History on Your Own Doorstep

HISTORICAL PADIHAM

Padiham is a small town and civil parish on the River Calder,
about 3 miles (5 km) west of Burnley and south of Pendle Hill, in Lancashire, England.
It is part of the Borough of Burnley but also has its own town council with varied powers.

For those of us who live, work or are educated in Padiham, daily life revolves around passing through
 this historical 'small town'. 
Imposing Pendle Hill provides a backdrop and locals predict the weather conditions
by the sighting of low forming clouds. 
The River Calder weaves its way through the very heart of the town naturally forming the landscape until it meanders an alternative man-made route alongside Gawthorpe Hall.
Gawthorpe Hall is the 'jewel' in Padiham's 'crown' - a stately home built in 1600 and later re-modelled by Sir Charles Barrie.


Class 4 had first hand experience of their own locality throughout the week beginning 19th March 2012. 

We became historians, geologists, mini-curators, explorers, archivists, artists, Honorary Mayors/Mayoresses and ambassadors for the promotion of
Padiham Small Town. 

On Monday 19th March we were invited to Padiham Town Hall by
The Mayor and Mayoress of Padiham, Councillor Bob and Ann Clark.

We were allowed to be seated in the Council Chamber around the impressive
horseshoe-shaped oak table.

Bob and Ann showed us photographs of Padiham taken in the Victorian era.
The children were quick to comment on the evidence and changes made, as our autumn 2011 topic on Victorians
had previously enabled us to explore our streets for historical evidence.

Ann and Bob expressed delight at the children's knowledge and interest.

Ann and Bob have set up and maintain Padiham Archives which is housed in
The Town Hall.
The children were treated to view the many varied and exciting pieces of historical artefacts on display.
The Padiham Clock, which operates by pumped water, was of particular interest as it was, at one time, stored in our school!  It was removed in order to be restored one week before the school was damaged by fire in 1991!  A timely escape indeed!

Historical artefacts

Padiham's Water Clock

Sue Flowers demonstrated drawing techniques using charcoal.
The children were able to create visual images of artefacts specifically related to Padiham:
clogs, weaving shuttles, Davy Lamp, Hill's earthenware soft drinks container and a child's wooden rocking chair which was approximately eighty years old.

Jay's charcoal drawing of a weaving shuttle

Reanne with very dirty fingers!

Jack's Davy lamp

Micheal's bobbin

Jack making progress

Jay concentrating hard!

Josh & clogs

Ellie- art critic

Busy bees

Instant Gallery! 

We concluded our visit with a group photograph sitting proudly on the staircase between
our town's Mayor and Mayoress.

Molly L gave a vote of thanks to Ann and Bob on our behalf.

Padiham Archives











OUR VISIT TO GAWTHORPE HALL

Kynd Kynn Knawne Kepe

Mermaid detail

Jay's mermaid

The Mermaid

by Alfred Lord Tennyson

First printed in 1830.

1

  Who would be
  A mermaid fair,
  Singing alone,
  Combing her hair
  Under the sea,
  In a golden curl
  With a comb of pearl,
  On a throne?


2

  I would be a mermaid fair;
  I would sing to myself the whole of the day;
  With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair;
  And still as I comb'd I would sing and say,
  "Who is it loves me? who loves not me?"
  I would comb my hair till my ringlets would fall,
  Low adown, low adown,
  From under my starry sea-bud crown
  Low adown and around,
  And I should look like a fountain of gold
  Springing alone
  With a shrill inner sound,
  Over the throne
  In the midst of the hall;
  Till that great sea-snake under the sea
  From his coiled sleeps in the central deeps
  Would slowly trail himself sevenfold
  Round the hall where I sate, and look in at the gate
  With his large calm eyes for the love of me.
  And all the mermen under the sea
  Would feel their immortality
  Die in their hearts for the love of me.


3

  But at night I would wander away, away,
  I would fling on each side my low-flowing locks,
  And lightly vault from the throne and play
  With the mermen in and out of the rocks;
  We would run to and fro, and hide and seek,
  On the broad sea-wolds in the crimson shells,
  Whose silvery spikes are nighest the sea.
  But if any came near I would call, and shriek,
  And adown the steep like a wave I would leap
  From the diamond-ledges that jut from the dells;
  For I would not be kiss'd by all who would list,
  Of the bold merry mermen under the sea;
  They would sue me, and woo me, and flatter me,
  In the purple twilights under the sea;
  But the king of them all would carry me,
  Woo me, and win me, and marry me,
  In the branching jaspers under the sea;
  Then all the dry pied things that be
  In the hueless mosses under the sea
  Would curl round my silver feet silently,
  All looking up for the love of me.
  And if I should carol aloud, from aloft
  All things that are forked, and horned, and soft
  Would lean out from the hollow sphere of the sea,
  All looking down for the love of me.