Ribble Valley

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

The 2010/11 Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards took place yesterday at the Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel, near Accrington. The event was hosted by TV wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan.

The winners and highly commended were announced as follows:

Bed and Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year – Sponsored by VisitBlackpool
Winner: Number One, South Beach, Blackpool
Highly Commended: Langtry’s Blackpool

Access for All Tourism Award – Sponsored by Tourism For All
Winner: Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Langho

Sustainable Tourism Award – Sponsored by Business Link
Winner: Clough Bottom Farm Cottages, Bashall Eaves
Highly Commended: Caldertop Cottage, Garstang

Small Hotel of the Year – Sponsored by Lancashire County Council
Winner: The Midland Hotel, Morecambe
Highly Commended: The Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping

Large Hotel of the Year – Sponsored by Welcome to Excellence
Winner: Best Western Premier Leyland Hotel

Best Tourism Event of the Year – Sponsored by Fat Media
Top Three voted by public vote
Winner – 1940s Wartime Weekend, East Lancashire Railway
2ndPlace – World Fireworks Championships, Blackpool
3rd Place – Festival Bowland

Online Marketing Award – Sponsored by New Mind
Winner: Pleasure Beach Resort, Blackpool
Highly Commended: The Grand Theatre, Blackpool

Taste Lancashire Award – Sponsored by Made in Lancashire and Food North West
Winner: The Highwayman, Burrow
Highly Commended: Greens Bistro, Lytham St Annes

Best Tourism Experience of the Year – Sponsored by Blackpool International Airport
Winner: Go Ape! Rivington
Highly Commended: Martin Mere Swan Spectacular, Nr Ormskirk

Caravan Holiday Park and Holiday Village of the Year – Sponsored by KPMG
Winner: Newton Hall Holiday Centre, Blackpool

Business Tourism Award of the Year – Sponsored by Virgin Trains
Winner: Stanley House, Mellor
Highly Commended: The Midland Hotel, Morecambe

Self Catering Award – The Northwest Regional Development Agency
Winner: The Old Shippon at Mellor
Highly Commended: Martin Lane Farmhouse Holiday Cottages, Burscough

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Sponsored by Workhouse Marketing
Winner: Clitheroe Castle and Museum

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Sponsored by University of Central Lancashire
Winner: Blackpool Zoo
Highly Commended: Pleasure Beach Resort, Blackpool

A series of plaques featuring key events in the history of Clitheroe with explanations in Braille are to be installed at Clitheroe Castle.

Ribble Valley Borough Council has joined forces with Ribblesdale High School, environmental regeneration charity Groundwork Pennine Lancashire and the Lancashire Museums Service to produce a series of 10 zinc-etched colour plaques that will be fixed to the wall of the creative activity area at the foot of Clitheroe Castle Keep.

Visitors to the castle will be able to take rubbings from the plaques, each of which will highlight a local historical event.

The plaques, which will be designed to look visually appealing and decorative, as well as containing Braille text, will encourage people to further explore the town’s history in Clitheroe Castle Museum.

Robert Thompson, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council’s community committee, said: “Ribblesdale High School pupils have been working with the council’s arts development team and artists in recent months to research local history and produce the designs and we are looking forward to unveiling the latest stage of the magnificent Clitheroe Castle refurbishment project.”

Andy Nash, director at Groundwork Pennine Lancashire, said: “The creative activity area was designed to facilitate a sensory learning experience – from the aurally interactive play equipment to the fragrant planting and optical games.

“The tactility of these new plaques are a great addition to this experience and we are pleased to have been able to open up this project for members of the community to enjoy.”

Clitheroe Castle Museum keeper and manager Rachel Jackson added: “The timeline project has provided a wonderful opportunity to work with a local school and establish links between interpretation in the museum grounds and stories in the museum buildings.”

A photographic record of the project is being made and the plaques will be unveiled at the creative activity area on Wednesday, April 21, alongside a display of the artwork in the nearby education suite.

The creative activity area and education suite were part of a £3.5million refurbishment of the Clitheroe Castle Museum Complex that received a Royal opening in July 2009.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester opened the site after a two-year refurbishment – featuring a glass atrium linking the museum and North West Sound Archives, café, exhibition space, interactive display facilities, education suite and several multi-media exhibitions depicting the history of Ribble Valley – funded by Ribble Valley Borough Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and several private and public sector partners.

Clitheroe Castle also features the first public labyrinth in Lancashire, an award-winning skatepark and bandstand hosting a series of popular summer concerts.

The Clitheroe Castle Museum Complex is owned by Ribble Valley Borough Council and managed by the Lancashire Museums Service.

Car parking charges are to be waived at council car parks in Ribble Valley on Saturdays throughout December in a bid to boost business.

Free parking will be on offer at council car parks throughout the borough on Saturday, December 5, 12, 19 and 26.

Ribble Valley Borough Council Leader Michael Ranson said the council was delighted to do its bit to boost local businesses during the festive season.

He said: ‘A lot of hard work has gone into making this Christmas in Ribble Valley extra-special, particularly by traders and businesses.

We hope that shoppers from throughout Pennine Lancashire will take advantage of the free parking to visit the area and see what its unique, independent shops have to offer.

We think they will be pleasantly surprised and look forward to giving them a warm festive welcome.’

Car parking charges in Ribble Valley range from £2 for up to three hours or £7 for 10 hours at Clitheroe’s main car parks in Railway View, Clitheroe Market and Lowergate. Charges at car parks in Longridge and the villages range from 40p for up to one hour to £8 for up to 10 hours.

Comprehensive information on the locations of and charges for car parks in Ribble Valley are available from www.ribblevalley.gov.uk.

Christmas cheer comes to Clitheroe Market next month when it hosts a series of fabulous festive events.

On December 1, celebrated chef Nigel Haworth, of Northcote Manor, will tour market stalls, chat to local food producers, taste their festive fare, then turn on the market’s Christmas lights.

On Saturday, December 12, the St Paul’s Church Bell Ringers and Ribble Valley Choir will entertain shoppers from 10 am to noon. There will also be a series of ghost walks between 11 am and 2 pm, as well as visits by Santa Claus.

On Sunday, December 13, the market will host the Clitheroe Town Band and a further series of ghost walks from 10.30 am to 3 pm.

The Clitheroe Town Band and Santa Claus will make a further appearance at the market on Saturday, December 19, from 10 am to 2 pm, when traders will also be offering festive taster sessions.

Clitheroe is a historic market town and has hosted a regular market since the Norman Conquest in the 12th century.

Over 80 stalls sell fruit and vegetables, bread and cakes, fish and meat, clothing and lingerie, pottery and craft items, curtains and fabrics, rugs and household textiles, flowers and electrical goods.

The North West’s top tourism businesses and professionals were honoured in Blackpool last night.

The 2009 Northwest Tourism Awards ceremony was held at Blackpool Tower and organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

18 winners received awards fro BBC presenter Ranvir Singh:

• Bed and Breakfast of the Year – The Ashton, Lancaster
• Large Hotel of the Year – The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
• Small Hotel of the Year – Gilpin Lodge Country House Hotel, Windermere
• Self Catering Holiday of the Year – Hall Hills, Dalston, near Carlisle
• Holiday Park of the Year – Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park, Keswick, Cumbria
• Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Imperial War Museum North, Manchester
• Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich, Cheshire
• Taste of England’s Northwest – Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop, Kendal, Cumbria
• Tourism Experience of the Year – Farmaggedon, near Ormskirk, Lancashire
• Tourism for All – Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire
• Tourism Event of the Year – Blackpool Illuminations
• Public Space Award – Pier Head Public Realm and Canal Link, Liverpool
• Tourist Information Centre of the Year – Wigan TIC
• Travel Journalist of the Year – Stephen McClarence, The Observer
• Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award – Nigel Haworth, Northcote, near Blackburn
• Excellence in Business Tourism – Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool
• Excellence in Customer Service – Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn, Liverpool
• Sustainable Tourism Award – Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool

Each will represent the North West in next year’s national tourism awards.

The 2009 Northwest Tourism Awards will be held at Blackpool Tower on September 28.

The event will be hosted by BBC presenter Ranvir Singh and is being organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

The finalists are:

Large Hotel of the Year

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester
Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, Cumbria
Preston Marriott Hotel, Preston, Lancashire
The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
Malmaison Liverpool, Liverpool

Small Hotel of the Year

Peckforton Castle, Tarporley, Cheshire
Gilpin Lodge Country House Hotel, Windermere, Cumbria
Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Ribble Valley

Bed and Breakfast of the Year

Harrop Fold Farm, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Storrs Gate House, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria
The Ashton, Lancaster, Lancashire
Brooklands Lodge, Sale, Greater Manchester
The Ambassador Townhouse, Southport, Merseyside

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire
Walby Farm Park, near Carlisle, Cumbria
Blackpool Tower and Circus, Blackpool
Imperial War Museum North, Manchester
Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year

Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich, Cheshire
Wordsworth House and Garden, Cockermouth, Cumbria
Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, Helmshore, Lancashire
Museum of the Manchester Regiment, Manchester
Acorn Farm, Liverpool

Self Catering Holiday of the Year

Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Hall Hills, Dalston, near Carlisle, Cumbria
Clough Bottom Farm Cottages, near Clitheroe, Lancashire
Blue Rainbow Apartments, Manchester
Premier Apartments Liverpool, Liverpool

Holiday Park of the Year

Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park, Keswick, Cumbria
Sunset Park, Hambleton, near Blackpool

Business Tourism Award

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester
Warwick Mill Business Village, near Carlisle, Cumbria
Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green, near Blackpool
The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
BT Convention Centre, Liverpool

Taste of England’s Northwest

Walk Mill, Chester
Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop, Kendal, Cumbria
La Locanda Ristorante Italiano, Gisburn, Lancashire
The Modern, Urbis, Manchester
Delifonseca, Liverpool

Tourism Experience of the Year

Roman Tours, Chester
Silverband Falconry, Penrith, Cumbria
Farmaggedon, near Ormskirk, Lancashire
Costumed Performers, Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester
Art in the Age of Steam, National Museums Liverpool, Liverpool

Customer Service Award

Janet Bradshaw, Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire
Jennifer Taylor, The Archway Guest House, Windermere, Cumbria
Hannah Lee, The New Holly, near Preston
Mahendran Mayan, Renaissance Hotel, Manchester
Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn Hotel, Liverpool

Sustainable Tourism Award

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester
Langdale Leisure Ltd, Ambleside, Cumbria
Malkin Tower Farm Holiday Cottages, Blacko, Lancashire
Radisson SAS Hotel Manchester Airport, Greater Manchester
Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool, Liverpool

Tourism for All Award

Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Ullswater Steamers, Glenridding, Cumbria
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
The Trafford Centre, Greater Manchester

Tourism Event

Nantwich Food and Drink Festival, Cheshire
Westmorland County Agricultural Show, Milnthorpe, Cumbria
Blackpool Illuminations, Blackpool
Manchester Pride, Manchester
Creamfields, Merseyside

Public Space Award

Cockermouth Market Place Regeneration Scheme, Cumbria
County Square Environmental Enhancement Scheme, Ulverston, Cumbria
Pier Head Public Realm and Canal Link, Liverpool

Tourist Information Centre of the Year

Congleton TIC, Cheshire
Coniston TIC, Cumbria
Cleveleys TIC, Lancashire
Wigan TIC, Greater Manchester
St Helens TIC, Merseyside

Travel Journalist of the Year

Chris Moss, Time Out
Craig Fleming, Blackpool Gazette
David Atkinson, Freelance
Paul Croughton, The Sunday Times
Stephen McClarence, The Observer

A historic hotel and pub in the centre of Clitheroe was severely damaged in a fire last night.

Around 200 people were thought to have been inside the Swan & Royal on Castle Street when the blaze started.

Firefighters took over 2 hours to bring the fire under control. Several people were taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation and shock.

It was the second major fire in Clitheroe this weekend. On Friday a fire broke out in a furniture restoration workshop on Duck Street.

Visitors looking for a cheap place to stay in North West England next year (or indeed the rest of the UK, Ireland or Spain) should take note that Travelodge today launched an amazing offer on budget rooms.

The budget hotel chain is offering 50,000 rooms at only £12. The rate applies for stays between January 1 and April 1 2010. Rooms are also available from £19 (book 21 days ahead) and from £29 (book 7 days ahead).

To take advantage of this amazing offer, visit this page on their website.

The £3.5million Clitheroe Castle Museum Complex is to receive a Royal opening.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester will tour the site and unveil two plaques on Tuesday, June 23.

The museum complex opened to the public last month after a two-year refurbishment funded by Ribble Valley Borough Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and several private and public sector partners.

The refurbishment features a glass atrium linking the museum and North West Sound Archives on two levels, a café, exhibition space, interactive display facilities, education suite and several multi-media exhibitions depicting the history of Ribble Valley.
His Royal Highness will visit the site at 12.30pm on Tuesday, June 23, and unveil plaques at the museum entrance and creative activity space.

Ribble Valley Mayor Beverley Jones said: ‘We are delighted that His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester is to visit it the Clitheroe Castle Museum Complex, which is the jewel in Ribble Valley’s crown. We look forward to giving him a warm welcome him to this splendid new facility in the historic market town of Clitheroe.’

Clitheroe Castle has dominated the Ribble Valley skyline since its construction in the 12th Century by Robert de Lacy to protect the administrative centre of his vast estates.

The Clitheroe Castle Museum Complex is owned by Ribble Valley Borough Council and run by Lancashire County Council’s museum service. It is open from 11am to 5pm daily throughout the summer, but will open from 3 to 6pm on June 23.