4 Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, November 13th, 1975


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■ ■ ■ One man’s lumber \


l WITH more and more people becoming con­ cerned with our ever- diminishing architectural’ and natural heritage it appears that a glimmer of hope is on the horizon. Can i t be th a t th e “couldn’t care less” era is


at an end? Few, if any, will recall the


old fountain which once stood in the Market Place. It was an impressive monument similar to those fashionable ill the Victorian era. A smaller illust­ ration comes to mind when we consider the one at the road junction m Tosside. Clitheroe, however, was less conscious and its memorial in more recent times was placed at the King Street end of Market Street, its last public resting place.


Opinions would be varied as to rts usefulness and obviously


to its usefulness and obviously


the powers that be did not regard it as an asset. How­ ever the wind of change has altered all this and w e ’now find the old is of more value, than the new. Nowadays anything old or


antique, pleasing or not, is worthy of a place in the home or in a public place; After all they do not make things like that nowadays — craftman- ship, you see, is a thing of the past. Many will recall the sub­


stantial and very pleasing stone edifice of the fountain


. with its castellated pillars sur- rouding the inevitable drink­ ing trough. In its second rest­


ing place at the entrance to the open market it was evi­ dently thought to be m the way and when dismantled ■ came to its final abode reclin­ ing as it were in death in the council yard situated at


time on the rec. The massive stone pillars


faryeareandaUentm


drawn to it in this paper. Once again came reorgan­


isation and, as usually.hap­ pens, what one generation sees as lumber another consid­ ers valuable. It seems strange to hear all this talk of heritage when so much has been ignored or cast away on the


dump. Another interesting feature,


our forbears considered of no consequence were the Hip­ ping Stones of Brungeriey. There, is a further fine


that lay recumbent or years and attention was


example of this mode of cros­ sing a river less than 200 years ago-— on the Hodder near Stakes Hall, serving to remind us of the times when bridges were very few and far between. ■ To return to Brungeriey, its, hipping stones are always associated with the escape and capture of King Henry VI, and prior to 1801 there was at this spot by Ribble a ford for the use of beasts and carts, - with a series


of steppmgin


End of an era Tommy tinsmith


.


THIS morning, like most other mornings for the last 40 years, a familiar figure in flat blue cap and overalls is hard at work in a small but cosy workshop just off North Street car park, Clitheroe.


To say that 90 per cent of


the town’s population would instantly recognise him — even without his old green bicycle and clips — is to iden­ tify Tommy, the Clitheroe tinsmith. Tommy Smith (72) is one of


the town’s real characters — as much an accepted part of Chtheroe as the Castle — but in two months’ time he will pack away his.tools for the last time and retire. Sadly, with his retirement


will die the now almost- extmet art which he practises, making hand-made metal objects of every conceivable k ind, each meticulously shaped and decorated in the true style of a craftsman. Tommy is the epitome of all


that is evident in his work — solid, old-fashioned dependa­ bility — and a refreshing defender of old ideas and values: He looks upon today’s


rather vulgar methods of mass production with a res­ igned but nevertheless sad eye. As his retirement day


nears, Tommy is able to look back on a lifetime packed with interest and incident. A slight figure who suits his


work “uniform,” Tommy was more than delighted to talk about the good times and bad which he has experienced in


55 years of working life. The starting point of his


story was only yards away from the workshop, for he was born at No. 18, North Street, which, had it still been standing, would have been


, round & about


easy to see from the door. . When he was old enough to


cam a living, Tommy joined his father, Harry, who worked


■for Theo Wilson’s, and for the last two years of the fust world war made cartridge cases as part , of the war


effort. Soon after the hostilities


ended Mr Smith .sen. left Theo’s, where he had been employed for almost 40 years, and joined another Clithero- nian, Mr Ellis Rigby, as part­ ner in a tinsmith business on Chatburn Road.


Tommy and his brother


Albert — who was later to have considerable success t r a in in g . ’ greyhounds.— worked at the business and gradually learned the trade. Several years later, Mr


Rigby became a farmer and the tinsmith business moved to its present location, a dark brick-walled building with a high slanting wooden roof, and sparse shafts of daylight cou r te sy of four narrow windows. Since the death of his father


in 1941, Tommy has continued the family business in-his own inimitable way. His skilled hands have


created bowls, pots, decora­ tions and many other objects in tin, brass, copper andsteel. His enthusiasm for the


work is incredible as he shows you round the workshop, describing his tools, many of them more than 70 years old, and saying how “they don’t make ’em like that any more.” He has his own particular


favourites which include a brass and copper prayer book and a tobacco tin created from the same materials — both 50 years old, yet polished up and ■looking brand new. He has just finished a


superb brass and copper' money box in the shape of Clitheroe Castle: “There,” he says, “Tha'll never seo owt like that today.” : I t is ea sy to see why


Tommy has gained such a popular reputation. m the town. His straightforward­ ness — “you used to get a clip round th’ lugole if you-did owt


wrong in th’ oden days” — and sheer pride in his work are enough to endear him to the most hard-bitten cynic. Will he be sad to call it a


day? “Ay, but I’m sure I’ll find summat to do,” .h e ; replies, and you hope he will be around for many years to come because the town, wouldn’t be quite . the same without-him.


Change *


of scene THERE are three things in-, particular that Mr John Kid- son, personnel director for Whitbread West Pennines breweries, will miss when ho moves south to take a new job — the countryside, the cur­ lews and the Duke of York Hotel at Gnndleton. In January, Mr Kidson


(45), of Cranbrook, Eaves Hall Lane, West Bradford, becomes personnel director for Whitbread Fremhns based in Kent. He will work from Maidstone, but he and his family — Swiss-born wife Erna and son Christopher (7)


— will live in Hythe. Before moving to West


Bradford, Mr Kidson, who was born in the Midlands, was brewery manager for Whit­ bread’s main brewery at Chis-


well Street in the City of London. ■ He belonged to the Territo-


TOMMY at ivork ■


rial Army for 18 years and another of his interests was rugby — he has played for Northumberland, Gosforth Rugby Club and Old Mer­ chant Taylors in London.


When he gave up the game


10 years ago, he turned to amateur drama and was "co­ opted" into th e . Misbourne Players at Chalfont St Giles.


In the past three years Mr


Kidson has been an active m ember of Waddington Drama Group, taking part in three plays — “Wild Goose Chase,”.“Waiting for Gillian” and "The More the Merrier,” as the unforgettable Ameri­ can, Hank.


His last appearance on the


local stage will be in the Group’s production of “Key of the Door” next week.


I t may also be his last


appearance on any stage, for though he promises to follow future activities of the Group “with avid interest from a dis­ tance,” Mr Kidson has no


-immediate plans to join another amateur dramatic society — "I might take up golf instead,” he says.


For his wife, a change of JOHN IfiDSON


house will mean the challenge of a new garden . . . and a farewell to the one on which she has lavished so much attention in the past few years.


with one of his old soldering irons. New


venture AFTER two years at Wad- dington Post Office, Mr and Mrs Ian Darbyshire are leav­ ing to take on a now venture.. They are going to run


Groendale Cafe, Chatburn, and after a complete redecora- tion programme hope to open for business m the New Year. Mr Darbyshire and his wife


Carole, who used to live in B r u n g e r i e y A v e n u e , , Clitheroe, have two daugh­ ters, Michelle (7) and Nicola (4).


Though .they have enjoyed


their relatively short stay in the village, they are looking forward to the move. “We have been very happy


in Waddington but the cafe venture is a challenge to us,” said Mrs Darbyshire.


. History


on record A NEW county records office in Preston, housing material tracing the activities of Lan­ castrians from the mid-12th century to recent times, has been officially opened by the Lord Lieutenant -of Lanca­ shire, Lord Clitheroe, and Lady Clitheroc. People from Chtheroe and


THIS past summer it has been my, good-fortune to see two


. Son et Lumtcre displays in the grounds of historic buildings m other parts of the country and, inevitably, my thoughts have turned to the possibility of similar productions in our own village. ■


'A s1 the occasional reader


may be a trifle vague as to what, precisely, a:Son ct Lumiere production is,-let me explain that it is the re-telling of historic stories and inci­ d en ts , u su a l ly with local


’ associations, byirecordod voi­ ces and music, and the whole


■ en h an c ed by sk i l fu l ly arranged and manipulated col-:-.- ; oared: and-flood.lighting.' •


. ■ The lighting; changes con­ stantly -with the mood and


• tempo of the: story.. As the imagined action moves ..from one area of the ancient monu­ ment: to. another, different...


. aspects are bathed in light or -cast into shadow, the. whole


-effect bringing-into new:pors- pective. and giving- greater impact-to architectural- and - natural features and the nar­ rative as related.


^delightful-entertainment-andi:s.JCommonwealth,!of.the.deeUne.^;:makeathe.Jproject;a;LViahle. ^arUstic'iithievomente>It:i!i8!.ai—


;’Wr itten’


It'is;frequently,iwhen wellJ- .rhome of the Assheton family, - ' if a task is .worth undertaking fand?pr(idUcedr(ia!:r!|ot:episodeB in the days of the « 'i t i8:worth-'doing;well and,--to


. suppression: and dissolution of - • the r monastery .j .. .-Then1 of the when


challenge to the author,


‘of the Asshelons.'Once more! hfiVL


--- ‘— ....... ............. ,'1 ,J— M}


A TALE WORTH TELLING Whalley Window


actors and the technical staff. In our. own village the natural, the only practical


■ venue for such a display would be our abbey grounds and ruins. What a story could be told; of-the first arrival of the- Cistercians, the laying of the foundation; stone of the con*; ventual church by Henry de, i-Lacey, Earl of Lincoln; of the litigation that delayed, the commencement of building fo r -


many years. The daily: lives and routines


• of -.the silent- brethren could < then be related — the shame-- Tul episode of Isobel de Heton -


-.! retold; the dramatic ; attempt - : on the life, of the Abbot of f


:: Kirstall when he paid a frater­ nal visit re-created, theitragic: happenings; that:led to- the


we could be reminded of the days when the home of high ecclesiastics became a humble farmstead in the days of the earlier Greens, and of . the restoration -of the Abbot’s lodging in the middle of the lust century. Finally, could be told theTacts of the purchase of the abbey by the Manches­ ter Diocese and of how, a few years later, it- became the - responsibility of the Diocese. of Blackburn. The visits of ,


- bishops, of nobility and roy- • alty could be highlighted and .


-recorded —■ a fascinating • story worthy- of constant, retelling


^ : Now, of course, to worthily-


do all this would cost an awful - lot of- money,: four to. five.’ thousand pounds: would be a. very conservative estimate, if the production was to be in’


t 6


SLUMBERLAND REST ASSURED


AND TRAFALGAR


seen by audiences. totalling something in the region of


•1 0 ,0 00 -.pooplo a t , as a minimum, at least 50p per head.


Additional revenue could


come from the sale- of prog­ ram m e s , sou v en ir s and refreshments. An over ambitious scheme?


An airy-fairy • pipe-, dream? Perhaps, but,) given fine weather (and’ one can always insure against bad), a run of at


■ ■


least a couple of months in the height of the summer could dear all expenses and, prop­ erly publicised, organised and produced, could make a hand­ some profit.- And, inciden­ ta l ly , -erase: the worried frowns from the brows of- those dedicated people whose- ‘constant concern Is the future


- and welfare of one of the two ’^outstanding ifeatures ■ of .our: ’village.' It really, is -worth


thinking about. Are-there any.: benevolent


gentlemen around:who would care to provide thejnecessary; 'financial gnarantees? Or, in


'of.'the estate with'the'passingv.vproposltioniWouldildemahdJ.tiages^ that the ^production .would-be


abbcy:could'be'.a:.worthy fql-; low up to: our 1975 participa­ tion -in ther>FostIvali-,ofr>Vil-‘ ••


4


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district have a chance to learn many interesting details about the history of their particular area by going to the new office m Bow Lane, where an exhibition of miscellaneous documents is on view to the general public at the moment.


In charge THE smooth running of a con­


cert of Christmas music by massed Women’s Institute choirs is very much the con­ c e rn o f Whalley’s Miss Elizabeth Postlethwaite. As well as being a member


of the choir of over 100 voices. Miss Postlethwaite, of The Grove, is secretary of the Lancashire County WI music sub-committee , which organising the event. . Tlie concert will be held in


Whittmgham Hospital hall- room on December 5th at 7-30 p.m.


COUNTRY DIARY


stones set in a framework of timber adjacent for pedest­


rians. Crossing, of course, was


often fraught with danger, for as we know Ribble when in flood can be very threatening. Again people in those days were not by any means as travel-conscious as today and I suppose the number of travellers in the years before the present bridge was built were no more than a dozen a day on their way to Wad- dington.


Entirely different was the


amount of traffic on other roads which earned the pack- horses conveying lime to all parts of Lancashire and York­ shire. The flow was continu­ ous and it is said that, the wear and tear on Old Chatburn


• Road was very damaging. At that time from 500 to 1,000 loads of lime went through, the town in one day. The Brungeriey road, or then cklled Wad-d-


what was .called _jim


dington Lane, was evidently in bad condition in the year 1752, for the Justices of .the


■ Peace had to make ■ a special visit to - ascertainits state, whereupon'they called upon


the Town Clerk, Mr J. Whit­ taker, to attend Preston Ses-,


. sions so that he could explain ^ how. the road had deteriorated


to such an extent.':; Conditions were imposed


and the contractor .was-to . engage, a number of farmers,. , at a price for a man, a cart,


and horse of 3s 6d per day, and with two horses 5s a day. Thus the upkeep of the entire length of road from Church Brow to Brungeriey was undertaken by John Strick­ land and Thomas Brennand for a period of seven years at a charge of 12s lOd per year. ;


It is also interesting to note


that the responsibility for the upkeep of these roads pro­ vided the council with lengthy legal arguments. Later the ford and hipping:


L a te r the ford and hipping i1 1 i l l i n i i • -H|ITJ-,CT — m r O lH fT F T T H 1'


stones were threatened by the erection of the weir half a mile below Brungeriey Bridge. As a result there was a constant backflow,' with the water, reaching 18 inches in depth and covering': the crossing stones, thus causing depriva­ tion’ of the general public.. However, the solution: came with the erection-of- a stone


bridge in 1816. • Now, after so much water has flowed, beneath the bridge,-it is still possible at low water to discern remnants of the old-fort? and a trace of the path leading to the north side adjacent to Brungeriey


Farm.


; I often wonder what would be revealed if the Coe, built to facilitate the old and vanished L ow Moor M i l l , w e r e demolished and the river allowed to find its natural, level. The site of the hipping stones and ford would then be clear for all to see. . NATURALIST


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COMPREHENS: tion in Clitheroe begin until adequi resources are aval changeover, said H o o d , headir: Clitheroe Royal School, speaking


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are given suitab and adequate res said, “but we mus ourselves into thu be done at noappr “To undertake |


j


tion in a period I stringency, on a and makeshift bas to court disaster. 1 running the risk c instead of increasi catlonai opportum our pupils under i system.” Mr Hood added


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