 1930s. It is one thing to assume Tolkien ‘must have’ read these, but Garth has the receipts (140, n. 35). He uses this to connect the Maiden Castle burial pits to the Barrow-wights, but to me, Maiden Castle, with its tales of monumental but forgotten wars, is probably more relevant to Tolkien's description of Weathertop, even if they look nothing alike. (Actually, if you really asked me, I’d say there’s nothing more Weathertop-y than Castell Dinas Brân in North Wales, even if there’s nothing connecting it with Tolkien I know of.)

Weathertop is best explained as a mix of different touchpoints ranging from Iron Age forts to medieval castles that would have bumped around in Tolkien's mind as he wrote. But if you asked him directly, he would surely dissemble – would he even be able to isolate these diffuse inspirations himself if asked?  

Another important lesson from Garth’s book is that the stories grew in the telling. The way Tolkien understood Middle-earth at the outset of the Lord of the Rings writing process in 1938 changed dramatically by the time of its publication in 1954. Sticking with the example of Weathertop, Garth shows how this changed from the largely atmospheric, anonymous ‘old castles with an evil look’ seen by Bilbo in The Hobbit, to the very specific Second-Age stronghold of Amon Sûl as described by Aragorn (FotR 1, ch 9). 

Tolkien’s archaeological travels

It was with Garth’s book in hand that the film crew for Tolkien: The True Story of the Rings came up with a list of key places in England, France and Switzerland to visit, and Garth is of course a prominent voice in the final film. I’m more in the role of audience surrogate, tagging along for the England leg of the journey, and I can tell you, it was a life-changer. We went to some of the places with the clearest analogues in the books, places where you can pretty much read a description on a single page, look up and see what he’s describing.  

But only very few of these did Tolkien ever explicitly acknowledge. For instance, after the Battle of the Hornburg, Gimli describes in poetic detail the Glittering Caves (or Aglarond) he saw beneath Helm’s Deep.  

Here they have one of the marvels of the Northern World, and what do they say of it? Caves, they say! Caves! Holes to fly in time of war, to store fodder in! My good Legolas, do you know that the caverns of Helm’s Deep are vast and beautiful? There would be an endless pilgrimage of Dwarves, merely to gaze at them, if such things were known to be. Aye indeed, they would pay pure gold for a brief glance! (TT 3, ch 8)

Tolkien’s letter 321 confirms it was the caves of Cheddar Gorge he was describing, which he had visited several times, including a heavily-freighted moment, while on honeymoon with Edith in the spring of 1916 – mere months before he marched to the Battle of the Somme. 

Caves, they say! Cox's Cave, Cheddar (own work)

In most other places, the influence is not so direct. The joy of visiting these is to commune with past visitors, up to and including Tolkien, to try and feel what they felt. More often than not, that feeling is not about what you can see, but what you cannot. Visiting ancient monuments is the search for the uncanny, of seeing and touching something that has cheated time by surviving this long, and equally ruminating on how much has been lost to time’s bastard axe. For some, reflecting on past lives can create a sincere yearning to fill in those gaps by any means necessary – by consulting the archives where they exist, or by archaeological investigation where they don’t. 

Wayland's Smithy, Oxfordshire (own work)

This is kind of how Tolkien felt when he read ancient poetry – it was a single enigmatic mention of ‘Éarendel’ in an Old English poem that arguably sparked the entire legendarium. But it is less well-appreciated that he got this feeling from places with evocative names and legends attached to them. Dimitra Fimi, also featured prominently in the documentary, has spotted this in Tolkien’s early academic works. In a brief stint as reviewer for scholarly journal The Year's Work in English Studies, we can see how the layering of languages in place-names fired his yearning for the ancient past. He ends his 1926 review with the potential for an “alliance of Philologia and Archaeologia.” He connects the discovery of Roman mosaics at Fawler, Oxfordshire with the origins of its place-name in the Old English fāg flōr, tessellated floor, meaning early English speakers came to this ruined villa and were struck by its multi-coloured pavement. This example immediately rung bells in his mind, as the poem Beowulf uses the phrase on fāgne flōr to describe the pavement of the mead-hall of Heorot. Tolkien would later go on to describe the king’s hall of Meduseld at Edoras as having a floor “paved with stones of many hues” (TT 3, ch. 6), creatively marrying archaeological and linguistic inspirations with allusions to medieval literature. 

The Rollright Stones, Cotswolds (own work)

The ancient monuments we visited for the film, including the Rollright Stones and Wayland’s Smithy, fascinated Tolkien not just because they were ancient remnants, but also because they had acquired names and legends thousands of years after they were built. The names we still use for them derive from the early medieval period, when people reimagined them in the same way as they coined the name Fawler. Maybe he wasn’t an archaeologist, but Tolkien was able to excavate these layers of meaning from a variety of source materials from Old English literature to place-names. Tolkien's Hobbits, he imagined, were something like the Anglo-Saxons, enchanted by the spirits that still inhabited these ancient megaliths. 

Tolkien the Professor 

But Tolkien was not content merely to leave us wondering about these ancient monuments. A big reason for writing the Ring cycle was the chance to explore – even excavate? – in the world he had conjured to life. In a brilliant article on the archaeology of Tolkien’s world, Deborah Sabo showed how “encounters with ruins—or, to choose a more inclusive term, archaeological places—contribute to the successful evocation of a sense of history in Middle-earth” (2007, 91). The Hobbits stand in for the readers, being taken on a walking tour of Middle-earth. When Bilbo and his Party find ancient swords in the Trollshaws, they go ask Elrond how old they are and who made them, and we get our first glimpses of the antiquity of these lands. Years later when Frodo and his party find themselves at one of Bilbo’s ‘old castles’, Aragorn is there to expound on its historical significance.  

We are conditioned to expect that Middle-earth has an epic history, but one that is precariously on the edge of being forgotten. This is not dissimilar to the rural England of Tolkien’s youth, with the search for British prehistory a very recent development at that point. But he was on a different kind of mission. His interest in place-names as artefacts all added to what he called in his 1926 review “the allurement of the riddle of the past” and this work as “the recapturing of fitful and tantalizing glimpses in the dark” (65). As Sabo points out, in LotR,

almost every encounter with an archaeological place springs a mnemonic trigger that brings to some character's mind a connection to the past, and a context for learning, either a deepening sense of his own heritage and identity, or sympathy for that of another…encounters with ruins and archaeological places in The Lord of the Rings always lead to personal growth. (2007, 108-9) 

It is striking to go back to the big book of Tolkien’s Letters with this in mind. One of the earliest (number 7) is the cover letter he wrote to the University of Oxford when he applied to the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professorship of Anglo-Saxon in 1925, at the age of 33. He ends it with his sincere wish to continue “the encouragement of philological enthusiasm among the young.”  

He of course got the job, and held that professorship for twenty years. But he'd be encouraging the youth for generations to come.

It is then no surprise the Tolkien readers are all susceptible to seeing Middle-earth everywhere. Tolkien himself trained us to peel back the layers of stories we love, and ground ourselves with roots in our own epic pasts, wherever we are. 

And some of us grow up to be archaeologists. 

***

Featured image by me

Watch Tolkien: The True Story of the Rings on Arte.tv

AlmostArch is no longer on Twitter. Follow us instead at AlmostArch.bsky.social.

[lindsaywesker]

Good morning!  I hope you slept well and feel rested?  Currently sitting at my desk, in my study, attired only in my blue towelling robe, enjoying my first cuppa of the day.

We have now reached a new low.  This is where we’re at: people of colour – workers and students – are now being offered the option of staying at home if they don’t feel safe.  This is where we’re at.  British-born, lived-here-all-their-life people of colour are now being given that choice.  That is how bad things have got.  That is how low our society has fallen.  Dictated to by far-right thugs.  Not protestors.  Thugs with swastika tattoos and a poppy in their buttonhole.  Don’t they realise British soldiers died fighting the swastika? 

So, this is the new normal?  It’s pretty sad.  Some foreign countries have even issued government warnings, telling their citizens NOT to travel to the UK.  Not good for the tourist industry.  Not good for our global standing.  Having left the EU, many foreign countries are still laughing at us. 

Those ‘protestors’ that broke into Greggs and Shoezone and the phone shop, don’t they know how that’s going to affect their ability to get a job or travel abroad?  Probably not.  Looting is never a good career option.   

The Fash tried to go to Liverpool, Birmingham and Nottingham last night.  Outnumbered.  Tried to go to Walthamstow.  Shut down.  Tried it on in Brighton.  They just laughed at them.  Young Muslims marched through Accrington in Lancashire and the locals came out of the pubs to embrace them.  Ultimately, The Fash are a very vocal minority.  In the major cities, we know what we’re doing.  We don’t need your help.

Yesterday, I had a lovely walk in my local park.  As you know, temperatures are slightly down, so it was great walking weather.  I feel healthy.  I am so, so lucky.  To be this age and be this healthy, I am bloody lucky.  I definitely do not take my good health for granted.  I’m not an athlete but, within myself, I feel very good.  How blessed am I? 

Have a throbbing and thrusting Thursday (with hopefully a few thrills through your thoroughfare?)  I love you all.

[scifigeneration]

Doctor Who at 60: what qualities make the best companion? A psychologist explains

by Sarita Robinson, Associate Dean of School for Psychology and Humanities at the University of Central Lancashire

Over the past 60 years, we have witnessed the Doctor’s adventures in time and space with a multitude of companions by his side. From his granddaughter Susan and her teachers, Ian and Barbara to Ryan, Graham and Yaz – the Doctor has had many travelling companions.

But what makes a person leave their everyday life and leap at the chance to join Team Tardis with a brilliant, yet at times unpredictable, Time Lord? What does it take to not only survive but to thrive as the Doctor’s companion? A degree of physical fitness is certainly needed for running up and down corridors, but the Doctor’s companions also need to be open to new experiences, keep going in the face of adversity and be resilient.

One thing that all successful companions share is a flexible, or growth, mindset. People with a flexible mindset are more likely to believe that they can deal with new situations and can gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed.

One example of a companion with a flexible mindset is the fourth Doctor’s (Tom Baker) travelling companion, Leela (Louise Jameson). Leela belonged to a tribe of regressed humans, known as the Sevateem, who were descended from a survey team which crash-landed on the planet Mordee where they founded a colony. A great warrior, Leela demanded that the Doctor took her with him in the Tardis.

Before her travels with the Doctor, Leela had had no experience of technology or societies outside her own. But during her time with the Doctor she was always quick to adapt to new situations and saw all the new experiences she was exposed to as an opportunity for learning.

Linked to the flexible mindset, companions also tend to score highly on the trait of openness, when measured on the Big Five personality scale. Companions need to have a strong sense of curiosity and a willingness to embrace their experience of alien worlds or distant historic or future eras. The personality trait of openness has been linked to better resilience to challenging situations.

The Doctor’s travelling companions often have a high level of optimism. In other words, they are likely to expect the best in difficult situations – being able to overcome the Daleks or foil the evil plans of the Cybermen, for example.

People who have high levels of optimism have been found to be physically healthier and more psychologically resilient. It is very important that companions adopt optimistic thinking as they often need to keep going in tough situations, whereas pessimists are more likely to just give up.

One of the Doctor’s most optimistic companions is Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), who escapes to Earth after the Master takes the Doctor, Jack and Martha’s family hostage on the Valiant Spaceship.

The Doctor asks Martha to travel the world for a year, telling everyone on Earth that she meets to think of the Doctor at a specific time on a certain day will this secure his release. Martha keeps her faith in the Doctor and it is her belief that everything will be alright in the end which helps her to keep going and fulfil her mission.

Post-traumatic growth

Travelling with the Doctor is never dull. Alongside all the amazing experiences companions will also be exposed to traumatic and dangerous situations.

Many researchers have focused on the negative psychological consequences that can follow traumatic events (such as the development of disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder). However, recent research has acknowledged that some people can report positive changes following exposure to challenging life events, which is referred to as “post-traumatic growth”.

The suggestion is that traumatic experiences can act as a catalyst for some people and trigger positive cognitive and emotional changes. For example, although Graham (Bradley Walsh) suffers the trauma of both having cancer and losing his wife, he joins the Doctor as a positive way of coping with loss.

Post-traumatic growth is also more likely to happen when a person has a good social support network. Companions never face danger alone – they always have the Doctor by their side. The social support that companions have from the Doctor may be one of the reasons why they are more likely to positively benefit from their travels in the Tardis and return to earth changed for the better.

Many leave the Doctor when they stop being able to cope with the continuous danger. For example Dan (John Bishop) decided to return to his home town of Liverpool after his near-death experience during his encounter with the CyberMasters.

If I was to select one standout companion it would be Ace (Sophie Aldred), who travelled with the seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy). Ace suffered a difficult childhood but embraced the study of chemistry (especially when it involved blowing things up). She was fearless, and independent as well as being handy with a baseball bat and her canisters of her homemade Nitro-9 explosive.

When she found herself unexpectedly on the Iceworld of Svartos, she adapted quickly to her new situation, becoming a waitress and forming new friendships. Even though her relationship with the Doctor (or Professor as she fondly called him) was complex, she is one of the companions who shows the most growth, developing a strong moral compass, as a result of her travels in the Tardis.

The Time Lords are highly selective of their travelling companions. It is clear that those who do accept the invitation to travel are likely to have an open minded, optimistic and resilient mindset.

[peaksport]

Amber weather warning for snow in northern England extended to Monday | UK weather

Heavy overnight snow in Wales and the north of England The trips were interrupted to get the new year off to a cold start. The Met Office has renewed an amber weather warning for snow in northern England to run into Monday morning. The warning – which covers parts of Lancashire, Cumbria and the Lake District – warns that travel delays, transport and power cuts are all likely, and could cut off…

[airportspecials]

Affordable Rides to Manchester Airport Anytime

Traveling to the airport can be a stressful experience, especially when you’re worried about getting there on time or finding a reliable transportation option. That’s where affordable and convenient airport rides come into play, making your journey smoother and stress-free. If you’re heading to or from Manchester Airport, choosing a cost-effective taxi service is a great way to ensure a hassle-free experience, no matter the time of day or night.

Why Choose a Taxi Service for Airport Transfers?

One of the primary reasons people opt for taxi services for airport shuttle Lancashire is the convenience they offer. Unlike public transportation, which operates on fixed schedules and routes, taxis provide door-to-door service. This means you can travel directly from your home, hotel, or office to the airport without worrying about connections or delays.

Additionally, taxis are available 24/7, making them ideal for early morning or late-night flights. You don’t have to depend on the limited operational hours of trains or buses. With a taxi service, you can book a ride anytime, ensuring you’ll arrive at the airport on time.

The Benefits of Affordable Airport Rides

Cost-Effective Option: Many people assume that taking a taxi to the airport is expensive, but that’s not always the case. By choosing an affordable service, you can save money while enjoying the comfort and convenience of private transportation. Some services even offer flat rates for airport transfers, eliminating any surprises in the fare.

Time-Saving: Public transportation can be time-consuming, especially if you have to make multiple transfers. Taxis provide a direct route to the airport, cutting down travel time significantly. This is especially beneficial when you’re in a rush or traveling during peak hours.

Comfort and Privacy: Traveling with luggage on public transport can be cumbersome. Taxis provide a private and comfortable space where you can relax during the journey. You don’t have to worry about crowded buses or trains, making your trip more enjoyable.

24/7 Availability: Whether your flight is at midnight or early in the morning, you can rely on taxi services to be available whenever you need them. This flexibility is particularly important for travelers with unpredictable schedules.

Tips for Booking Affordable Rides to Manchester Airport

Plan Ahead: Booking your taxi in advance can help you secure better rates. Many taxi services offer discounts for pre-booked rides, so it’s worth checking their pricing policies.

Compare Prices: Don’t settle for the first option you find. Take the time to compare prices from different taxi providers to ensure you’re getting the best deal. Look for services that offer transparent pricing with no hidden fees.

Check Reviews: Before booking a ride, read customer reviews to ensure the service is reliable and professional. Positive feedback from other travelers is a good indicator of quality service.

Consider Group Travel: If you’re traveling with family or friends, sharing a taxi can significantly reduce the cost per person. Many taxi services offer vehicles that can accommodate larger groups, making it a cost-effective option for group travel.

Look for Promotions: Some taxi services & airport transfers Burnley run promotions or discounts during off-peak hours or for new customers. Keep an eye out for these deals to save even more on your airport transfer.

Features of a Reliable Airport Taxi Service

Punctuality: A reliable service ensures timely pickups and drop-offs, so you never have to worry about missing your flight.

Professional Drivers: Experienced and courteous drivers can make your journey more pleasant. They’re also knowledgeable about the best routes to avoid traffic and ensure a smooth ride.

Clean and Well-Maintained Vehicles: Traveling in a clean and comfortable vehicle enhances your overall experience. Reliable services prioritize the maintenance of their fleet to ensure customer satisfaction.

Easy Booking Process: A user-friendly booking system, whether online or via a phone call, makes it convenient to arrange your ride. Some services even offer mobile apps for seamless bookings.

Safety Measures: Safety is a top priority for any transportation service. Look for companies that follow strict safety protocols, including background checks for drivers and regular vehicle inspections.

Alternatives to Consider

While taxis are a popular choice, there are alternative transportation options you can explore for getting to Manchester Airport:

Ridesharing Services: These can be a cost-effective option, especially during non-peak hours. However, availability might vary, and surge pricing can increase costs during busy periods.

Public Transport: Trains and buses are often cheaper than taxis but come with the inconvenience of fixed schedules and potential delays. They may not be ideal if you’re traveling with heavy luggage or during odd hours.

Shuttle Services: Shared shuttle services can be a budget-friendly option, but they may take longer as they make multiple stops to pick up or drop off passengers.

Final Thoughts

Affordable rides to Manchester airport taxi service are a convenient and reliable option for travelers seeking comfort and efficiency. By planning ahead, comparing prices, and choosing a reputable service, you can enjoy a stress-free journey to the airport. Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, a good taxi service ensures you start your trip on the right note.

Next time you’re heading to Manchester Airport, consider booking a taxi for a seamless and affordable experience. With the right service, you’ll have one less thing to worry about, allowing you to focus on your journey ahead.

Read Also: Which Bus Routes Serve Liverpool Airport Travelers?

[leicamoments]

Darwen FC 3-0 Harrogate Railway Athletic

Darwen Points To Evolution Not Revolution

As any football fan knows, there’s something special about the various cup competitions; be it the history of taking part in the FA Cup, or the prospect of taking on new teams in the FA Vase. A good run in one of the competitions is a nice distraction that can provide a boost to morale, and certainly help with club finances.

Saturday saw the first round of the FA Vase, with Railway travelling across the border into Lancashire to take on Darwen FC of the North West Counties Football League First Division North.

The team and supporters were in good spirits as they got onto the coach at Station View, leaving shortly after 11:30am with a nervous energy that tends to be a part of cup away days.

It’s been a while since I’ve been on a team coach, and it was good to catch up with some familiar faces while we were entertained by a round of karaoke from a few of the players – thank the heavens they didn’t ask me to join in, as I’d have probably been kicked off the bus somewhere around Skipton!

Arriving at the Multevo Group Anchor Ground in good time, we were entertained by the closing stages of a junior game being played on the 3G pitch in the warm bright sunshine.

We didn’t have to wait long to get to the dugouts, with the manager and coaches getting instantly into their match day routines, setting out the cones in readiness for the players to go through their own warm up routines.

The ground feels like one of those traditional clubs that has seen a lot of modernisation over the last few years. Entrance to the ground is through the turnstiles in one corner, and you are funnelled between the Legend’s Sports Bar and the clubhouse which then opens out to a fantastic view of the 3G pitch.

A covered stand runs down one side of the ground, and there is an open view on the other side towards Hyndburn Windfarm, which on Saturday was beautifully lit by the Autumnal sunshine on a hill about three or four miles away.

Looking back over the bar and car park, is the impressive sight of Darwen Tower sitting at the top of another hill, dominating the surrounding area. Overall, an impressive backdrop for the FA Vase fixture.

Playing The Game

Rob, Frazer and Lee have had a mixed start to the season having played 14 games; they’ve picked up five wins, drawn four, and lost five with a goal difference of plus six.

When the previous manager left, pretty much the whole team departed with him and the new management had the unenviable task of assembling a complete squad of players with only a few weeks in which to do it.

To their absolute credit, the club finished 11th in the league and given the challenges of being a newly formed squad of players and having one of the smaller budgets in the league – it shows just how capable the management team are.

This season, there have been some different challenges – with a few of the more senior players missing from the matchday squad due to injuries, it has meant that a number of younger players have had to be drafted in.

This was my first time covering Railway this season and it was good to see Prince Attakorah back in the squad after his long lay-off at the end of last season due to a serious injury. I was looking forward to seeing him and the other members of the team out on the pitch.

The first half was a mixed affair for Harrogate as they struggled to deal with the pace and intelligent play of Darwen’s number 2 and 11 on their right, but at the same time creating a number of excellent chances to score themselves.

Into the final five minutes of the first 45, and things looked good for the visitors; any threats on their goal had been dealt with comfortably, and they were showing signs of being able to get something up front.

Then, a ball from Darwen’s left was allowed to travel right across the edge of Railway’s penalty box where Rio Wilson-Heyes controlled it and fired it back across the keeper to open the home team’s account, 1-0.

Hurt by conceding so late in the first half, Harrogate Railway immediately pushed the home team back, creating two half chances that on another day could have hit the back of the net.

The half-time whistle blew, and the Railwaymen headed back to the dressing room a goal down but having created enough chances to potentially be ahead. To be fair, Darwen had had more of the ball and of the play in the first period, and probably just about deserved to be a goal ahead.

A half time change for Railway saw Des Okoro come on for Harry Tinker, and the second half started brightly with both teams pushing forward. It was the Salmoners that were to have the first opportunity in the second period as Hughes shot straight at Hick, who collected the ball comfortably.

Railway pressed forward, creating a number of good situations where they could have scored, only to see the ball either sent wide or just over the bar. Darwen were living on the edge at this point, it seemed that it would only be a matter of time before Railway got level.

A breakaway in the 64th minute saw Darwen’s Ramwell running into the box as Hick came out to collect the ball. It was one of those moments that you knew the two players would be contesting the ball at the same time…and as Ramwell went to poke it past the stretching keeper, contact was made and the forward went tumbling.

The referee blew and pointed to the spot as the Railway players shouted in disbelief. Contact had been minimal and being honest, we’ve all seen penalties either given or waved away in these circumstances.

Nevertheless, the decision stood and Rio Wilson-Heyes fired the ball to the right of the outstretched arm of Hicks to give the home team a two-goal lead, 2-0.

Railway needed a quick response and pushed the home team back once more. Again, creating a number of good chances to score and but for more composed final touches, they should have.

The pressure was telling, with one of the Darwen players trying to rally his teammates having said “We’re under the cosh a bit here lads!”. Railway were giving everything to get back into this tie.

With ten minutes remaining, Railway had a shout for a penalty as they broke into their opponent’s box from the left. A byline cut back struck the Darwen defender’s arm, but the referee waved the appeals away, indicating that all the visitors had earned was a corner.

The resultant corner was cleared quickly and within five seconds Harrogate’s defence found themselves outnumbered and struggling to get back as Rio Wilson-Heyes raced from just inside his own half into Railway’s penalty box and sent his shot across the advancing Harrogate keeper to get his hattrick and Darwen’s third, 3-0.

With the final few minutes running down, Harrogate Railway still had time to create three more good chances to score, with the Darwen keeper at one point making a great save when Maville-Anku went through one-on-one with him.

The full-time whistle went and Darwen had won the game 3-0 and progressed to the next round of the FA Vase, where they will travel to face Winsford United.

On the Coach Home

It’s easy to assume that the final scoreline reflects a fairly easy home win for the Lancashire team, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Throughout the 90 minutes, Railway created a plethora of excellent chances that, with more calm finishing, could have seen them win this tie – even with conceding three goals.

Over the course of the game, the visitors had the majority of the chances, but it was Darwen who were more clinical in front of goal…and as we all know, that is what really counts.

Looking from the outside, the Railwaymen are creating something special at the club; Rob, Lee and Frazier are putting together the nucleus of a special group of young players that as a team can punch well above their weight.

What is needed is a little more time for the team to develop that understanding, and maybe add one or two new faces. This is certainly a case of needing measured evolution rather than revolution.

Watch this team…good things are set to come!

Railway are next in action 3pm on Saturday 26th October at Station View, with the visitor’s being table-topping Horbury Town in the league.

[jrpneblog]

Tough finish going into the break

The second international break is almost upon us and North End face a difficult end to this little section of the season as we travel to Turf Moor on Saturday to face Burnley. The trip to East Lancashire comes on the back of a very mixed week for Paul Heckingbottom with North End having meekly surrendered at Millwall last Saturday followed by a second half power show against Watford at Deepdale on Wednesday evening. To be fair to the manager he is still sorting out his squad and in the six league games he has been in charge he has won two, drawn two and lost two. Add to this, of course, two wins in the Carabao Cup albeit the one against Fulham was thanks to that marathon penalty shootout which ended 16-15 in North End`s favour. It is not a bad start by any means considering what went before and I said when Paul was given the job that I would be more than happy if we were half way up the league at Christmas. We currently sit 21st although the league is so tight we are only three points behind Oxford who are 11th so no need to panic just yet.

Last Saturday North End put in a very poor performance down in SE16 and came away with their tails between their legs having lost 1-3 to Millwall. The Lions just seemed to be more purposeful in everything they did and they will probably not have an easier game than this one all season. Two down at half-time was not the best position to be in but when the home side made it three early in the second half there was no way back for North End. The Jordan Storey goal just before the end was little consolation for the 786 who made the long trek to South Bermondsey and I though PH`s comments at the end told a story when he had said that he saw things he didnt like for the first time since coming to the club.

It was a different story on Wednesday evening at Deepdale as North End comprehensively beat a decent Watford side by three goals to nil. It took North End a while to get going with the five changes from the team that started at Millwall but once we cracked on we played much better and put in a cracking second half performance to overcome the Hornets and breath some confindence onto the Deepdale terraces. Two goals from Mulutin Osmajic and a third from Ali McCann were enough to see North End home and dry but Freddie had to make a couple of very good saves to keep the visitors out on an evening when Deepdale roared again as the boys put in a performance that everyone associated with the club could be proud of.

On Saturday we take on high flying Burnley away from home in what looks a daunting encounter on paper given the respective form of the two sides. The Clarets currently sit second in the Championship with seventeen points from eight games. At home Burnley have won three and drawn one of their four games to date and are clearly one of the strongest sides in the division. However I think Paul Heckingbottom will see it as an opportunity to show the nation what his new team can do and at least this season we will hopefully get a committed performance unlike the 0-3 debacle we saw two seasons ago under the previous regime. This is a tough assignment but stranger things have happened and Rovers got a draw there in a fierce local derby so we should take some comfort from that and go out and show the Sky viewers what we can do.

And finally this week:- I was down at the ticket office on Thursday morning getting my Arsenal ticket. I sit in the Invincibles and the cost was £32.50 which I think is the most I have ever paid at Deepdale to watch a match in my own seat. This isn`t a criticism of the club it is just an observation because I believe the club were between a rock and a hard place when it came to pricing this fixture. Buisness was brisk and I really hope we sell out for this which could be the biggest game of the season.

.

MATCH PREDICTION -

BURNLEY (A) - League - Home Win

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JR`s HIGH FIVES

Morecambe to beat Accrington Stanley 5/2

A £5 Stake returns £17.50 on bet365

SEASONS STATS

Returns £11.50 Stake £40.00

Percentage profit+/-loss - 71.25%

Predictions 8 won 1 lost 7