The village of Lunt is situated to the South East of Crosby, and acts as a border between the expansive green belt of West Lancashire, and the beginning of the suburbs of the huge connurbation that is Liverpool and its environs.
Lunt is really more of a hamlet than a village, particularly amazing when time and time again it has survived the ravages of the Developer. But time may yet run out for this tiny community with a big history, as yet again, proposals for a newer, more efficient by-pass for the humungous volume of traffic flowing each way between Liverpool and the Formby/Southport area gains momentum. This sort of road may in all honesty, be badly needed, but if it does get the go-ahead, it will be at the expense of many historical landmarks so recogniseable and important to many people, both locals and those from outside Merseyside. The village of Lunt is one such landmark, with its picturesque cottages, and small apple orchards, and small crop fields all around.
Returning to the history of the area, I do have to admit that in recent years, Lunt has been over-shadowed by its bigger neighbour ( but only by comparison ), the village of Sefton. True, a world-famous Medaeval church, - The Church of St.Helen ( or Sefton Parish Church ), with a much celebrated public house 'The Punch Bowl' right next door, with ghosts said to wander freely between the graveyard and the upper rooms of the hostelry, ( and not forgetting being right on the original Grand National Course ) is hard to beat. But Lunt has its own charm, and is at least immediately recogniseable as a community. Its next door neighbour, sadly, is not. Its small number of cottages, are not close-to as they are in Lunt, and depending on which way you approach/depart, it can seem as if the two famed institutions are the only signs of life. The very busy main road, upgraded from a mere country lane years ago now, does not help in terms of its 'picturesquishness'. ( Yep! Just made that one up! )
And let's not forget the historically important 'Broom's Cross', a resting place for funeral processions, admittedly on their way to Sefton Church, but at least this much mentioned 'half-way house' falls fairly and squarely within the boundaries of Lunt. For those amateur historians who wish to look for this, well, you've got a job on your hands. There is a tiny memorial set into the hedging on the verge of the lane between Lunt and Sefton. It does not easily come into focus, you do have to look for it.
Although it was far more to with the story than as a deliberate attempt to put either Lunt or Sefton in the limelight, I do mention both in my book 'Mike Miller, Son of Pendragon'. This is first of all when the hero, Mike Miller, is forceably taken by the Warlocks of Bucharest, down and along the old priests tunnel from a farm in Thornton, en route to the Warlocks' and League of Mordred hideout on Green Lane in Thornton, this is 'The Steed and Vine Public House'. They climb out at the wrong point, and to avoid detection, they walk down the path alongside the cemetary, through Lunt, and onto their hiding place. Then, later on, Mike and his friends go along the tunnel again, all the way to Sefton Church, have a quick look-see, nip next door for a quick slurp, and then walk back along the lane from Sefton, through Lunt, and back to their temporary camp for a team-building event. This is a farmhouse in Thornton. So, all in all, I think I've done our own hobbity 'Shire' some serious justice, albeit unwittingly.
I am hoping that in a short while, I will be able to add a few pictures of Lunt to post here. Meanwhile, can I humbly suggest you pay a visit to another web-page dedicated to the village? It is moderated by one Kerry Lunt, a North-East lad now, but originally a good Liverpool bloke. His site gives a little more info, ( as well as other links to all things 'Lunt', not just the village here ). And although not mentioned on there, Kerry has told me he remembers with great fondness stories from his Grandparents, who did live in Lunt, of horses, carriages and all things rural, before the urban sprawl of Crosby/Thornton threatened to breach the borders of our very own Hobbiton. Just click on the link. Thanks.
Now to finish, what could be more apt than two other links to sites dedicated to two other North Merseyside villages with strong historical links to Lunt/Sefton, and which make up what I call Seftons' North Merseyside's very own 'Holy Trinity'?
The first will take you to 'A Squire's Tale'. It gives a brief history of the Blundell's of Little Crosby, centering on the production of an excellent video, re-enacting scenes from the colourful history of both the Blundell family and the village of Little Crosby in general, with more than a few references to its sister village of Sefton, especially during the Post-Reformation era. The video features the current Squire, Mark Whitlock-Blundell. Just click on the clink.
And finally, a link to the third of the proud and heritage-rich trinity - Ince Blundell - a little further along the A565 but not far at all for the original Blundells to make their seemingly eternal mark; again, just click on the link.
