Directory

Self contained ground floor apartment, in the centre of Caton. Ideal for holidays, visiting family and friends. Garden with stream, large carpark, next door to a quiet pub - ideal location! The apartment is accessible - extra width doorways etc.

Sleeps 4 - 2 bedrooms additional large bed setttee if required.

Ring for a chat !

Sue and Ray

Unique Interior Upholstery & Soft Furnishings

• Curtains
• Cushions
• Re-upholstery
• Blinds- choose your style
• Upholstery & Up cycling

Choose from our selection or choose your own fabric

Free consultation & collection service

Tel: 01524 805504

info@callunafurnishings.co.uk

Affiliated to the national Arts Society. Organises monthly lectures September to June in Borwick & Priest Hutton Memorial Hall.  .  Limited number of guest tickets for each lecture.  Programme and contacts on the website.

Fabrics, wool, haberdashery and more.

Motor vehicle service, repairs and MOT. Part of HiQ

Jobbing repairs undertaken

Renewables, plumbing, heating, building works and decorating

An electrical installation service with many years experience in domestic and commercial installations. Prompt service,with competitive rates.

We can offer a full electrical design and installation service,whatever budget is required. Fixed price quotes or hourly rates to suit clients needs. Quotes can be made by a friendly phone call.

Mason Gillibrand Architects have been in practice since 1986 and work over the North of England, North Wales and the Scottish Borders. We have developed a regional reputation for inspirational design in some of the most sensitive locations, often working on traditional, historic buildings.

We have a particular reputation for the following:-

• Working on old properties, particularly Listed Buildings
• Altering or creating quality private housing
• Distinct and bespoke designs
• High quality housing developments
• Complicated planning applications, particularly involving rural locations, and listed buildings
• Working in sensitive locations and rural landscapes i.e. National Parks
• Integration of renewable energies

We take an holistic approach to all of our design work, starting with the very fundamental aspects of how a site and building are situated within their context and their orientation. We are passionate about the design process and engaging with our clients to fully understand how buildings are used and how they might be improved.

Unlike many practices of our type, we have an in-house Mechanical Services Engineer who can advise on Renewable Energy options for each individual project. This means we can offer an independent view on the suitability of each 'green' technology for a particular site or building. For more information on this, click to view the MGA Environmental page.

We are able to help clients achieve their aspirations from conception to completion, from master planning and feasibility to interior detailing.

If you want to discuss your aspirations for a project you will find our details on the Contact tab below.

Plan and Design provide a full survey, detailed designs for home extensions and architectural details in accordance with local authority requirements for all aspects of home improvements, we have experience in designing plans to improve the value of your home, by adding a new bathroom, lounge, kitchen, garage extension or loft conversion.

From our free consultation your requirements will be prioritised and our initial drawings produced for your review and comment. Planning and building control drawings for your home extension will then be produced and issued by Plan & Design direct to your local authority for approval along with all supporting documentation.

We prepare plans ranging from new builds, loft conversions, internal reconfigurations, extensions at ground floor, first floor, garage, side, front & rear etc. Typically (and understandably) people are daunted by the prospect of building works, unclear as to what is involved and where to start.

At Plan & Design we aim to assist you from your initial contact with us through to your completed design. Whether you are looking to create an extension, convert your loft or reconfigure your internal space, Plan and Design can help provide you with a Professional one stop unique service that is cost effective.

There are many reasons why people decide to add a home extension, larger family, tired fixtures and fittings, increase value in the property, what ever your reason Plan and Design are here to assist you every step of the way.

We are located in Brookhouse near Lancaster and cover all areas within Lancashire and Cumbria including Lancaster, Morecambe, Heysham, Kirkby Lonsdale, Preston, Barrow-in-Furness, Bolton-le-sands, Galgate, Carnforth, Garstang, Arnside, Fleetwood, Kendal, Penrith, Carlisle and surrounding area.

Specialists in stone work and natural stone paving.  All other building work undertaken.  Friendly service.  Free estimates.

We offer transparent fees & charges at competitive rates or fixed fees. We will quote in advance of work being undertaken to give you certainty over the cost of work. Work can be undertaken on an hourly basis if you prefer.

We want you to feel comfortable to pick up the phone to us whenever you need, for whatever you want and know you'll get good sound understandable advice. We will work with you in the way that suits you - in person, on the phone or online and will talk to you in clear English with no confusing jargon.

We prepare accounts to help in completion of self-assessment tax returns and file as appropriate with the appropriate regulatory bodies e.g. Companies House, HMRC, Charities Commission etc. We will prepare accounts to agreed timescales but would aim to produce accounts for your approval within 30 days of receiving the complete information requested.

We endeavour to assist you in identifying areas where savings can be made or tax can be minimised and help you to look at areas of your business that can be improved. We will take the time to explain your accounts to you so that you understand the finances within your business and help you to plan for the future.

We offer the following services

• Management accounts services
• Annual Accounts and statutory accounts preparation
• Business plans and cash flow forecasts
• VAT returns, PAYE, Corporation tax and personal tax
• Filing returns at Companies House
• Bookkeeping
• Hot and Cold Audit File reviews
• Payroll Services
• All aspects of audit provision and audit services
• Financial controller services
• Financial controller advice for smaller business
• Act as registered office
• Accountants reports for solicitors
• Client money reports
• Tax penalty appeals assistance

Home IT visits and Web Design in Morecambe, Lancaster and surrounding villages.

Bridges & Co Financial Advisers, Specialists in investments and mortgages now based in Halton and covering Caton & Brookhouse.

Retirement Planning Specialist at Truly Independent Ltd

Based Locally, I am an Independent Financial Adviser, providing a fee based Financial Planning service with a key focus on Retirement Planning, Pensions and Tax-efficient Investments.

Community pub serving food

The Black Bull offers a wide range of entertainment including a quiz night.

OPENING HOURS

Closed Mondays.

Phone to check other opening times.

All food is cooked fresh on the premises so do allow time for completion of your order during busy periods. You can call by phone and collect.

Our menu

The Station Hotel is a traditional pub situated in the picturesque village of Caton close to the famous beauty spot of the Crook o'Lune.

Offering an extensive menu complemented by guest beers and fine wines this pub is great for families and couples alike. The pub also features a bowling green and patio area.

"The very best in freshly prepared Italian cuisiine"

Roz Pilling is a fully qualified remedial & therapeutic Massage Therapist and is a registered member of the Federation of Holistic Therapists, she is based out of Quernmore, Lancaster. Following a full consultation she provides a combination of Swedish, deep tissue & lymphatic massage alongside passive stretching, neuro-muscular therapy, accupressure and breathworth to induce deep relaxation. She is qualified to work with pregnant women providing they have the go-ahead from their midwives and are over 12 weeks pregnant. Roz is also a practicing Astrologer and is currently training in hypnotherapy and is also available to provide astrology natal chart readings, group talks on astrology, and deep relaxation guided meditations either one to one or as a group.

The Garden Retreat, beauty by Bee. Bee has over 25 years experience in the skincare & beauty industry & decided to create “The Garden Retreat” the ultimate treatment “shed” in her back garden in Caton, to be able to work around family commitments.  Offering a variety of beauty treatments that include Waxing, Lash & Brow, Hand & Nail, & Specializing in skin care treatments customised to the individual client, she looks forward to welcoming you to her relaxed but highly professional retreat. To book appointments & for more information, please contact Bee.

Advanced clinical massage therapist treating chronic pain and injuries.  Qualified in ante and postnatal massage.  Reiki.

Our large sports hall is a wonderful community resource and is available for hire at very reasonable prices 52 weeks a year. It’s the perfect venue for young children’s parties (soft play equipment available), football / multisports parties, community group meetings, fitness classes (mats available), sports coaching sessions etc. There is a large, fully equipped kitchen with oven and hob and excellent changing facilities. We also have a large field which groups are welcome to use by prior arrangement. Contact Tracey Howarth on 01524 770104 for more information.

Based in Bay Horse/Dolphinholme. Treatment and Rehabilitation to suit your needs. In a clinic setting, your home or care home.

Based in Melling but will do home visits.  Physiotherapy after accidents, surgery, radiotherapy, new joints. End-of-life care

Interior and exterior work

All aspects of painting and decorating, wallpaper hanginmg, coviing fitting, cornice repairs. Interior and exterior.

Painter and decorator. Gardener.

Suppliers and installers of domestic and commercial blinds

Suppliers and Installers of quality German, Schuller & Next 125 Kitchens. 

Butler Interiors’ showroom is situated in the picturesque village of Low Bentham close to the Yorkshire Dales and within an area of natural beauty. We are just 30 minutes from the M6 and close to the A65 so travelling from any direction you will find an outstanding showroom, tucked away with plenty of customer parking and being off the main high street we are something of a hidden gem!

With Five Schuller kitchens, Two Next 125 kitchens there is plenty to see and explore. We have working Neff and Siemens appliances in the displays along with Franke sinks and taps all complimented by a range of worksurfaces.

There is an area holding a comprehensive range of sample doors and worktops where you can examine and compare all the different available finishes. We have lots of brochures for you to look through and take away and with our extensive product knowledge we are always happy to take the time to discuss and explain any aspect of our product or service.

You will be warmly welcomed into our showroom,

Look forward to seeing you soon

Creative Horticulture provides a full range of garden maintenance services and garden design to residents in the local area.

Services include pruning and planting, with advice on the best plants for your garden, lawn care, hedge trimming and general garden tidying.

Garden design is provided with consultation to establish your key garden requirements, whilst providing ideas on how to achieve the desired space.

Unfortuantely, due to a full workload I am currently not taking on any new customers.

Painter and decorator

Local firm based in Caton. We specialise in the installation, service and repair of some of the UK’s leading manufacturer’s physical security solutions, including garage doors, shutters, industrial doors and retractable gate and window bar systems. With experienced and knowledgeable engineers nationwide, we provide you with a simple way to secure your home or business with quality products and workmanship that lasts.

Kitchens, bedrooms, studies, cookshop.  Free design service, ample parking.

Florist and flower grower. Specialising in wedding flowers made from our home grown flowers where possible. Christmas wreaths and goodies available too..

Landscaping.  Also artificial grass.

Established over 15 years ago by Father and son team Alan and andrew, Serving local customers in the lune valley area. Logs Direct now offer a national delivery service on a hugh range of winter and summer fuel products this is organised through our national website www.logsdirect.co.uk 

Over  the years we have built a good number of local customers throughout the area and now supply a full range of seasoned woods , kiln dried hard woods, fruit woods for flavouring and also a full range of packed coal and smokless fuel products. For the summmer months we also provide a range of garden products inc. our grade 1 top soil, musroom compost, and bark mulch for covering the borders etc.and for the outcooking we supply a large range of charcoal from a single instant lighting tray to a 12kg bag of restaurant charcoal.

We have a cash and carry service open to the public  so why not pop up and see the full range of products available at Logs Direct.

Award winning landscape and garden design company 'Peacock Design' offer a full range of professional design services from initial ideas and advice through to full detailed design for your whole garden, individual areas or specific features. Georgina Peacock, has over twenty nine years experience within the landscaping industry and this combined with sensitivity and imagaination means your wishes, budget and lifestyle needs are converted into a design for a uniquely personal garden, one you will be proud off.

Before setting up Peacock Design in 1996, experience was gained, first by studying Landscape Architecture at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh College of Art and LeedsMetropolitan University, followed by working for two private landscape architecture practices in Glasgow, Wimpey Homes covering the north east of England and Property Group of Lancashire County Council. As a result as well as private gardens, Peacock Design has been invloved in many public and commercial projects including: village play areas, housing developments, community projects (allotments, nature reserves and orchards) office and warehouse developments, static caravan and lodge parks, with recent public projects in cluding the new 'Sensory Garden' at the RSPB Reserve at Leighton Moss, near Arnside.

For more information and photos of completed projects, please follow the link to the PEACOCK DESIGN website:

New Local Professional Cleaning Service. Fully Insured.

Telephone - 07984518040

Domestic plumbing installation, maintenance and respiars

All aspects of tree care and forestry. Felling, pruning, reductions, crown lifting, Line clearance, wood chipping, stump grinding, hedging and hedge laying. All tree work considered and quoted free of charge. No job too big or small. Fully certified with £5 million public liability insurance.  Email wood4thetrees@outlook.com

Estate agents "Locally respected, nationally connected"

Email enquiries: michaela11@ymail.com

Professional and reliableironing service with flexible time for collection and delivery :   Free Home Collection and Delivery (for orders over £10) :  Flexible Hours : Quick Turnaround Time : Smoke & Pet Free Environment

All aspects of painting and decorating.  Covers the Lune Valley.

Serving Lancaster and the Lune Valley

ULTIMATE CLEANING SERVICE

We are based in Caton and cover all areas around Lancaster/ Morecambe and Lune valley.We specialise in window cleaning, gutter cleaning to full upvc cleaning and powerwashing. We also do commercial work as well as domestic work. info@ultimatecleaningservice.co.uk

Piano and Violin Tuition in the comfort of your own home. Ideal for ages of all ages. Prices may depend on travelling distance. Feel free to contact me via phone, text or email: 07999543611, gsharrison16@gmail.com

One hour sessions in Morecambe.

Steve Croft Driving School is a friendly professional driving school, offering affordable and highly recommended driving lessons in Lancaster, Morecambe and the Lune Valley.

Learn to drive in a friendly, relaxed, learning environment . All lessons are tailored to meet each persons individual needs, and  all lessons are on a one to one basis. If you are a beginner, and have never driven before, you will drive on your first driving lesson. The independent driving aspect of the test is also incorporated into the training, giving you the confidence you need to pass the driving test. Nervous pupils are especially welcome.

Lessons are in a Ford Fiesta which is fitted with dual controls.

I also offer refresher lessons for those drivers who perhaps passed their test some time ago, but have not had the chance to get much driving experience since, motorway lessons and also Pass Plus, which can lower your insurance cost after you pass your driving test, and will help you become a safe driver for life.

All my driving lessons include door-to-door service and flexible lesson times. I'm always aware that times are hard and money is tight, so I try to keep my prices as low as possible, while still offering a quality service. Unlike some driving schools who offer low prices, but will then only actually drive for about half the lesson, and talk for the other half (to save fuel costs!!), with me you will drive for the entire lesson. I also offer block booking discounts, student discounts, as well as NHS staff discount.

Caton branch..

Dog walking, day care, Home-from-home boarding

Opening Hours

• Monday to Friday - 9am to 6pm
• Saturday - 9am to 12:30pm

Services

• A full prescription dispensing service
• Private consultation room
• Medicine usage review
• Prescription collection service
• Quit smoking advice

Started in 1975 in Lancaster City Centre by John & Patricia Fawcett and now passed on to the next generation our shop is situated at Greenlands Farm Village, Tewitfield just 4 minutes from M6 J35. As well as our core products for shooting and fishing we also stock a wide range of products that would interest all customers. There is a wide range of country clothing from most major suppliers e.g. Barbour, Patagonia, Musto, Simms, Le Chameau, Hunter, Meindl boots & Shoes etc etc to name but a few, we also stock pocket knives for ladies and gentlemen by Victorinox, Buck, Leatherman, Whitby etc -- Binoculars from, Ziess, Leica, Hawke, Swarovski & Giftware from many suppliers  etc.

In March 2016 after 41 years we became a Limited company, still wholly owned by the Fawcett family and run by Stephen & Andrea and we are now located at a new purpose built shop at Greenlands Farm Villiage just off junction 35 on the M6 with plenty of free parking and easy access.

We have a worldwide mail order service and most brands of fishing and shooting equipment are stocked , Beretta, Browning, Miroku, Zoli, Webley, BSA, Hardy's, Greys, Loomis, Simms, Viking waders, Clothing by Patagonia, Barbour, Musto, Meindle etc etc, Optics by  Swarovski , Zeiss, Leica, Hawke and many more brands.

We also offer an expert high quality in house bespoke gunsmithing service for shotguns and rifles.

Please call and see us we are open 9.00 to 5.00 every day except Wednesday & Sunday when we are closed both days.

Sales, purchases, valuations.

CR and J Towers.  Quality local meats, pies a specialty. Deliveries.

Independent phamacy

Monthly services taken by Rev Emma Holroyd.  Contact details emma.holroyd@methodist.org

For room hire, contact circuit@northlancsmethodist.org.uk

Caton Baby and Toddler Group provides a relaxed and friendly meeting place for parents and carers with babies and small children.  It is a welcome time in the week, a chance to relax and chat together while our children play. What we offer is friendship and support, with learning and fun!

We meet every Tuesday morning (term time) between 10.00 and 11.30 am in the Victoria Institute, Brookhouse Road, Caton.  Babies and pre-school children with an accompanying adult are very welcome. There is plenty of space for running around, and a range of good quality toys – that means lots of opportunities to free-play, use different equipment, and interact with other children.  There are regular activities too, such as our child-led sing-along, and everyone gets a drink and healthy snack.

We make a small charge every week, and there is a reduction available for those who prefer to pay in advance for a whole term.  The drop-in price is £2.50 per family, and this includes refreshments for both children and adults.

As our Group is led by parents and carers, and as we are with our children all the time, there is no need to become registered with OfSTED (Office for Standards in Education).  However, we do have all the required insurance for running a toddler group.

Caton Book Group is a small, informal group of people who enjoy reading a wide range of books and talking about them. We normally meet on the first Monday of each month at 8pm at The Station in Caton.

June 2022 Helen Taylor - Why women read fiction

July 2022 Jessie Burton - Medusa

August 2022 Graham Greene - Our Man in Havana

September 2022  Tove Jansen - The Summer Book

October 2022 Susanna Clarke - Piranesi

November 2022 Amor Towles - A Gentleman in Moscow

A small but very friendly congregation meet at Caton Methodist Church, and you are very welcome to join us on a Sunday Morning at 10:30am and stop for a cup of coffee after the service.

SERVICES

• 10:30am Morning Service and Junior Church

Tucked away at the end of Ball Lane, Caton, Lunesdale Lawn Tennis Club is a beautifully situated, thriving club in the heart of the Lune Valley.

Lunesdale has excellent facilities and welcomes young or old; beginners, improvers or experienced players.  With three grass courts and two floodlit carpet courts, together with a varied programme, there are plenty of opportunities to play at your level to match your time commitment. We play tennis throughout the winter as well as during the summer.

Whatever your ability, you'll receive a warm welcome at this friendly Club.

The Parish Council works on your behalf. Why not come along to a Parish Council Meeting on the second Tuesday of the month (except August) at 7:15pm in the Victoria Institute.

If you have anything to raise with the Parish Council this can be done at the start of the meeting, in the Open Forum.

Planning applications are considered at Parish Council meetings. Paper copies of applications are not available but can be viewed online the Lancaster City Council website .

The village Emergency Plan is under the tab marked Downloads.  The Parish Council's Code of Conduct, Financial Regulations and Standing Orders are there too.

The earliest record of a church or chapel on the site is before 1230. The tower dates probably from the 16th century. The rest of the church was rebuilt in 1865–67 to a design by the Lancaster architect E. G. Paley.

The church is constructed in sandstone rubble, with a slate roof. Its plan consists of a four-bay nave with a clerestory, north and south aisles, a south porch, a north transept containing the organ chamber, a chancel at a lower level, and a west tower. The tower is Perpendicular in style, and has three stages, diagonal buttresses, and an embattled parapet. On the west side is a doorway, over which is a three-light window with Perpendicular tracery. The bell openings also have three lights. On the south side of the church is the porch, with four bays to the east. The bays are separated by buttresses and each contains a three-light window with Perpendicular tracery. To the left of the easternmost window is a priest's door. Along the clerestory are four windows. The east window has three lights with Perpendicular tracery. In the west wall of the north aisle is a blocked Norman doorway containing a tympanum carved with human figures. It is filled in with coffin lids and medieval cross slabs.

Our Church Hall and Club House are available for hire.

Our policies on safeguarding can be seen in the Downloads section below.

REGULAR SERVICES

Sunday

• 9.30 am - Parish Worship (with creche) and Sunday Club for children in the Church Hall

Safeguarding Poster

PCC SAFEGUARDING POLICY STATEMENT June 2019

SAFEGUARDING AT St Paul's Church

On 12th April 2008 the twinning of Socx and Caton-with-Littledale was formalised. Socx is located about 6 miles south of Dunkirk and has a population of about 1000.
Anyone in the parish is welcome to attend our fund raising events throughout the year and also join the trips to Socx and the events when they come to Caton. We particularly encourage families with children to take part as our activities are open to all ages.

TWINNING CHARTER
On this day, 12th April 2008, the people of Caton and Brookhouse are honoured to formalise the twinning of our villages with Socx (France).

We are confident this relationship will enable the development of true and durable bonds of friendship and encourage mutual respect and understanding between our communities.

Our common aim is to promote cultural, linguistic and tourist exchanges between the people, schools and associations from each village.

Ruth Gibbons
Chairman of Caton & Brookhouse Twinning Association

Joyce Pritchard
Chairman of Caton-with-Littledale Parish Council
CONVENTION DE JUMELAGE
Ce jour, 12th April 2008 les habitants de Socx sont heureux de pouvoir créer des liens profonds d'amitié vrais et durables entre leur village et ceux de Caton et Brookhouse (Lancashire, Grande Bretagne) à l'occasion de leur jumelage.

Ils sont sûrs que cette union encouragera le respect mutuel, la compréhension et les liens réciproques entre des communautés.

Ils s'engagent à développer les échanges culturels, linguistiques et touristiques entre les écoles, les associations et les citoyens de tous âges, de chaque commune.

Andre Dassonville
Le Président de L'Association de Jumelage de Socx

Michel Gonon
Le Premier Adjoint au Maire de Socx

Lancashire Supported Lodgings Project are looking for volunteers who can offer support and lodgings to a vulnerable young person at a crucial time in their life.

If you have a spare bedroom and the time and desire to offer practical and emotional support, you are exactly who we are looking for.

We know that a supportive, stable home environment can make a huge difference to a young person's chances of moving on successfully.

As a lodgings provider, you don't have the same responsibility as a parent or foster parent, and the young person will have their own project worker. Most lodgings are for between 8 weeks and 2 years. During this time, you'll receive a weekly payment and ongoing support from Barnardo's.

Interested? Contact Terri Wolstenholme on 07919 520977 or e-mail lancssupportedlodgings@barnardos.org.uk

The Victoria Institute lies at the heart of Caton village, which is located in the beautiful Lune Valley and Forest of Bowland AONB only 5 minutes from J34 of the M6 motorway.

Managed as a charity, the Institute offers a range of rooms available to hire for community, private, and business events. Founded in 1888, the Victoria Institute has been refurbished and extended over recent years to create  a comfortable, well equipped venue.

The accommodation has been developed with flexibility of use in mind and, being arranged on one level, it is easily accessible by all. There is an accessible toilet. This vibrant resource centre is an important aspect of social life in the village, and many Clubs and Societies run regular activities in the Institute building. We have a large Hall, two good size meeting rooms, a small meeting room,well-equipped  kitchen, and an IT Resource Centre, so most needs can be met whatever the size and nature of your planned event.

The Victoria Institute is also the village Emergency Centre.

Follow us on Facebook .

We are a small, creative primary school where each child knows they really matter. Learning and teaching here is innovative and through exciting and engaging activities, we develop the 5Rs:

Reciprocity, Resilience, Resourcefulness, Risk-taking and Reflection.

Fully qualified staff, flexible hours, outdoor play area.

A fun filled & friendly introduction to foreign language for toddlers and pre-school children (aged 1 - 4 years) through catchy songs and rhymes, fun games, puppets, stickers, stories, beanbags and balls. Sessions run by Claire Hill. I am a qualified and experienced languages teacher (with enhanced DBS check) and a mum! Classes start from 28th September and are term time only.   All classes week commencing  28th September are free. Classes held at Caton, Halton, Bolton-le-Sands, Wray and Quernmore.

If you fancy trying something new or are looking for a more gentle way of keeping fit and active, then do come along to the Club House behind St Paul’s church hall on a Wednesday evening to see what we get up to. Classes run from 7-9pm, all are welcome, no previous experience is needed, and the first session is free. We practice gentle movement and breathing exercises (Chi Kung) and some more vigorous Tai Chi exercises and short forms too. All postures can be performed to whatever level of fitness and flexibility you have so are suitable for everyone, and Tai Chi is great for reducing stress, increasing balance, mobility, muscle strength and general fitness.

Martin Knowles 01524 771598 / Martin@CatonGreen.co.uk for more info

We run two teams in the Lancaster Bowling League on Tuesday nights starting 10 April and one team in the Morecambe League on Wednesday nights starting. We run a Veterans team on Thursday afternoons and two floodlight teams starting in September.

This years membership is £35 and £20 for Late Season Membership from August. New members either to play in teams or just for social bowling are always welcome. Please enquire to Reg Robinson - Chairman (770166) or Keith Hudson - Secretary (771051) or at the Station Hotel.

3 Hornby Road, Caton, LA2 4QW

Caton's former Post Office is now a light, welcoming cafe serving speciality coffee and loose leaf teas, fresh food and homemade cakes. With an emphasis on North West suppliers including Halton Butchers, Carvetii Coffee Roasters (Keswick), Lovingly Artisan (Kendal) and home baked cakes you can be sure of great food and drink.

Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 9am - 4pm.

The Old Post Office Cafe is situated in the heart of the village, adjacent to the Millennium Cycle Way and only a short walk to the Crook o’ Lune beauty spot. Free and easy parking is available in the village which is only 3 miles from M6 (Junction 34) making it an ideal spot to break your journey.

Option to eat in or take away with outdoor seating on dry days.

Accessible entrance, cyclists, walkers and dogs welcome.

Follow us on Instagram @theoldpostofficecafe

The Caton and Brookhouse Gardening Club was founded, way back in 1882, with the rather grand sounding name of The Caton and District Floral and Horticultural Society, in order to foster an interest in horticulture and to provide a community of interest in the district.

In the early days it had a full committee of very knowledgeable people and  flourished as a genuine 'Horticultural Society', the centrepiece of it’s annual calendar being a full blown 'mini Chelsea' Show.

Unfortunately, over the last decade or so of 20th century, the experienced members of the committee were becoming very thin on the ground and those who were left were 'slowing down', as happens to all of us as we age, so staging the show was becoming more and more difficult. At the same time the Society experienced difficulties recruiting people on to the committee, and, sadly, it slowly started to die. Despite the efforts of Chairman Moyra Loads (wife of the late Fred Loads, one time committee member of the Society), for a short time, the Society was virtually dormant.

In 1998, Moyra's efforts to resurrect the Society finally bore fruit. The members of the old committee handed over to a new band of people who, while they were enthusiastic, lacked the skills of the old guard. Consequently, while the Society's official title is still The Caton and District Floral and Horticultural Society, it now operates in a much less formal way and, since 2004, under the less intimidating name of The Caton and Brookhouse Gardening Club. George Woodend became chairman and Moyra Loads was awarded life membership.

The Caton and Brookhouse Gardening Club has settled down and is thriving on a fairly fixed annual programme of events. We used to hold most of these at the Victoria Institute in Caton, the original home of the society, on the second Thursday in any month. In addition to the annual programme, committee members maintain the planters, millennium trees and the seat outside the old library.

After a long break because of COVID we started up again in September 2021 on a limited program. Because of circumstances beyond our control we moved to a new venue: St Paul's Church Hall in Brookhouse, with meetings as usual on the second Thursday of the month but starting at a new time of 7:00pm.

Annual membership costs the extortionate amount of £3.50 and entry to Speaker Evenings for members costs just £1.00. We have between 50 and 60 members though would welcome new members at any time of year.

Non members are welcome to our Speaker Evenings but for a charge of £2:00.

Oh, and incidentally, membership of the Caton and Brookhouse Gardening Club entitles a member to 10% discount at WCF in Claughton and Bay View Garden Centre in Bolton-le-Sands but . . .  hold your horses . . . only on producing a current membership card and satisfactory identification.

Annual Membership is payable at the AGM which is held on the second Thursday in April and starts our year which looks something like this:

Spring and Summer activities.

May.

Sees us holding our annual Plant Sale and Coffee Morning - usually on the first or second Saturday morning. We buy in plants from a local nursery and, with just a modest mark up, sell them on. This provides a service for the local community and helps us to stock our coffers which cannot manage with just a £3.50 annual subscription. We also sell plants donated by both our members and generous members of the public and, for the entry fee of £1.00 we provide tea/coffee/juice and some posh biscuits.
In 2016 we expanded our Plant Sale to make it more of a Spring Fair. We now include, in addition to the plants, tables for various village organisations / schools / 'craftspeople' / people to advertise their presence and/or sell whatever they want to sell. We don't try to make a profit from them as we want to create a convivial village atmosphere: 'A Nice Morning out at the Victoria Institute'. However, we do have to cover the cost of the tables and, to date, the cost of a table has usually been around £4.50 for the morning. So. if you want a table at our next Nice Morning Out at the Victoria Institute, please contact our secretary.

Since COVID and our move to the Church Hall, we have not held a Plant Sale. We hope to start again, however, in 2023 with a new format.

June.

We usually have a tent at the Caton Gala where we sell plants and promote the Gardening Club.

On the second Thursday in June we have an Evening Trip to a garden in the area. The evening trip gardens are often, but not always, gardens from the Yellow Book. The Evening Trip usually involves our members in a tea drinking and cake eating activity as well as that of wandering round someone's garden oooohing and aaaaahing and getting ideas for our own.

Every four years or so we organise the Caton and Brookhouse Open Gardens event sometime in the last fortnight of June. This event is enjoyed as much by the people who open their gardens as the people who visit the gardens and has always been a success . . . even in the years when the heavens have opened on us! To see a slide show of the 20 gardens opened in June 2018 please click the following link:  https://youtu.be/-dE4xcctKyY .

Autumn and winter activities

Our Speaker Secretaries arrange for varied and interesting speakers to entertain us once a month over autumn and winter and these are interspersed with a DVD evening and festive occasions.

September.

Is the time we host our Mini Harvest Show. This is a very informal affair for members to show off their arts. We have several classes including such things as home grown fruit and veg, some sort of baked item, a piece of craftwork with a floral theme, a flower arrangement, an indoor plant and so on. Entries are anonymous and we developed a democratic system for judging them using a voting system. Each person attending the event has one vote for every class and the winner of a class is that entry polling the most votes. We also dish up tea and posh biscuits and have a good old chin wag while the votes are being counted.

Post COVID and since our move to the Church Hall we no longer hold our Mini Harvest Show but invite a speaker. Thus, September now sees our first Speaker Evening of the year accompanied, of course, by the ubiquitous tea and posh biscuits.

October.

A Speaker Evening, accompanied, of course, by tea and posh biscuits.

November.

In November we do not invite a speaker, we have a Gardening DVD Night. The DVD is usually on some sort of gardening or environmental theme. This saves speaker fees and actually makes for a very pleasant occasion accompanied, of course, by, you guessed it, tea and posh biscuits.

December.

In December we have a break from speakers and hold a Social Evening where we have a bit of fun. But this is not accompanied by tea and biscuits, this is accompanied by wine and nibbles.

From 2019 our Social Evening has morphed into a 'practical' quiz (we have had to identify leaves and twigs and seeds etc and it has been great fun and very educational) and a members' question and answer evening. This is an event where we all sit round the room guzzling mince pies and drinking tea and where a member can ask a question on a problematic gardening issue and, hopefully, receive an answer from another member who has already experienced and solved the issue. Watch this space.

January.

Our members are usually so busy in December that we hold our annual Festive Meal in January at some local hostelry. We usually have some sort of quiz and prize to add a bit of interest as most of us are a bit jaded by the time Christmas and New Year are over!

February.

A Speaker Evening, accompanied, of course, by tea and posh biscuits.

March.

Sees our final Speaker Evening. Guess what accompanies it? Correct 🙂

And that completes the circle with in:

April.

The Annual General Meeting that starts off the following year accompanied by, no, not tea and posh biscuits, but wine and nibbles.

Fancy taking up a new sport, or maybe reconnecting after time out from playing? We are a small friendly club looking for more players - particularly ladies, so that we can make a second team for the league.

Our venue at Ripley St Thomas Sports Hall in Lancaster has four courts so there will be lots of opportunities to play mixed, men's and ladies doubles, singles, and even just practice certain shots.
Our season starts again on Wednesday 8 September 2021 from 7.00pm - 9.00pm, and our club night runs for the whole season not affected by match nights, so there will be plenty of games for everyone.

Whether you are interested in playing for our match teams, or just want to play regularly on a weekly basis, why not ring Glenys for more information or simply join us on a Wednesday night to try us out.

The first session is free, so there's nothing to lose!

Access to the Sports Hall is via the main school entrance off Ashton Road, just down from the hospital turning. There are stone pillars at the entrance. Follow the road around the front of the school, and with the playing fields on your right hand side, keep following the road around and down to the right. At the bottom is the Sports Hall with about a dozen parking spaces available. Parking is also available up at the top opposite the playing fields if the car park is full by the sports hall.

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Glenys Knowles - Secretary - Brookhouse Badminton Club

Pub with good food and accommodation a few miles east of Caton along the A683.

Creative artdds and crafts for children.
Holiday club in Brookhouse

Church Brow, Halton.

Open Thursdays and Fridays 9am to 3pm and Saturdays and Sundays 9am to 4pm.  Also Friday supper evenings planned.

Funeral directors serving Lancaster and the Lune Valley

1:1 personal dog walking.  Phone Jan to discuss.

Business units in Caton

Flexible hours 7.30am-6.30pm.

Babies from 3 months.

Housework, cleaning, independent living assistance

Curtains, blinds.  Made or altered.

Print and design solutions.

Free delivery to LA and CA postcodes.

  TONY COX SCHOOL OF THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR

Adept at many different styles of music, any student studying with Tony will develop a healthy appreciation of just how the acoustic guitar can straddle many different genres, among them folk, blues, pop, classical, rock, jazz, African, country and bluegrass.

The theory of music as applied to the guitar makes up a big part of Tony's teaching. Students can expect to study the following: reading (notes and TAB), keys, chords, harmony and improvisation. Tony is a Registered Guitar Tutor affiliated to the London College of Music and can offer accredited guitar grades 1 through to 8.

Tony's students span the world.  He uses Skype video technology for these far away lessons. So no matter where you live in this world, if you have skype and a strong bandwidth, you can study the acoustic guitar with Tony.  If you prefer face-to-face lessons with no screen in between, you have to live in Caton and surrounds and of-course depending on where we are with Covid restrictions etc.