Nelson Archive

New Comment on local heritage footpaths

2010-02-12T07:41:00.000-08:00

Someone has left a comment here and is worth checking it out if you care about the right to roam your local footpaths...

http://nelsonarchive.blogspot.com/2009/08/catllow-bottoms.html

On the road to fitness

2009-10-31T09:44:00.001-07:00

The week after watching Burnley win at Wembley I was being wheeled into the operating theatre at Wrightington hospital to have my right hip joint replaced.
At about half past two the following Friday I was in my kitchen making a brew. My sights were firmly fixed on being able to climb back onto my bike. My thoughts were definitely when and not if!
For the next six days I was content to just potter round the house.

My first forray out was to post a letter. The next walk was round the Trafalgar.

Bored with that I managed to walk to St Bedes. Confidence soaring I walked to the "buttie shop". Not wanting to overdo it, that was my walk for the next several days, usually two-three times a day!

Last Session

2009-10-22T12:58:00.000-07:00

Pam had written some thoughts about the idea of local heroes and Graham helped her to upload it to this blog, see previous entry: 'Scrapbook Heroes'.

Graham has really got the hang of uploading info to his own blog and this one too. I'm looking forward to reading his future updates on his adventures around the area.

Suzanne and Linzi were also present and Linzi demonstrated some natural creative talent using her pen and err... her hand.

I will continue to upload information regarding Nelson, past and present as time permits.

I hope that they do too.

The Old Pix

2009-10-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

Here are the old pictures that Barry, Linzi and Suzanne brought in.
There are some from testing out the family tent at Hard Platts in Brierfield.
We're not sure where this one is.

Barry couldn't identify where this one is either.

Below are some shots of Marsden Park.

Another one from Hard Platts.

Old Pix

2009-10-14T05:12:00.000-07:00

Tonight Graham and Pam practised updating the blog.

Suzanne, Linzi and Barry brought a small collection of family photos.
Some of the pictures were of New Zealand where relatives had settled many years ago.

There were some pictures of local sites like Marsden Park Open Air Pool and the surrounding area of Nelson.

Barry has kindly granted permission to upload a small selection onto this blog.

The Trafalgar

2009-10-14T05:11:00.000-07:00

Here is Lynne sat on one of the lions at the entrance to the Trafalgar pub. It was taken by me (Graham), one summer evening when we all went to several locations in the area.

Bottling and blogging

2009-10-09T01:50:00.000-07:00

This week I made some instruction sheets for accessing and updating the blog.
Pam and Graham tested them out and both created their own blogs.
You can visit Graham's blog and see his first ever entry by clicking here
Then we made some art in a bottle.
Pam printed some badges relating to the history of the Girl Scouts/Guides and on the back of the print she wrote some thoughts about the subject.
She then sealed the top with a silver cap.
Graham brought a photograph from when he'd been touring on his bicycle in Europe with friends. After some trimming, it was placed inside the bottle, along with some notes on the back and sealed with a silver cap.
Art in a bottle...
We decided to put another object inside a bottle and it was trickier than expected.
We all had a turn at pushing it through the neck of the bottle.

Attempt no.1
Attempt no. 2
Attempt no. 3

Success!!

Perhaps we could leave this one on someones doorstep?

Last nights session

2009-10-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Last night, we went over the process of uploading images and text to the blog.
Taz logged on to the blog and uploaded some extra information about Marsden Park.

Graham helped to upload the photos.

NEXT WEEK:

For next week, you need to bring a clean empty milk (this type in pic below) bottle to make a piece of art inspired by the 'Doorstep Gallery' http://www.williamtitley.org/bottles.html
Please bring an object small enough to fit inside a milk bottle. It can be a photograph, some text or a small 3dimensional object or a collection of things: perhaps a note to the future of Nelson? You decide.

We'll meet at Neighbourhood Management at 6.30pm next Wed 7th Oct.
Bring a friend if you like... the more the merrier.

We noticed some interesting comments on the 'Missing Trough' mystery (see here).

Marsden Park Update

2009-09-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

Outside of the conservatory there used to be an aviary with several different types of birds in and adjacent to this some rabbits. Unfortunately these large cages were vandalised and eventually the Park managers decided to remove them. I noticed when we walked round the other week there was nothing there. Such a shame because they really were a focal point for children.

Below the conservatory the upper pond has been refurbished and all the surrounding areas have been landscaped and replanted. There are several shoals of fish in there, sometimes they are very obvious and occasionally you can’t see them; they must hide under the stones and in the shadows.

If you follow down the hill to the lower pond area this has been made into wildlife wetlands. This year, because the Spring and Summer were so wet I am told that that the park workers have been unable to manage it as they would have liked but are hoping for better weather next year. Aren’t we all!!

To the right of the wetlands along the path is the new children’s playground. I haven’t been to play on it yet with our little ones, perhaps we will save that for next year. Whenever I walk past, if out of school time, there are always children playing there.
Next to this are the tennis courts. There is free access to these at certain times and they are trying to organise free coaching. I think this might be part of the programme for Sport England.

Not forgetting the older population, and some of the younger ones too, there are the bowling greens. I can remember sitting there often on a Sunday afternoon with my mother and aunts and, best of all, a cousin who was my age. We were often allowed to go and swing or go on the roundabout with the instruction “Don’t get dirty.” That was wasted on me! Mother always took a wet face cloth whenever we went out—this was before Baby Wipes or Wet Ones.

Another lovely part of the park was by the entrance partway down Hallam Rd known as the Blind Garden. It was just below the swimming pool and all the plants were fragrant. I am sure this was presented by the Nelson Ladies Circle, wives of the Round Tablers, long before my time and I was a member in the 1970’s, being Chairman in 1978.

The Swimming Pool was magnificent with a high diving board, which I was too afraid to use, and a wonderful fountain in the shallow end. I can’t imagine why it was built in the highest and coldest part of Nelson. Believe me it really was cold even on the hottest day but nevertheless very well used for sunbathing for the softies like me and for swimming for the braver ones.

It fell into disuse a few years ago and under the revamping scheme it has been filled and landscaped with a very large grassed area.

What I think is known as the walled garden is very beautiful. This is bordered by what was the old swimming pool and the curve at the top of Townhouse Rd/Hallam Rd. The flower beds used to have rose trees in but these have been removed and it has been replanted with colourful bedding plants.

Overlooking this is the stone lion, keeping guard of all he surveys.
Immediately underneath, next to the upper pond, are what we called the Dungeons, but are really pseudo Roman baths.I need to find out more about these. I have the information but haven’t collated it properly yet.

Travelling towards Marsden Hall Rd exit on the level area at the left hand side of the path there was a Band Stand where Brass Bands, the Dagenham Girl Pipers and more pop- like concerts were held. All free as far as I can remember.

The main entrance into the park is through the beautiful double gates above the Bowling Greens. This is where the Waltons used to ride in their carriages up to the Hall. It must have looked very impressive. These have had extensive work during the revamp; again I have to read up on this.As this is needed for the meeting tomorrow night that is all I have time to write. Keep watching!!

This is the text which is at the base of the sundial.

Pam in her garden

2009-09-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

James' Motorbikes

2009-09-26T11:40:00.000-07:00

Graham's bike shed

2009-09-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

Backyard portraits

2009-09-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

This Saturday 26th Sept 10:15am, we are taking portraits of people in their backyards around Nelson.
If you would like to join us then please meet us at The United Reform Church, when we will make our way to Pams back garden.
If you can't tag along with the group then you can simply put your name down for a portrait.
Hope to see you there.

The Old Bingo Hall

2009-09-16T06:25:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, I took some pix of the demolition of the Old Bingo Hall on Leeds Road.
I remember my mum going to play bingo here when I was a child in the 70s.

It seemed to be full of junk on the upper floor.

I could see the cast iron roof struts quite clearly.
The gable end has been deteriorating for some time now and lots of plaster and paint has chipped off.

The marks on the wall remind me of the bingo balls and the tube they travelled up to be read by the bingo caller: 'two little ducks... 22'.
I wonder what the next generation will see in its place.

UCLan MA Exhibition

2009-09-16T03:30:00.000-07:00

The exhibition was very interesting with some good examples of artists using archive material such as photos, history and use of location to develop audio-visual works of art.

Here is some of the work that interested the group.

The following three images of work are by Rachel Riggs.

Below is a large portrait collection by ?

In The Centre of Contemporary Art was an archive installation by Denise Swanson.

Art Exhibition

2009-09-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

Tonight we're going to the University of Central Lancashire for the M.A. Student exhibition. The students are from the 'Site & Archive Intervention' course and hopefully we should get some ideas about how we can develop our own artistic ideas based around the information we've collected so far.

Pam, can't make it but James, Taz, Suzanne, Linzie and perhaps Graham should be there. 6pm at the church.

Pams research of Marsden Park

2009-09-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

Marsden Park

I’ve been asked to write about Marsden Park and upon researching it I find that there is a lot of information which can easily be found on the internet by typing in “Marsden Park”.
However, here is information I have been given when I delved deep enough.
Thank you to the person responsible.
Marsden Park was bought by Nelson Town Council in 1912 from the Estate for £6000.00 for the use of the community. This included the old Hall, which was built betwen 1555 and 1563, the outbuildings, and the grounds we have use of today.

There was a large extension built about 1740, but this was demolished many years ago, roughly where the conservatory stands now.

Most of the laying out of the grounds and woodland was done on the instruction of R.T.R. Walton early in the 1800’s.
He was also responsible for all the ornate stonework around the Hall and gardens.

The most obvious of this is the Sundial outside the conservatory, believed to be 1 of 3, the others are at Stoneyhurst College near Clitheroe and I believe in Wakefield, Yorks, although there is refernce to another one in Italy.

This sundial is known as an icosahedral sundial, meaning that has 20 faces and time can be read in 20 different countries.

I’ve been given access to paperwork that shows details of the cost of this sundial.
Total cost was £23. 6 shillings and 8 pence . Approximately £23.30.

His wages were 3 shillings and 8 pence per day, nearly 20 new pence.
There is another sundial, albeit a much simpler one, on the wall of the Coach House and this has a very interesting inscription. You must go and read it.

The ornate work around the pseudo- Roman baths is by the same Master Stone Mason; a man called Kippax who called at the Hall asking for food and offered to pay for it by working. Mr. Walton was so impressed with his work that he found him a house and worked there for many years.
The Walton’s were very a generous family giving money to various local bodies over the years. They gave the land and £2000.00 for the building of St. John’s Church, Barkerhouse Rd, completed in 1848 and about £300.00 for the school a few years later.
When the two surviving sisters died about 1850 the Estate was put up for sale. This comprised of extensive lands and Halls in various parts of the County.
In 1857 the Hall and grounds were leased to a Dr. Pinder as a Lunatic Asylum
and upon his death a Dr. Bennett continued until the Hall and grounds were bought in 1912 for Nelson.

I have reams, literally, of information both on the Waltons and the Marsden Park Estate both prior to it being sold off and afterwards but that will have to be for another entry on the blog.

I have photos which I will attach to the appropriate piece of writing when I have time to sort it out.

Tonights Session

2009-09-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

We had access to some computers for the evening... Linzie, Suzanne and Pam all working away at resizing the images of Marsden Park to be uploaded along with Pams text about the park.

Grandad Buns' photo archive will have to wait due to unforseen circumstances.

Things to do

2009-09-04T01:17:00.000-07:00

We met last night at the church with some folks wondering what the project was about. I explained that it will develop according to dynamics of the group i.e. according to their own interests and knowledge of Nelson.

We chatted about how we can move forward with a short plan of action and decided on a 'To do' list for those present.

1. Pam to research Marsden Park. Looking for photographs and stories relating to the park, particularly the story of 'the lost arch' over the gate entrance.

2. Suzanne, Linzie & Barry to digitize 'Grandad Buns' photo & film archive. Suzanne's grandad was a keen photographer and film maker.

3. Suzanne & Linzie to research Williams Hall. Looking for photographs and stories relating to the site.

4. Taz & Pam to research Minhaj-Ul-Quran Mosque which used to be The British Legion.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 9 Sept. at The Neighbourhood Management Office on Railway St. Where we will start to copy the collected material and prepare it for this blog.

This Thurs

2009-09-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

This Thursday we are meeting at the church at 6.30 to discuss photographing people in their backyard or back garden.
You could also bring some information about a local hero who you think should be on the blog.
Bring a friend.

Walverden Reservoir.

2009-08-27T18:07:00.001-07:00

Swans, Geese and Ducklings were enjoying their time being photographed.

Catlow Bottoms

2009-08-27T17:39:00.000-07:00

A lovely river running through Catlow Bottoms.

James happily waving with a smile, better then anyone else managed.

Robert trying to snap a photo of us, I got there first.
William trying to get a picture of us after we walked up a VERY muddy little hill, but obviously I had to get a picture of him concentrating with his camera.

Tasmi and Lynne enjoying the stepping stones across the ford. They did enjoy it alot.

Permission to upload

2009-08-27T13:39:00.001-07:00

Met at the Cyber Cafe in Brierfield this evening to demonstrate how to upload information from other computers.

I invited the group (via e-mail) to be authors and Linzie showed the rest of the group how to upload some text and a photo from last weeks tour.

I have set them some homework to try and practice what they have learned and see if they can upload some info from home.

wishing gate.

2009-08-27T11:25:00.000-07:00

This is a Wishing Gate. It's in Marsden park, Nelson. Apparently you pick a leaf, roll it up, and place it in a hole and make a wish whilst walking through. Unfortunetley the gate was closed and we could'nt go through but some of us still put a leaf in and made a wish.

Marsden Park.

2009-08-27T01:45:00.000-07:00

This is one set of holes in Marsden parks Wishing Gate. It was the only set with more than just leaves and one coloured flower, it has two.

These are two pictures of fish swimming around at Marsden park. Some of us decided they were a bit big to take home as Goldfish.

Interesting Places

2009-08-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

We all met at the church, armed with sandwiches and drinks, ready for a short tour of our chosen places.

Here is the link to some photos I took during our tour.

Next Thurs, I will help the group to upload their photos and stories to this blog and show them how to upload information from their own computers too.

The Picnic

2009-08-13T02:21:00.001-07:00

We met last night and discussed a plan for documenting some of our favourite spots around Nelson. Next Thursday 20th Aug. at 5:30 we are going to several locations, starting with a little picnic at Walverden Res.

The meeting was an informal chat about the places we like to go for a walk or for a picnic and how favourite picnic spots are something of a local speciality. In other words, it is an advantage if you're local when thinking of places to go for a picnic, especially if you enjoy quiet places, off the beaten track.

We also touched upon the changes which are re-shaping the town such as the new bus terminal and wondered what might replace the massive structure that is the old bus station. We struggled to place a date on the Arndale Centre and the old Bus Station.

Reedyford Hospital was remembered before it made way for the M65 and is one of the sites we hope to visit on our picnic tour next week.

Sites to visit:

Walverden Res: James
Catlow Bottoms: Pam
Trafalgar Pub: Graeme
Marsden Park: Tasmi
Reedyford Hospital: June

Pam brought some rug making tools and explained how to use them. She also promised to make a short video demonstration to be put on the blog, which will be very helpful.

June brought along a scrapbook which she had kept since James was born. It showed all the changes that had happened in Nelson over the last 24 years.

Graeme brought along a photograph of the Trafalgar Pub which is due to close its doors for the final time very shortly.

The Plan

2009-06-25T12:40:00.000-07:00

Last nights NAG meeting was an opportunity to take the Nelson Archive project forward.

I introduced the idea of portraits to capture positive aspects of living and working Nelson.

There are three strands to the 12 week project:

Local Hero's: Highlight the actions of local hero's
Favourite Places: Walk to a selection of local places
Backyard Studio: Family portraits in your backyard

All three strands will be documented using storytelling and photography and uploaded to this blog.

The first meeting is at The United Reform Church Nelson at 6.30pm on 12 August 2009. Please bring along with you any evidence of a local hero (past or present) that you wish to submit to the blog i.e. photo's, news clippings, personal stories etc.

The Nelson Archive

2009-03-06T21:00:00.000-08:00

This blog has been created as a storage space for logging all things Nelson, from old personal photographs to memories of a bygone era, we will attempt to log them all.

Our first session was an introduction to the idea of archives and how we all, at some point in our lives, use archival techniques: organising a record or book collection, recipes and other snippets of information can all be logged and stored in an orderly fashion. Even things stored in cardboard boxes in the attic have elements of an archive about them.
It is our intention to explore and build on our collective experience of living in Nelson using pictures, souvenirs, 3D objects, mementos etc. sharing them on this blog for all to see.

The group brought a wonderful collection of old photographs and Denzil brought an old record player, complete with Frank Sinatra records to play us out, as we finished the session.

Members of the group will have control over the content by adding their own photos and information, allowing a dynamic development of the archive.

Sharing information about the photographs uncovered some nice coincidences where people reconised other peoples places and friends: making connections across town. The biggest surprise of the evening must be when Denzil and June (below) found out they are related, what a result.

James, a young photography student at Blackburn College is interested in old buildings and I'm sure he could soon become the offical photographer for this project. His pictures, which he showed on his laptop were brilliant and very atmospheric, using black and white prints.

The next session will include photographing personal objects and logging stories... watch this space.