Drive and Stroll, with Ron Freethy

FOR many years one of my favourite walks has been alongside the old Burnley to Nelson road at Coldwell.

In the 1980s, the old Coldwell Inn was in ruins and ready for demolition.

In 1985, however, it was decided to restore the building and use it as a holiday and activity centre for the disabled and socially disadvantaged.

Since 1989, it has given a warm welcome to groups of between eight and 21 people from special schools or with disabilities.

The real joy to me is that only one group is dealt with at a time so each has individual attention.

There is a stair lift and full disabled facilities.

Details of how to book can be obtained from: Coldwell Inn Activity Centre, Back Lane, Southfield, Burnley, BB10 3RG. Telephone: 01282 601819.

The Activity Centre operates as a charity.

For the walker there is a splendid little tea room.

All this costs money to set up and funds were raised through grants and donations, including a substantial input from Coldwell's landlord, North West Water. The Coldwell Inn is situated right on the edge of Deerstone Moor and overlooks Lower Coldwell Reservoir.

The building was once a farm but with the coming of the packhorse routes it became an inn.

The track is much older than these 18th century trade routes and from prehistoric times it was on the main route between England and Scotland.

It was known as the Kings Highway and Coldwell provided a warm welcome to travellers between Halifax and Colne.

Actually there was once a well in the area, but the old word "cald" means dry and it would seem that in hot summers it dried up.

It would not have been a problem in 1998, would it?

At one time the Inn was notorious for the cockfighting, with large sums of money changing hands as a result of these barbarous contests.

The cocks were bred to fight and their feet were armed with razor-sharp metal spurs. In October 1922 , the police organised a massive raid on the cockfighters and Nelson magistrates took a hard line on those caught.

They imposed a total of fines of around £2,000 which was no small sum in those days.

Another illegal "sport" which took place at the Coldwell Inn was bare-knuckle fighting.

After it closed in 1939, the Inn was occupied in the war years by the Home Guard, but if it had not been for this centre being developed a wonderful bit of Lancashire's history would have crumbled away.

If you fancy a stroll (there is a good car park) and a brew you could do worse than explore The Coldwell Inn.

Local historian G W Petts compiled a history of the area and a free leaflet based on his work is available at the centre.

As you approach the inn look out for a small cross on the roof.

This is known as the Templar Cross and was a sign of refuge and hospitality dating from the ancient trackways.

The Coldwell, and the reservoir around it, is yet another piece of hidden Lancashire and one which will offer a welcome to visitors throughout the year.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.