Movin’... with the times

11July–August 2009 | Issue 3

In the last issue of Movin’ Magazine, we looked at how the canals and waterways of Warrington have made a big impact on the town. Lymm, skirted by the Man-chester Ship canal and divided by the Bridgewater ca-nal, is no exception from this. In Victorian times, the ca-nals were used to boost industry, carrying coal towards the big sites in Manchester and beyond. Nowadays, the Bridgewater canal in particular provides a picturesque backdrop to village life, with narrow boats leisurely sailing down the canal, lingering only to admire the vil-lage’s beauty or to try some of the fine food on offer.

The centre of the village’s history, however, undoubt-edly revolves around the Cross. Standing on worn steps carved out of the natural red stone, the four stone pillars stand atop this distinctive landmark right in the centre of the village. Centuries ago, the main function of the Cross would have been as a meeting place for public gatherings and it’s also the site of the stocks, which would have been used to impart primitive justice.A short history of Lymm

If you’d like to learn more about Lymm’s past, the Lymm and District Local History Society meets on the second Monday of each month at 8pm in the village hall, Pepper Street, Lymm.

Lymm plays host to a number of wonderful events throughout the year, with Lymm Festival as this summer’s major event. This year’s festival is the tenth anniversary of the celebration, offering creative talent and a fine environment to residents and visitors alike, all crammed into ten eventful days from Thursday 25 June to Sunday 5 July. Perhaps one of the most enjoyable events as part of the festival is the scarecrow competition and trail. Various characters grace the gardens of Lymm during the festival, surprising and delighting their visitors. But the festival is also about appealing to every age and every taste, offering almost every kind of music, as well as dance, drama, comedy and exhibitions. Visit www.lymmfestival.org.uk to find out more.

Every Christmas also sees the return of the Dicken-sian Day in Lymm, with street entertainers, food stands and shopkeepers in traditional dresswear. And just as much as Dickensian Day tells us Christmas is coming, the annual Duck Race on Easter Monday marks the beginning of the spring months. Every East-er, crowds of people line the Upper Dam in Lymm, to watch more than 1000 plastic ducks drifting along the river. The Duck Race makes for a memorable day out, and what’s even more reassuring to know is that all of the proceeds from the event go to charity.

Events inLymm

2 hours of

free parking!

Available from 6 July

Pepper St.

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