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PAGES FROM HISTORY


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CLITHEROE Castle, In all Its majestic beauty, was witness to n fund o f 800 : fun during 19S6.


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marked its 800th birthday b y Ben Carlish


"IT was a year," reflected the then Ribble Valley Mayor, John Walmsley, "which enriched our


lives." The year was 1986, its spe­


cial significance was the 800th anniversary of Clitheroe Castle - and the ingredients that made up the


big birthday bash th a t fol­ lowed could not have tasted richer or sweeter. Within the space of just a few months, Ribble Valley folk were treat­ ed to a heritage fair, a medieval pageant, a naval tattoo and, of course, a torch­ light procession - and th a t was just for starters! "There wasn't a weekend


when some group or organisa­ tion wasn't putting on some­ thing," recollected Mr Ian


Lloyd, chairman of the 800 organising committee. The original idea was conceived by Mr Brian Manning, Rib­ ble Valley Borough Council's town clerk, while holidaying in Somerset. Visiting Wells,, he was inspired by a festival marking the 800th anniver­ sary of the city's cathedral. "Why shouldn't Clitheroe Castle's 800th anniversary be


marked in a


s i m i l a r fashion?" p o n d ered


Mr Man­ ning. He was aware of local res­ idents' pas­ sion for putting on grand old shin-digs,


but even he could not h


r e a l i s e d ju s t how much the events that f o l l owe d


a v e 1': f H j>J] *”• f v ‘


were to c a p t u r e ima g i n a ­ tions far and wide. A l o n g


marvel at extravaganzas such as the heritage fair and a spectacular pageant, entitled "Merrie England," performed by the Castle Theatre Group on the bandstand in the park. Oceans of rain could not


the skies - in Anneka Rice's case, quite liter­ ally, when she leapt from her helicopter into the


Many people |aw shone in dif- cadets


dampen the enthusiasm of a 7,000-strong crowd who flooded into the castle-fields for an extravagant August bank holiday naval tattoo, w h i c h


Everyone, and I mean everyone, pulled out the stops. It gen­ uinely brought the community together and, without ques­


ferent ways.


with a m a na ge ­ ment com­ mittee made up of represen­ tatives from a host of differ­ ent local organisations, Mr Manning and Mr Lloyd worked like Trojans to ensure the 800 would be a year no- one would ever forget. Thanks to their efforts, tourists flocked to the area to


tion, it was the outstanding event of ^ the decade s


t e m - porarily d r o p anchor in Clitheroe for a stunning display. And who c o u l d f o r g e t the infa- m o u s April fool s c a m , w h i c h had peo­ ple up in- a r m s o v e r reports; featured in this newspa­ per, that the castle


was to be demolished to get at oil-fields which had been discovered beneath it? With such a lot of fun and


e60°


grounds for a shoot for Chan­ nel Four's " T r e a s u r e Hunt." "North West Tonight"


castle THAT d e l ic iou s


summer t r e a t . . strawberries and cream, attracted hungry v isitors . Clltheroc Ladies’ Circle was kept


presenters John Mundy and Julie Carter b r o u g h t Clitheroe to the region's TV sets, broadcasting a whole half-hour show dedicated to the town. And "Granada Reports" too, filmed a report about the 800 celebrations. It was a special year which


busy serving: the- culinary delight..


mm


HER regal majesty . . . pictured In her:


abeth ! in the.Cas­ tle Theatre Croup's, p r o d u c t io n .o f T '’Merrie England".


e l ig h t e d th e crowds lost June.


d he g r o u p


ornate costume Is Audrey Pcnrcc, o f . Dnmoldsvrlck, who. played Queen Eliz­


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gained special recognition from the English Tourist Board in the form of a £1,000 award, which was used to purchase the seats in the cas­ tle entrance enjoyed by so many visitors today. Butj away frpni the lime­


light, the real :stars of that golden time were the people of Clitheroe and the Ribble Valley, as Mr Lloyd glowing­ ly explained. He reflected: "So many people shone in dif—


games, it was no surprise that the national and regional media would want to get in on the action and before long st ars were dropping in from


: ferent ways. Everyone, and I mean everyone, pulled out the stops. I t genuinely brought the community together and, without ques­ tion, it was the outstanding event of the decade."


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-Manchester.


A STALL with a difference . . . The Victoria Hotel's Famous Olde Fruit Machine caused much hilarity. And it was all in a good cause, proceeds being for tbe Pend- lebury Children's Hospi t a l


/ t h e rain which . threatened to arrive nearly all day even-


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AND below, at the Heritage popular event.


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13


' iually did < . . but it did not spoil the fun. In fad, as our picture shows, the umbrellas which came out just added to the colourful l streetscene.


The Castle looks down as Clitheroe’s rich history over the-cehtiiiiies


CLITHEROE owes much to its castle for its history,


writes Ben Carlish. Before the Normans built it as a


strategic stronghold, Clitheroe was a tiny insignificant manor. How that was to change! No one knows exactly when the


Castle was built, but it was in exis­ tence by 1186. "Clitheroe" derives from the ancient British "Cled- dwr," meaning rocky hill by the water, to which the Saxons later added "how" or hill. The community, which grew up


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around the castle, comprised of 60 landholders who were tempted to move into the area by the carrot of tax-free plots of land, called burgesses. Privileges, granted by two early charters in 1147 and 1283, gave the town basic corpo­ rate powers making it the oldest borough in the county. A third charter in 1307 encapsulated the burgesses of Salthill and Coplow. Despite local myths surrounding


the hole in the castle-keep wall, the stronghold played little part in the


y‘ g Miss Clilheroc 800, Mr Michael Jackson, Mrs Anne Lloyd, Jill Tomlinson, Coun. Myra and Mr Charles City,.


Law firm with a glorious past is working hard to ensure a promising future


A LAW firm which was established in the late 19th Century is looking for­ ward to the future and reflecting on a


glorious past. Since its inauguration, Steele and Son's


.. ^ i '


practice has gradually expanded, having been in Clitheroe since before the last war. The firm has other offices in Colne and Bamoldswick. Although the firm has served the legal needs of clients from the Ribble Valley since it began, it has now extended its service to residents living in Pendle and sur­ rounding areas, as well as those from further


afield. And, while the firm has continuously .


evolved to meet modern demands, strong family traditions have been maintained. Six partners with a wealth of experience


now run the business. The youngest has been with Steele and Son for more than 20 years and the senior partner in Clitheroe is the longest established member of the legal pro­ fession in the town, a status which also reflects the fact th a t he was one of the youngest people ever to qualify as a solicitor. A firm which has been in Clitheroe since


before the Second World War, Steele and Son has practised from its office adjacent to the Castle entrance for 40 years. From its town centre base the firm carries out a wide range of legal work for the community, in the inter­ ests of both individuals and businesses. The firm realises that anyone who needs


legal help has some kind of problem, and as a result, concerns are approached and solu­ tions identified in a friendly, yet construc-


Advertising Feature


tive, manner. A practice which is keen to establish the clients' desired outcome, it strives to achieve that aim, provided it can be accomplished legally. A firm with many years of combined


experience, Steele and Son is looking forward to the future and to discovering how it can continue providing the best legal service pos­ sible over the coming century. To achieve that aim, all legal staff undergo on-going training in their various skills, and the firm is striving to accomplish franchises for work in family and criminal cases. Although modern society has seen the


introduction of legal services in a variety of forms, whether by remote correspondence


links or support and assistance from organi­ sations without trained lawyers, Steele and Son is committed to the continued provision of a traditional legal service using qualified solicitors well into the next millennium. The loyal and experienced staff try to assist peo­ ple to overcome any fears or doubts about becoming involved in legal matters. Whether your legal problems concern


buying or selling land, making a will, dealing with the affairs of someone, who has died, family problems, claiming compensation after an accident, dealing with other civil dis­ putes or problems with the police, Steele and Son will help you approach the problem and achieve the best possible result.


A full range of Legal Services including:


® Sale & Purchase for Home Buyers


• Probate & Wills


® Matrimonial & Family


® Personal Injury ® Criminal Work ® Civil Court Cases © Business Matters ® Commercial Property ® Motoring Matters Legal Aid


may be available r". »-j* A 3 *** t


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Civil War, although in the early part of the conflict it was held for parliament. At the end of the war, 4,000 of Colonel Assheton's royal­ ist forces refused to disband and, after marching over the Howland


Hills from Lancaster, they holed up at the castle. They were no match for Cromwell's men and it was to be the last time the castle was to stand siege. Parliament decreed the castle be rendered indefensible - a more likely expla­ nation for the hole in the keep. Clitheroe Royal Grammar


School was founded in 1554 by a royal charter and for 280 years it occupied a site in St Mary's Church yard. In 1829, the school was removed to its York Street site, stone by stone, and rebuilt. By the 17th Century, there were


between 500 and 600 people living in the old town of Clitheroe. As well as agriculture, other impor­ tant trades began to develop in the area. With its prolific limestone deposits, quarrying naturally dom­ inated as the area's mainstay industry after farming. In the early days, lime was


a massive impact on the area with many losing their lives fighting for King and country. The castle and grounds were bought from the public purse and the war memorial was built which still stands proud


today. Throughout the '20s and '30s


several hundred council houses were built and Pendle Junior School and Ribblesdale School were opened in 1932. Some years after the Second


World War, which also claimed many local lives, the textile indus­ try collapsed. In 1950 there were still about 1,700 people working in textiles in the area, but the death knell for the industry had been


sounded. In 1974 Ribble Valley Borough


council was established following the shake-up of local government. Clitheroe Castle has watched


transported by "lime gals," small horses, bred in Galloway, which carried lime in panniers to indus­ trial and coastal areas. The opening of the railway her­


alded the arrival of the industrial revolution in the Ribble Valley and, by the beginning of the 19th Century, there were 17 companies linked with the textile industry in the area. The First World War had


STEELE & SO SO ITOS LIC R © © ®


Castlegate Clitheroe


® © ® © © Telephone


01200 444321 01200 427431


© ® ® @ © @ ® © © @ ® Established over 100 years ® ® © ® © © © © © © ®


Personal Service for Local People


© © © N


over a multitude of tumultuous episodes in its 800-year history. While the chapters in the next Mil­ lennium's history books remain unwritten, undoubtedly many more momentous events are to


unfold beneath that imposing Nor­ man keep. With such a rich histo­ ry to date, who, indeed, can predict what lies ahead for our children


and theirs?


Open 9am-5.3Opm Monday to Friday


!► Home visits and out


of hours appointments by arrangement


!► Emergency Service where possible


1^ Ground floor access


!► Service by a qualified Solicitor


1^ Free first half hour appointment


WE ARE HERE TO HELP


« * r A\ t 1 . * *: A '**f, L- fl '.


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