KNUTSFORD HERITAGE CENTRE! AUTUMN/WINTER 2017

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Produced by, and on behalf of, the Friends of Knutsford Heritage Centre

NEWSLETTERHERITAGE OPEN DAYS AT THE CENTRE

Heritage Open Days was established in 1994 as a national festival held each September to celebrate England’s rich and diverse history and heritage. It includes tours, events and activities related to architecture and culture. This year the Heritage Centre marked the occasion with four days of talks and demonstrations. Visitors were shown round some of the larger artefacts in our collection and then had an opportunity to meet Vivien, our archivist, to learn more about what the Centre is collecting and conserving on behalf of the town. In the Tapestry Gallery visitors were able to take a ‘guided tour’ around the town’s historic buildings, and to learn more about famous people from Knutsford's past, as our guides pointed out places of interest on the Millennium tapestry.

In recognition of the town’s spinning and weaving heritage the Centre's manager, Val Bryant, gave talks and demonstrations including spinning flax on her authentic spinning wheel. She explained how flax was grown and harvested and woven into linen. St John’s church is built on a former ‘tenter field’ where the linen cloth would be stretched and bleached in the sun. Silkmill Street is named from a former silk throwster mill that stood there, where skeins of silk thread would be wound on to bobbins and sent to Macclesfield or further afield for weaving. There is also Cottonshop Yard: yet another yarn that would have been spun and woven in the town. These were generally small cottage industries, as Knutsford lacked a source of natural power, such as water, and transport was limited until the railway arrived in 1862.

Val Bryant demonstrates flax spinning on a replica of a Richard Arkwright spinning wheel, made by her husband David. The unspun flax can be seen on the vertical distaff with blue ribbon round it. The colour of ribbon would denote the marital status of the spinner. In Val’s case it is blue to denote a married woman.

We wish you all a very Happy Christmas and would love to meet you at the Centre over the holiday period. To enable you to find that last minute Christmas present, the Centre will be open during normal hours until 4pm on Friday, 22 Dec. It will then re-open on 27 Dec for 4 days, close for New Year and open again between 2 Jan and 6 Jan. The Centre and the volunteers will then have a well-earned rest until normal opening resumes on 30 Jan. [These are provisional dates and may be subject to alteration]

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FRIENDS OF KNUTSFORD HERITAGE CENTRE AGM       The Friends’ AGM was held on October 9th. Lord Ashbrook, Patron of the Friends, gave an introductory speech, in which he praised the work of the Heritage Centre and kindly invited the Friends to visit Arley Gardens at a future date. Following this, Wendy, chair of the Friends, introduced the committee (who have all agreed to continue in their roles) and quickly proceeded to the formal business of the evening …. minutes, accounts, events etc. Copies of the minutes and accounts are available on request. Finally Val Bryant, Heritage Centre manager and Trustee, gave her thanks to the Friends for the support they give by way of funding projects and equipment. After refreshments (kindly supplied by Waitrose) we were treated to an entertaining talk from George Williams, a competition enthusiast. He first entered competitions as a school boy and has gone on to win exciting prizes such as concert tickets, hotel breaks, spa treatments and his favourite prize - a Cookery Day in London with TV chef James Martin. He showed us how varied competitions could be, from taking a selfie with a promoted product, solving a crossword in the Waitrose newspaper, or just answering a simple question in a magazine advert and firing off a quick email. We even had a chance to win prizes on the night! I’m sure many at the meeting will have been inspired to have a go now and to look out for the word WIN next time we do our supermarket shopping! George has kindly donated a book on competitions by Di Coke entitled ‘Super Lucky Secrets - 100 tips for winning competitions, contests and sweepstakes.’ For a chance to win this book just email or post your answer to the following question to the Centre before the end of November. The first correct entry drawn will be invited to collect the book from the Centre. QUESTION “When did the railway come to Knutsford?”

FEBRUARY FORUM 2018 The popular February Forum Saturday afternoon talks are held in the Tapestry Gallery at the Centre, starting at 2 pm and followed by tea and cake. Next year's talks are on Lord Egerton in Kenya (Feb 3rd), Peover Hall and the Mainwarings (Feb 10th), May Day - ‘a look behind the scenes’ (Feb 19th) and Richard Harding Watt - ‘his life and legacy’ (Feb 26th) Tickets will be £8 per talk, £7.20 to Friends, or save money and buy all 4 talks for £28. They will be available from Jan 2nd, 2018. Please note the Heritage Centre will be closed from Jan 7th until Jan 30th. If you wish to reserve tickets during this period you can download a form from the website www.knutsfordheritage.co.uk or email your request to info@knutsfordheritage.co.uk and leave your details.

WELCOME EVENINGA ‘welcome’ evening was held on Tuesday 8th of August as an opportunity for Friends who had joined in the past year to learn more about the Centre and for us to get to know them better over wine and canapés. We explained various aspects of the work of the Centre and how the Friends support it, not only by making donations but also through spreading the word in the community. For example, it may not be widely known that the Centre holds professionally-managed collections and archives and that catalogues are available for any member of the public to access on request. The evening ended with a talk by Val Bryant on the creation of the Millennium Tapestry. The event was very enjoyable and we hope to repeat it in the future.

Take a selfie … Win a football!

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BITS & PIECES

Last chance for a guided walkOctober 27th will be the final Friday guided walk of 2017.

2pm from the Heritage Centre.No need to book.

£5 per person______________________

CHRISTMAS VISITORS?Do you have friends or family

staying over the Christmas period? Take advantage of our holiday

opening times (see front page) to bring them along to see the fantastic

Millennium Tapestry and other exhibits at the Centre.

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DID YOU KNOW …?Based on a survey by Cheshire East, the Heritage Centre is one of the Top 10 attractions to visit.

____________________PLUS ….

The Centre has received a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor thanks to some fantastic reviews from our

visitors.

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2017/18 SubscriptionsSubscriptions for renewing

membership of the Friends were due in September. The new rate is £15 for single membership

and £25 joint.Any existing member who

introduces a new member this autumn will receive a free 2018 Knutsford Calendar.

(While stocks last.)Members receive a newsletter 3

times a year and are entitled to a discount on all Friends’ and

Heritage Centre events

THANKS TO THE FRIENDS

Earlier this year the Fr iends made a generous donation to the Centre to enable large, weather-proof information boards to be produced. These will enable visitors to l ea r n more about some of our larger artefacts such as the Knuts ford West signal box sign, shown here. Chr i s Henret ty, chair of the Trustees said “This is a huge benefit to the Centre and encoura ges visitors to explore the outs ide exh ib i t s . Thanks to the Friends for funding these.”

SIGNBOARD FROM

KNUTSFORD WEST SIGNAL BOX

The KNUTSFORD WEST SIGNALBOX was located approximately amile west of the station, andcontrolled the railway sidings onthe west side of Toft Road. It wasbuilt by Cheshire Lines Committeeand opened in September 1889,three years after the main signalbox at the east end of Knutsfordstation platform. The latter wasthen renamed ‘KNUTSFORDEAST’ and became a listedbuilding, which was unfortunatelydestroyed by fire in March 2000.

The signal box was constructed mainlyof wood, with windows on three sides ofits upper storey. It had a hipped roofclad in slate. Inside there was an ironframe which contained 18 levers thatwere used to operate signals and pointsthat controlled the movement of trains.It was removed after the sidingsbecame Stanley Road Trading Estate.

On 12 May 1862 Knutsford railwaystation opened for traffic betweenAltrincham and Knutsford. ByJanuary 1863 the railway had beenextended to Northwich, and by Maythat year goods were also beingcarried on this line.

Knutsfordrailwaysidingsc.1930

5407 ‘The LancashireFusilier’ rounds thecurve at Knutsfordalongside the KnutsfordEast signal box onEaster Monday 1986.

Knutsford railway station staff celebrate 50 years in 1912

Knutsford West signal box 1954 Image courtesy B Green

© Knutsford Heritage Centre 2017

©

AN ODE TO CHILDHOOD

Tatton Park was such a larkAnd Longridge woods were funRope swings over the riverAnd lying all day in the sun.Roller blades and go cartsBarbie dolls and action menBuilding dens in monkey island.Things were simple then.Birken Brook youth clubWearing our tank tops and our flaresSneaking cider round the backGetting caught but didn’t care.Pick ‘n’ mix in Royles shopThe paper mill next doorFinding treasures on the tipFinishing school at four.Digging snow in winterClearing all the pathsSliding round on dustbin lidsGosh we had a laugh.Ankle socks and sandalsRinglets in your hairPick your own at Sudlows Farm

Doing silly things for dares.Fishing in the River LilyGoing to the fairTaking part in the May DayLoving boys who had long hair.Saturday jobs in local shopsOr being a paper boyGetting your days wagesAnd buying the latest toy.Squeezing into pencil skirtsTrying to walk in high heelsPosters on your bedroom wallsBeing shouted in for meals.Going to the picturesPopcorn, fish and chipsBus rides, train rides, walking homeAnd going on coach trips.Memories of a childhoodI definitely have not forgotLooking back I bet we wishedIt never had to stop.(Thanks to Dorn Reed for allowing me to reproduce her poem here. The Heritage Centre welcomes recollections of Knutsford childhoods. It doesn’t have to be in rhyme! Editor)

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FORTHCOMING EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS

July 18th - Dec 16th

Today’s Businesses - Tomorrow‘s Heritage

Looking at the history of some of Knutsford's popular

businesses___________________

Fri Nov 17th 7 pm for 7.30 start

‘Friends’ Annual Quiz Nightat Toft Cricket Club

Tickets available at the Heritage Centre

Friends £15 Guests £17Includes 2 course supper

__________________Sat Dec 2nd

Gift Fair at the Methodist Church

Come and support the Heritage Centre stall

__________________Jan 30th - April 7th

‘Marvellous Days Out’Mid-Cheshire Community

Rail PartnershipPoster Exhibition

_________________February Forum 2018

Saturday afternoon talks3 Feb - Lord Egerton in Kenya10 Feb - Peover Hall and the

Mainwarings17 Feb - May Day Memories

24 Feb - Richard Harding Watt

YOUR HERITAGE CENTRE NEEDS YOU! To enable the Centre to continue opening on 6 days a week (5 in the winter months) and be available to the many visitors to Knutsford, more volunteers are needed. If you can offer a couple of hours a week, or even just once a fortnight, you may be the person we’re looking for! Volunteers are needed to greet visitors and introduce them to the exhibitions, to serve in the shop, to maintain the grounds and award-winning courtyard gardens, to take guided walks around our historic town, to assist with IT issues, to help with promotional materials ….. there is something for everybody!

Knutsford  Heritage  Centre,  90A  King  Street,  Knutsford,    Cheshire  WA16  6ED     Tel:01565  650506            www.knutsfordheritage.co.uk              email:info@knutsfordheritage.co.uk  Opening  times:      Summer:  Tuesday  -­‐  Saturday  11am  -­‐  4pm,  Sunday  2pm  -­‐  5pm  Winter:  Tuesday  -­‐  Saturday  11am  -­‐  4pm  Open  most  Bank  Holidays  2pm  -­‐  5pm  

SHOP NEWS

Do take a look at the 2018 Knutsford Calendar.This year we have worked with the

Knutsford Photographic Club who kindly submitted a selection of photos for us.

There were some fantastic shots and we had trouble narrowing it down to the thirteen we needed.

The calendar is just £5.95 and comes with an envelope for posting. It would make an ideal gift to send to friends or

relatives who no longer live in the town.