LUNE. 113 



the town and picturesque castle rock of Clitheroe. The Hodder, 

 which now enters the Eibble from Chipping, nearly at the same 

 point as the Calder from Colne, is emphatically the river of 

 Bolland Forest, in the midst of which it discloses and traverses 

 considerable breadths of limestone, surrounded by the usual 

 gritstone hills. Caverns occur in the limestone, and veins and 

 nests of calamine and lead ore, which seem to have been very 

 anciently worked. Through this district a Roman road runs 

 from Ribchester (Coccium ?) to Over-Burrow (Bremetonacse ?) 

 near Kirkby Lonsdale. 



Here, in sight of Pendle Hill, Ribble bids farewell to York- 

 shire, but does not quit the Brigantian territory till it reaches the 

 sea below Preston. In this part of its course, Whalley Abbey and 

 Ribchester Station might detain us long and pleasantly; and 

 Samlesbury, which perhaps retains a part of the name Belisama, 

 the river noticed by Ptolemy ; and Cuerdale, with its treasure of 

 coins ; and Preston, surnamed the ' proud ' but these are in the 

 territory of the Red Rose, and in the pages of Whitaker. 



THE LUNE. 



The LUNE belongs to Yorkshire only as a beautiful border 

 stream, at the western foot of Hougill Fells ; but it draws so 

 much water from this county, and is so connected with three of 

 its western dales, that its course must be traced, and a pleasant 

 task it is. There is perhaps no more delightful stream than 

 this. High mountains stand around its springs, rich woods 

 and pastures accompany its seaward course, and a magnificent 

 castle looks over the tide which enters its winding channel. 

 Is it possible that this noble stream was neglected by Rome ? 

 No road up its alluring banks ? There is such a road, though 

 few of our antiquaries have followed its course. 



On the north front of Hougill Fells, the country is roughly 

 swollen into irregular eminences, which upon the whole stretch 

 out and decline northward, and allow many ' becks ' of unequal 



