Welcome to The Briercliffe Society Forum

Hi, there!
For the sake of those of us living overseas who may be interested in attending.....as much notice as possibe would be appreciated! I, for one, would love to join you.....!
What would really be appreciated would be a list of nearby B&Bs or other inexpensive accommodations....as well as the obvious dates, etc.

I am finding this website...and the handful of people I have met through it...to be a delight! Thank you for your hard work, your skill, and your 'easy to use for us barbarians' website.

Susan (Halstead) Kerr

Roger was suggesting august, but I don't think any date is finalised yet.
B&B's-----I'm not sure if the Hare and Hounds do those, Barry Hopkinson (think that is his name) from lower down towards Cockden used to.
I just googled B&B's+Briercliffe+uk there are quite a few on there.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Higher Cockden Farmhouse is the best B&B in the area. Jean and Barry Hodgkinson own it. They also do evening meal on request. Well known for it's wonderful food. My friend Joan stayed there a couple of years ago when she visited from Canada and loved it. I can highly recommend it.

I found Higher Cockden Farm an excellent place to stay when I visited two years ago, also from Canada. The meals were tremendous, and Jean and Barry were very friendly and helpful. There is a website if you need to find out more.

Joan

Do you know the link for the website Joan?

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Mel

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It is http://www.highercockdenfarm.com

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Excellent, thanks Gloria. This site is becoming a real mine of info!

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Mel

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Thanks, Gloria, for the website. I had used Google. Besides being a lovely place to stay, with wonderful views, Higher Cockden is well located for exploring Briercliffe. I didn't have a car, but was very fortunate because my friend, and distant relative, (Pollyanna on the site), came for me each morning during my stay and we went together to the places our mutual ancestors had lived and worked. For an overseas researcher, this was sheer bliss!!

Joan

Some thoughts by Roger Frost.
It has already been decided that we will have a Silver Anniversary Dinner at some time in the coming year and that there will be a Briercliffe Local History Exhibition at the Community Centre in the Autumn of 2008. A June Trail (on the Canal) and a July Trip will be arrnaged though, for the latter, we will be looking for ideas from members as to where to go. In addition there will be the usual Monday evening lecture program.
All this is agreed but, perhaps, we should do something that will be remembered in the future. The Society has already approached the County Council about permanent exhibition space in Queen Street Mill Museum and we are awaiting a detailed response. I was very impressed by the Hebden Bridge Archive - something we might consider.
Another idea has been put to me - that the Society might consider undertaking the creation of a garden at the Burnley Road/Duke Street junction. We could also consider the creation of a local plaque scheme. We have already got Burnley Civic Society's Blue Plaques on the Hare and Hounds and Queen Street Mill but there are numerous other buildings that might have plaques on them. At the same time we could revise our Local History Trail booklet? This is something the Local History Group might want to undertake.
These are just some of the things we could do. Please think about ways in which we can celebrate the 25th. Anniversary of the Society and let us know.

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Mel

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Mel I think a DVD professionally produced would be perfect. Starting with the sepia photos of Briercliffe and then coming up to date showing the area. Not only would it be a wonderful keepsake for local people I'm sure many people from all over the country and World wide would buy it.

It could show buildings that will eventually disappear like Extwistle Hall and the lonely doorway of New House high on the moors. It could interview local characters who have knowledge of the area and the farms and the farmers whose ancestors have farmed the same lands for generations. It could show the churches and chapels and their interiors and other special buildings like Corrin House, Swinden School House and the mills.

I'm sure there must be a local company who specialise in the making of DVD's because they have DVD's about the Pendle Witches and the Pendle area on sale at the Heritage Centre at Barrowford.

If it was filmed in Spring it could include the lovely bluebells in Runklehurst Woods and the ducklings and goslings on Swinden Water all finished off with lovely classical music. Lark Ascending would sound good.

I know what you are going to say - Who pays for this?

It's just an idea but eventually I think it would be profit making.

Roger did a video at the turn of the century although that was Burnley based, not Briercliffe. A video/film/production company from either Shropshire or Wales approached him about it.
As you say, there must be someone able to do the recording....maybe a local student who is interested in this line of work? I'm not sure what permissions, if any, are needed to produce something like this.
Once recorded, I'm sure any with with a DVD burner could burn the discs. I could probably talk my hubby into doing the artwork for the cover. All that would be left is to flog them....we have a worldwide portal right here to ensure that people know it's for sale!
I think it's an excellent idea. Do you want to put it to Roger or do you want me to suggest it?

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Mel

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Glad you like the idea Mel. Please go ahead and talk to Roger. He may know of some contacts or Burnley College may have some-one who is interested. I'm sure this type of project is popular with budding film makers. If it does go ahead I would like to be involved with the making of it if that is at all possible. Roger knows of me through my family research but by my maiden name.

Is there no government grant available to assist in the production of something like this? One would think that it would be considered of importance to heritage bureaucrats or somesuch...or the organization which supports stately homes (some trust or other...sorry the name escapes me).
Just thinking out loud.....

I wouldn't have thought so Sue but Roger might know of something. There might be a kitty that funds this.
I'll call him on Monday, I won't disturb his weekend.

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Mel

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Couldn't get hold of Roger today. I'll give him a call on Wednesday or Thursday.

This caught my eye while catching up on events up north
http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/burnley/display.var.1934044.0.film_recalls_mill_memories.php

Film recalls mill memories
By Telegraph newsdesk
Comment
A FILM made by young people about Lancashire's cotton manufacture has been released for sale.

Earlier this year CAR Video Unit, based at the Mary Hindle Resource Centre, Bury Road, Haslingden, trained a dozen people to operate video cameras and video editing equipment.
These trainees then went on to interview a number of Rossendale residents about their experiences in the textile industry as part of a Heritage Lottery Young Roots project.
With help from the Lancashire County Museums Service, they were also able to film at Helmshore Mills and Queen Street Mill Textile Museums.
The youngsters made a 45 minute programme called Memories of the Mills which is now on sale at the museum shops.
Catherine Pearson, curator of Queen Street Mil, Burnley, said: "The finished film is of excellent quality.
"It covers the whole process of cotton textiles manufacture, as told by the fascinating stories of those who worked in the industry during its heyday and decline.
"We were so impressed that we asked CAR if they could provide DVD copies so visitors to the museums could take away these memories with them - or get them from us by mail order later.
"We are also talking to CAR about a training video for us about operating and maintaining Lancashire looms."
Contact Paul on 07731679916 or visit an open day at the resource Centre, at 1 pm on Sunday, January 6.

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Mel

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