Heritage Centre for Local Historians

Heritage Centre for Local Historians

Littleborough Historical and Archaeological society unveiled their plans for a £290,000 Heritage Centre to provide public access to their extensive archives, a research resource space for those interested in the history and archaeology of the area, and an Exhibition area.

The proposed centre will be on land owned by the society at Bradley Terrace in Victoria Street, Littleborough. It is estimated the build will const £250,000 with professional fees and costs likely to be in the region of another £40,000. Graham Pearson said “The new centre will replace existing arrangements where our extensive archive is housed in the old high school in Littleborough”.

Earlier plans considered various locations including the Arches of the Victorian Viaduct in Littleborough were considered too ambitious prompting these latest revised proposals. Graham Pearson said “The society still has to apply for lottery funding, but we feel this project is now much more achievable”.

The society was formed in 1972 as an amalgamation of the separate History and archaeological societies. Its current 90 members are active in recording and archiving artefacts, and documents of historical significance. It is currently conducting a night school course on the history of Littleborough, and has an active calendar of lectures and seminars. They also encourage research and allow access to their priceless and significant archive and materials. Members of the society have also been active in publishing its research that includes a history of Littleborough, and the First World War and the men of Littleborough. For the last few years the society has been conducting an archaeological excavation of a Bronze Age site in the Piethorn Valley and aims to resume this in early summer.

The society is hoping to attract local schools to the centres because history is on national curriculum and their archive and proposed facilities will provide and significant learning resource for them. It is anticipated that the centre will also be become a tourist attraction thereby bringing more people into Littleborough.

The society is actively seeking contributions. To date they have received £15,000 in donations and pledges together with society resources they have matched funding to the tune of £30,000 some 10% of the estimated cost of the project. Pearson said: “We will be submitting a Lottery bid at the end of March to help pay for surveys and planning applications. If successful we hope to make a full bid in autumn to help with the cost of the build. If all goes to plan we aim to begin the project in spring 2005”.

If you would like to make a donation or would like to join the society please call Graham Pearson on Rochdale 377685, or secretary@lhas.org.uk.