Dry Stone Wall project, Lumb, Rossendale
13.01.18
This project is now complete – thank you to everyone for the support, and to the teams at Peers Clough and Water Primary School for all their help, and for this lovely feedback 🙂
“Everyone at Peers Clough would like to say a very big thank you to all involved with the Build the Past dry stone wall project held here this spring. It was undoubtedly the highlight of our year. We met so many enthusiastic volunteers and we loved welcoming the children from Water school to learn about their area and heritage. Alan Rhodes, the master waller did a superb job, building, teaching and revealing to us the wildlife and geology on our doorstep. Making a connection with the Larks of Dean quire was very special, and of course none of it would have been possible without the team from Proffitts and Heritage Lottery. Thank you so much”
Chris Thomas, Peers Clough
“Thank you so much for today. We were all so impressed with the amount of effort and organisation which you all had put in. The children loved the experience and gained new skills. We live in such a beautiful part of the country and we often take it for granted. Today reaffirmed this view. Rachael – thank you so much for all your efforts in making today happen”.
Mr Willan, Headteacher, Water Primary School, Rossendale.
13.11.2017
What a great morning! We had the pleasure of attending the Archives Office in Preston. This was the final activity we had planned for those that have been interested in the Dry Stone Wall project which we have been working on and with a range of partners over the last 12 months. Keri, who was our guide for the morning, was fantastic! She gave us an overview of the Archives Office and what was stored in there – it’s not just records of births deaths and marriages!…loads of old maps, court records, coroners reports, hospital records and rate books are all part of the mix – which all helps when building up a picture of life in the past and ancestors. We were lucky enough to see the school register for Goodshaw and log book written by the head teachers from the 1850’s – fascinating stuff detailing what children were learning at the time…a lot of maths! We also saw song books that were used by the Larks of Dean as well as maps of Water / Goodshaw / Crawshawbooth dating back to 1850’s and 1890’s. Attached are some pictures of this – but Keri then showed us some of the oldest pieces in the collection – a letter from Queen Elizabeth 1 to the Chinese Emperor talking about trade routes and a medieval prayer book from the 1400’s, which was in relatively good condition. A really enjoyable experience – hope you guys did too!
13.11.2017
Some lovely feedback from some of our volunteers on the project – thank you !
“I was lucky enough to get an opportunity to fulfil a lifetime ambition to learn and hopefully acquire some skills in the art of Dry Stone Walling. I was only able to attend on two days but the whole experience, with such an excellent Tutor and craftsman, lived up to all my expectations. I came away with the confidence to attempt my own projects, having benefitted from working alongside a real expert and great teacher, who was able to pass on his skills and instructions with such clarity and understanding. A fantastic course. Thank you”.
Gareth Potter
“An excellent, well managed project which has helped to restore part of our heritage. the facilities were ideal and the catering was very good! I enjoyed the session so much I attended on four separate days. Alan was a great tutor and I certainly learned a lot about dry stone walling. I have spoken to many runners and walkers who have been up to Liver Hill since the walling was completed and they have been very complimentary about the newly restored wall. The stile is now more substantial than it was and the wall blends into the landscape as if it has been there for years.”
Andy Ellis
25.8.2017
Hi there. We’ve put together a small leaflet to try and summarise everything about this fabulous project – please feel free to share this with anyone you think might be interested. Thank you 🙂
1.8.2017
Fame at last! Just posting this in case you didn’t see it in the Rossendale Free Press last week!
Rossendale Free Press 21.07.17
21.7.2017
We have put together some interpretation panels detailing everything about the project. Hope you like them – please feel free to share 🙂
4.7.2017
“A big thank you to everyone who has been involved with Build the Past and who helped make it such a wonderful project to work on.
The project was officially launched on 25th June at Peers Clough Farm with a performance by the Larks of Dean Quire. Please follow this link to experience the Quire singing in the Barn on the day.
And the links below will take you to the project partners to find out more”
http://www.peerscloughfarm.co.uk/
https://sites.google.com/site/larksofdean/Home
https://www.facebook.com/alanrhodes.drystonewalling
25.6.2017
22.5.2017
Some lovely words from Mr Willan, headteacher of Water Primary School, after today’s visit:
“Thank you so much for today. We were all so impressed with the amount of effort and organisation which you had all put in. The children loved the experience and gained new skills. We live in such a beautiful part of the country and we often take it for granted. Today reaffirmed this view. Rachael thank you so much for all your efforts in making today happen. Have a lovely week”
22.5.2017
12.5.2017
End of the last day walling @peerscloughfarm #Rossendale – 42 metres of wall completed and 553 volunteer hours!! Thanks to @HLFNorthWest and @bexxym40
12.5.2017
Hardy souls braving the rain on our last day of walling!! @peerscloughfarm @HLFNorthWest
11.5.2017
Another fabulous day yesterday! The weather was beautiful and sunny – lucky us! Thanks to all our volunteers, including Rebecca @HLFNorthWest
11.5.2017
We are pushing on!!! It’s looking great so far, wouldn’t you agree? We are so pleased with the team effort – thanks to all involved!! Last push now!
4.5.2017
The last couple of days have been great – a big thanks to all our helpers!!! Stuart @CivicPrideRoss and the ten volunteers/trainees we have today – all locals who live and work in #Rossendale :))) We’re getting on for 20 metres now!!
2.5.2017
We thought we had an extra helper at one point too……no such luck – he just fancied a wriggle and wanted to say hello! #Mole
2.5.2017
Just a few photos from the weekend – we’re making fantastic progress – we still have a few spaces left tomorrow if you fancy helping out?!
28.4.2017
The fun never stops – feeling great but the wall is looking better 🙂 #Lockingthetop #Community #Rossendale #Tesco
27.4.2017
Thanks to all the chaps @NetworkRailPR for volunteering on this dry stone wall project – what a great day for it. Smiles all round!!
27.4.2017
Fantastic group walling activity going on! Thank you to @Tesco_North @colettebutleruk @HLFNorthWest and @Peerscloughfarm – what great community spirit!
27.4.2017
Despite the weather the other day, the job still needs doing! Click on the link below to view a short video
Persevering despite the hailstorm!!
25.4.2017
“Every stone should do its duty by its neighbour” – learning about #drystonewalling with Alan Rhodes @HLFNorthWest @peerscloughfarm #Rossendale
30.1.2017
We are looking for volunteers! Would you be interested in carrying out research and helping with practical dry stone walling repairs? If so, click on the link below to find out more. Please pass on to anyone else you think may be interested too! Thank you 🙂
Heritage Wall Project Newsletter Winter_Spring 2017
3.11.2016
‘Build The Past’ – Heritage Dry Stone Wall Project, Lumb (Autumn 2016 Newsletter)
Project Background
Proffitts Investing in Communities have been awarded an ’Our Heritage’ grant from Heritage Lottery Fund to develop a skills based project focussing on Rossendale’s dry stone wall heritage.
Project Activities
This project will include:
• several weeks of training in dry stone walling by Master of Dry Stone Walling, Alan Rhodes. This work will repair a dry stone wall and stile along public footpath number 41 in Lumb
• Research workshops with the Friends of Valley of Stone volunteers, to be held at Lancashire Records Office and at Rawtenstall Library.
• Production of leaflets with information relating to the heritage of dry stone walling and local social history
• A project launch in June 2017 which will incorporate a guided walk, exhibition of the project and also a choral rendition from the Larks of Dean Quire
Proffitts are hoping that local people, groups and schools will get involved in some or all of the activities.
Project Partners
There are several partner organisations involved in the delivery of ‘Build the Past’. Details of these organisations are listed below alphabetically
Heritage Lottery Fund
Larks of Dean Quire
Peers Clough Farm
Rural Rossendale
Valley of Stone
Contact Information
For more information and to get involved, please contact Rachael Gildert at Proffitts at [email protected] or call 07875 106084
You can follow the progress of the project by clicking here which will take you to the Proffitts website. The newsletter is also available to view as a pdf in the link below.
Heritage Wall – project newsletter-autumn-2016-2
27.6.2016
Some fantastic news!! Proffitts were delighted to secure £28,900 funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for this project.
Along with ourselves, volunteers from the community, local landowners and a local Master Stone Mason, the project will revolve around learning the art of ‘Dry Stone Walling’ and developing historical research skills into this project.
The proposed location for the Dry Stone Walling project is in the vicinity of Peers Clough, Lumb, Rossendale – on the moorland adjacent to Swinshaw and Liver Hill. The section of wall is located on a historic route once used by The Larks of Dean when travelling over the moors from Lumb to Goodshaw Old Chapel.
Commenting on the award, Martin Proffitt of Proffitts – Investing in Communities said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund – it will allow us to deliver a three week session in dry stone wall building, including researching the unique history of the area which links it to The Larks of Dean”.
Click on the link to view Wall pictures and location maps
The project will be delivered with the help of other partners including Friends of Valley of Stone, Goodshaw Baptist Church, Lumb Baptist Church, Lancashire County Council and of course involving the Larks of Dean. The project is open to anyone who would like to get involved in the project – essentially learning the rare skill of building dry stone walls and elements of learning research methods at the local library and Lancashire records office. If you would like any further information on the scheme please contact Martin or Linda on (01204) 778 907 or [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.
4.11.2015
Proffitts are working with volunteers from the community, local landowners and a local Master Stone Mason to develop a heritage skills project – primarily, ‘Dry Stone Walling’ and historical research skills. The proposed location for the Dry Stone Walling project is in the vicinity of Peers Clough, Lumb, Rossendale – on the moorland adjacent to Swinshaw and Liver Hill. The section of wall is located on a historic route once used by The Larks of Dean when travelling over the moors from Lumb to Goodshaw Old Chapel.
Throughout the development of the project, we will be engaging with local schools, volunteers from the community, English Heritage and various local community groups for input and support for this exciting project.
Please follow this link to complete a short questionnaire about Heritage Dry Stone Walling, Historic routes in Rossendale and to give your comments about the project and if you would like to be involved, we’d love to hear your views
(Picture below: Dry stone wall to be rebuilt)
(Picture below: Volunteers rebuilding a dry stone wall on a previous project)
(Picture below: Site location map)
