Today is Lancashire
Day. Here are ten facts about the British county of Lancashire.
- Lancashire is a young county, relatively speaking. It wasn't mentioned in the 1086 Doomsday survey because it wasn't created until 1182.
- It's population of around 1,460,893 live in an area of 3,075 sq km. 80% of the county is classed as rural although it is home to Britain's largest town - Bolton, with a population of 260,000. You'll also find England's smallest town here - Bashall Town, near Clitheroe.
- The geographical centre of the British Isles is in Lancashire. It's Dunsop Bridge in the Ribble Valley.
- The county has pioneered many forms of transport in the UK, if not the world. The UK's first airport was Squires Gate, now Blackpool International Airport. Blackpool's tram system was the first permanent electric street tramway in the world. The Preston Bypass opened in 1958 and was Britain's first motorway. It is now part of the M6. The world’s first intercity railway, built by George Stephenson opened in 1830 between Liverpool and Manchester. It was the first railway to have double tracks, signals and a timetable, and the first to rely on steam power. It pioneered transport on water, too - the Bridgewater canal was considered the first proper canal in Britain, dating back to 1759. Finally, Europe's largest Bus station is in Preston.
- Famous people from Lancashire include: George Formby, Jimmy Clitheroe, Eric Morecambe, boxer Amir Khan, cricketer Andrew Flintoff, Anne Robinson, Cherie Blair, Dame Thora Hird, Eric Sykes, Ian McKellan, Lynda La Plante, Phillip Schofield, Paddy McGuinness, Ricky Tomlinson, Victoria Wood, Zoe Ball, Professor Brian Cox, and Mystic Meg.
- Lancashire has Britain’s shortest river, the Brun which runs through Burnley, and the longest canal, The Leeds Liverpool Canal, flows through it. There is also a forest the size of New York City - Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Beauty which covers 802 square km.
- It's where the 18th century industrial revolution started - in the mill towns of Blackburn and Burnley.
- Pendle Hill is famous for the Pendle Witches, twelve people living in the area who were accused of witchcraft and murder in the 16th century. Their trial at Lancaster Assizes became one of the most famous witchcraft trials in England. Pendle Hill is also where George Fox is believed to have had a vision in 1640, inspiring him to start the Quaker movement.
- An unlikely seeming popular drink in Burnley is Benedictine and hot water. In fact, one in every three bottles of Benedictine in the UK is sold in Lancashire, and Burnley Miners’ Social Club sells more Benedictine than any other hostelry in Britain. This is because local boys ended up stationed at Fecamp, where Benedictine is made, and they developed a taste for it.
Other English Counties
Jack Ward, President of Innovia, owes his life twice over to the enigmatic superhero, dubbed Power Blaster by the press. No-one knows who Power Blaster is or where he comes from - and he wants it to stay that way.
Scientist Desi Troyes has developed a nuclear bomb to counter the ever present threat of an asteroid hitting the planet. When Ward signs the order giving the go ahead for a nuclear test on the remote Bird Island, he has no inkling of Troyes' real agenda, and that he has signed the death warrants of millions of people.
Although the island should have been evacuated, there are people still there: some from the distant continent of Classica; protesters opposed to the bomb test; and Innovians who will not, or cannot, use their communication devices.
Power Blaster knows he must stop the bomb from hitting the island. He also knows it may be the last thing he ever does.
Meanwhile in Innovia, Ward and his staff gather to watch the broadcast of the test. Nobody, not even Troyes himself, has any idea what is about to happen.
Part One of The Raiders Trilogy.
Nice post but you are mistaken about the first proper canal. That honour goes to the Sankey Canal which was opened several years before. That's in Lancashire too so no real worries ;-)
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