Marton Mere, situated in the township indicated by its name, was formerly a lake of no inconsiderable extent, but drainage and the accumulation within its basin of sediment have reduced it to its present comparatively unimportant dimensions. Traces of the more extensive boundaries of the sheet of water in former days are still discernible along its banks, and at one time, it is stated, the wheel of a water-mill near to the village of Great Marton, was turned by a stream from the mere. The right of fishery in the lake, for such it was in the earlier periods, was the subject of legal contest in the reign of Edward III., and in 1590 John Singleton, of Staining Hall, held the privilege.
There are few districts of similar area which can boast so many and such interesting varieties of the feathered tribes, either natives or visitants, as the Fylde. Some of the rarest sea-fowl are occasionally seen along the coasts, while the fields and hedgerows abound with most of the melodious songsters of our island. Amongst the number of both land and sea birds which have been observed in the neighbourhood, either during the whole year or only in certain parts of it, may be mentioned the following:—
| ORDER—RAPTORES OR RAPACIOUS BIRDS. |
| FALCONIDÆ OR FALCON FAMILY. |
| Tinnunculus Alaudarus | Kestrel | Common |
| Accipiter Nisus | Sparrow Hawk | Common |
| Circus ceruginosus | Moor Buzzard | Very rare |
| Strix flammea | Barn Owl | Common |
| Otus vulgaris | Long-eared Owl | Common |
| Otus brachyotus | Short-eared Owl | Common |
| ORDER—PASSERES OR PERCHERS. |
| HIRUNDINIDÆ OR SWALLOW FAMILY. |
| Hirundo rustica | Common Swallow | Common |
| Cotyle riparia | Sand Martin | Common |
| Chelidon urbica | House Martin | Common |
| LUSCINIDÆ OR WARBLER FAMILY. |
| Sylvia undata | Whitethroat | Common |
| Sylvia trochilus | Willow Warbler | Rare |
| Sylvia curruca | Lesser Whitethroat | Common |
| Sylvia sibilatrix | Wood Warbler | Rare |
| Calamodyta phragmitis | Sedge Warbler | Rare |
| Saxicola ænanthe | Wheatear | Common |
| Pratincola rubetra | Whinchat | Common |
| Pratincola rubicola | Stonechat | Rare |
| Ruticilla phœnicura | Redstart | Rare |
| Parus major | Great Titmouse | Common |
| Parus cæruleus | Blue Titmouse | Common |
| Parus caudatus | Long-tailed Titmouse | Rare |
| Parus ater | Cole Titmouse | Rare |
| Motacilla Yarrellii | Pied Wagtail | Common |
| Motacilla sulphurea | Yellow Wagtail | Common |
| Motacilla campestris | Grey Wagtail | Rather rare |
| Anthus pratensis | Meadow Titlark | Common |
| Anthus arboreus | Tree Titlark | Rare |
| Regulus cristatus | Golden-crested Wren | Rare |
| Regulus ignicapillus | Fire-crested Wren | Very rare |
| TURDIDÆ OR THRUSH FAMILY. |
| Turdus musicus | Song Thrush | Very common |
| Turdus viscivorus | Missel Thrush | Common |
| Turdus pilaris | Fieldfare | Common |
| Turdus iliacus | Redwing | Rather rare |
| Turdus merula | Blackbird | Common |
| Turdus torquatus | Ring Ousel | Rather rare |
| LANIIDÆ OR SHRIEK FAMILY. |
| Lanius collurio | Red-backed Shriek | Rare |
| CORVIDÆ OR CROW FAMILY. |
| Corvus Corone | Carrion Crow | Very common |
| Corvus cornix | Hooded Crow | Rare |
| Corvus frugilegus | Rook | Very common |
| Pica caudata | Magpie | Rather rare |
| STURNIDÆ OR STARLING FAMILY. |
| Sturnus vulgaris | Common Starling | Common |
| FRINGILLIDÆ OR FINCH FAMILY. |
| Fringilla carduelis | Goldfinch | Common |
| Fringilla cælebs | Chaffinch | Common |
| Fringilla spinus | Siskin | Rare |
| Fringilla chloris | Greenfinch | Common |
| Fringilla cannabina | Linnet | Common |
| Emberiza citrinella | Yellow Bunting | Common |
| Emberiza schæniculus | Reed Bunting | Common |
| Emberiza miliaris | Common Bunting | Common |
| Emberiza nivalis | Snow Bunting | Rare |
| Pyrrhula rubicilla | Bullfinch | Rare |
| Alauda arvensis | Skylark | Very common |
| Alauda arborea | Woodlark | Rare |
| ORDER—SCANSORES OR CLIMBERS. |
| CUCULIDÆ OR CUCKOO FAMILY. |
| Cuculus canorus | Cuckoo | Common |
| ORDER—COLUMBÆ OR DOVES. |
| COLUMBIDÆ OR DOVE FAMILY. |
| Columba palumbus | Ring Dove | Rare |
| Columba ænas | Stock Dove | Common |
| ORDER—GALLINÆ OR FOWLS. |
| PHASIANIDÆ OR PHEASANT FAMILY. |
| Phasianus Colchicus | Common Pheasant | Common |
| TETRAONIDÆ OR TETRAO FAMILY. |
| Perdix cinereus | Common Partridge | Common |
| Coturnix communis | Quail | Common |
| ORDER—GRALLATORES OR WADERS. |
| CHARADRIADÆ OR PLOVER FAMILY. |
| Charadrius pluvialis | Golden Plover | Common |
| Charadrius hiaticula | Ringed Plover or Dotterel | Common |
| Charadrius morinellus | Common Dotterel | Common |
| Vanellus griseus | Grey Plover | Common |
| Vanellus cristatus | Common crested Lapwing | Common |
| Hæmatopus ostralegus | Oyster-catcher | Very common |
| Cinclus interpres | Turnstone | Common |
| ARDEIDÆ OR HERON FAMILY. |
| Ardea cinerea | Common Heron | Common |
| Nycticorax Europæus | Common Night Heron | Rare |
| Botaurus stellaris | Bittern | Very rare indeed |
| SCOLOPACIDÆ OR WOODCOCK FAMILY. |
| Tringoides hypoleuca | Common Sandpiper | Common |
| Totanus ochropus | Green Sandpiper | Rare |
| Totanus Calidris | Redshank Sandpiper | Common |
| Numenius arquata | Curlew or Whaup | Common |
| Numenius phæopus | Whimbrel | Common |
| Limosa vulgaris | Common Godwit | Rare |
| Philomachus pugnax | Ruff | Rare |
| Tringa Canutus | Knot | Rare |
| Tringa Temminckii | Temminck’s Stint | Rare |
| Tringa minuta | Little Stint | Very rare |
| Tringa cinclus | Dunlin | Common |
| Phalaropus fulicarius | Grey Phalarope | Rare |
| Scolopax rusticola | Woodcock | Common |
| Gallinago media | Common Snipe | Common |
| Gallinago gallinula | Jack Snipe | Common |
| RALLIDÆ OR RAIL FAMILY. |
| Rallus aquaticus | Water Rail | Common |
| Ortygometra crex | Land Rail | Common |
| Gallinula chloropus | Water Hen | Common |
| Fulica atra | Common Coot | Common |
| ORDER—NATORES OR SWIMMERS. |
| ANATIDÆ OR DUCK FAMILY. |
| Anser ferus | Grey-lag Goose | Rare |
| Anser segetum | Bean Goose | Common |
| Bernicla leucopsis | Bernicle Goose | Common |
| Cygnus ferus | Whistling Swan | Rare |
| Tadorna vulpanser | Common Shieldrake | Common |
| Mergus Castor | Goosander | Rare |
| Anas boschas | Mallard | Common |
| Querquedula Crecca | Common Teal | Common |
| Spatula clypeata | Shoveller Duck | Rare |
| Moreca Penelope | Common Wigeon | Common |
| Myroca Terina | Common Pochard | Rather rare |
| Margellus albellus | Smew | Occasional visitor |
| Fuligula cristata | Tufted Duck or Pochard | Rather common |
| Fuligula marila | Scaup Duck or Pochard | Rather rare |
| Oidemia fusca | Velvet Scoter | Rare |
| Oidemia nigra | Black Scoter | Very rare |
| Clangula vulgaris | Golden-eye Duck or Garrot | Rather common |
| Clangula albeola | Buffel-headed Duck | Common |
| COLYMBIDÆ OR DIVER FAMILY. |
| Colymbus glacialis | Great Northern Diver | Very rare |
| Colymbus arcticus | Black-throated Diver | Rare |
| Colymbus septentrionalis | Red-throated Diver | Rather common |
| Chaulelasmus strepera | Gadwall | Very rare |
| Podiceps minor | Little Grebe | Common |
| ALCIDÆ OR AUK FAMILY. |
| Fratercula artica | Puffin | Common |
| Alca torda | Razor-bill | Rare |
| Uria Troile | Common Guillemot | Rare |
| PROCELLARIDÆ OR PETREL FAMILY. |
| Thalassidroma pelagica | Stormy Petrel | Common |
| Thalassidroma Leachii | Fork-tailed Petrel | Rather rare |
| LARIDÆ OR GULL FAMILY. |
| Larus canus | Common Gull | Very common |
| Larus ribibundus | Black-headed Gull | Very common |
| Larus fuscus | Little Black-headed Gull | Common |
| Larus tridactylus | Kittiwake Gull | Very common |
| Larus Glaucus | Glaucus Gull | Rare |
| Larus argentatus | Herring Gull | Very common |
| Sterna hirundo | Sea-swallow or Tern | Common |
| Sterna fuliginosa | Sooty Tern | Rare |
| Sterna minuta | Lesser Tern | Common |
| PELECANIDÆ OR PELICAN FAMILY. |
| Graculus Carbo | Common Cormorant | Common |
| Graculus Cristata | Crested Cormorant | Rather rare |
| Sula Bassanea | Gannet or Solan Goose | Common |
The fertile fields and sunny lanes of the Fylde afford ample opportunity for the botanist to indulge in his favourite pursuit, and a short ramble over any portion of the pleasant country will unfold to his inquiring gaze many of Nature’s most beautiful and interesting offsprings. Specimens, especially of the maritime varieties of several of the floral families, unobtainable in the inland districts, may here be found lightly planted on the loose, sandy margins of the shore. In the context it is not intended to enter into a description of the different plants or of the localities in which they may most commonly be found, but merely to enumerate some of the more important ones; and in the following list all those inhabitants of the district, which are likely to interest the student of Botany or lover of Nature, are arranged in their various groups or orders:—
| RANUNCULACEÆ OR BUTTERCUP ORDER. |
| Ranunculus aquatilis | Water Crowcroft |
| ” Lingua | Spearwort |
| ” acris | Meadow Crowfoot |
| ” arvensis | Corn ” |
| Thalictrum minus | Lesser Meadow-rue |
| Delphinium consolida | Field Larkspur |
| NYMPHÆACEÆ OR LILY ORDER. |
| Nymphæa Alba | White Water-lily |
| PAPAVERACEÆ OR POPPY ORDER. |
| Papaver dubium | Long Smooth-headed Poppy |
| ” Rhæas | Corn Poppy |
| Chelidonium majus | Common Celandine |
| CRUCIFERÆ OR CABBAGE ORDER. |
| Nasturtium officinale | Common Water-cress |
| Hesperis matronalis | Common Damewort |
| Cochlearia officinalis | Common Scurvy-grass |
| ” Danica | Danish ” |
| Cakile maritima | Purple Sea Rocket |
| Crambe ” | Sea Kale |
| Sisymbrium Irio | Broad-leaved Hedge-mustard |
| ” Sophia | Fine-leaved ” |
| VIOLACEÆ OR VIOLET ORDER. |
| Viola odorata | Sweet Violet |
| ” tricolar | Heartsease |
| RESEDACEÆ OR MIGNONETTE ORDER. |
| Reseda Luteola | Yellow Weed |
| DROSERACEÆ OR SUNDEW ORDER. |
| Drosera rotundifolfa | Sundew |
| Parnassia pallustris | Grass of Parnassus |
| CARYOPHYLLACEÆ OR CLOVEWORT ORDER. |
| Saponaria officinalis | Common Soapwort |
| Lychnis Diocia | White Campion |
| ” Floscuculi | Cuckoo-flower |
| Silene inflata | Bladder Catchfly |
| ” maritima | Sea ” |
| Arenaria marina | Sea Sandwort |
| ” serpyllifolia | Thyme-leaved Sandwort |
| Adenaria peploides | Sea Chickweed |
| LINACEÆ OR FLAX ORDER. |
| Linum usitatissimum | Common Flax |
| ” catharticum | Purging ” |
| MALVACEÆ OR MALLOW ORDER. |
| Malva rotundifolia | Dwarf Mallow |
| Althæa officinalis | Marsh Mallow |
| GERANIACEÆ OR CRANESBILL ORDER. |
| Geranium sanguimeum | Bloody Crane’s-bill |
| Geranium pratense | Meadow Crane’s-bill |
| Geranium purpurea | Odoriferous Cranes-bill |
| Erodium cicutarium | Hemlock Stork’s-bill |
| LEGUMINOSÆ OR LEGUMINOUS ORDER. |
| Anthyllis vulneraria | Common Kidney-vetch |
| Vicia lathyroides | Spring Vetch |
| Ononis procurrens | Procurrent Restharrow |
| ” spinosa | Spinous ” |
| Melilotus officinalis | Common Melilot |
| Trifolium arvense | Hare’s-foot Trefoil |
| ROSACEÆ OR ROSE ORDER. |
| Rosa canina | Dog rose |
| ” spinosissima | Burnet-leaved Rose |
| ” eglantaria | Sweet Briar |
| Agrimonia Eupatoria | Agrimony |
| Spiræa ulmaria | Meadow Sweet |
| Rubus fruticosus | Blackberry Brambles |
| ONAGRACEÆ OR ŒNOTHERA FAMILY. |
| Epilobium hirsutum | Great Willow-herb |
| ” montanum | Small ” |
| LYTHRACEÆ OR LYTHRUM FAMILY. |
| Lythrum salicaria | Spiked purple Loosestrife |
| HALORAGEACEÆ OR THE MARE’S TAIL ORDER. |
| Hippuris vulgaris | Common Mare’s-tail |
| PORTULACACEÆ OR PURSLANE ORDER. |
| Montia foutana | Water Blinks |
| CRASSULACEÆ OR THE CRASSULA ORDER. |
| Sedum acre | Biting Stonecrop |
| ” album | White ” |
| Sempervivum tectorum | Houseleek |
| SAXIFRAGACEÆ OR SAXIFRAGE ORDER. |
| Saxifraga granulata | White Saxifrage |
| ” stellaris | Starry ” |
| ” aizoides | Yellow ” |
| UMBELLIFERÆ OR UMBELLIFEROUS ORDER. |
| Crithmum maritimum | Samphire |
| Hydrocotyle vulgaris | Marsh Pennywort |
| Conium maculatum | Hemlock |
| Cicuta virosa | Cowbane |
| Eryngium maritimum | Sea-holly |
| Apium graveolens | Wild Celery |
| Bupleurum tenuissimum | Slender Hare’s-ear |
| Œnanthe Crocata | Dead-tongue |
| Peucedanum ostruthium | Master-wort |
| ” officinale | Sea Sulphurwort |
| Daucus Carato | Wild Carrot |
| Anthriscus sylvestris | Wild beaked Parsley |
| Scandix Pecten-Veneris | Venus’ Comb |
| CAPRIFOLIACEÆ OR HONEYSUCKLE ORDER. |
| Louicera Periclymenum | Pretty piped Woodbine |
| ” Caprifolium | Common Woodbine |
| Sambucus Nigra | Elder |
| RUBIACEÆ OR MADDER ORDER. |
| Galium verum | Yellow Bedstraw |
| ” mollugo | Hedge ” |
| Sherardia arvensis | Little Spurwort |
| VALERIANACEÆ OR VALERIAN ORDER. |
| Valeriana officinalis | Common Valerian |
| Valerianella olitoria | Lamb’s Lettuce |
| DIPSACACEÆ OR TEAZEL ORDER. |
| Dipsacus sylvestris | Wild Teazel |
| COMPOSITÆ OR COMPOSITE ORDER. |
| Aster Tripolium | Sea Starwort |
| Apargia hispida | Rough Hawkbit |
| Hieracium pallidum | Hawkweed |
| ” umbellatum | Narrow-leaved Hawkweed |
| Carduus tenuiflorus | Slender-flowered Thistle |
| ” palustris | Marsh Thistle |
| Chrysanthemum maritimum | Sea Feverfew |
| Tanacetum vulgare | Common Tansey |
| Centaurea Cyanus | Corn Bluebottle |
| Pryethrum parthenium | Common Feverfew |
| ” inodorum | Corn ” |
| Senecio vulgaris | Common Groundsell |
| ” aquaticus | Marsh Groundsell |
| Silybum Marianum | Milk Thistle |
| Tragopogon pratense | Yellow Goatsbeard |
| Helminthia echioides | Bristly Oxtongue |
| VACCINIACEÆ OR CRANBERRY ORDER. |
| Oxycoccus palustris | Cranberry |
| CAMPANULACEÆ OR HAREBELL ORDER. |
| Campanula rotundifolia | Harebell |
| PYROLACEÆ OR WINTERGREEN ORDER. |
| Pyrola media | Intermediate Wintergreen |
| APOCYNACEÆ OR DOGBANE ORDER. |
| Vinca major | Greater Periwinkle |
| GENTIANACEÆ OR GENTIAN ORDER. |
| Gentiana Pneumonanthe | Marsh Gentian |
| ” Campestris | Field ” |
| Chironia Centaurium, var. | White-flowered Centaury |
| ” latifolia | Broad-leaved ” |
| ” pulchella | Dwarf-branched ” |
| CONVOLVULACEÆ OR CONVOLVULUS ORDER. |
| Convolvulus Soldanella | Sea Bindweed |
| ” Sepium, var. | Great Ditto, Pink-flowered |
| ” arvensis | Small Bindweed |
| SCROPHULARIACEÆ OR FIGWORT ORDER. |
| Veronica Anagallis | Water Speedwell |
| ” arvensis | Wall ” |
| ” Beccabunga | Brooklime |
| ” Serpyllifolia | Thyme-leaved Speedwell |
| Digitalis purpurea | Purple Foxglove |
| Linaria vulgaris | Yellow toadflax |
| Antirrhinum Cymbalaria | Ivy-leaved Snapdragon |
| Scrophularia vernalis | ” figwort |
| LABIATÆ THE DEAD-NETTLE ORDER. |
| Thymus Serpyllum | Wild Thyme |
| Marrubium vulgare | White Horehound |
| Prunella vulgaris | Selfheal |
| Mentha viridis | Spearmint |
| ” arvensis | Corn mint |
| Betonica officinalis | Wood Betony |
| Lamum album | White Dead-nettle |
| ” purpureum | Red ” |
| Galeopsis ladanum | Red Hemp-nettle |
| Scutellaria galericulata | Skullcap |
| PLUMBAGINACEÆ OR LEADWORT FAMILY. |
| Armeria vagaris | Common Thrift |
| Statice Limonium | Lavender ” |
| BORAGINACEÆ OR BORAGE ORDER. |
| Myosotis palustris | Forget-me-not |
| ” cæspitosa | Water Scorpion-grass |
| ” arvensis | Field ” |
| ” versicolor | Yellow and Blue ” |
| LENTIBULARIACEÆ OR BLADDERWORT ORDER. |
| Utricularia vulgaris | Greater Bladderwort |
| PRIMULACEÆ OR PRIMROSE ORDER. |
| Primula vulgaris | Primrose |
| ” veris | Cowslip |
| Glaux maritima | Black Saltweed |
| Samolus Valerandi | Brookweed |
| Anagallis cærula | Blue Pimpernel |
| ” tenella | Bog ” |
| Hottonia palustris | Water Featherfoil |
| Lysimachia vulgaris | Yellow Loosestrife |
| PLANTAGINACEÆ OR RIBGRASS ORDER. |
| Plantago major | Plantain |
| ” media | Hoary Plantain |
| ” maritima | Sea-side Plantain |
| Littorella lacustris | Plantain Shoreweed |
| POLYGONACEÆ OR BUCKWHEAT ORDER. |
| Rumex crispus | Curled Dock |
| ” acetosa | Common Sorrel |
| EUPHORBIACEÆ OR SPURGEWORT ORDER. |
| Euphorbia paralias | Sea purge |
| URTICACEÆ OR NETTLE ORDER. |
| Humulus Lupulus | Hop |
| Urtica pilulifera | Roman nettle |
| Parietaria officinalis | Common Wall-pellitory |
| SALICACEÆ OR WILLOW ORDER. |
| Salix argentea | Silky Sand Willow |
| ” repens | Dwarf Willow |
| Myrica Gale | Sweet Gale |
| IRIDACEÆ OR IRIS ORDER. |
| Iris Pseudacorus | Yellow water-iris |
| AMARYLLIDACEÆ OR THE AMYRILLIS ORDER. |
| Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus | Common Daffodil |
| Galanthus nivalis | Snowdrop |
| ALISMACEÆ OR WATER-PLANTAIN ORDER. |
| Butomus umbellatus | Flowering-rush |
| Alisma ranunculoides | Lesser Thrumwort |
| POTAMOGETONACEÆ OR PONDWEED ORDER. |
| Ruppia maritima | Sea Tasselgrass |
| Zannichellia palustris | Common Lakeweed |
| ORCHIDACEÆ OR ORCHID ORDER. |
| Orchis morio | Green-winged Orchis |
| ” pyramidalis | Pyramidal ” |
| Epipactis latifolia | Broad-leaved Helleborine |
| ” palustris | Marsh ” |
| JUNCACEÆ OR RUSH ORDER. |
| Juncus effesus | Soft Rush |
| ” filiformis | Threadrush |
| ” squarrosus | Heathrush |
| Narthecium ossifragrum | Bog Asphodel |
| ARACEÆ OR ARUM ORDER. |
| Lenna minor | Lesser Duckweed |
| CRONTIACEÆ OR SWEET-FLAG ORDER. |
| Acorus Calamus | Sweet-flag |
| CYPERACEÆ OR SEDGE ORDER. |
| Carex limosa | Mud Sedge |
| ” flava | Yellow ” |
| ” arenaria | Sea ” |
| Eriophorum polystachyon | Broad-leaved Cotton-grass |
| EQUISETACEÆ OR HORSETAIL ORDER. |
| Equisetum arvense | Corn Horsetail |
| ” variegatum | Variegated Horsetail |
The River Wyre rises in the hills of Wyersdale and Bleasdale; running in a south-westerly direction and passing the towns of Garstang and Church Town, it arrives at St. Michael’s, from which point its tortuous course is continued almost due west as far as Skippool. Thence winding past the ancient port of Wardleys, the stream, much widened, flows north and a little inclined towards the west, until it reaches the harbour of Fleetwood, situated at its mouth. From that seaport, the channel of the river, unaltered in direction, lies for a distance of nearly two miles between the sand-banks of North Wharf and Bernard’s Wharf, and finally terminates in Morecambe Bay, meeting the well-defined bed of the Lune at right angles. The origins of the Wyre in the hills consist of two small rivulets, and the stream formed by their union is joined near Scorton by the Grizedale Brook, whilst lower down, about two miles beyond the town of Garstang, it receives the Calder, rising on the slopes of Bleasdale. Before leaving the parish of Garstang, the Wyre is further increased by the brook springing from Fairsnape and Parlick Pike, which passes Claughton and Myerscough, not far from where it receives a small tributary from the south. At Skippool also a brook, the Skipton, which springs from the mere and marshy grounds of Marton Moss, pours its contents into the river.
The Wyre is crossed at Garstang by the aqueduct of the Preston, Lancaster, and Kendal canal, and at St. Michael’s, near the Church, it is spanned by a rather narrow but substantial stone bridge. For a distance of about six miles in the neighbourhood of the latter place the stream is enclosed within artificial banks, which in some parts have a descent of thirty feet. In spite of these precautions, however, high floods occasionally occur, when the swollen waters burst over the embankments and inundate the adjoining country. At Cart Ford there is a wooden structure of very limited width, connecting the opposing banks; and a few miles further down is the Shard Bridge, built of iron, and presenting a neat and elegant appearance. The river at that spot is 500 yards in breadth, and until the erection of the bridge in 1864, was crossed by means of a ferry-boat, or forded at low water by carts and conveyances. The ancient name of this ford was Ald-wath, and we learn from the following entry in the diary of Thomas Tyldesley, that in 1713 the charge for crossing by boat was 6d. each journey:—“September 14, 1713.—Went after dinr. to ffox Hall; pd. 6d. ffor boating att Sharde; saw ye ferry man carry out of ye boat a Scot and his pack, a sight I never saw beffor, beeing 56 years off age.”
About three hundred years since the venerable Harrison described the principal rivers of Lancashire, and from his writings at that time we quote as under:—
“The Wire ryseth eight or ten miles from Garstan, out of an hill in Wiresdale, from whence it runneth by Shireshed chappell, and then going by Wadland, Grenelaw Castle (which belongeth to the erle of Darbie), Garstan and Kyrkeland hall, it first receiveth the seconde Calder, that commeth down by Edmersey chappell, then another chanel increased with sundrie waters, the first water is called Plympton brooke. It riseth south of Gosner, and commeth by Craweforde hall, and eare long receyving the Barton becke, it proceedeth forward till it joyneth with the Brooke rill that commeth from Bowland Forest by Claughton hall, where M. Brokehales doth live, and so throw Mersco forest. After this confluence the Plime or Plimton water meeteth with the Calder, and then with the Wire, which passeth forth to Michael church and the Rawcliffes, and above Thorneton crosseth the Skipton, that goeth by Potton, then into the Wire rode, and finally into the sea, according to his nature.”