Author: DRM

Ken Spencer, Burnley local historian, named as volunteer of the year

Wind turbine controversy in Pendle Borough

Win turbine proposed for near for Darwen Tower

Bromley Cross Station being considered for listed status

Bellmanpark Lime works, Clitheroe officially ‘at risk’

Finsley Gate Wharf, Burnley gets conservation funding

Accrington town centre wins Heritage Lottery Funding

Old Blackburn pub signs saved

Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership bid being planned

Saturday 1st November was the Friends of Wycoller AGM and planning meeting for 2015, David M. attending on behalf of Pendle Heritage.  It was a good positive meeting with plenty of events being planned for next year. Lancashire County Council were going to renovate Copy House and a new warden, Sarah, will be moving in soon – excellent news! On the heritage front, we discussed the current Pendle Heritage study of sheep folds, and whether some could be restored, and establishing a woollen weavers heritage trail around country park. Hopefully, this could be done by 14th June and the World of Wool event.  The current condition of Bank House Farm was also raised.

For those who have been waiting… here is Alex’s report.

For those who have been waiting… here is Alex’s report.

Our evening lecture series got off to a great start on Friday with a fascinating talk by Neal Charlton of the Manchester conservation architects Buttress. It was called New Buildings on Ancient Monuments and took a close look at recent new buildings the practice has constructed on well known ancient monuments, including Clitheroe Castle, Wythenshaw Hall, Helmsley Castle and Wentworth Castle Gardens. We were surprised at the great lengths the designer went on these sites and the unusual problems that Neal had to work around, such as medieval wells and hidden archaeological remains that might bring the project to a halt at any moment. An audience of thirty was entertained and informed by someone who is both an expert and an enthusiast for the built heritage.

Ribchester Roman Museum is celebrationg its centenary this year and showing off the famous Ribchester cavalry helmet and mask. This was found in the village in 1796 near what was the Eastern gate of the fort but subsequently taken to the British Museum. The helmet was voted Britain’s “second best Roman find”, behind the Vindolanda tablets, by the viewers of Time Team.

Those who have gone to see the helmet say that it is much much better than the copy which the museum normally displays.

We understand that the helmet goes back to London at the end of this month, so make sure you see it while you can.

Of course, serious professionals and academics would never utter such a question but its what the local Greeks are saying and others are just hoping…

Yesterday, we visited a host of small to medium sized barns but, today, it was time to see two really big ones. However, before we set off in the coach, Jamie Quartermaine of Oxford Archaeology North gave us a fascinating presentation called ‘Flowing through Time: the archaeology of the Ribble Valley’ introducing delegates to the impressive archaeology of the valley, from Ribblehead to Hesketh Sands. Continue reading “Historic Farm Buildings Group – Lancashire Conference – Sunday”

The conference got underway at 9.15am at Downham Village Hall with a wonderful talk by Joan Grundy about the development of dairy farming in Lancashire from the 17th to 20th centuries and how history impacted on the design of cow sheds and cattle stalls. Joan gave us a real insight into how barns and cowsheds actually worked and how they grew steadily larger. Continue reading “Historic Farm Buildings Group – Lancashire Conference – Saturday”

People from as far away as Cornwall arrived at Downham Village Hall this evening for the  Historic Farm Buildings Group  2014 conference. There was a nice relaxed atmosphere as delegates were eager to study the beautiful Pendleside farms and barns over the next few days. Two members of Pendle Heritage were also there.  Continue reading “Historic Farm Buildings Group – Lancashire Conference Gets Underway”

Stonehenge just can’t keep out of the news…

Barack Obama in Stonehenge visit on return from Nato summit

Stonehenge secrets revealed by underground map

Stonehenge had ‘huge stone religious sibling’ just two miles away

It’s nice to see that the amateur spirit can still contribute…

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2014/sep/01/stonehenge-was-circular-well-blow-me-down

We had another good day with another set of volunteers. The area is now largely cleared and almost all the tree work is done. The final group are coming tomorrow to finish this session off. Thanks to everyone!

Today, we had a wonderful time in brilliant sunhine checking out barns and at Parson Lee, Dean Clough and Bank House Farms and two lost sheep folds on the higher land east of Raven’s Rock Farm. Continue reading “Wycoller landscape project – Barns and Sheep Folds survey”

We began to clear the kitchen garden yesterday. We first removed useful plants, to recycle in the garden, then the weeds and then cut backoverhanging branches from the trees by the little stream. It was a lovely hot day though fortunately for us, we were working in the shade.

The next work day is Thursday (tomorrow).

Five of us got together to have a close look at this extremely fine barn, which lies at an angle next to Parson Lee Farm. This is a mid-1700s double-pile farmhouse facing south. It contains a textile production room facing north. Continue reading “Wycoller Landscape Study – Parson Lee Farm Barn”

Our tenth and final meeting of this season was a rainy affair where we only got going after lunch. We began with a review of the work done this year and last and agreed that the setting of the various monuments and bridges is now much enhanced. We have steadily improved the immediate vicinity of Pepper Hill Barn, Aisled Barn, Packhorse Bridge, Clam Bridge, Clapper Bridge, Wycoller Beck and Wycoller Hall. Continue reading “Wycoller Monuments Project 10 – last meeting before Summer break”

One of Clitheroe’s finest buildings has just reappeared after being wrapped in scaffold and sheeting for many months. The elaborate stonework of the Carnegie Library has been carefully restored and protected by Lancashire County Council. It now looks splendid in its landmark location. Continue reading “Clitheroe Library Reappears at Last”

Continue reading “Wycoller Hall Excavation – 17th May”