Lea: Hotels for Your Stay

Points of reference include listed buildings, Lea Town’s predominantly linear settlement pattern, and named paths and landscape features. Consider which of these aspects matter for planning your trip: heritage conservation, a route or the lowland landscape.

Listed Buildings

Old Lea Hall Farmhouse is designated as a Grade I listed building. The stone cross, The Cross on Corner at Junction with Lea Lane, is designated as a Grade II listed building; it has been restored and stands on a worked boulder base, which is probably medieval. The different grades refer to different objects: a farmhouse and a single stone cross. The probable medieval date applies to the base, not the cross.

Paths and Routes

Lea Footpath 7 runs east from Lea Lane via Bryars Farm to Sidgreaves Lane and passes through Earl’s Farm. By contrast, National Cycle Route 62 follows roads through Lea Town in an east–west direction. The route runs along Darkinson Lane and then continues via Sidgreaves Lane and Cottam Way to Cottam. Darkinson Lane is a shared point of reference: it is mentioned both in connection with the linear settlement and as part of National Cycle Route 62. If you plan to include either route in your itinerary, check the current public right-of-way conditions on Lea Footpath 7 and the current course of Cycle Route 62 before setting out.

A description dated 28 December 2016 names The Smiths Arms in Lea Town as the starting point for a 5.5-mile walk described as leisurely. If you use this route description to plan your trip, check the route and the stated starting point in advance.

Settlement Pattern and Landscape

Lea Town is a predominantly linear settlement extending along Darkinson Lane and Lea Lane. The surrounding area is distinct from the settlement itself: the landscape around Lea Town has a high density of field ponds and small areas of broadleaf woodland. It also includes gently undulating lowland farmland at elevations of 15 to 35 m above sea level. Thus, the linear form describes the settlement itself, while ponds, broadleaf woodland and farmland shape the surrounding landscape. When planning your trip, you can consider the settlement pattern and the surrounding landscape as separate points of reference.

St Mary’s Chapel

Mass is celebrated at St Mary’s Chapel in Lea Town every Sunday and on special occasions. If attending a service is part of your travel plans, check the current schedule in advance, as it may change.

Discover more destinations: Ribchester, Bacup, Preesall, Calder Vale, Kirkham, Kelbrook, Slaidburn, Bolton by Bowland

For the wider travel overview: Lancashire.