Museum, Tea Room, 18th Century Walled Garden
We had a throughly enjoyable AGM on Wednesday evening (27th May) with an excellent turnout. There was a short business meeting comprising reports from the chairman, secretary and treasurer, as well as those from the organisers, followed by some minor changes to the constitution and the re-election of the committee. We then had a wonderful buffet followed by two historic films by Peter Copestake of Pendle Moviemakers. Continue reading “AGM, Films and Food”
On Thursday night, (21st May) there was an open evening for the art exhibition in the barn, with the principal artists present. The event was delightful and everyone enjoyed themselves, as the photos show. The exhibition is now in its last week and will end on Sunday, 31st May. Continue reading “Open Evening, Art exhibition at Pendle Heritage Centre”
As the new Sawley Hall is going up not so far away, English Heritage is continuing its much more modest conservation activities at the Abbey. Here, the ancient walls have mostly lost their outer layers leaving very soft crumbly masonry exposed to the elements. The conservators are carefully re-pointing in soft lime mortar and using soft-topping (or soft capping), with a layer of turf, on top of the walls. Continue reading “Conservation Work at Sawley Abbey”
Today at the historic gardens group, we decided to tackle (amongst other things) the Cornus Mas or Cornelian Cherry. Like all cherries, this ancient variety had grown large and dense with many ‘crazy’ branches shooting backwards and forwards through the tree. It was not an easy task working out the effect of each cut and avoiding damaging neighbouring branches. Continue reading “Tackling the Cornelian Cherry & the art exhibition”
Every May in Spring Wood, Whalley there is the showdown between the bluebells and the Ramsons (wild garlic). The bluebells normally win the aesthetic contest with wonderful carpets of blue across the woodland floor. However, this year, they were relatively subdued and it was the Ramsons that impressed with almost dizzying blankets of white. Why this should be, who knows, but have a look at what I mean in the photos below (just click to enlarge). Continue reading “Ramsons 1 Bluebells 0”
The Friends are funding various repairs to the heritage centre and barn over the next month or two. We hope these won’t get in the way but apologise for any inconvenience if they do.
Despite very cold and uncertain weather 14 people, mainly members, turned up for what was an informative, and fascinating walk led by Brian Jeffrey to the site of the 18th Century coal mine about which he and Richard gave such a memorable talk last year (Late 18th Century Mechanisation of Dunkirk Coal Pit, Read). Continue reading “A Walk to Constant Mary, Read”
Here are the heritage stories of the past month…
Roger Frost has written an excellent four-part account of the de Lacys, the dynasty which ruled our area in medieval times, plus an interesting article on the grounds of Townley Hall…
The first Lords of the Manor in Ightenhill
Roger from Hell and his links to Burnley Continue reading “HERITAGE IN THE PRESS – April 2015”
From 16th to 31st May, the Heritage Centre will be hosting an exhibition of painting, drawings and prints by Jo Taylor, Geoff Selkirk, Elizabeth Blackadder DBE, Sir Terry Frost and David Hockney. Continue reading “Art Exhibition in May”
Somehow, we managed to avoid the worst of the showers that swirled round the rest of East Lancashire and managed a day’s excavation on Saturday 25th April. However, it was quite cold. Continue reading “Craggs Archaeological Dig, Hidden Valley, Sabden”
The site of the Norman Manor House at Ightenhill, near Burnley has been known for many years. Almost nothing now remains of the building. The current owner of the site, Ightenhill Parish Council, made a successful bid to the Heritage Lottery fund. With the help of the local community, the site and the area around it was surveyed and researched. Continue reading “The Manor House at Ightenhill”
On the eveing of 24th April, Adrian Lewis gave an excellent overview of Roman coins, where they were derived from and how they evolved over time. He emphasised the importance of Greek ideas and forms, including the Goddess Athene and how these spread to Roman coins. However, the portrait quality of Greek coins was always better than the Roman ones, especially those in the western empire. We saw a great number of examples from across the empire, Adrian giving us various anecdotes about each emperor and the relevant points about each example.
On 22nd April, John Miller gave the Historic Gardens Group an excellent illustrated talk on how the Eighteenth Century Walled Garden at the Heritage Centre was restored. At the time the restoration attracted national attention and attracted several VIPs. Here are a few of the slides John showed. Continue reading “How the Walled Garden was (re)created”
The Historic Gardens Group enjoyed some practical gardening on Wednesday (22nd April). Our morning session, in bright sunshine, was followed by lunch in the tearooms and then an illustrated talk by John Miller on how the walled garden was restored (see separate post). Continue reading “Historic Gardens Group”
Bluebell Wood is the historic name for the steep woodland behind the Pendle Heritage Centre. It has provided firewood for the house and farm over many centuries.
Friends and volunteers are thinning the brambles, branches and leaf cover to allow a more light to the plants on the woodland floor. A horse in the field at the top entertained us this week by constantly rolling on its back! Continue reading “Bluebell Wood begins to flower”
CLICK HERE for the report of last weekend’s trip to Northumberland (18-20th April).
The latest Bancroft Mill Engine Newsletter is available HERE.
Peter Copestake of Pendle Heritage Moviemakers started our Wednesday afternoon movie meeting with a fascinating film describing the history and restoration of the wonderful 18th century garden at our Heritage Centre. Interestingly, there will be an Open Day on 20th June with free admission to the garden, strawberry and cream teas, an archaeological dig and other attractions, so if you missed the film, join us an hour in the sunshine (hopefully)! Continue reading “A Visit to the Movies”
Bough Gap Mill is shown on the Trawden Tithe map which is almost 10ft square and covers Trawden and reaches north to the river at Ball Grove too. It is dated 1844 but was updated to about 1849. Unfortunately the map has localised damage making it hard to read in places. I attach 3 photos I took of the map last year. It numbers every plot and there is an associated tithe index/tithe record book with each landowner, plus tenants and occupiers where appropriate. This should indicate who occupied Bough Gap Mill at that time. The documents are in the Lancashire Record Office at Preston. Continue reading “Bough Gap Mill, Winewall”
One to put in your diary Saturday 4th July! Barrowford Lifestyle Festival is set to be a great family day out with something to suit the whole family! Here are some details… Continue reading “Saturday 4th July – Barrowford Lifestyle Festival”