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.

The 2011 Whitworth Rushcart Festival, which this year took place on Sunday 11th of September, again started from outside the museum on North Street, where once again the Rushcart was constructed on the Saturday and prior to the start of the parade, which was again very well attended and featured a number of visiting groups along with the Whitworth Morris Men and the Britannia Coconutters. The museum was opened to the public during this period, and the society also provided a photographic display of the 'Rushcarts of Yesteryear' at the nearby Whitworth Band Club.

This year's Open Weekend, held over the weekend of 20th/21st of August 2011 proved to be very popular this year, with a great many visitors coming along to the museum. The theme this year was "Old Whitworth", and there was again a slide display on this theme. Many people came along to look up their ancestors in our "Family History Archives", or to find themsleves in our collection of old school photographs. Admission was free, and a number of visitors took home prizes from our Grand Raffle. Our thanks to all who came along, plus the society's staff and volunteers for helping out with the event.

Saturday 6th of August saw members of the society make a coach trip over to the World Heritage site of 'Saltaire' in West Yorkshire, and this was rounded off by a trip to the world famous 'Harry Ramsden's fish and chip shop in Guiseley near Leeds. Our thanks to the society's organisers for putting the event together.

On Wednesday May 4th 2011, the society was pleased to receive a visit from the Mayor and Mayoress of Rossendale, Mr & Mrs Trevor Unsworth, who attended our monthly lecture on 'Legends of the Brass Band World', by writer and broadcaster Mr. Chris Helme from Brighouse, who presents a weekly radio programme about Brass Bands on Phoenix FM every Sunday. Mr Helme also made special mention of the late Brian Cronshaw of Whitworth, who had played alongside Brass Band legend Derek Garside throughout the late 1960s. Brian's cornet and collection of memorabilia are now on display at the museum.

Sadly no, but wouldn't it be great if it was. You can however have your very own replica Whitworth Station 'totem' fridge magnet, as we now have some of these for sale in the museum shop, along with others for Broadley, Facit, Shawforth, Britannia and Bacup Stations, and even further south to Shawclough & Broadley, Wardleworth and Rochdale Station. In fact you can now own your very own collection of all stations on the Bacup Branch Line if you should wish. Selling like the proverbial 'hot cakes', come along and get yours before they're all gone.

Recent visitors to the museum will have noticed a big change - many of the old display cabinets have now been replaced with smart newer ones, which were kindly donated to us by the Rochdale Pioneers Museum, who have been undergoing a bit of a makeover themselves. After a lot of hard work by society members, the new display cabinets are now installed and sporting revamped displays, and in our opinion, looking very impressive indeed. If you don't believe us why not come along and see them for yourselves:

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.

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!).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: