LANCASHIRE FAMILY HISTORY AND HERALDRY SOCIETY

Rossendale Branch Newsletter September 2007

Coming Events

Monday 17th September 5.30 -7.30

This will be your last chance to attend one of our Family History Workshops at Rawtenstall Library. If you would like help in using the internet to trace your family tree ring Rita Hirst at 01706 227561 or email: ritahirst@tiscali.co.uk

Saturday 29th September

North Meols (Southport) FHS – 15th Anniversary Open Day 11:00 am to 16:00 at the Parochial Hall, Churchtown (next to St Cuthbert’s Church). Well worth a visit - admission is free .For further information contact Gladys Armstrong (01704) 214120 or publicity@nmfhssouthport.co.uk

Friday 5th October

Society Dinner 7.00pm

Harwoods, 255 Blackburn Road, Great Harwood

Guest Speaker – Joanne Braithwaite (Scullery Maid) £18.00 per head. Full details, menu and booking form on the LFHHS website and in your August "Lancashire", or contact Enid Duckworth. Tel. 01254 602257..

Closing Date 14th September.

Saturday 13th October

Irish Group Conference – Full Day

County Hall, Fishergate Preston 10.30 – 4.30

Speakers: John Mackie. Ulster King of Arms & Irish Heraldry.
Michael Parker. Mothers and Fathers in Irish Literature.
John Dunleavy. Irish Community as reflected in three addresses in Haslingden.

Conference Fee £7 including tea/coffee. Bring your own packed lunch.

Parking at the County Hall (Arthur Street) £2.

Enquiries. Margaret Pursell, 128 Red Bank Rd., Bispham, Blackpool, Lancaster FY2 9DZ

email: mpurcell@redbankmp.fsnet.co.uk

Open Days at Newchurch

If you are interested in visiting St. Nicholas Church. Two Open Days have been arranged by the Vicar, the Rev.Sue Davies on:

Saturday 8th September , 10.30- 4.30 and Sunday 9th September, 12.00 – 5.00

Members of the Rossendale Branch will be present on the Sunday.

The Future of the Society Website

The Society wants to consider moving to a database driven website, probably using a content management system and bespoke script programming to deliver services online to our members. To begin the process, we need some advisors with experience in this specialist area, to help our present webmaster identify the best way to approach the subject.

If you are interested in Family History, (and understand the opening paragraph) ), you might well be able to help the Society toward providing a better service to members, and we'd love to hear from you.

Please email webmaster@lfhhs.org.uk - ideally with the subject as "LFHHS website".

Thank you. Fred Moor, Webmaster.

Chairman’s Summary - Autumn 2007

At the last Executive Meeting on the 11th June 2007, the following items were agreed and/or reported upon:-

The Straits - The Resources Group are continuing to fit out The Straits for use by members and hopefully soon the public. If you are visiting the area and wish to see the work done, please contact Tony Foster by email on: president@lfhhs.org.uk to arrange a visit. Branches can have group visits, again please contact Tony to arrange these.

Resignation of Joyce Monks We need a new Society Secretary. This is because Joyce Monks has had to resign due to ill health. If you live in Lancashire, or the adjoining Counties, think about it and if you are interested then please contact me by email on: chairman@lfhhs.org.uk

Online Membership Renewals - The final go ahead for online membership renewals was given; we hope to have this in place in time for renewals in 2008.

Exhibitions and Fairs - As Exhibitions coordinator, I am looking for an assistant to take the Society’s stand to fairs that I cannot attend. If you are interested then contact me at the above email address. In 2008 we hope to attend Fairs at

Pudsey in March - Stockport in April - York in June - North West in September - Aintree in October

I hope to give the dates for them all in the next summary.

Management Team -The management team will have met at least twice by the time you read this and I hope to have more to tell you next time.

Website Review -It was decided by the Executive that a review of the Website be undertaken. This is not because there is anything wrong with our website, but in order for us to be more responsive to both our members and to those for whom the website is their first means of contact with our Society.

Financial Assistance to Branches - A proposal for possible financial assistance to Branches was agreed and your Branch Representatives have been requested to bring it to each of the Branches for comment and response for the next executive Meeting in November.

Branch Visits

After a quiet time over summer, I have started to visit branches again in September. I will try and get your Branch Chairman to let you know when I am visiting your Branch, so come and speak to me, I’m not that scary. I want your input and ideas, as I know that many of the best ideas come from people other than Executive Members. We sometimes cannot see the wood for the trees.

Thanking you all for your continued interest in both Family history and the Society.

Your Chairman Stephen John Ward.

A fuller version of the Chairman’s letter will appear in your November "Lancashire" magazine.

Rossendale Miscellany:

News notes and queries

Longholme Choir Outings

One of our members recently passed on to me a very interesting collection of invoices and booklets relating to excursions, which took place during WW1 through to 1949. Analysing the data it became apparent that it had been collected (in the main) by H. Spencer of Bank Street, Rawtenstall. He organised the annual outings for Longholme Methodist Church Choir.

The booklets give information on motor tours and excursions organised by P. Eastwood Ltd, Burnley; Robert Winterbottom & Son, Haslingden; Cordingley & Sons, Haslingden; and D. Prattley & Sons, Burnley. They give details of the excursions and list the current prices. There are photographs of the available transport e.g. the 1915 model, latest design torpedo body, with 35 seats.

The invoices show that in 1919 they were quoted for 22/- to Lake Windermere and 14/6 to go to Harrogate. They went to Harrogate, via Skipton and Bolton Abbey, dinner was served at the Royal Hall in Harrogate, then they left for Ilkley where tea was served. The inclusive cost was £1.0.6

These documents have been deposited at Rawtenstall library.

Newchurch in Rossendale Registers

A further update (on his transcription work for the LPRS) from Craig Thornber:

"I am now in a position to work out how many records there will be. I worked out what would be involved if I made two volumes, 1723-1772 and 1773-1812. They come out almost the same at about 400 pages which is within the limit set by the LPRS. It now looks like this:

1723-1772 - Bapt, 5816;  Marriages,1579; Burials 3930. Estimated to come to 405 pages with index

1773-1812 - Bapt, 3139; Marriages, 2116; Burials 3654. Estimated to come to 403 pages with index

These figures show just how baptisms fell below burials for a period in the late 18th century - a point we discussed before. Whatever caused the fall in baptisms or the popularity of the church as a place for baptisms, does not seem to have affected marriages. There were on average about 53 a year between 1773-1812 compared to the 31 a year in the period 1723-1772."

Can you help?

Chris Pickup tells me:

"I am struggling to find the burials of some of my ancestors.

Eli and Mary Nuttall - family only known from censuses - no baptisms of children are found so family possibly irreligious or (unknown) Non Conformist.

Eli - death registered Oct/Dec 1871 living Piercy Mount; Mary died Hollin Bank, Newchurch Jan 1881.  Neither buried (Cof E) at Newchurch, Lumb, Goodshaw, Haslingden or in either section of Bacup Cemetery.

Where else might I look?

Lumb Baptists has crossed my mind but I have not found any baptism or burial records for this chapel. Do you know whether any registers have survived?"

Email c.pickup@ntlworld.com