Past and present literary greats in Lancashire

You only have to spend a day in the beautiful county of Lancashire to understand why it has been the inspiration for so many literary greats. With that in mind carry on reading as we highlight some past and present authors connected to our industrial mill towns and rugged landscapes.

Stonyhurst College, surrounded by manicured gardens and the luscious green of the Ribble Valley, has been home and inspiration to many great authors, including The Lord of The Rings creator J.R.R. Tolkien, who had a great love for the nature and woodland that surrounded the College, it is even believed he wrote part of the famous trilogy in one of the colleges classrooms. Journey on the Tolkien Trail around Hurst Green and explore some of the locations said to inspire The Lord of The Rings.

Another author to take inspiration from the grand estate was Arthur Conan Doyle, a student at the college from September 1868, who later went on to create the famous Sherlock Holmes novels. Baskerville Hall in ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ is said to be inspired by the College, and Conan Doyle also named Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis Moriarty after a fellow pupil. 

Stepping away now from Stonyhurst College and the Ribble Valley to the picturesque hamlet of Wycoller, in Pendle, and the world famous Brontë sisters. Although Yorkshire quite rightly claim the sisters, they would have actually spent much of their time in Lancashire walking from their family home at Haworth across the South Pennine Moors, often visiting Wycoller and Wycoller Hall, the secluded ruins that still stand today. The Hall has even been said to be the model for Ferndean Manor in Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre and was used to illustrate the 1898 edition. Discover the Brontës circular walking route here.

Whisking over to Hoghton, near Preston, you’ll find Hoghton Tower, the grand ancestral home of the de Hoghton family, where legendary playwright William Shakspeare has said to have stayed as a guest of the de Hoghton family themselves, tutoring the family’s children and making use of the house’s extensive library. Charles Dickens is also said to have visited the Tower in 1854, and then again in 1867, when he gave a reading in nearby Preston. 

Further north, within the stunning scenery of the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape you can find stunnery scenery and architectural gems, including the Lindeth Tower, also known as Gibraltar Tower. Author Elizabeth Gaskell used to holiday in the tower and wrote letters about the area, which was a welcome escape from the smog of industrial Manchester for the writer. It is thought that her 1847 short story The Sexton's Hero was completed during one such holiday, as is undoubtedly inspired by the area, referencing the "the blue dazzle of Morecambe Bay, as it sparkled between us and the more distant view". Later Gaskell wrote her novel Ruth while in the area in 1853. You can see the tower next to Gibraltar Farm Campsite and on walks to another local landmark, Jenny Brown's Point.

Moving to a more recent time, Lancashire continues to produce inspiring authors that bewitch and enthrall their readers. 

One such author ws Joseph Delaney, famous for his series The Wardstone Chronicles, also known as The Spooks Apprentice, the first in the series. In this dark fantasy series, you will find places such as Priestown and Caster based loosely on the Lancashire cities of Preston and Lancaster as well as many more recognisable places.

The City of Preston has also inspired New York Times bestselling author, A. J. Hartley, who in 2019  partnered with The University of Central Lancashire to publish, Cold Bath Street. A terrifying and mysterious story set on the cobble streets of Preston... this Young Adult thriller is not one to miss. Click here to discover tours and trials throughout Preston.

Andrew Michael Hurley’s award-winning gothic horror The Loney was also inspired by the rugged coast of Silverdale and Morecambe Bay. The novel went on to win the 2015 Costa First Novel Award, as well as the 2016 British Book Awards Book of the Year. Discover and explore Lancashire's coastline here.

Most recently, in 2023, current Children's Laurette and Merseyside Author Frank Cottrell-Boyce published The Wonder Brothers. A children's novel inspired by his love of magic, showbiz and trips to Blackpool throughout his life, the story is partially set in the seaside resort and the main crux of the storyline sees the iconic Blackpool Tower disappear! Click here to be inspired by the wonder of Blackpool yourself.

Whether you want to be inspired to create your own great story or simply walk in the footsteps of literary legends, take a short break in Lancashire and soak up the creativity.