Lancashire Local History Federation

The latest meeting of the North West Heritage Networking Forum, supported by the RHC, took place at the Lion Salt Works, near Nantwich, in early February. This event gave members of the network (mainly trustees and officers of Friends’ groups in the sector, plus the professionals they work with) an opportunity to hear a presentation about the process of rescuing the salt works from oblivion following its closure as a commercial business in the mid-1980s. The Lion Salt Works Trust worked with various local authorities to bring about the thriving heritage attraction (and community hub) that now exists.

​A panel discussion included some top tips for other organisations plus glimpses of future plans – including bringing salt-making back to the site on a regular basis. The formal part of the meeting was followed by a fascinating tour of the venue – it is well worth a visit if you are in Cheshire or are looking for an interesting day out in the region. A report of the meeting will shortly appear on the new online discussion space that the RHC has set up for the Network. If you are actively involved in heritage, especially around organisational strategy, and are not already a member you are welcome to join the mailing list. Please email nw-heritage-network@lancaster.ac.uk and do let others know about this valuable new resource for heritage organisations across the region.

SALFORD LOCAL HISTORY FORUM

​A new lottery funded website about Eccles Old Road has been launched, focussing on the people and places associated with this historic route through the former township of Pendleton

The authors have researched the area from its earliest times, unearthing new material about the road, its inhabitants, their occupations, families, homes and businesses. Research has been undertaken in private and public collections, archives and museums across the north west and beyond.

Census returns, newspaper reports, obituaries, wills and other historic documents, plus maps, plans and photographs give a new understanding of this area of the city of Salford. Website visitors can also access related family trees via a link to Ancestry.

A contact form is included on the website, and contributions and comments are welcome. The website will be updated regularly. It can be viewed on mobiles, tablets and computers at www.ecclesoldroad.uk.

TAMESIDE LOCAL HISTORY FORUM
Ashton Court Leet chair

In 2011 Tameside Local History Forum raised the money to buy the Ashton Court Leet chair, which was being sold at auction, to ensure its preservation in the Ashton area. In the Forum’s twentieth anniversary year this chair is being displayed at Ashton Parish Church. Ashton-under-Lyne's manorial court met twice a year until the 1870s and then once a year until it was dissolved in the 1950s. Here the Lord of the Manor's Steward would sit dispensing justice, mostly in civil disputes between neighbours, but also petty criminal offences. The chair is nearly 200 years old and bears the Earl of Stamford's Crest.

​In the first of a new feature Dr Geoff Timmins has added the talk he gave at the AGM to the website for your perusal at leisure .

NEWS FROM SOCIETIES

REGIONAL HERITAGE CENTRE 

https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/regional-heritage-centre/

The new-look website is live, including a new logo. Through the website it is possible to book places on study days, make donations as a Friend or Patron, buy a publication, or enquire about consultation services. A new feature is event listings. External events will be publicised in the newsletter via a link to the originator, so that it will be up-to-date whenever the newsletter is read.