Tourist guide to Nelson

1:00pm Tuesday 24th July 2007

Comments (0)   Have your say »

NELSON as a town owes its current status to the arrival of the railway.

It even takes its name from the Lord Nelson Hotel built because of and situated close to the railway.

Prior to the arrival of "steam carriages" there were two attractive hamlets situated on the hillside which are still overlooked by the modern town.

Little and Great Marsden were within the manor controlled by the de Walton family who lived at Marsden Hall until they ran out of heirs in 1912.

Then the local authority purchased the estate, created Marsden Park, but sadly demolished most of the hall.

One important section was thankfully left and has been used as a restaurant.

Nearby is a unique sundial dating from 1841 and which these days seldom receives more than a cursory glance.

On it there are spike-like indicators which provide details of the time in many parts of the world including Jerusalem, Calcutta, London, Moscow, Ceylon, Buenos Aires and perhaps prophetically Fort Nelson in the USA.

The modern road connecting Nelson with Colne in one direction and Burnley in the other, runs along the valley bottom, but the old high road still exists.

Like the Marsden sundial, the road has kept its secret nooks and crannies for thos with the time and energy to seek them out.

Carr Hall Lane in Nelson cuts between two housing estates and the modern bypass which carries traffic between Padiham and Nelson.

Carr Hall itself has long been demolished, but its impressive gatehouse can still be seen among the modern houses.

The drive, which once led up to the hall and now on the opposite side of the bypass, remains a fascinating feature and concerns the layout of the trees.

These days a herd of deer roam among the trees.

Many local men fought in the Battle of Waterloo and soon after the history, victory trees were planted and arranged in battle order.

Splendid and now old oaks still stand and mark the observation points marking the battle stations.

Other trees relate to the rank and file soldiers.

Carr Hall Lane now never receives a second glance unless folk remark on the deer and they therefore miss one of the most interesting War Memorials to be found in Britain.

The old roads and trading tracks around Nelson are well worth exploring.

One of the most interesting leads along Halifax Road to Harle Syke and on to Noggarth and obviously to Halifax.

In the days before cotton, wool was the important textile and the Piece Hall in Halifax was the most important trading centre.

Beyond Harle Syke is Roggerham Gate and on the old Halifax Road stands the remnant of the Noggarth Cross.

This was one of a number of crosses set up to guide medieval travellers across the desolate moorland paths.

They were gradually forgotten as lowland areas were drained and new roads subsequently built.

Those who explore modern-day Nelson should take time to explore Marsden and the old halls and highways which are all so steeped in history.