The village of Downham in Lancashire. (Image: Getty)
is packed with that often seem untouched by time.
Whether it’s their or , these places are full of surprises waiting to be discovered.
One such spot is , a that feels like setting back into another era.
Located in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Downham has been described as “frozen in time.”
The has no road signs, TV aerials, and satellite dishes, making it feel like a living postcard.
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Samlesbury Hall is a stunning building (Image: LancashireLive)
Sandy, , recently visited the village and said that Downham is also “home to many mystical places such as the eerie Pendle Sculpture Trail, , and the Harry Potter-esque bookshop, Halewood and Sons”.
She continued: “Another highlight for us was the secret Hatchbrook waterfall which really wasn’t easy to find.”
As far as the history of the village is concerned, settlers are thought to have arrived over 1,000 years ago, and the area has remained remarkably well-preserved.
Many of the stone cottages date back hundreds of years, with the oldest house built in 1580.
Downham’s charm has even made it a favourite filming location for historical dramas like Whistle Down the Wind and Born and Bred.
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Many of the stone cottages date back hundreds of years. (Image: Marathon/Wikimedia Commons)
Visitors can enjoy a mix of old-world charm and modern comforts. The Assheton Arms pub serves hearty meals, while the nearby Greendale View tearoom is perfect for an afternoon treat.
There’s also Banny’s Fish and Chips, one of the UK’s first drive-thru chippies.
And for anyone who likes an adventure, the Hatchbrook waterfall offers a challenge. It is tucked away and hidden from plain sight, so finding it can be quite difficult.
There is also the nearby Pendle Sculpture Trail and , which are linked to Lancashire’s witch trials and local folklore.
According to , there have been hundreds of ghost reports from guests, staff and former inhabitants of the house dating back centuries.
The first published account of ghosts at Samlesbury Hall dates back to a book written in 1873.
But despite its haunting reputation, the atmosphere at Samlesbury Hall is warm and welcoming, and all the ghosts are said to “fall into the friendly category”.
Samlesbury Hall even celebrates its haunted heritage. Since 2023 the hall has run an ongoing research project called The Samlesbury Hall Ghost Project.
The project records witness testimonies, historic encounters and data from other sources and allows staff to accurately record and document Samlesbury Hall’s supernatural heritage.
The village itself has everything visitors need for a peaceful day out, including a car park, information centre, and even a camping barn for overnight stays.
However, Downham remains small and quiet, with limited parking for larger vehicles.