The Chair`s report detailed that although the committee had shrunk in numbers, they had plenty of speaker meetings, walks and events planned for the future. This year our big event had been the celebration of our 40th Anniversary marked by a unique day that took place in the Cruck barn. Huge thanks were given to
On this visit we learnt of the dedication of Andrew Reed and his small team of like-minded people who practically single-handedly created a community cinema in an old World War 1 Nissen hut in Colne. Working to a small budget they turned unwanted household objects into something they could use to further the atmosphere and
The Cruck Barn at Park Hill Event – an Overview Despite forebodings about the weather, the day of 2nd September 2023 dawned bright and sunny. It was some time since Pendle Heritage Centre had hosted an event of this scale with nationally famed speakers, and much time and effort had gone into the planning of
Our tour of Stonyhurst College, Museum and Exhibition was perhaps a bit of a Marmite tour, you either loved it or you didn’t and it wasn’t without its critics. It was dominated by Shakespeare, though that wasn’t the original intention when the tour was booked back in February. However, we trod in academia and saw
This tour followed last year`s talk about the history of the corn mill. A group of us braved the rain and wind to meet near its site. We trekked up the beck which never runs dry, therefore enabling the mill to have been in constant use. Margaret Brown, our guide, pointed out where the stream
Geoff Crambie, our local historian extraordinaire, took us on a tour of this Victorian building situated in the heart of Colne. We began by standing outside the front door on a magnificent 10ft square flagstone, thought to be the largest in the UK. Unfortunately, research has recently found that the flagstone dominating the frontage of
Frank Vigon gave a wonderful talk that took most of us back to our youth in the sixties. Frank told us of his early childhood spent playing on bombsites in the fifties and said he was a child of the war and that the Second World War had shaped the sixties. He grew up in
Colin Penny lived up to expectations and delivered an excellent and very interesting talk. He began with asking “What is Graffiti” of course everyone has their own ideas on this subject. Essentially it is leaving a mark in a public place, until recently, that is, 150 years ago it was not illegal to graffiti. Is
Valentine’s Day saw Alex Whitlock a Find Liason Officer from the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) and also Chair of PAG, come to talk to the Friends about the artefacts found by the general public. The PAS records all non treasure items that have been found anywhere in homes, sheds, gardens, fields, river banks,
We were pleased to welcome Margaret Brown and Wendy Faulkner to talk about Earby’s Corn Mill and its journey from a simple corn mill to its development in the industrial revolution. The earliest mention of Earby is in the Domesday Book. Margaret delved back into history to mention that the Romans and Vikings used horizontal
Despite the change to our new venue we had a decent turn out for the AGM. We elected a new committee and since the AGM Dawn Beaumont has agreed to be the new Chair of the Friends. This leaves the committee in a much stronger position than at this time last year. Vera Brearey had
It was a lovely sunny afternoon when Bob Abel conducted a good group of Friends around the township of Barnoldswick. Yes, we did see the site of Monastery, which apparently wasn’t there long enough to leave any visible remains before the monks decamped to Kirkstall near Leeds to set up an Abbey there. The villagers
The Friends were entertained and enlightened by local historian Geoff Crambie at our September meeting in the Barn. His talk was entitled “The 14 Freemen of Colne” but his talk encompassed much more than that. He spoke with lots of humour and great knowledge of Colne as it was when he was growing up and
To celebrate National Heritage Week we had a delightful afternoon at Heyroyd House, thanks to Sarah and David inviting us to see their lovely home and intriguing surroundings. They couldn’t have been more generous as we toured the renovations that have painstakingly been carried out over twenty years. This very interesting late hall yeomans house
At Higher White Lee farm we dug down and deeper and down and found what appeared to be an early drain. In it was found two pieces of sea shell – a mussel and a cockle, which suggests it came from a high status building. Some early pot was also found. However, the age of
This was a treat on many levels. We had an audio visual display by members of Nelson Camera Club. Stunning images of flowers and beautiful gardens which were very professionally done and complimented by lovely music. Then a tour of the Walled Garden in all its late summer glory by Andrea Smith. Next on was
David Taylor took us on an interesting tour around the village of Wycoller. We learned about the pastoral pre history of the early settlement and also mediaeval and later history. Henry de Lacey set up the vaccary system in areas of north east Lancashire and one included Trawden and naturally Wycoller. After his demise
We had a very enjoyable and interesting visit to the last surviving 19th Century steam powered weaving mill in the world. This Grade 1 listed building has a mighty steam engine re named Peace after ww1 armistice, originally it was named Prudence and had a coal fired boiler. The mill is deemed to be of
Our last talk of the season in May was a treat for those with an interest in local archaeology. Retired archaeology lecturer, Roger Martlew, gave an extremely interesting exploration around ancient burial practices. His talk was entitled, “The Rylstone Bronze Age Log-Coffin Burial and its Regional Significance.” He traced the history of digs at the
Our April talk was a wonderful trip down the Leeds and Liverpool Canal from Skipton to Burnley. It came in the form of an illustrated lecture given by Andrea Smith. We learnt just what it took to build the canal in sections which eventually all linked up. We learnt of the funding required to achieve
Another good trip out to see the Lay Brothers dormitory one of the finest examples in the country where we were fortunate to have a peek inside to see this enormous structure that belongs to the RC English Martyrs we were lucky also to see inside this lovely church which also contained an early mediaeval
Peter and Barbara Snape gave an excellent multimedia presentation entitled the Cotton Town Chronicles. Their music and folk songs told the stories of the local cotton and mining industries in the nineteenth century. The presentation reflected the good times and the camaraderie experienced by the workers of the Industrial Revolution, but also the grim realities
We were pleased to welcome back Alex Whitlock, one of our members who is also a Finds Liason Officer from PAS (the Portable Antiquities Scheme). Alex outlined the work of PAS in helping to preserve what is in the earth beneath our feet. These are finds brought in by walkers, gardeners, farmers and metal detectorists.
Denise North came to speak to the Friends and as usual with Denise we were treated to a well researched and entertaining account of “A century of Health in Burnley from 1815-1918”. She spoke about the development of sanitation in the town as the population grew. The small number of inhabitants in 1815 drew its
A good group of people met in the Gallery and David Taylor recounted the investigations and research into the Higham Vaccary. Much documentary research has been carried out going back to the Court Rolls and the time of Queen Isabella Regent of England from 1327-1330. We explored many ditches and boundaries and unusual earthworks over
We were pleased to welcome students from the Forensic Science courses at Burnley College and take them on a coach trip around the local area. We journeyed through time starting at Portfield Camp, a late Bronze Age (BA) or Iron Age (IA) hillfort at the western end of the Hidden Valley which is a scheduled
What a fantastic evening we had! The place was filled to the rafters to hear the Holllies Drumming Legend Bobby Elliott talk about his life story of how he became involved in drumming as a young local lad and rubbing shoulders with famous people as the band worked their way up the charts. And some
There was a full house for Steve Irwin’s talk about the Lancashire Cotton Famine and the American Civil War and it was great to see so many people returning to their normal activities and pastimes after the worries of the last eighteen months. Stephen has worked as the Education Officer for Blackburn Museum for the
The Annual General Meeting took place with reports from the Chair, Secretary and Acting Treasurer. These reports outlined the difficulties faced during the last 18 months caused by the pandemic and the shortage of volunteers to take on key roles in the running of the Friends. An appeal was made for a Treasurer and those
Andrea Smith led us on a very enjoyable walk around upper Barrowford and we put a toe into Higherford too. Another nice dry autumn day with convivial and interested people. Of course the ford can still be clearly seen today next to the park and there were another few places where the river could be