FOR the last six months, I have been a Trends and Features writer for the Lancashire Telegraph.
While I spent three years of my life living in Lancashire and have many friends from the county, I am from the West Midlands and still had plenty to learn about East Lancashire.
However, writing feature stories for The Lancashire Telegraph has really allowed me to discover more about the county; I have dug deep into the area’s history, spoken to locals and really feel like I have integrated into the local community.
Here are just 10 things I have discovered about East Lancashire after writing about the county for six months:
The Lancashire dialect and accent is fantastic
The Lancashire dialect is very warm and charming and I have been affectionately called ‘chuck’ and ‘duck’ by several locals that I have spoken to.
However, it has been a struggle to get my head around what these are called:
Where I am from we call it a bread roll or a batch. I quickly discovered this isn’t the case in Lancashire,where most locals call them teacakes or barms.
It’s a beautiful place to live
There are so many beauty spots in East Lancashire!
Six months ago, I assumed it was quite an industrial area but I was shocked to find just how many places of natural beauty there are in the region.
If I were to embark on a walking holiday in the region, I would make sure to explore the J.R.R Tolkien Trail in the Ribble Valley.
(Photo: Geograph/David Dixon)
I would also love to visit Burnley’s Singing Ringing Tree after hearing about it so often.
There is plenty to do (when lockdown restrictions ease)
East Lancashire is far from boring. There are plenty of things to do, monuments to see and places to explore- especially as a family.
Blackburn Museum and Witton Country Park are just some great places that always have events on for the little ones to enjoy- and Blackpool Pleasure Beach is just around the corner.
That East Lancashire is a haunted place
As a lover of all things spooky, I was fascinated to learn more about East Lancashire’s haunted past.
I even got to speak to East Lancashire’s ‘real-life ghost busters’ who told me all about the most haunted places in the region and the experiences they claimed to have in them.
The Pendle Hippodrome and Townley Hall are just some of the locations said to be haunted.
One person told me: “There was a spirit [in Townley Hall] who was very vocal and made himself known- it was clear It didn’t want us there.
“When I walked down to challenge it there was a loud and audible growl that around 20 people heard.”
The region is home to some dreamy properties
During my short career, I have written many articles about the properties for sale in East Lancashire.
While some of the cheaper homes are in need of some TLC, properties on the other end of the spectrum are simply beautiful and would be a dream to live in.
In particular, I took a look inside one of the Ribble Valley’s most expensive properties and the house has stuck in my mind.
(Photo: Zoopla, Express Estate Agents)
The property has a pool, but the book lover in me was instantly drawn to the cosy library in the home, complete with a fireplace.
I know where to go for a fantastic holiday
With lockdown measures in place and the travel rules constantly changing, a proper holiday has been a pipe dream for many of us- myself included.
Over the past six months, I have written extensively about the best glamping and holiday destinations in East Lancashire- perfect for those planning a staycation.
Best of all, you don’t even need to travel far to get some sand in your toes as I discovered there is a ‘secret beach’ in Todmorden- how unique!
The region is home to some brilliant independent businesses
Where possible, I try to shine a light on the region’s local and independent businesses.
Over the months, I have encountered some fantastic little shops that should be your first port of call if you ever decide to visit.
Heys Family Butchers in Burnley, Houses of Harwood in Great Harwood and My Vintage in Darwen are just some fantastic places to try.
It’s bursting with culture and history
East Lancashire is such a historic place, home to historic halls and towers.
Granted, not every aspect of its history is bright and happy; it’s the location of the Pendle witch trials and it is also home to some tragic unsolved murders.
That Ian McKellen comes from here
(Matt Crossick/PA)
As a Lord of the Rings and X-Men fan, I was interested to learn that Ian McKellen was born in Burnley.
He’s not the only one as I have written several articles about celebrities from the region.
Diana Vickers, Carl Fogarty and Jane Horrocks are just a handful of notable names that stick in my mind.
The football rivalries run deep
Every town has a football rivalry- but none run quite so deep as Blackburn and Burnley’s.
Ewood Park Stadium (Photo: Geograph/Kenneth Yarham)
After looking into it, I discovered that it is a rivalry which stems back to the 1800s when Blackburn and Burnley were the county’s leading mill towns.
The rivalry still persists today- which team do you support?
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