A place of mystery and wonder – "twixt Burnley and Clitheroe, Whalley and Colne"
Last Wednesday the barn was packed to hear Richard Matthews and Brian Jeffery tell a story that in turn was both humorous and sad but ultimately enthralling. Richard’s gift for telling a story, together with painstaking research kept the audience riveted to the subject as he unraveled how a mystery that puzzled many for over half a century has finally been solved. Continue reading “Buckden Bill – a True and Remarkable Story”
Wishing you a Happy Christmas! Just a reminder that the Heritage Centre is closed Christmas Day but open on Friday, Boxing Day and thereafter seven days a week, 10am till 4pm.
Why not bring a friend or relative for lunch or afternoon tea? You can also browse the art and craft gallery and the heritage bookshop (open 11am to 3pm). The museum on Pendle’s heritage will also be open.
Sawley Abbey has been enclosed in scaffolding most of the year for conservation work, we reported it going up in April. The work has proceded very slowly but the last of the scaffolding came down on Friday 19th December and work has now finished for the winter. Continue reading “Sawley Abbey – Scaffolding comes down”
Greenfield is a historic hamlet with a Conservation Area and Local Nature Reserve (LNR) side-by-side, between Colne and Barrowford. Last Thursday, Paul Clough, the volunteer warden and manager showed me some of the physical remains of the demolished Greenfield Mill that lie close to the surface in the reserve. Continue reading “Fascinating Remnants of Greenfield Mill, Colne”
Over 2014, Friends have been attending conservation training on the building site of All Souls Church Bolton. The church is the one with the large red-brick tower which you see when you enter Bolton from Darwen. It was designed by Paley and Austin, the lancaster architects that also created St Silas’ Church, Blackburn and St Cuthbert’s Church, Darwen . The immense space of its nave now has large modern-styled community rooms inserted. Here is a timelapse film of the interior being created. The conservation side of the project was led by Heritage Trust for the North-West surveyor, Alan Gardner. All is now complete and was opened on December 6th. Here is a great set of photographs.
The cotton had gone, the ship canal had gone, the money had gone. In episode 4 Jeannette takes an unexpected turn by delving into the last 50 years of Manchester pop music. From Herman’s Hermits to Joy Division and The Smiths, making music that moved beyond the stereotype of the northern practical man. Continue reading “Manchester: Alchemical City – Episodes 4 and 5: Music and Vision of the Future – presented by Jeanette Winterson”
Jeanette Winterson’s series on Manchester continues with Episode 2 concentrating on the industrial revolution and Episode 3 on the resulting politics. She is particularly good at moving through the big themes of the day, precisely touching the most important issues of the time. In Episode 2, Burnley’s Queen Street Mill gets a good slot.
Don’t miss this, it’s superb…
Jeanette Winterson presents her personal exploration of Manchester, from its Celtic roots to the present day and beyond. She takes to the streets of the city to tell the stories of the disparate groups and events which formed this combative and insubordinate urban centre. Accrington’s Jeanette was born and works in Manchester and regards the city as always influencing, always transforming – an alchemical place.
Nb. Numbers (and RF) refer to features noted on route map below. Letters (A,B,C) related to accompanying photos.
Conflicting commitments meant that only Paul, Janet, Richard & Richard were able to make the walk this week. The route was a short one, covering only about 4 km. Continue reading “Pendle`s Hidden Valley: Field Reconnaissance 29th November 2014”
A unique 17th century map of Lancashire found at John Rylands Library has been placed on display for the first time in 400 years. Continue reading “Elizabethan Map of Lancashire Discovered”
I’ve just had my first blogging lesson – Heritage in the Press for November. David gave me a difficult task to find the news from other newspapers and cut and copy the links. I hope you enjoy it!
Our 2014 Christmas event went off with its usual aplomb, Jean our fellow Friend and secretary summed the afternoon up saying, “Preparing for Christmas” in the beautiful setting of the barn, at the Heritage Centre. Continue reading “Preparing for Christmas”
Our last evening lecture of 2014 not only had a record attendance, it proved to be a really enjoyable experience for audience and speaker alike (we even had the heating on this time)! Continue reading “City in the Hills by Ann Kilbey”
If you see someone looking a little ‘suspicious’ around the Barn at Pendle Heritage Centre, don’t worry, it’s likely to be Rupert Hilton! Continue reading “Park Hill Barn being surveyed”
On Saturday 15th November we set off in hope of finding the Wolfenden vaccary. After parking in the centre of Waterfoot we walked up Millar Barn Lane to Booth Road and then went in search of the site of an excavation (2009), of a tithe barn near Wolfenden Green. Unfortunately since that date Waterfoot Primary School was built over it! Continue reading “Wolfenden Vaccary – First Look”
It was a great summer for the heritage centre gardens, they were especially attractive this year… we took quite a few photos! Continue reading “Would you like a Heritage Gardening Group?”
The so-called “Alexander” tomb excavation continues to enthrall those interested in ancient Greek history. A coffin and skeleton has now been found. Here is an update.