Christmas Cheer in Belmont
Above: Belmont - Gordon Wilkinson
Above: Belmont - Gordon Wilkinson
Zena Dewbrey, the landlady of one the Black Dog pub, says: ‘It might sound awful to some but it's the kind of place where everybody knows everybody else and what they're doing. It's a real community. And that spirit is pretty strong all year round, not just at Christmas.’
This is a busy time of the year for the Black Dog with special menus for diners and its proximity to the church means it is frequented by many attending the various services over the festive season. These include carol and Christingle services as well as the usual late night service on Christmas Eve and a double service on Christmas morning where a traditional communion follows a shorter family gathering where children can also bring their presents to show friends.
For the last few years Rev David Jones has also helped organise a carol event around the village where singers call on residents who can't make it to the services. The money raised is split between the Booth Centre, a charity for homeless single men and Fortalice, a refuge for women and children. The event has evolved as the years have gone by and now sees residents bringing out mince pies and mulled wine to the singers along the route, before they're invited back to the vicarage for more refreshments.
For Chris Hoddle, Headmaster at Belmont Primary School, Christmas really begins with the lighting of the village tree. ‘The children lead the way in the lighting of the Christmas tree on the village green during a short 15 minute service,’ he says. ‘The vicar performs a blessing of the tree and the children play their recorders to accompany the hymns that are sung. To me, that's really the start of Christmas.’
Of course, the school is also instrumental in putting on a couple of good shows for local families with Christmas productions by the infant and junior classes. This year's offerings will see the juniors in a production based on the story of the Pied Piper and the infants in 'Are We Nearly There Yet?', based on the traditional nativity.
‘Mums and dads, family members and Belmont residents are all invited to come,’ says Chris. ‘The shows take place on two days (December 12th and 13th this year), one in the afternoon, the other in evening and the two swapped around on the next. This means that everyone who wants to watch them can, fitting them around work and other commitments
‘The children in the school are all from the local area. I think most of the school age children who live in the village come here, although there might be one or two who have moved here and whose parents have kept them in their old schools. Likewise there are those whose families have moved out of the village and who bring their children back to Belmont for school.’
This, of course, expands the audience for the shows and many residents also like to come along and give their support, especially former pupils. The school was built in 1898 replacing an earlier one sited on what is now the Black Dog car park, next to the old Police Station. When that closed there was around a 20 year gap in education in the village until Belmont Primary School opened. Although it has no formal links to the church, at certain times of the year - such as Christmas - the two work well together.
So although on the surface Belmont, which is just north of Bolton, may seem to be a quiet sort of a village, there's plenty going on to keep villagers entertained. And this isn't just true for the festive season - a message on the notice board asks for residents’ opinions (and help in setting up a work group of volunteers) on entering the Best Kept Village competition and Zena says that the village boasts all the typical clubs and organisations you would expect to find like the Brownies, Mother's Union and W.I. as well as a country dancing event at the church every month. The Black Dog too is home to a number of groups' monthly meetings including the fishing and gardening clubs, plus climbers and mountaineers.
Of course, the other great pull to Belmont is the wide range of walks and outdoor activities that can be enjoyed here. The West Pennine Moors provide some pretty stunning destinations for hardened walkers who tramp over the land in rain, shine or snow but there are also more leisurely strolls for people who might just want to enjoy the countryside on their doorstep.
One of the moststriking sites is the reservoir behind the church known locally as the Blue Lagoon. With a small island to one side it's easy to see its appeal. A larger reservoir just off the main A675 road as you enter the village from the Preston side is used by Bolton Sailing Club. The masts of boats moored there peeping through the trees as you enter the village, is a sight that will make boat lovers want to explore a bit more. Although you can't walk around the water itself, there are some magnificent public footpaths in the vicinity.
The original watercolours featured in this article are for sale.
Contact Gordon Wilkinson on 01244 531785.
His website is www.gordonwilkinson.com
E mail: watercolours@gordonwilkinson.com
Belmont Bits
? The name 'Belmont' means 'beautiful hill'. It was originallyknown as 'Hordern' pronounced 'Hard-earn'. The namechange was due to Squire Laurence Wright and calico printer Thomas Ryecroft in 1804.
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In it's hey day in the early 19th century Belmont had a population of around 1,600 thanks to the textile mills and dyeworks factory here. Today the village has around 500 inhabitants.
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Edward Deakin, owner and manager of Belmont's Dyeing and Bleaching works was the village's most notable resident. He became High Sheriff of Lancashire and was a personal friend of Lord Leverhulme.
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The dyeworks closed in late 2005. Its landmark chimney has been demolished and instead of building new homes on the site the buildings are currently housing a number of other businesses including a kitchen and bathroom showroom.
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Maria Square was the first row of terraces to be built here. A date plaque on the wall is difficult to read but declares 1804