Cuerden Hall - footpaths
During World War 2 and in the years immediately after Cuerden Hall was used by the Army. When the Army no longer needed this site, it became the Headquarters for Lancashire New Town.
When the Lancashire New Town operation was being run down, the parkland was handed over to a new trust which became Cuerden Park, and the Hall was handed over to Sue Ryder. Sue Ryder used the Hall for over a quarter of a century, but they have now moved to new premises in Fulwood, Preston.
Cuerden Hall now has new owners, but their intentions are not yet clear, but they have erected a security fence around the Hall.
A local resident is now gathering evidence to prove 20 years of usage of the paths surrounding the Hall. If you are able to assist in this matter then please contact us and we will put you in contact with the local resident.
Lancashire County Council require all new claims for a public footpath to start and end at an existing right of way, rather than just the parts where we are presently prevented from walking.
The following points have been identified –
Point A – at the junction of Shady Lane and the drive to the Hall at grid ref SD56012401.
Point B – on the drive approaching the Hall at grid ref SD56322399.
Point D – where the path joins a track within Cuerden Park near the Café at grid ref SD56572378.
Point E – on Berkeley Drive near the Barn (Lancashire Wildlife Trust) at grid ref SD56312380.
Point C – where Berkeley Drive meets Shady Lane at grid ref SD56192374.
If the above seems an illogical order of listing the points it is to do with the way the correspondence about this issue has evolved. Berkeley Drive is shown in the records as being an ‘unadopted highway’ without any public rights, which means that we also need to claim a public right of usage on this road.
We would expect potential witnesses to have very probably used the above in one of the following ways –
1) The route around the Hall which is A – B – D – E – C.
2) The route around the Hall which is A – B – D – E – C, plus the track linking B to E.
3) The route going near the Hall which is A – B – E – C.
Should you have used the paths near Cuerden Hall in some way, then please contact us to discuss the situation.
If you are able to assist by providing a statement in support of one of the above options then please contact us and we will provide the appropriate form which you will need to complete and then forward to the local resident – contact details to be provided.
David Kelly (Use "Contact" page)
Jan 21
