Bit of a local history puzzle

[Atarah]

Hi, I have recently been given an explanation as to why these wide "flags" were laid next to ordinary cobbles, in front of the Hargreaves Arms pub on Manchester Road, Accrington.

(by the way - I believe the pub is due to re-open Mon 6th April, 2009).

I am not sure if what I have been told is true, but wondered if anyone would like to have a guess about their "purpose in life".

Atarah

[K.S.H]

Is it braile for "your crossing a cobbled street"

Seriously now, I'd have a guess at something to do with horses and carts

[MargaretR]

They look like they are spaced to fit wagon wheels

[K.S.H]

Ladders?

Edit - can't be, thee on the back alley too

[flashy]

Ken, its brail for 'dont drink and drive, the cop shops over the road'

[emzy]

It's to make it easier when wearing heels

I would go for the horse and cart thing. The flags seem more worn towards the middle than the edge like they have had something running up and down them, but guess that could be many things

[K.S.H]

A path to the swan when you blind drunk

[steeljack]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

They look like they are spaced to fit wagon wheels

I were thinking where the tram lines were , but a bit too close to the buildings for that , or something going back to the days when the first water and gas lines were layed down

[Gayle]

Is it so that horses knew where the end of the road was?

[Retlaw]

[quote=Atarah;700855]Hi, I have recently been given an explanation as to why these wide "flags" were laid next to ordinary cobbles, in front of the Hargreaves Arms pub on Manchester Road, Accrington.

(by the way - I believe the pub is due to re-open Mon 6th April, 2009).

I am not sure if what I have been told is true, but wondered if anyone would like to have a guess about their "purpose in life".

Its just an extension of the pavement from Bank Terrace.

Retlaw.

ps
did you get my email on Wm. Hindle.

[junetta]

Flippin' heck, I had my wedding reception there back in 1970 and it seemed really posh to me!

Well, 'im indoors reckons that the flags were there to stop the cobbles breaking up when the carts delivered to the hotel.

Nice to see the pic Atarah, brought back nice memories x

[cashman]

i was thinking fer the owd hoss drawn dray.

[katex]

Perhaps to roll the barrels along ? ..

[accyman]

at a wild guess as they go along the road for some distance iw oudl say it was for horses to get a better grip while ppulling somthing that wa sin the road

like when a tram broke down the horse would walk along side the road pulling it along or a carridge of some sort

[cashman]

or they just laid em that way to confuse us anoraks 100 yrs on.