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WHITWORTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM NEWS:

On this page you will find news about what the society have been up to, and what has been happening at the Museum (or is going to happen in the near future), so do be sure to check back here frequently for updates.

MUSEUM FEATURED IN THIS MONTH'S 'ROCHDALE & HEYWOOD INDEPENDENT'

The society was pleased to have a full page feature in the latest issue of the 'Rochdale & Heywood Independent (Issue 7), and a number of pictures of the museum and its staff, as well as a write up about us was included. Copies of this 'free' paper can be obtained from most local supermarkets and libraries, and may be stocked by other suppliers as well, a list of which can be found at their website. More details about the paper can be found from the link below:

http://rochdaleindependent.co.uk/

'OPEN WEEKEND' 21ST/22ND OF AUGUST

The society held an 'Open Weekend' over the weekend of Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of August, and this year it included a photographic display of "Old Whitworth", and an 'Exhibition of Landscapes' by local photographer Mr. Norman Padley. The event attracted many visitors, and our thanks to everyone for coming. Please note that we will keep the exhibition open until after the Rushcart Celebrations on Sunday 5th of September.

HALLFOLD '1940s EVENING' SEPTEMBER 4th 2010

Hallfold United Reform Church will be holding a '1940s Evening' on Saturday 4th of September 2010, and more details can be found from the link below. Watch out for a well known member of the society playing 'Mum' in this one, anyone attending should endeavour to get us a photograph of her in full costume if possible!

Click here for more information.

SOCIETY COACH TRIP TO LLANDUDNO

Society members had a very enjoyable day out at Llandudno on Saturday 7th of August, and despite a typical Whitworth damp start, had mostly fine and sunny weather for the rest of the day. Some members visited the Bronze Age Copper Mine upon the Great Orme, with its 4,000 year old tunnels, whilst other enjoyed a trip on the Great Orme Tramway, or a walk around the town. Our thanks to Rothwells Coaches, and the society's organisers for putting the event together.

WHITWORTH FOOTPATH GROUP

The boundary stone known as "Adam Green" (Grid Reference 893176), which was taken out of the ground by United Utilities some time ago when they were connecting a water pipe from Spring Mill Reservoir to Watergrove, has been replaced in the ground by members of the Footpath Group. The stone is inscribed on one side with 'S' (for Spotland) 1844, and on the other side with 'H' (for Hundersfield) WW. (If anyone knows what the 'WW' stands for please do let us know, though an article on british-history website gives a suggestion that this could well stand for WUERDLE and WARDLE!).

TONACLIFFE SCHOOL VISIT TO THE MUSEUM

On Wednesday 21st April 2010 Year 6 of Tonacliffe School Whitworth visited the museum with their teacher Zoe Elsworth. The class have been studying World War II especially the affects of war on evacuated children and child hood experiences during the war period.

The children were able to view items in the museum connected to the war, and were extremely interested in the gas masks, babies gas masks, ration books and also the class was given a copy of a voucher for petrol allowance for their school's lawn mower dating back to the 1940's. The children were also able to view the evacuation details the museum holds of the children that were evacuated to Whitworth mainly from the Blackley, Manchester area and where the children were billeted and with what Whitworth families.

Some of the members were able to inform the children of their experiences of being a child in the war and a poem written by a woman that was evacuated as a child was read out to the children. The children had a good time being able to handle some of the items, like the old dial up telephones, manual typewriters and the clock in machines, and they especially liked trying on the top hats and mink fur stoles.

Thank you letters were sent to the museum written by the children thanking the museum members and relating what they had learned from their visit.

AFTERNOON TRIP TO STOCKPORT

We are also hoping to arrange an afternoon visit to the Stockport Hat Museum, and this will likely take place on a Friday afternoon sometime in July 2011, final details will be posted in May 2011.

THE SOCIETY TO BE FEATURED IN THE ROCHDALE INDEPENDENT

We are pleased to report that the society and museum will be featured in a forthcoming issue of the new 'Rochdale & Heywood Independent newspaper, and this will likely be in the June edition. Please note that you can't buy this in your local newsagents shop, but they are available for free from many supermarkets in the area (including the local Co-op), and also from the Whitworth Library, the Fudge Village and Lobden Golf Club. The paper is published monthly.

MAYOR OF WHITWORTH VISITS THE MUSEUM

On Wednesday March 3rd 2010, the Mayor of Whitworth, Councillor Marie Gibbons, paid a visit to the museum and watched our monthly lecture "Beatrix Potter, An Industrial Inheritance" by Margaret Curry. This gave a look at the life of the famous writer before in the days before Peter Rabbit and Hill Top, and covered her family history. Although Beatrix was born in London her mother came from Stalybridge and the family prospered in the cotton business and owned several mills in the area. Next month's talk is on Lord Leverhulme, and will be held on Wednesday 7th of April.

FOUNDATION STONES BACK UP AT THE MUSEUM

On a rainy day in May, members of the society, ably assisted by Committee member Cheryl and her husband Malcolm, managed to re-assemble our collection of foundation stones in the yard at the side of the museum. These had been removed due to construction of the new houses at the rear of the museum, so it was nice to have them back in place once again. Our thanks to Malcolm and Cheryl for all their help (and tractor), we couldn't have done this without them. Click on the thumbnails below to see the full sized pictures: