AN EAST Lancashire heritage society has found a new home to launch a permanent exhibition on the history of its home town.

Oswaldtwistle Civic Society moved artefacts and memorabilia for its new display across town from its existing headquarters, off Union Road, into Oswaldtwistle Mills so they could bring the exhibition to more people.

At the same time the old base will be shared with Lancashire History and Heraldry Society who are in the process of applying for a £60,000 Heritage Lottery grant to upgrade the facilities.

The exhibition features tales from Oswaldtwistle dating back to 4,000 BC including the murder and dismembering of King Oswald, and how the town got its name.

Mike Booth, development officer, for the group, said: "The idea was to bring some of the exhibition items to the new location so more people could see the main aspect of the town's history.

"We wanted to celebrate a lot of the history of the town.

"One of our members, Alan Ormerod, has been researching Oswaldtwistle history for the last 25 years. His work is very intensive and well researched. He's done quite a bit of research on King Oswald who fought the last Pagan King, Penda of Mercia. King Oswald came down from Northumbria where he was king. We were part of Northumbria then and he tried to defeat Penda but he was defeated and his body was chopped up and put in various places.

"There is another story about Oswestry - which is a hybrid of Oswald's tree - because they nailed his body to a tree. There were bits taken all over after he was murdered and became St Oswald because he was fighting for Christianity. He camped in Church and Twistle means between two streams so that's how the town got its name. It's a cracking story."

Alan said: "It is the first time that the story of Oswaldtwistle has been shown and I am sure many locals and those with an interest in history will be fascinated to discover the facts about our area and the growth of the textile industry."

Another part of the exhibition focuses on the prisoner of war camp in Stanhill where Italian and German prisoners were kept during the Second World War. It also tells the story of the industrial revolution.

including the textile industry in the town.

Mike added: "We are hoping it will grow and things that are perhaps locked away in people's cupboards might find a place in this exhibition."

If the lottery funding bid is successful the money will pay for disabled access, and kitchen facilities for use when the centre runs genealogy workshops and training taster sessions.

The heritage exhibition can be found at Oswaldtwistle Mill where the owner Peter Hargreaves is a direct descendant of Spinning Jenny inventor James Hargreaves, whose story is also told in the exhibition.