We had another good day at Wycoller working on the area behind the Hall. Continue reading “Wycoller Monuments Project 5 – 5th March”
Wycoller Monuments Project 5 – 5th March
Evening Lecture by Glen Atkinson “The Big Ditch”
Last Friday (28th February) there was an informative and entertaining talk by Glen Atkinson about the building of the Manchester Ship Canal,entitled “The Big Ditch”.
Continue reading “Evening Lecture by Glen Atkinson “The Big Ditch””
Wycoller Monuments Project 4 – 26th February
For the first time, it didn’t rain (at least not much) and the sun even came out later on. Continue reading “Wycoller Monuments Project 4 – 26th February”
Hidden Valley Field Walk – 22nd February
Great day. Report will follow. Here are some photos. Continue reading “Hidden Valley Field Walk – 22nd February”
Wycoller Monuments Project 3 – 12th February – Cancelled
Owing to the most dramatic storm so far this winter, we were forced to cancel this one. Our next meeting is Wycoller Monuments Project 4 on 26th February.
Pendle’s Hidden Valley – Field Reconnaissance 8th February 2014
Pendle Heritage – Archaeology Group
Pendle’s Hidden Valley Field Reconnaissance 8th February 2014
The third field reconnaissance session for the Pendle’s Hidden Valley project took place on Saturday 8th February 2014 but in the face of dire weather forecasts, understandably, only 4 stalwarts braved the elements. In the end, despite strong winds we were relatively lucky with the conditions. Continue reading “Pendle’s Hidden Valley – Field Reconnaissance 8th February 2014”
The Family behind Foulds Lifts
February 5th 2014
The Family Behind Foulds Lifts Continue reading “The Family behind Foulds Lifts”
Evening Lecture by Professor Glynis Jones
Professor Glynis Jones of Sheffield University shone a light on some of the latest bioarchaeological research in her lecture “Crops and Weeds: Agriculture in the Past” on Friday 31st January. Continue reading “Evening Lecture by Professor Glynis Jones”
Wycoller Monuments Project 2 – 29th January
Our second Wycoller Monuments conservation day started like the first…. with rain! Continue reading “Wycoller Monuments Project 2 – 29th January”
Stained Glass and Leaded Lights Conservation Day – Pendle Stained Glass
Members of the Friends were invited to a stained glass and leaded lights conservation day at All Souls Church, Astley Bridge, Bolton, part of a series of free conservation days. Continue reading “Stained Glass and Leaded Lights Conservation Day – Pendle Stained Glass”
Winter Gardens
January can result in dull gardens, excessively cut back and tidied up. However, at Park Hill, the gardeners, Peter and Elaine, allow the natural forms and colours of winter to come through and to decorate the surroundings of the heritage centre. There is much beauty for those with ‘eyes to see’ through the dull winter light. It has been a warm winter, so far, and snowdrops are already popping their heads throught the wet winter mulch. Click here for some January photos.
Archaeology Field Walk, Oakenhead Wood, Rossendale – 25th January
We were fieldwalking to find physical evidence of the Oakenwood cattle pastures which are recorded in medieval documents. Continue reading “Archaeology Field Walk, Oakenhead Wood, Rossendale – 25th January”
Wycoller Monuments Project 1 – 22nd January
The first meeting of 2014 for the conservation group was a rainy affair, with a lot of time spent chatting away in Pepper Hill Barn with the park rangers. However, the four of us did manage to get out for a few hours to clear more of the trees growing on the archaeololgy at the back of Wycoller Hall. We also had a nice job seeking out small trees suitable for a monkey sanctuary in Keighley. It turned into a good day as the weather brightened for a while on the afternoon.
Visit to Rochdale Town Hall and Co-op Pioneers Museum 18th January
Over twenty of us took to our cars to visit the famous Rochdale Town Hall and nearby Co-op museum. We weren’t disappointed. Continue reading “Visit to Rochdale Town Hall and Co-op Pioneers Museum 18th January”
Pendle’s Hidden Valley – Field Reconnaissance 11th January 2014
The second field reconnaissance session for the Pendle’s Hidden Valley project took place on Saturday 11th January 2014 and was well attended with 10 stalwarts setting out from Whalley Golf Club (who kindly allowed us to use their car park).
We set out south along Clerk Hill towards Portfield and it was pointed out that this road had been artificially sunken as part of the landscaping of the area for Clerk Hill (the house) in order that the view from the house would not be spoiled by seeing people on the road.
At Portfield we assessed the view of the area from a public footpath in the field adjacent to the fort and noted that the fort commanded a 360 deg field of view with a particularly good view back up the Sabden Valley.
Friends January Talk
Wednesday afternoon was the day of our first talk of 2014. Anne Eves stepped into the gap left in our afternoon talk’s schedule, and what an entertaining couple hours we were in for. Anne’s talk covered everything from life during retirement, dog walking in the park, life as a mature drama student, a tale of an elderly lady’s one line put down which I cannot repeat here as we do not have a 9.00pm watershed, and more humorous anecdotes’ including one of her encounter with the Padiham streaker. Our thanks go to Anne and the forty people attended the event…..FW
World War Two bomb found on Pendle Hill
The heritage of the second world war is very popular these days but here is one item we don’t want to preserve!
Full story, video and pics at the Burnley Citizen site.
Queen Street Mill is Listed Grade I
Burnley’s Queen Street Mill has made national news by being given Grade I listed building status. The famous Harle Syke mill has the highest listing possible, putting it in the top 2% of all listed buildings. Technically at least, the mill is now on a par with Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey! This should be no surprise. Queen Street is now the only working steam-powered mill in the world and great credit must go to the volunteers and the Burnley and Lancashire Councils for saving the building in the early 1980s and keeping it alive as a museum and visitor attraction.
http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/dec/25/victorian-queen-street-mill-grade-i-listed-status
Harry Moore stepping down at Bancroft Mill Engine
The Bancroft Mill newsletter has been a great companion over recent years and Harry Moore, who has steadfastly kept us informed and entertained, is now stepping down to concentrate on being an engineer! Harry’s last newsletter is here… http://www.bancroftmill.org.uk/newsletter.pdf where there is more information.
Thank you for all the hard work Harry and all the best to Ian McKay who is now taking over.
The Bancroft Mill Engine and Museum web site is here… http://www.bancroftmill.org.uk/
The Mayor and Mayoress of Pendle, Councillor Smith Benson and Mrs Margaret Ingham, Mrs. Jamieson with Harry Moore at Bancroft Mill.
Burnley Weavers Triangle in the Snow – early 1980s
Here are some old photos of Burnley Weavers Triangle before the mighty Clock Tower (or Watts) Mill was burned down and demolished.
http://www.pinterest.com/pendleheritage/weavers-triangle-burnley-1980s-in-the-snow/