66-574: Rivington Pike is a hill on Winter Hill , part of the West Pennine Moors at Rivington , Chorley in Lancashire , England. The nearest towns are Adlington and Horwich . The land and building are owned and managed by Chorley Council. The Pike Tower is a prominent local landmark located below the summit, it is part of Lever Park. The area is popular with hill walkers and for mountain biking . The pike at 1,191 feet (363 m) high
132-474: A Scottish raid in 1138, when a small Lancashire army was defeated near Clitheroe by a much larger Scottish force. The beacon here was one of the famous examples used in Elizabethan England to warn of the approaching Spanish Armada , lit on 19 July 1588. There are records of a petition for reimbursement of a watching beacon in 1640. The stones from the beacon firepit were used to create a base for
198-417: A circular mound. The cairns height had been increased by a landowner, noted by local historian Thomas Hampson in 1883, at the time the cairns were thought to be Saxon. Hampson described the original Two Lads as the graves of two children of a Saxon king, Edgar , and recorded that Winter Hill was previously known as Edgar Hill. A legend exists that the cairns mark the site on which two boys lost their way on
264-675: A footnote that 'A Jack is a Flag to be flown only on the "Jack" Staff'. The etymology of "Jack" in the context of flagstaffs reaches back to Middle German. The suffix -kin was used in Middle Dutch and Middle German as a diminutive . Examples occur in both Chaucer and Langland though the form is unknown in Old English. John is a common male forename (going back to the Bible), appearing in Dutch as Jan . Both languages use it as
330-488: A generic form for a man in general. The two were combined in the Middle Dutch Janke , whence Middle French Jakke and Middle English Jack . Jack came to be used to identify all manner of particularly small objects or small versions of larger ones. The OED has definition 21 "Something insignificant, or smaller than the normal size" and gives examples from 1530 to 2014 of this usage. Further examples in
396-598: A low-pitched drone alternating between two notes a tone apart for its entire length. On a visit to Winter Hill in 1988, a piece of electronic equipment was found which made a high-pitched drone and alternated between two notes a tone apart. The song " Winter Hill " on Doves ' 2009 album Kingdom of Rust , also references the site. A metal plaque shows the direction for Two Lads Cairn, Winter Hill TV mast, Smithills Moor, Brown Lowe, Scout Moor Wind Farm , Knowl Hill, Walker Fold Woods, Saddleworth Moor, Peak District , Kinder Scout , Manchester and Salford Quays . The image on
462-847: A short walk from the top of a road pass 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles (2 km) west of Belmont. The hill is a prominent natural landmark on the skyline for the most of Chorley and further afield. Winter Hill's topographic prominence results in it being classified as a Marilyn . The trig point on its summit marks the highest point in Blackburn with Darwen whereas the highest point in Bolton is 440 yards (400 m) away on its south east slope at 1,467 feet (447 m) above sea level. It provides views over Lancashire , Cheshire , Merseyside and Greater Manchester , including Manchester city centre , Salford , Werneth Low , Wigan and Bolton . In clear weather conditions, locations such as Blackpool Tower ,
528-744: A small jack became known as the "Union Jack" and this later term transferred to more general usage of the Union Flag. Also later a short flagpole was placed in the bows of a ship to fly the jack, this became known as the jackstaff . The Union Flag can be flown by any individual or organisation in Great Britain on any day of their choice. Legal regulations restrict the use of the Union Flag on government buildings in Northern Ireland . Long-standing restrictions on UK government use of
594-478: Is 1,496 feet (456 m) high. Part of the West Pennine Moors , it is a popular walking area, and has been the site of mining activity, aeroplane disasters and a murder . Its prominent position made it the ideal site for the Winter Hill TV Mast , transmitting to a large part of North West England. There is also a number of other telecommunication masts and towers around the summit and side of
660-616: Is a maximum of 5 mph. Belmont Road forks at the Pigeon Tower. The descending road has washed away. The continuation of the road to the right heads to Rivington Road and is now a dirt track across Rivington Moor. Roynton Road provides access across the lower part of the hillside and connects Rivington Lane to Sheep House Lane, via seven arch bridge. The area is popular with walkers and many other road users including horse riders, mountain bikes, and motorcycles, and may be accessed by suitable cars. Footpaths and bridleways provide access to
726-469: Is a right to 'free and uninterrupted enjoyment'. On the definitive map bridleway number 108 leads to the Pike Tower at the summit, passing Brown Hill accessible via bridleway 107 and 81 from Belmont Road. Bridleway 80 circles the base of the hill at the moorland side. There are other paths and bridleways in the area that are rights of way . The popular routes to the summit are via footpath 82, through
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#1732791615137792-467: Is part of Lever park and is mentioned as such in the Lever park Act 1969 and has legally protected rights to free and uninterrupted public enjoyment in the 1902 Liverpool Corporation Act. It is an area of open access land and has a right to roam . The Pike hill summit was included on the map presented by Lord Leverhulme to Bolton as part of the lands donated for the creation of Lever Park and as such there
858-527: Is popular with walkers and footpaths and bridleways provide access to the hillside and surrounding moorland. Winter Hill was the site of a mass trespass in 1896 when 10,000 people marched from Bolton to the open countryside in a mass demonstration after the owner of the Smithills Hall estate, Colonel Richard Henry Ainsworth tried to stop public access, the demonstrators repeated the march the following week and were met with no opposition to them accessing
924-720: Is the Union Jack , also known as the Union Flag . The design of the Union Jack dates back to the Act of Union 1801 , which united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland (previously in personal union ) to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . The flag consists of the red cross of Saint George ( patron saint of England , which also represents Wales ), edged in white, superimposed on
990-741: Is the most westerly high point of Winter Hill in the West Pennine Moors. The high moorland is underlain with Carboniferous rocks, the Millstone Grit , sandstones and shales of the Lower Coal Measures which rise high above the Lancashire Plain to the west and Greater Manchester conurbation to the south. From the summit it is possible to see Blackpool Tower , the Lake District mountains,
1056-642: Is the only body in the United Kingdom that is not permitted to fly the Union Flag and is only permitted to fly its service flag or the Royal Standard in the event of a visit by the Sovereign. As of 2013, numerous proposals were made about how the Union Flag might be altered to create a flag for the union of England, Wales and Northern Ireland after possible Scottish independence . The College of Arms stated that there would be no need to change
1122-857: The Dream in Sutton , St Helens , Jodrell Bank Observatory , Snaefell in the Isle of Man , the Cumbrian mountains, Snowdonia in North Wales , Liverpool , Southport , the Irish Sea , the Pennines and much of the North West of England, can be seen. On a clear day, views from the summit include four national parks: the Lake District , Yorkshire Dales , Peak District and Snowdonia. The bare hilltop
1188-528: The Flag Institute defines the red and royal blue colours as Pantone 186 C (RGB 207, 20, 43) and Pantone 280 C (RGB 0, 36, 125), respectively. According to the Flag Institute : "It is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the Union Jack when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From early in its life, the Admiralty itself frequently referred to
1254-585: The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2022. The Pike Tower is a Grade II* listed building lower down the Pike hill than the summit, high enough to be prominent from most directions. Built by John Andrews of Rivington Hall in 1733. The Pike hill was the site of an ancient beacon; the tower's foundation is made from stone found there and was built as a hunting lodge. Square in plan with sides 16 feet (4.9 m) in length and 20 feet (6.1 m) high, it
1320-479: The Woodland Trust . The fire destroyed over a fifth of the moorland on the hill, and it may take a decade to recover fully. Concerns were raised in 2011 to Natural England regarding moorland management with warnings of increased fire risk due to policy of United Utilities to reduce grazing, whilst not using other land management measures including cutting or controlled burning to reduce fire risks. The area
1386-478: The saltire of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland ), also edged in white, which are superimposed on the saltire of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland ). Wales is not represented in the Union Flag by Wales's patron saint, Saint David , because the flag was designed whilst Wales was part of the Kingdom of England . The flag proportions on land and the war flag used by the British Army have
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#17327916151371452-585: The Crown , or the armed forces. They were not applicable to private citizens, corporations, or local authorities. On 3 July 2007, the Justice Secretary Jack Straw laid a green paper before Parliament entitled The Governance of Britain . Alongside a range of proposed changes to the constitutional arrangements of the UK was a specific announcement that there would be consultation on whether
1518-622: The Pike Tower in 1733. Beacons were lit near to the tower for the coronation of King George V in 1910, to celebrate peace after the Great War in 1919, in 1977 and 2012 to celebrate the Silver and Diamond Jubilees of Queen Elizabeth II , and in 2016 for the Queen's 90th birthday. An artificial beacon was lit with projection of the Flag of the United Kingdom onto the Pike Tower, in celebration for
1584-704: The Saturday before Easter Sunday since 1892. The course is 3¼ miles and has a 700-foot ascent. Many walkers continue the Good Friday tradition of walking to the pike summit. In the years 1906 to 1912, a car and motorcycle race and hill climb was held by the North-East Lancs Automobile Club and the Lancashire Motor-Cycle Club. The Winter Hill mass trespass occurred in 1896, a march of 10,000 people descended on
1650-435: The UK flag is not symmetrical. The red saltire of St Patrick is offset such that it does not relegate the white saltire of St Andrew to a mere border. St Andrew's saltire has the higher position at the hoist side with St Patrick's saltire in the higher position on the opposite side. The Union Flag is flown from UK government buildings at half-mast in the following situations: The Sovereign sometimes declares other days when
1716-490: The Union Flag and as such it is sometimes flown alongside the Saltire and sometimes omitted. An exception is made for "national days". On these days, the Saltire shall be lowered and replaced with the Union Flag. These are the same as the flag days noted above with the exception of: On Saint Andrew's Day , the Union Flag can only be flown if the building has more than one flagpole—the Saltire will not be lowered to make way for
1782-532: The Union Flag if there is only one flagpole. In November 2007 the then culture minister Margaret Hodge said she would consider a redesign of the Union Flag to incorporate the Welsh dragon , during a debate in the House of Commons on the frequency with which the flag flies above public buildings. The issue was initially raised by Ian Lucas , another Labour MP, who complained that the flag introduced in 1606 following
1848-532: The Union Flag is to fly at half-mast . Half-mast means the flag is flown two-thirds of the way up the flagpole with at least the height of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the flagpole. Until July 2007, the Union Flag was only flown on UK government buildings on a limited number of special days each year. The choice of days was managed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Government buildings are those used by civil servants,
1914-611: The United Kingdom was officially created by an Order in Council of 1801, with its blazon reading as follows: The Union Flag shall be azure , the Crosses saltire of Saint Andrew and Saint Patrick quarterly per saltire, counter-changed, argent and gules , the latter fimbriated of the second , surmounted by the Cross of Saint George of the third fimbriated as the saltire. No official standardised colours were specified, although
1980-550: The Welsh mountains and as far as the Isle of Man . The hill had the ancient name in Old English of hreof plus ing meaning the rough or rugged hill and pic , a pointed eminence, the earliest recorded name is Winterhold Pike in 1250 in a grant from Roger Rivington and by 1280 it was known as "Roun pic" within a grant by Cecily Roynton. The hill was recorded as Rovyng in 1325 and Rivenpike in about 1540. Saxton records
2046-732: The abolition of the restrictions – pending consultation on longer term arrangements. The flag days directed by the DCMS include birthdays of members of the Royal Family , the wedding anniversary of the Monarch, Commonwealth Day , Accession Day , Coronation Day , The King's Official Birthday , Remembrance Sunday and (in the Greater London area) on the days of the State Opening and prorogation of Parliament . Since 2024,
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2112-601: The accession of James VI of Scotland to the English throne as James I assumed the Welsh population as English under the bracket of England and Wales (represented by the cross of St George) which he then combined with the saltire of St Andrew which represented the union of England and Scotland. This principle continued in 1801 when the St Patrick cross was incorporated following the Union with Ireland Act 1800 . Lucas claimed
2178-413: The author Fergusson Irvine in his 1904 book described as a 'a curious hog-backed mound'. Of the hill he states "no doubt it is mainly a natural feature, but there are distinct traces of its having been trimmed and the approach steepened at several points". and he also states it is possible that a standing stone occupied the summit in the prehistoric period. These remains can be seen from the air. The Pike
2244-566: The blaze. In total, the fire burned for 41 days, and caused a major incident to be declared. A man was later arrested for arson on suspicion of causing the wildfire. The fire, along with the Saddleworth Moor fire (which also burned over 7 square miles of land) has been described by local councillor Brenda Warrington as the "worst series of moor fires in living memory". It has affected local wildlife, killing both flora and fauna in an "internationally important ecosystem" as described by
2310-463: The compounds section at 2b illustrate this. The original maritime flag use of jack was "A ship's flag of a smaller size than the ensign, used at sea as a signal, or as an identifying device". The Jack was flown in the bows or from the head of the spritsail mast to indicate the vessel's nationality: "You are alsoe for this present service to keepe in yo Jack at yo Boultspritt end and yo Pendant and yo Ordinance" The Union Flag when instantiated as
2376-536: The flag 180 degrees, but if mirrored the flag will be upside-down. Placing the flag upside down is considered lèse majesté and is offensive to some. However, it can be flown upside down as a distress signal. While this is rare, it was used by groups under siege during the Boer War and during campaigns in India in the late 18th century. Because of the relative positions of the saltires of St Patrick and St Andrew,
2442-466: The flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use" In 1902, an Admiralty Circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. Such use was given Parliamentary approval in 1908 when it was stated that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag". Notwithstanding Their Lordships' circular of 1902, by 1913, the Admiralty described the "Union Flag" and added in
2508-479: The flag elsewhere were abolished in July 2007. While the flag appears symmetric, the white lines above and below the diagonal red are different widths. On the side closer to the flagpole (or on the left when depicted on paper), the white lines above the diagonals are wider; on the side farther from the flagpole (or on the right when depicted on paper), the converse is true. Thus, no change will be apparent when rotating
2574-413: The ground" and an encounter with a being that returned to a craft before disappearing. In 1999, in what became known as the "Murphy Incident", a farmer said he saw an object hovering over his cattle field. On investigation, the object moved away and the farmer reported the incident to the police. The farmer returned to the field, wearing just a cardigan, and discovered the object had reappeared. He reported
2640-542: The hill for mobile phones , Professional Mobile Radio users and emergency services . Lancashire Constabulary was the first to use the site for one of their base stations in 1950; they had to build the road and it is said to have been built by policemen. Paths to the summit lead from Belmont (in Blackburn with Darwen), Rivington (in Chorley), and Horwich and Blackrod (in Bolton). The summit can also be reached via
2706-459: The hill. Other crashes have included several Spitfires , Hurricanes and a Gloster Meteor which crashed in 1953. On 27 February 1958 occurred the Winter Hill air disaster , a Silver City Bristol 170 Freighter (G-AICS) travelling from the Isle of Man to Manchester crashed into Winter Hill several hundred yards away from the transmitter. There is a memorial plaque to the accident at
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2772-580: The hillside and surrounding moorland, protected by CROW, the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 . Although land registry documents for the Pike hill do not record protection through the Liverpool Corporation Act 1902, it is an oversight, it was documented as part of the gift to the people of Bolton by Lord Leverhulme at the creation of Lever Park. The Pike, although a distance from the reservoirs and now owned by Chorley Council
2838-744: The identity of Wales had been suppressed ever since the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 . In the debate, Albert Owen MP said that "we in Wales do not feel part of the union flag because the dragon or the cross of St David is not on it." Conservative MP Stewart Jackson described the comments as "eccentric". In Northern Ireland , the Union Flag is flown from buildings of the Northern Ireland Office as decreed by Regulations published in 2000. The Regulations were amended in 2002 to remove
2904-979: The incident to the Manchester Aerial Phenomena Investigation Team (MAPIT), who investigated it. While MAPIT was conducting its investigation, they alleged they were being followed by a green moon-man in a shuttlecock-shaped flying saucer. The farmer reported that he was warned by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food but has not been traced since the incident, and the current owner has not spoken about it. The UK government released previously classified information on UFO sightings in May 2006; one picture appeared to show an unidentified object over Winter Hill. The song "Winter Hill" on A Certain Ratio 's 1981 album To Each... , consists of drumming, whistling and
2970-521: The left shows Winter Hill and the TV mast along with Holdens Farm. On the plinth is a metal memorial plate which reads "In loving memory to Joan and Bartle Hodgkiss...". The plaque is on a continuing path along Burnt Edge Lane, 200m past Slack Hall and overlooking Burnt Edge at SD666124 . Notes Bibliography Flag of the United Kingdom The national flag of the United Kingdom
3036-454: The moor and died of exposure in a snowstorm. In 1953/54 John Winstanley, Archaeologist had recorded Roman finds near this site, he concluded the site was once a Roman encampment. Flint chippings were found indicating much earlier use of this site. On 9 November 1838 George Henderson, a Scottish merchant walking over the hill from Horwich to Blackburn , was murdered by gunshot. A monument was erected in 1912 to replace an earlier bush planted at
3102-539: The moorland and up to the Pike from Bolton on two weekends to enforce their rights to roam. Leverhulme also supported the rights of ordinary people to access the countryside, and used his own funds to secure the rights for the inhabitants. A water bill in 1989 threatened the rights to roam in Rivington, leading to a rally held here to protect rights of access, led by the Ramblers Association . A pledge
3168-467: The moors, it is considered an early forerunner of the Kinder Scout mass trespass . The demonstration is commemorated by a memorial stone on Coal Pit Road, below Smithills Moor. The hill and surrounding moorland area is open access land with a legally protected right to roam . UFOs have been reported on Winter Hill. In 1950, a witness described a "dark flat iron shaped object hovering close to
3234-488: The name as Rivenpike Hill on his 1577 map. The Pike has many prehistoric sites nearby, at Noon Hill tumulus on Winter Hill, Pike Stones and Two Lads, in the valley is Coblowe hillock by the Lower Rivington Reservoir . There are records of flint chipping being found at the Pike and moorland. A flint spear head was found at the nearby 'Tigers Clough'. There is a feature at the summit of the hill which
3300-535: The peak. On 24 March 1957, two men discovered "curved lines of stones" sticking out of the peat forming a two feet high wall which surrounded a raised area in the middle. In July 1958, a group from the University of Manchester excavated the central mound only to find it had been excavated 250 years earlier. The site was thought to have originated from 1500 BC in the Middle Bronze Age. The second mound
3366-402: The proportions 3:5. The flag's height-to-length proportions at sea are 1:2. The Union Flag also features in the canton of the flags of the Royal Navy , the Royal Air Force , and the British Merchant Navy . These flags are known as ensigns . The earlier flag of Great Britain was established in 1606 by a proclamation of King James VI and I of Scotland and England . The new flag of
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#17327916151373432-462: The rebuild. Liverpool City Council , the former owner, neglected the tower and planned to demolish it in 1967, after a public outcry and legal action the land and building was transferred to Chorley Rural District Council in 1971 who rebuilt the main external stonework of building in 1974 and completed further work in the 1990s. The Pike Hill and tower are owned and managed by Chorley Council under title number LAN21334. Rivington Pike Easter Fair
3498-399: The relevant days have been: In addition, the flag should be flown in the following areas on the specified days: Some non-central government bodies still continue to follow the flag days. In Scotland, the Scottish Government has decreed that the Flag of Scotland ("the Saltire") will fly on all its buildings every day from 8 am until sunset, but there is no specific policy on flying
3564-476: The requirement to fly the flag on the birthdays of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon who both died that year. The current flag days are now the same as the United Kingdom government days noted above with the exception of the Queen Camilla's birthday, which was only added to the UK flag days after her wedding to King Charles in 2005, and has not yet been extended to Northern Ireland. The Police Service of Northern Ireland
3630-588: The rules on flag-flying on UK government buildings should be relaxed. Two days later, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that with immediate effect the Union Flag would fly from the flagpole above the front entrance of 10 Downing Street on every day of the year. The intention was to increase feelings of British national identity . Other UK government departments were asked to follow this lead, and all government buildings in Whitehall did so. James Purnell , Culture Secretary from June 2007 to January 2008 in Brown's administration, subsequently concurred with
3696-401: The site. In September 1965 a RAF De Havilland Chipmunk flew into the hill in cloud, without serious injury to the crew. The last crash occurred in October 1968 when a Cessna 172 force-landed between Winter Hill and Rivington Pike . In 2018, a large wildfire broke out on the 28 June. It burned over 7 square miles (18 km ) of moorland, with one hundred firefighters sent to tackle
3762-538: The spot, sited at the side of the road opposite the television station. Scotsman's Stump was celebrated in a poem entitled 'Scotchman's Stump' by Bolton poet John Cassidy. It was published in his collection Night Cries , published by Bloodaxe in 1982. Aircraft crashes around Winter Hill include a two-seater aircraft in the 1920s. During World War II an American Fairchild UC-61 Forwarder (41-54885) of 5th Air Depot Group crashed on 7 August 1942. On 24 December 1943, an Airspeed Oxford (BM837) of 410 Squadron crashed on
3828-400: The terraced gardens and via bridleway 98 past Higher Knoll farm. In the 1990s steps were built on the hillside to prevent deterioration. Notes Bibliography Chorley Council Winter Hill, Lancashire Winter Hill is a hill on which the three boroughs of Chorley , Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton meet in North West England . It is located on Rivington Moor, Chorley and
3894-444: The two roads that provide access to the hillside, the Terraced Gardens, the Pike and Winter Hill from the direction of Chorley, Belmont and Horwich. Both are open public roads recorded on the National Street Gazetteer which are public and under the control of the Lancashire County Council with adopted status and statutory protection by way of the Highways Act 1980 . Gates placed on these roads must not be locked shut. The speed advice
3960-400: Was a meeting place of political activists in 1801 through a group known as the United Englishmen, a clandestine revolutionary republican organisation advocating universal suffrage and uprisings across the UK, they sought assistance from the French. Those who attended the gathering were arrested but bailed, they became known as the 'Rivington Hill rioters'. The Pike, being located on Winter Hill
4026-574: Was built with a wooden roof, three windows and a door all of which are now blocked up. The foundations have become exposed over centuries due to erosion. The roof was slate and hidden by a parapet with pointed corners and intermediate steps, originally built with a small cellar measuring 5 by 3 by 5 feet (1.52 m × 0.91 m × 1.52 m), a corner stone fireplace and chimney and stone floor slabs. The materials were brought in by horse and cart from Warrington ; windows and glass came from Chorley. The internal features and roof had gone before
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#17327916151374092-447: Was found higher up the hill on the southern edge of Noon Hill . The site was excavated in August 1958 by the Bolton & District Archaeological Society, revealing two lines of stones and human remains. Two memorial cairns on the hill are known as Wilder Lads or Two Lads. There was a large third cairn built in the 20th century, the remains of the originals are nearby. The site was originally known as 'Wilder Lads', originally united by
4158-470: Was held annually on Whit Saturday , until the arrival of the Manchester and Bolton Railway 's extension to Preston and the opening of Blackrod railway station in 1841 which brought more visitors, after which the Fair was moved to Good Friday in 1900, by then a bank holiday weekend. It has remained popular, with large numbers attending. The fair was stopped during the Covid pandemic for the years 2020 and 2021. The Rivington Pike Fell Race has been held on
4224-447: Was made by 3,000 to protect access to the hills. A further attempt by the water company to introduce an act of Parliament in 1997 was rejected after public opposition with the support of the local MP. The Pike and Japanese Gardens, part of the Terraced Gardens, along with the entire moorland are today part of an area of public access land with legally protected rights to roam. Belmont Road (USRN 7400767) and Roynton Road (USRN: 7400820) are
4290-422: Was once covered by woodland that may have been destroyed by fire and it is thought that the hill was once inhabited, though no remains have been found. There is a Bronze Age round cairn dating from 1600–1400 BC on the hill. In 1883, a local historian recorded the old name for Winter Hill as Edgar Hill, named in connection to Saxon King Edgar Two burial mounds dating from the Bronze Age are located near
4356-429: Was one of the destinations in the UK's largest mass trespass, which occurred in 1896, when 10,000 people marched to enforce their rights of way. The prominent summit of Rivington Pike hill has a mound with a circular trench, this was the site of one of a series of beacons spanning England as an early warning system. The beacon system was put in place by Ranulph de Blundeville, 4th Earl of Chester around 1139, following
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