Photos to go along with our journey:

Welcome to Millom Castle and Holy Trinity!

Remaining livable portion of destroyed Millom Castle - still a working farm.

Millom countryside - with some Huddlestuns in attendance.

Mary at the new Jubilee church gate

 

 

The Vicars of Millom - please note "1464 - Miles Huddlestun" - how fun!

In Ulverston (on the Furness peninsula), an old market town settled by the Vikings, now a lovely market centre.  Blackledges Butchers - but we took along 3 cheeses which kept us company for our stay in Lancashire.

Blythe Hall Gate

Blythe Hall - the lane leading into the estate.  We were disappointed not to be granted access for a look at the grounds; however, there are pictures on the web of this glorious property.  Perhaps on another visit...

A Blackledge at the gates of Blackledge Hall (now called Blythe after its original owners)

In the city of Halifax, the Blackledge family held a quarter of the surrounding land, which included the annual marketplace for the selling of handwoven fabrics of wool, cotton, linen and eventually silk.  At this marketplace our ancestors were known for their wholesaling of linen from Halifax to London.  Blackledge Street, next to the current Piece Hall, still acknowledges the Blackledge presence in all this business action.

The Piece Hall was built in the early 18th c. to more formally provide a marketplace for woven goods.  Three stories tall and a football field long in both directions, it's a massive testimony to the number of merchants participating in this location.  Historically, fabric, wool, yarn, dye and other related merchants gathered from around the entire north of England in Halifax to showcase and peddle their goods.  Before the building of the Piece Hall, this same acreage had been used as an open marketplace with tents, wagons and movable stalls since at least the 12th c.  The cobbles are extraordinary and have a long story to tell.  The day we visited, a carnival was on going in the huge open central area.  I recall we bought chocolate!

Our Halifax luncheon pub stop - The Old Cock.  Couldn't resist!