Shorey Bank 2021
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- 1. After passing the sign for Shorey Bank at the entrance from Union Street, the path leads to the banks of the River Darwen.
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- 2. To your right was the site of the Corporation Electric Works, and just beyond the swing frame was the site of the town’s refuse destructor. This grassy knoll makes a much more appealing sight.
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- 3. Here you can sit quietly and listen to the sound of the River Darwen gently babbling along its route, and keep an eye open for the wildlife
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- 4. The bright orange bridge provides access for those who live just across the river, and also a way home for those who use this route as a cut through.
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- 5. From the bridge you can continue following the river around the bend towards the old Devil’s brew.
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- 6. The view from the bridge looking back shows that the river is much cleaner now that the mills are gone. Fish now thrive in the River Darwen and the Heron is a common visitor.
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- 7. Steps lead from the bridge up to another seat from where you can see across to the Tower and Moors. At the top is another exit from Shorey Bank where the curved wall of the entrance to the refuse destructor can still be seen.
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- 8. Another way to the top which I find more interesting is to follow the river around the bend until you see this wall. This massive retaining wall contains some amazing large sandstone blocks. Here you can get a feel for the industrial nature of Darwen in its heyday. Turn right to follow the path to the top of the hill.
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- 9. The higher you get and the taller the wall becomes.
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- 10. At the top of the hill is the exit onto Robin Bank, and there on the right is the curved entrance to the refuse destructor. The entrance to the playground is situated on the site of the front of the Electric Works building.
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- 11. From the bench overlooking the River Darwen you can see right the way across the valley to the moors and the famous Darwen Tower.
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- 12. From this point on the playground you can see how high the retaining wall gets – must be somewhere between 12 and 15 feet high – before it gradually reduces.
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- 13. This is the path you followed to get to the top, and approximately where the tree is on the left is where the massive chimney of the destructor was situated. The house there behind the retaining wall was once home to a blacksmith at a time when the humble horse and cart was the main source of transport.
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- 14. From the top you can now take the steps back down to the bridge and turn left at the bottom to retrace your steps to Union Street.
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