Pendle Radicals
This exciting project is an exploration of Pendle Hill’s heritage of radical thinkers and non-conformists, from research investigations through commissions of new art to celebration events. The project is providing opportunities for local people of all ages, such as our team of enthusiastic volunteer researchers. Creating a legacy of greater understanding and new artefacts, Pendle Radicals is bringing history to life, infusing familiar locations with new meaning and building a renewed sense of pride in this very special place.
Who do we mean by Pendle Radicals? They include George Fox, founder of the Quakers, who had his great vision on the summit of Pendle in 1652… Sir Jonas Moore, known as the ‘father of time’, born at Higham and part responsible for the Greenwich Observatory and the creation of Greenwich Mean Time… Selina Cooper, a hero of the suffrage movement in spite of having to work in the mills from the age of 12. Selina, like many members of Nelson ILP (Independent Labour Party) made strong connections to Clarion House at Roughlee, now the last of the Clarion Clubs but still thriving and an inspiring location for followers of socialist politics.
These are just a few names, but the stories are many. Throughout the project we have been bringing some of those stories to life, giving current residents a new understanding of their history, a reinforced sense of local identity and new pride in where they live.
Pendle Radicals was a part of the Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership, an ambitious four year scheme, from 2018 to 2022, led by the Forest of Bowland AONB that involved many local organisations. It was made possible by major funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund. MPA was delighted to be a part of this exciting programme for Pendle and Ribble Valley. Read all about it on the PHLP website.
Pendle Radicals is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Pendle Radicals is supported by Lancashire County Council, through the Lancashire Culture & Sport Fund
