Visit Ribchester Places

Welcome to Visit Ribchester Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Ribchester

  

Ribchester Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Ribchester

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Ribchester history

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Roman history

The village was originally established as a Roman auxiliary fort named Bremetennacum. During the life of the fort, a village grew up around it. The most famous artifact discovered in Ribchester, and dating from the Roman period, is the elaborate cavalry helmet.

Post-Roman

Little is known about post Roman Ribchester although the presence of St. Wilfrid’s Church indicates that it retained some significance. In the 17th and 18th centuries the village became a centre for cotton weaving. The weaving of cotton and other textiles continued in Ribchester until the 1980s.

Ribchester landmarks

St. Wilfrid’s Church

St. Wilfrid’s Church stands by the River Ribble on what was the centre of the Roman fort. The first written record of a church on the site dates from 1193.

St. Peter and Paul’s Church and Stydd almshouses

St. Peter and Paul’s Church (also known as Styyd Church) is an early barn church. Over the centuries, this small chapel has been altered several times. During the mid-13th century, the chapel was a Camera of the Preceptory of the Order of Newland.

White Bull public house

Located on Church Street, the White Bull dates to 1707. The White Bull was built in 1707 and dates back to the 17th century.

The Hillock

This is the ancient centre if the village standing at the “Y” junction where the Roman branch roads leads up Water Street and Stonygate Lane to join the main route from Chester to Hadrian’s Wall. Although the Hillock gives the impression of being a market cross, no evidence exists of this being a part of its history.

Weavers’ cottages

Row of cottages have three levels with a single window at the uppermost. Cottages were built for the hand loom weavers and have three separate windows.

Excavated Roman buildings

Adjoining the churchyard of St. Wilfrid’s Church are the excavated remains of the granaries which belonged to the Roman fort. A short distance east of the village and behind the White Bull pub, are the remains of Roman baths.

Roman Museum

Near to St. Wilfrid’s Church is the Roman Museum, the brainchild of Margaret Greenall. The most famous find, the Ribchester Parade Helmet, is on show in replica, but original is in British Museum collection.

Stone House

Stone House was occupied by the owner of the 19th-century Bobbin Mill that used to stand across the road. The mill originally ground corn, with water for power diverted from Boyce’s Brook, but it diversified into bobbin turning until 1890.

Ribchester geography / climate

The village is situated at the foot of Longridge Fell and on the banks of the River Ribble. The solid geography is of thick boulder clay deposits from the river over Sabden Shale. The area around the village shows signs of the river having moved with obvious terracing.

You can visit Ribchester places with Walkfo Ribchester to hear history at Ribchester’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Ribchester has 18 places to visit in our interactive Ribchester map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Ribchester, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Ribchester places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Ribchester & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 18 audio facts unique to Ribchester places in an interactive Ribchester map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Ribchester Places Map
18 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Ribchester historic spots	Ribchester tourist destinations	Ribchester plaques	Ribchester geographic features
Walkfo Ribchester tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Ribchester

  

Best Ribchester places to visit

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Ribchester has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Ribchester’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Ribchester’s information audio spots:

Stydd Brook Stydd Brook rises on Gannow Fell, south west of the Forest of Bowland. The river flows southward, meeting the River Ribble at Ribchester.

St Wilfrid’s Church, Ribchester St Wilfrid’s Church is an Anglican church in the village of Ribchester in Lancashire. It is situated close to the site of a Roman fort and is a Grade I listed building.

St Saviour’s Church, Stydd St Saviour’s Church is an Anglican chapel in Stydd, a hamlet near Ribchester in Lancashire. It has been designated a Grade I listed building by English Heritage.

Visit Ribchester plaques