Abbeystead
Encyclopedia
Abbeystead is a small, picturesque village located in the Forest of Bowland
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
, in Lancashire
, England. Abbeystead lies close to the Trough of Bowland
but even in medieval times, was considered part of Wyresdale
rather than within the domain of that powerful local magnate, the Lord of Bowland, so-called Lord of the Fells
.
. The traditional site of the monks' house is just below the junction of the Marshaw Wyre and the Tarnbrook Wyre, on the north side of the reservoir
.
, built in 1886 for the 4th Earl of Sefton
. Records trace the chapel to the west of Abbeystead back to the 14th century. The church was rebuilt in 1733, with a spire
and new chancel
added during restoration in 1894.
The Abbeystead reservoir
was built in 1855 by Lancaster Corporation to supply mills lower down the River Wyre
in the dry season. Although the reservoir is no longer in service it still features an attractive curved overflow weir
visible from the footpath.
. When the pumping commenced, however, there was a bright flash followed by an explosion that killed 16 visitors, injured 22 more and severely damaged the valve house.
Compensation claims totalling up to £4 million (by those involved and North-West Water) have resulted against the firm of consulting engineers, Binnie and Partners (now Black & Veatch), who designed and supervised the construction of the pumping station into which naturally occurring methane
gas had migrated.
The gas had built up in the valve house, seeping in from the Wyresdale tunnel. An unidentified source ignited the gas and caused the explosion. The source of ignition could have been an electrical fault, but it was suggested that a visitor may have tried to light a cigarette
, since smoking was permitted in the valve house.
The Health and Safety Executive
investigated this incident and produced a special report in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Forest of Bowland
The Forest of Bowland, also known as the Bowland Fells, is an area of barren gritstone fells, deep valleys and peat moorland, mostly in north-east Lancashire, England. A small part lies in North Yorkshire, and much of the area was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire...
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
, in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England. Abbeystead lies close to the Trough of Bowland
Trough of Bowland
The Trough of Bowland is a valley and high pass in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Lancashire, England.The pass, reaching above sea level at the head of the valley, links to Wyresdale, dividing the upland core of Bowland into two main blocks...
but even in medieval times, was considered part of Wyresdale
Over Wyresdale
Over Wyresdale is a civil parish in the City of Lancaster in the English county of Lancashire. It has a population of 348. The parish includes the villages of Abbeystead, Lee, Lower Green Bank, Marshaw and Tarnbrook....
rather than within the domain of that powerful local magnate, the Lord of Bowland, so-called Lord of the Fells
Lord of the Fells
Lord of the Fells is a subsidiary title of the Lords of Bowland. The title is thought to have become customary during the high medieval period as a description of the Lords' rugged upland demesne. Bowland Fells, more widely known as the Forest of Bowland, is an area of barren gritstone fells,...
.
History
Little is known of the history of Abbeystead before the Norman Conquest, except that it was occupied from at least the middle of the prehistoric period.Name
The name is derived from "The site of the Abbey" and relates to the short-lived presence of a house of Cistercian monks in the reign of Henry IIHenry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
. The traditional site of the monks' house is just below the junction of the Marshaw Wyre and the Tarnbrook Wyre, on the north side of the reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
.
Structures
There are a number of notable buildings in the Abbeystead area: Cawthorne's Endowed School, rebuilt in the 19th century; Holme Farm opposite, also 19th century; and Abbeystead HouseAbbeystead House
Abbeystead House is a large country house to the east of the village of Abbeystead, Lancashire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.-History:...
, built in 1886 for the 4th Earl of Sefton
William Molyneux, 4th Earl of Sefton
William Philip Molyneux, 4th Earl of Sefton, KG was a British peer.Born Viscount Molyneux, he was the eldest son of Charles Molyneux, 3rd Earl of Sefton and his wife, Mary. He was educated at Eton College, Berks. In 1854, Molyneux became an ensign in the Grenadier Guards and inherited his father's...
. Records trace the chapel to the west of Abbeystead back to the 14th century. The church was rebuilt in 1733, with a spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
and new chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
added during restoration in 1894.
The Abbeystead reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
was built in 1855 by Lancaster Corporation to supply mills lower down the River Wyre
River Wyre
The River Wyre is a river in Lancashire, United Kingdom, which flows into the Irish Sea at Fleetwood. It is approximately 28 miles in length...
in the dry season. Although the reservoir is no longer in service it still features an attractive curved overflow weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
visible from the footpath.
Abbeystead disaster
On 23 May 1984, 44 people were attending a presentation at a valve house at the outfall end of the Lune/Wyre Transfer Scheme in Abbeystead intended to explain the effects of the scheme on winter flooding in the lower Wyre Valley. During the presentation, water was pumped over the weir designed to regulate the flow of water into the River WyreRiver Wyre
The River Wyre is a river in Lancashire, United Kingdom, which flows into the Irish Sea at Fleetwood. It is approximately 28 miles in length...
. When the pumping commenced, however, there was a bright flash followed by an explosion that killed 16 visitors, injured 22 more and severely damaged the valve house.
Compensation claims totalling up to £4 million (by those involved and North-West Water) have resulted against the firm of consulting engineers, Binnie and Partners (now Black & Veatch), who designed and supervised the construction of the pumping station into which naturally occurring methane
Methane
Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, the principal component of natural gas, and probably the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel...
gas had migrated.
The gas had built up in the valve house, seeping in from the Wyresdale tunnel. An unidentified source ignited the gas and caused the explosion. The source of ignition could have been an electrical fault, but it was suggested that a visitor may have tried to light a cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
, since smoking was permitted in the valve house.
The Health and Safety Executive
Health and Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom. It is the body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in England and Wales and Scotland...
investigated this incident and produced a special report in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.