Burnley

Thursday 9 – Sunday 12 September
www.heritageopendays.org.uk – fully events listing and details

Later this week properties across England will throw open their doors for free as part of the country’s annual celebration of local architecture, history and culture.

Supported nationally by English Heritage and run locally by an army of volunteers and community champions, Heritage Open Days takes place on people doorstops and is the country’s leading grassroots cultural event.

One million people are expected to take advantage of the four day event, exploring more than 4,000 properties of every style, period and function, many of which are normally closed to the public or usually charge an admission fee.

Participating properties in North West England include:

Barrow – Dalton Castle (Dalton-in-Furness)
Birkenhead – Birkenhead Park, Birkenhead Priory, Lady Lever Art Gallery
Blackpool – Blackpool Tower, Winter Gardens
Bolton – Bolton Steam Museum
Burnley – Gawthorpe Hall (Padiham), Queen Street Mill Textile Museum
Bury – Fusilier Museum, East Lancashire Railway, Peel Tower
Carlisle – High Head Sculpture Valley
Chester – Chester Racecourse, Grosvenor Museum, Little Moreton Hall (Congleton)
Kendal – Abbott Hall Art Gallery, Museum of Lakeland Life, Sizergh Castle
Lake District – Beatix Potter Gallery (Hawkshead), Blackwell (Windermere),
Liverpool – St George’s Hall, Cunard Building, Liver Building,
Macclesfield – Quarry Bank Mill
Manchester – Victoria Baths
Morecambe – Morecambe Town Hall
Oldham – Saddleworth Museum
Penrith – Acorn Bank
Preston – Samlesbury Hall
Rochdale – Healey Dell, Rochdale Pioneers Museum, Touchstones,
St Helens – World of Glass
Stockport – Hat Works, Staircase House, Air Raid Shelters, Bramall Hall
Warrington – Norton Priory (Runcorn)
Wigan – Museum of Wigan Life, Trencherfield Mill Engine

Lancashire’s latest dedicated off-road route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders has been officially unveiled.

The £1.4 million Padiham Greenway runs along a former railway line through the centre of Padiham and forms part of a longer route proposed between Great Harwood and Burnley.

The scheme has transformed a derelict railway line that suffered from flytipping, litter and vandalism into an attractive Greenway linking housing areas with Padiham Town Centre and Padiham Memorial Park. In the central area of the site a bridge and embankments have been demolished and new railings and lowered stone walls built to improve visibility and connections between communities on either side of the Greenway.

Lancashire County Council’s REMADE team is behind the project, which has been funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), the County Council, sustainable transport charity Sustrans’ via a Big Lottery Fund award, Burnley Borough Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The new 2.5km greenway was officially opened by Lancashire County Councillor Michael Green, Cabinet member for planning and environment, at a ceremony on Thursday 24th June.

County Councillor Michael Green said: “This is a wonderful new facility for residents in Padiham and surrounding areas. It has transformed neglected and under-used land, which was blighted by fly tipping and vandalism, into a high quality traffic-free, off-road route.

“The greenway will encourage more people to walk and cycle, whether they are heading to work, shops or schools, or simply for leisure, which will help to reduce congestion on our roads and boost people’s health and wellbeing.”

The opening event was part of a week of community-based celebrations to mark completion of Padiham Greenway and improvements to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal towpath, which coincided with Team Green Britain Bike Week.

Site clearance work on the project started in November 2008, following extensive public consultation on the route design and removal of old railway tracks. The main construction work started in January 2009 with JN Bentley Ltd appointed as the main contractor for the works.

Facts about the project:

• Six hectares of land has been reclaimed.
• A path has been created for pedestrians and cyclists, alongside a bridleway for horse riders.
• New access points along the route give full disabled access. A new ramp behind Padiham Leisure Centre provides disabled access for the first time between the two parts of Padiham Memorial Park.
• A more formal parkland area, with seating and plants, has been created in the central area of the greenway.
• Wildflower seeding, tree and shrub planting have taken place along the route to improve the ecological value of the site.
• New lighting, seating and waste bins have been installed.

Experience the sights, sounds and tastes of a Wakes Weekend bonanza at Lancashire Museums on Saturday, 29 & Monday, 31 May.

‘Wakes’ is a celebration reliving the golden age, when mill towns across the North of England would shut down and thousands of workers celebrated their annual holidays.

On Saturday, 29 May drop in at Queen Street Mill Textile Museum as mill workers have fun with an Edwardian Wakes Day. Join in and learn how Edwardian mill workers spent their playtime!

Come and see a traditional Punch & Judy show, let the children roll up their sleeves and enjoy craft activities or take part in Edwardian games. Visitors can listen to a local band singing traditional Lancashire songs, and a special touring exhibition on Burnley’s famous film-maker, Sam Hanna, will also be at the museum. The shop will also be open selling a wide range of goods from pocket money toys to our own Simply Textiles merchandise.

Events will be running throughout the day and the museum will be open from 12pm to 5pm. Normal admission charges apply; Adults £3.00, concessions £2.00 and accompanied children go free.

Holiday celebrations will continue at Helmshore Mills Textile Museum on Monday, 31 May with a slight twist to the theme as they celebrate Wakes Day 1940′s style!

Throughout the day you will be able to see the waterwheel that once powered the mill, and demonstrations of the Cotton Mules and Carding Engines. There will be a traditional funfair ride for the children with lots of craft activities and games too. The Coffee Mill café will be open serving specially made Wakes style cakes and treats for all the family to enjoy.

Helmshore will be open from 12pm to 4pm and usual admission charges apply; Adults £4.00, concessions £3.00 and accompanied children go free.

For more information visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/museums

An exhibition of wildlife, landscape and animal paintings and prints has just opened at Gawthorpe Hall Museum.

The Nature’s Oasis exhibition by Lancashire artist Geoff Rollinson will run until June 6. It will enable visitors to escape into a wonderful oasis of calm and beauty, skilfully captured forever through Geoff’s stunning work. Through his paintings, visitors can take time to appreciate the depth and range not only of his talents but also of the natural beauty of the Ribble Valley where he does much of his work, just to the north of Gawthorpe Hall and Pendle Hill.

Geoff is also doing two ‘meet the artist’ sessions while the exhibition is open. He will be available in Gawthorpe’s Exhibition Gallery to discuss his work with visitors from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday, April 18 and Sunday, May 16.

Prince Charles will visit Burnley on February 5 2010, his second visit to the town in two years.

Places he will visit include:

• Burnley FC – where he will meet senior club representatives to talk about life in the Premier League and future plans for the Clarets, as well as enjoying a presentation on the work of The Prince’s Charities in Burnley.

• Burnley College/UCLAN campus – where he will meet staff and students and learn about work his charities are doing in the field of traditional arts and crafts.

• Towneley Hall – The Prince will meet a group of local business leaders, other influential community leaders and receive an update on work to regenerate the Weavers’ Triangle, Burnley’s historic quarter.

Burnley Council leader Gordon Birtwistle said: “To receive His Royal Highness for the second time in two years is a massive boost for Burnley and a major credit to our town. The Prince was glowing in his praise of what he saw on his previous visit. He promised he would continue to take a close interest in what is going on in Burnley and this return visit shows that our town holds a special place in his heart.

“The Prince is obviously a very busy man and it’s wonderful that he’s found time in his diary to pay us another visit. He’s guaranteed a very warm welcome.”

Cycling fever is breaking out as British Cycling announced that its prestigious National Road Race Championships 2010 are coming to Pendle!

Sunday 27 June is the date set for the event which will include the Elite Men and Elite Women’s races, with over 300 cyclists taking part.

“This is fantastic news as it puts us on the fast track on the cycling map of Britain,” said Councillor John David, Leader of Pendle Council.

“Olympic medallists Bradley Wiggins and Pendle’s own Steven Burke will be battling it out with up to 200 riders including Tour de France multiple stage winner Mark Cavendish,” he explained.

“Mark is currently on the final shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.

“And in the Women’s event, Olympic Gold and Silver medallists Nicole Cooke and Emma Pooley will be fighting for the right to wear the coveted national champion’s jersey for a year.”

“This is a major opportunity to boost tourism and to show people that Pendle is a fantastic part of Britain.

“There’s likely to be live TV coverage of the races which will start and finish at Barley picnic site,” he explained.

Ward Councillor for Pendleside, James Starkie, is co-ordinating the event on behalf of the villages and said this week:

“It’s a bit like bringing the FA Cup Final to Pendleside!

“Just like the TT on the Isle of Man, the 7 1/2 mile circular route from Barley to Blacko, to Roughlee and back to Barley, will be closed for much of the day.

“So we are making sure residents are inconvenienced as little as possible and know exactly what’s happening,” he explained.

“There’ll be the potential for residents to help provide refreshments, act as marshals and run stalls to support their villages,” he added.

A report on the high profile event will be discussed by councillors at the Barrowford and Western Parishes Area Committee this Thursday, 3 December, at 7pm at Barrowford Civic Hall.

Local residents are welcome to attend the meeting and to share their views at public question time.

It’s Christmas time again, and visitors to Gawthorpe Hall are in for another festive treat as the Hall opens it doors for the annual Victorian Christmas event.

If you have ever wondered what Christmas was like in the Victorian age, visit Gawthorpe Hall on Saturday, 12 and Sunday, 13 December for a weekend of themed festivities the whole family can enjoy.

To get you in the Christmas spirit the Hall will be beautifully decorated in holly and ivy with two big Christmas trees lighting up the Long Gallery and Drawing Room.

Father Christmas will meet the children in his traditional Victorian costume talking about Christmas traditions and what Christmas was like for little boys and girls in Victorian times.

There will be lots of activities to take part in including Christmas craft activities, quill writing, find out the secrets of plum pudding making in the basement kitchen and explore the house following the traditional Christmas trail.

If you’re looking for that special gift, the Friends of Gawthorpe are also holding their own craft stall.

On Sunday, 13 December listen out for the Trawden Ladies choir who will be performing Christmas carols throughout the afternoon in the Long Gallery to really get you in the festive mood.

Gawthorpe Hall will be open on both days from 11am to 3pm. Entry is £4 for adults and £3 concessions, accompanied children go free. The last admission on both days will be at 2.30pm.

For more information contact the Hall directly on 01282 771004 or visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/museums.

Peppa Pig will be joined tomorrow (November 15) by a host of other special visitors for Burnley’s spectacular Christmas lights switch on.

With more of a family fun day emphasis, the switch to Sunday from the normal Thursday will enable some of our much younger visitors and parents enjoy lots of entertainment.

The switch on will mark the start of Christmas shopping in Burnley, with many shops staying open till 8pm every Thursday in the run up to Christmas.

The fun starts from 1 pm with a range of street entertainment and special guests including Gladiator Amazon, Musical Ruth, and children’s entertainer Barrington.

Visitors are invited to scale the heights on an Armed Forces climbing wall, or to enjoy a selection of children’s fairground rides. Santa and his sleigh will also be in town, courtesy of Padiham Rotary Club.

The switch-on show, hosted by radio station 2BR, starts at 3:30 pm and runs to 5 pm. It will feature performances from Shell’s Belles, the Guys as Dolls Show Team, Sally Jaxx and It’s My Party.

The event will come to a dramatic climax with a rooftop firework display.

This October, learn all about Gawthorpe Hall’s historic past where a frightening feast of fun family activities awaits all visitors.

On Sunday 11th, step back in time and meet Gawthorpe’s own butler and housekeeper as they tell you about life in the Victorian period at the Hall. As part of this event, visitors will also have a rare chance to explore the Victorian kitchen located in the basement of the house descending the spiral staircase used by the servants, which are normally closed to the public.

Talks will take place at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm and are suitable for all ages. There will be a small charge of £1 for adults and 50 pence for children.

For those who dare, take part in the spooky night-time Ghost and History tour on Wednesday 16th October. The tour, led by ghost expert Simon Entwistle, will show you a different side to Gawthorpe Hall, uncovering hidden and little known histories, hidden family tragedies and its association with the Pendle Witches, plus much more.

Booking is essential for this spine-chilling tour which will leave at 6pm and costs £6 per person.

And, on Wednesday 26th as Halloween draws near, families are invited to learn about the origin of Halloween and take part in spooky story telling sessions, ghostly games including a pumpkin trail around the Hall, and craft activities where you can make your own Halloween themed bags for collecting treats whilst out trick or treating.

The event will run from 1.00pm to 4.00pm and there will be a small fee of £1.50 for children wishing to take part in the activities.

For more information about any of these events or to book a place please contact the Hall directly on 01282 771004, or visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/museums.

Admission to the Hall for day time events costs £4 adults, concessions £3, accompanied children go free. This is in addition to the cost of activities. Gawthorpe Hall is open every day from 1pm to 5pm excluding Monday’s and Friday’s.

Heritage Open Days allow visitors free access to properties that normally charge an entrance fee or are not usually open to the public.

The event starts tomorrow and runs until Sunday September 13.

Hundreds of attractions and properties in the North West are taking part. For more details visit the official Heritage Open Days website.

Highlights include:

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