Language fascinates me - the way names are formed and evolve has always been a thing of great interest - so it may be of equal interest to readers to know that in its original form, the town was recorded as "Cliderhow" or "Cliderhou". How well developed the town was up to the twelfth century, I am uncertain but it is considered a Norman town - the castle which still stands to this day (featuring a large hole in one side which resulted from an assault by the Roundheads during the English Civil War) dates from around 1186.

Clitheroe - like Britain in general - has sadly been hit by the economic slump, and witnessed the closure of numerous shops including the excellent Kaydee Bookshop earlier this year. Unfortunately - from a cosmetic, tourist-orientated point of view - this effect has made Castle Street less than attractive. Woolworths currently stands empty and numerous buildings are dotted with "To Let" signs. A little hope is emerging - although some businesses (large and small) have not survived the credit crunch (the coining of this term - which is handy enough and presumably deemed catchy by the media - always makes me think of a brainstormed name for a new breakfast cereal) - the reopening of the castle museum, Homebase and some other local ventures have created welcome job opportunities.

Not all is despair - family-run businesses like Dawsons the department store and Byrne's the wine merchant are still going strong. I can sincerely recommend the excellent scones served in Maxwell's, the wine bar and cafe that covers part of Dawsons' ground floor, and for the less hungry shopper there is a diverse range of homeware, bedding, barbecues, kitchenware and some imaginative gifts. Those seeking Woods of Windsor, Arran Aromatics or Yankee Candles are just as likely to find something as the browsers downstairs hunting for a new cake tin. Byrne's is a treasure trove for the wine enthusiast - still in the hands of the current generations of the founding family, you enter what looks like an old-fashioned shop with shelves that almost go up to the ceiling, packed with wine bottles and spirits from all over. But head right - towards the door in the corner and you will find cellar after cellar after cellar. The shop literally does go under the street and most of our visitors are taken to see this curiosity at some point.

Although boasting numerous primary schools, there are only two faculties catering for secondary age students (one being Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, which has existed since Mary I's time - her half brother Edward VI was credited with establishing many grammar schools but he had died by the time Clitheroe's facility was founded in 1554). There is also a surprising number of places to worship which cater to the needs of Anglicans, Methodists, Jehovah's Witnesses and Roman Catholics amongst others.

Clitheroe is an oddity in some ways - big enough to be the nearest "big town" when compared to the myriad rural villages within fifteen miles' radius, but not big enough to have an HMV, a Marks and Spencer or a WH Smith (to name just three). It'll give you an flavour of the town's pride in its unique appeal that McDonalds were considering premises in the high street but the golden arches were allegedly deemed not quite "in keeping" with Clitheroe's image! Even at its current site on the A59, the big M sign isn't tall, but a discreet shorter version. I don't see this local decision as a sign that they're stuck in the past or resistant to change in Clitheroe - I think it's more that the residents know where the appeal of the town lies and they won't even let a multinational like McDonalds change them.