The Parish of Osbaldeston in the County of -- Lancashire --

There were settlements on the banks of the River Ribble at the time of the Romans, and Ribchester became the site of the Roman camp. People would travel along well-worn tracks, preferably on higher ground until the Romans developed the main tracks into roads. Three such main roads were in the Ribble Valley area. One, north of the Ribble connected Ribchester with Preston to join Watling Street. A second road ran from south-east Preston across the Ribble towards the Church of St Leonard at Samlesbury, then along the river terrace to Bezza Lane, hence to Balderstone and on to Whalley. The road named ‘Monk’s Lane’ and ‘Prime Lane’, was used by the Cistercian monks of Whalley Abbey when they went to St Leonard to celebrate Mass for the local people. It was also known as the ‘Pack Road’ and ‘Egg Road’ which may refer to the collecting of eggs from the local farms to be used at the Abbey on the numerous days of abstinence from meat. A later, third road crossing the Ribble at Walton-le-Dale connecting Preston with Whalley by way of Samlesbury, Myerscough, Mellor Brook, Mellor, Ramsgreave and Whalley Nab.