A Stroll Around Lytham
This issue, local writer and walking enthusiast Steve Garrill takes us for a long stroll around Lytham taking in some wonderful historical facts and features
Lytham Circular (3.3 miles)
Please note the rear entrance to Lytham Hall, which this walk utilises, is now open on Sunday, but when closed, after crossing the Church Drive railway bridge, turn right into Witch Wood, to the end and turn left.
1. From the station bear left through Sparrow Park and turn right onto Park Road. At the end cross over into Clifton Square. Turn right down Henry Street.
The Taps on the left was once the coaching and stabling for the Clifton Arms.
At the end of the street on the right was the site of a Drill Hall. On the 6th August 1914 the Lytham Territorials marched to Preston. Many never returned.
2. Turn right onto Queen Street and left onto Church Road.
Facing you at the end of Queen Street is Hastings Place. The large building on the left was the estate office for Lytham Hall. The Gatehouse for Lytham Hall was originally here before being moved brick by brick to its present location. You will see this later on the walk.
3. Continue along Church Road and at the third left, Lowther Terrace, enter into Lowther Gardens.
Lowther Gardens were provided by Squire J Talbot Clifton in 1872 in honour of his wife, Eleanor Cecily Clifton (of the Lowther family in Cumbria). They were designed and laid out for the benefit of the inhabitants and visitors to Lytham on what was previously poor grazing land known as Hungry Moor.
Lowther Pavilion has an extensive programme of entertainment and ambitious plans for future development.
www.lowtherpavilion.co.uk
4. Explore the grounds of Lowther Gardens before exiting at the next corner back onto Church Road. Cross the road and turn into St Cuthberts Church. Take a look inside this beautiful church and then walk around the graveyard. Look for the Lytham Lifeboat Memorial.
The current church of St Cuthberts is the third to be built on this site. A church was built in 1770, to replace an older structure of cobbles. This was replaced in 1834–1835. It was enlarged in 1872 and again in 1909.
In its grounds you will find the Lytham Lifeboat Memorial commemorating the 27 lifeboatmen who lost their lives in the 1886 Mexico Disaster.
5. Return and continue to turn into Church Drive. Go over the railway bridge onto Ringwood Drive, over to Maplewood Close and straight on to cross Forest Drive into the rear entrance of Lytham Hall.
The estate once covered more than 80,000 acres and the Clifton family were one of the richest in the country. In Cuthbert Clifton’s time there were 16,000 acres. For more history see an article at www.lytham.online/hall by Peter Anthony.
Lytham Hall is run by Heritage Trust North West with the help of more than 300 volunteers. The hall is managed by Peter Anthony and Paul Lomax who have overseen a massive restoration of this Georgian House.
There is an extensive range of events – see www.lythamhall.co.uk
6. Follow the track. Take the first path on the right, then the second on your left into South Prospect garden. Turn left past The Mount.
The Mount, constructed from the soil excavated from Curtains Pond in the 17th Century, contained an ice house for imported ice.
7. Pass to the left of a large brick wall and then right through the vegetable gardens. Turn right to pass through the Garden Hub. The recently refurbished café on your right has an excellent menu and is highly recommended. There is also outdoor seating.
The Garden Hub always has a truly beautiful display of flower and plants for sale. It is run by the very affable Greg Anderton who is instrumental in many of the flower displays around Lytham. Visit www.lytham.online/greg for the fascinating story of Greg’s life so far.
Lytham has won the Gold Award from North West in Bloom for nine consecutive years. Search for Lytham in Bloom on Facebook.
8. Turn left to pass the Antiques and Reclamation Centre. Turn left again to pass the gift shop. Continue on and the Animal Hub is on the left. Turn right towards the Dovecote.
The Dovecote, with 850 nesting boxes, would have been managed by the gamekeeper.
9. Turn right through the car park and right again. The stables would have been on the right.
The stables and the Dovecote date back to the 1790s. The Clifton family were active horse owners and several winners were trained and housed here. The stables will be restored in a future phrase of redevelopment.
10. Turn left and straight ahead. Turn left directly opposite the side entrance to Lytham Hall down a broad wooded walkway which leads you to the Lily Pond and the fountain.
The Lily Pond is a haven for wildlife. This along with the boathouse, which is being restored, was used by the Clifton family for entertaining.
11. Pass the boathouse and follow the path around the edge of the Lily Pond until you reach a junction of paths. Turn left and then left onto a track. At a pile of logs turn right on to another path and follow this to reach the wrought iron gates. Turn left down the drive and eventually pass through the gatehouse.
The main gatehouse and entrance were moved here from Hastings Place (near the start of today’s walk) in 1863 when the railway line to Blackpool was built. This is when Witch Wood was also created. Gatekeeeper accommodation was on both sides, with doorways onto the drive. It was inhabited up to the 1980s. The recently renovated gatehouses are available to rent for a couple as self-catering accommodation (Estate Office 01253 736652).
12. Cross the road and over the railway bridge back into Lytham.
There are many more local walks and a lot of fascinating local history in ‘Walks from the South Fylde Line’ by Steve Garrill.
Signed copies are available for £8.95 from Plackitt & Booth on Clifton Street in Lytham.
