Drive and Stroll, with Ron Freethy

THIS column is entitled Drive and Stroll, the idea being to find somewhere to park close to a network of footpaths.

A bonus is to find a place for a brew.

Clarion House is on Jinny Lane, between Roughlee and Newchurch, but can also be reached from Barley.

There is parking in each of the three villages and the stroll to the Clarion is along beautiful footpaths through glorious countryside. In the summer a "Hopper Bus" operates from Burnley, Padiham, Nelson, Sabden, Pendleton, Clitheroe and Downham.

Clarion House is a real touch of history, having its origins in the politics of the Industrial Revolution.

The building itself dates to around 1906 and was the brainchild of the Independent Labour Party, with money being provided in the main by the textile workers' unions.

Folk were used to working hard in hot and often dusty mills and many wanted to head for the hills and enjoy the glories of the countryside.

This remains its present day function and, after I was given a warm welcome by John Boardman, the kettle was soon singing away. My tea came in a pint pot and we listened to the rain pattering upon the conservatory roof.

I was shown a photograph of Keir Hardy, the Labour party stalwart.

On one wall is a stained glass window which once graced the old Independent Labour Party Institute in Vernon Street in Nelson.

At one time there were several Clarion Houses around the county but the one near Newchurch is the only one left.

As such it has to be preserved as part of our heritage.

John Boardman showed me that the building was showing signs of wear and tear and it is now the subject of a lottery bid.

There is also a restoration appeal for £18,000 in hand and almost £5000 has been raised.

John was at pains to tell me that visitors of all ages are welcome and outside there is a children's play area, picnic tables and even a pond full of frogs which is a haven for dragonflies.

Those wishing to know more about the history of Clarion House and its Restoration Fund should contact John Boardman, 58 Buccleugh Road, Nelson, BB9 7TE. Telephone 01282 697333. A book has also been published called Clarion House - A Monument to a Movement by Stan Iveson and Roger Brown.

Clarion House is open every Sunday between 10am and 4.30pm and it is a wonderful place to have a chat with cyclists and walkers from East Lancashire and beyond.

I met Gilbert Kinder who had first arrived on foot from Nelson and as the rain began to fall, he looked forward to his brew of tea.

You might not think that this deserves comment until you realise that Gilbert is 94 years old!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.