A picturesque hamlet frozen in time lies four miles outside of Colne in Lancashire, as it was left completely abandoned but remains immortalised in English literature forever.What was once a sleepy village now acts as a scenic country park, with famous ties to an iconic English author.All that remains, besides a few residents, is the ruins of a village that once was, and so it remains a car-free zone, mostly untouched by 21st-century life – aside from those still living there who require a special pass. It's believed that the first sign of life in Wycoller can be traced all the way back to the Stone Age, as discovered artefacts in the village have shown. Although, it really made a name for itself in the 18th century, when it was originally owned by the Hartley family, who extended the great 16th-century hall, known as Wycoller Hall.
This glorious building was the beating heart of the village and saw an extensive build by its last owner, Squire Cunliffe, who later died in heaps of debt in 1818 after struggling to fund the work. Following his death it was decided that the hall should be demolished to build houses nearby and other useful structures, leaving it to fall to ruins. Visitors today can amble through the ruins that once belonged to the great hall and walk across the beck, which peacefully flows through the village. One of the bridges that remains, Clam Bridge, is an attraction itself, dating back to what is thought to be over 1,000 years, and officially listed as an Ancient Monument. Helping solidify this ghost town of a once thriving village is its famous connection to the Brontë sisters. It's commonly known that Charlotte Brontë's novel, Jane Eyre, and her description of Ferndean Manor in the book draw comparison to Wycoller Hall, thought to be the inspiration of the fictional setting. The famous sisters lived at Haworth, just a short distance from Wycoller, and so it's highly likely that the writer passed through the village on her visit to Gawthorpe Hall when she resided with the Kay-Shuttleworths. This draws in bookworms from all over, keen to catch a glimpse of the inspiration behind one of English literature's most iconic buildings.
It wasn't until the 1940s, after years of neglect, that volunteers decided to make an attempt at restoring the once beautiful buildings, and the land was bought by Lancashire County Council 30 years later.Now people can witness the history of the ruins, completely for free, or by making a small donation. A recent visitor shared on Trip Advisor: "Wycoller is such a picturesque little place. It has a lovely stream for sitting by or paddling in. There's plenty of shade in summer, from the huge trees. "There was also a small exhibition, some ruins and well-preserved stone bridges. It's not a long walk, but it's perfect for a picnic and/or for the kids to paddle in the stream. The car park is a short walk away up the road. Meanwhile, another review from 202 reads: "Beautiful place to go with amazing sights and a lovely shop for snacks and a warm drink. There are also different little trails and bridges to go over and plenty of ducks to feed. I recommend this to anyone who fancies going out for the day to be in touch with nature."
