Whilst not in the Ribble Valley, Slaidburn is on one of the Ribble's tributaries.  I use some creative license to include it in this site.   (I did say the management accepts no responsibility for the content of these pages or their reason for being here).  I came into Slaidburn via a back road from Bolton -by- Bowland (from the south east),  The first 3 pictures here are from the road in the hills above Slaidburn.  You can see it was a grey sort of day.  Just right for travelling on that sort of road.

Slaidburn is a pretty village on the Hodder River, built mainly of grey stone (to match the day), it is in the Forest of Bowland.  The church in the picture above is mostly 15th century, but it's history can be traced back another 300 years.   Inside it's massive, ancient doors is a 3 deck pulpit, a Jacobean chancel screen and pews that retain the maker’s adze marks.  A significant part of the woodwork is seventeenth century.

The village shop is well stocked with pottery from a local potter and has a fine range of gemstones. The picture above right is taken from the steps of the shop.  When inside take heed of the "Duck or Grouse" signs.

At the Hark to Bounty Inn, which retains the "Local Pub" atmosphere, there is a story behind the name. The Inn dates back to the 13^th century, and until 1875 was known as The Dog. When the Squire of the village, who was also the Parson, had a pack of hounds. One day whilst out hunting he and his party called at the Inn for "refreshments". Their drinking was disturbed by the long and loud baying from the pack outside. High above the noise could be heard the Squires favourite dog, which prompted him to call out Hark to Bounty.

The Inn still houses the original Moot Courtroom of the Forest of Bowland, which is said to have been used by Cromwell. It was still in use up to 1937. It was visited by the travelling justices from the 14^th century onwards and was the only court between York & Lancaster. The records of the court are still held in archives at Preston and Clitheroe. The court room is now used as a restaurant.  The pub serves excellent lunches, fine beer and still retains some of the original Olde Worlde construction.

Another village not strictly in the Ribble valley, but a village worthy of note.

A view of the hill from the Village                                  A view of the Village from the hill

Dunsop Bridge is the entrance to the famous Trough of Bowland. Lovely winding paths from here through the moors to Lancaster are popular with thousands of fell walkers. At St Hubert’s Church the painting of a horse on the ceiling above the altar is supposed to be of the 1861 Derby winner ‘Kettledrum’. Owned by the Towneley family it is said that the church was paid for with the horse’s winnings. Ordnance Survey has declared the village of Dunsop Bridge to be the official centre. In 1992 the famous explorer Sir Randolph Fiennes unveiled the 100,000th payphone, located on the riverside green in the village. The payphone's plaque confirms its national grid reference as S.D. 6377 5655 the United Kingdom centre. It is fortunate that Dunsop Bridge is one of the most attractive parts of the kingdom, a fitting setting for such an important location.