WYRE WE HERE? A KNOTTY END?

 Our first stop today is a railway station named after a pub - Bay Horse. It was a calling point for local trains in the LNWR's West Coast Main Line.

Somewhat to the south is the village of Forton, once home to a pub named The New Holly. There's conflicting info on the net regarding this Thwaite's house.

Back on the WCML, we're close to what used to be Garstang & Catterall station, which served both settlements equally badly. Steam and diesel motive power in 1967.

Let's return to the Lancaster Canal, which we regain at Bilsborrow. 

Beside the canal is Old Nell's Tavern.

Bilsborrow seems to be doing quite well for pubs. The Roebuck is still going strong as a 'Chef & Brewer'.

The White Bull is also still in business.

We now follow the canal northish towards Garstamg itself and cross the River Wyre just before we arrive.

Here's the centre of Garstang. (Creative Commons License).

At the heart of things is the Royal Oak, first seen in the 1930s and then, in 1996.

The long closed Garstang & Knott End Railway connected withe the WCML at Garstang & Catterall. It also had a station called Garstang Town, much closer to civilisation.

The independent Garstang & Knott End Railway ran through flat country to reach Preesall station.

There's a former Tetley pub in Preesall, the Black Bull. It has its own Wikipedia page.

Construction of the railway nears Knott End.

One of the railway's locomotives is seen at Knott End.

Here's the station in LMS times.

Today's land transport to Knott End is by bus.

However, there's long been a ferry across the Wyre to Fleetwood.

There is Fleetwood, just over the river.....

......we'll be there in the next post. 

Don't forget, you can follow the route here.

GLASSON DOCK AND GALGATE

There was once a railway from Lancaster to Glasson Dock, passing en route Conder Green, where the Stork pub can be found. (Photo in my collection, photographer not known)

Here's the railway's terminus at Glasson Dock, in LNWR times.

Glasson Dock consists of two basins, where a branch of the Lancaster Canal meets the coastal waters of the Lune estuary. Here's a vessel locking in to the lower basin.

Two old postcards showing the upper basin.

The lower basin in the 1990s.

This is the upper basin, the terminus of the canal

Back in the 1990s, there were three pubs in Glasson. The Carbibou Hotel has now gone.

The Dalton Arms is still pulling pints.

Sadly, the Victoria Inn is another recent casualty.

Leaving Glasson Dock behind, we soon come across a lock. There's an old mill beside it, now converted to a pub. It describes itself as being at Conder Green, which is some distance away.

Soon we're approaching the last lock before joining the main line of the Lancaster Canal at Galgate Junction.

Here is that last lock.

We've now joined the lockless main line at Galgate Junction, where we find a BW service boat.

So, into Galgate village, where our first stop is the Plough. At the time of writing, the pub is shut, but hopefully will reopen.

The Green Dragon closed in 2010.

Thankfully, the New Inn is still in business, though it no longer serves Mitchell's beer.

Well, that's a good place for a rest. The next post will find us passing through Garstang.

LET'S FINISH OFF LANCASTER

Right, it's now time to look at the buses of Lancaster. The Corporation used to run them. One of the most famous vehicles was the 'prison bus', this old Daimler. Seen in the depot, its sole purose in later life was to transport prisoners to gaol.

 Lancaster City Transport latterly used a blue-based colour scheme, as seen here.

Lancaster City Transport ceased trading in 1993, having sold out to Stagecoach. Prior to those days, Ribble Motor Services ran the majority of the 'out of town' routes.

Ribble also became part of the Stagecoach Group in the Lancaster area.

It's nice to see this double-deck bus painted into the old Ribble colours.

Kirkby Lonsdale Coaches have a few services in and around Lancaster.

Beer time! Mitchell's Brewery used to be at the rear of the New Inn. It later moved to the old Yates & Jackson brewhouse, but now no longer brews.

Let's start our pub crawl at the Three Mariners.

The Wagon & Horses can be found beside the Lune on St George's Quay. It used to be a Hartley;s of Ulverston house.

The Duke of Lancaster is now closed.

Thankfully, the George & Dragon is still in business, looking out onto the river.

The Robert Gillow, a Hyde's pub, has since been renamed the Jailor's Barrel.

The Penny Bank used to be a decent pub. It's still going and has a Facebook page.

The John o'Gaunt is a good city centre establishment.

Finally, handy for the railway station, is Merchant's, a free house with good beer.

The next post will see us heading for Glasson Dock and more of the Lancaster Canal.