ILP Clarion House

[PanBiker]

Yes, P the former ILP Institute, now Unity Hall was in a right state before the Town Council took it on. The cafe facilities in there are excellent and the refurbishment has done wonders for it's continued use. When I was first involved with the Labour Party we used to have our Pendle CLP AGM and conference there.

On the Google thing Tiz, we are victims of generalisation for the category tags they apply, they can't actually get their heads round how we operate the house.

[Stanley]

This image of Len Dole at the Labour Gala in 1978 fits here I think. I have an idea this was held in what was then Norway House. All part of a great socialist tradition and I am glad the Council have the funding.
The principles that drove all of them seem simplistic today but were the bedrock of the social improvements which are being slowly whittled away by the Right in these enlightened days. Think Cooperation, Conscientious Objectors and a Labour mayor in the 1930s who, when criticised by the Tories for running a soup kitchen for the unemployed successfully defended his position by saying it came out to the Mayoral Hospitality Fund.

I went digging. Here's the sacrifice cartoon in the image above. Just as applicable today.

[PanBiker]

Unfortunately the cartoon still hits the nail on the head.

No Weal Save Common Weal.

[Stanley]

Quite!

[Whyperion]

To some extent The Co-Operative movement, while socialist in a theoretical principle , has more been a 'middle -class' system run by traders and the middling clerks and similar rather than a wide workers activity. The working classes for their shopping, have tended to in the 60s and 70s identify more with Tesco, with of late the likes of Aldi/Lidl have assumed a notionally cheap groceries outlet ( though I note that part of the co-operatives was as much about standards of quality as an overall price ). Will though a mass generation return to Co-operative principles or have some of the mis-running and financing taint the idea too much at the retail and production levels ?

[PanBiker]

Owing to the current Coronovirus outbreak, and in line with current advice the ILP Land Society committee have taken the decision to temporarily close Clarion House. This is to both protect our Sunday visitors and the voluntary members of our brewing up teams. We will obviously monitor the situation and re-open the House when it is deemed safe to do so.

[Stanley]

Sensible I suppose under present day circumstances. I wonder if previous generations would have done the same?

[PanBiker]

Clarion House remained open throughout the depression and acted as a soup kitchen to give hot meal to those in need. This is a different situation entirely. A good proportion of our visitors are in the "at risk" age group although many still walk and cycle to the house. Our brewing team volunteers are in a similar bracket so it is the most sensible thing to do. We do not want to be the cause of any unintentional spreading of the virus.

[Stanley]

[PanBiker]

Clarion House has been open for the last few months for takeaways. I.E. no internal use of the building. Orders have been taken and brews have been vended at the side door. All recommended covid safety measures have been in place including a signing in book for the volunteers, hand sanitisers, distancing rules, washing up facilities, clean down rules for the kitchen before opening and closing Access has been given for disabled visitors to our inside toilet facilities.

We are having an ILP Land Society meeting today after closing time at 4pm so we will be popping over to do the business. We will be discussing the way forward and probably how to utilise our restart grant from the council to best advantage for the house.

[Stanley]

Good to hear Ian. Let us know what the plans are.....

[PanBiker]

Clarion Sunday today which is a traditional meet and ride for the cycling clubs. Riders will meet at Clarion house this morning then ride to Barlick and regroup at the War Memorial. They will then ride down to Pop Harry Hills memorial bench at Yarlside before returning back up towards Barlick, they will then take the route through to the end of Brogden Lane, across the main road and down to Middop, on to Martin Top and then back to the Clarion on Jinny Lane via Stang Top. "A bit hilly" is the note attached to the route.

Nelson ILP Land Society

ILP Land Society page has more information.

[Stanley]

Nice. We had a lovely afternoon at the Clarion a couple of weeks ago, full tea and bun service but everyone was outside enjoying the view.

[plaques]

Just noticed the model steam engine on the table. Does the Clarion do a line in steam engines as well as snacks?

[Stanley]

The lady in the cafe saw it as well and was impressed when she heard I had made it. It's for Jessica's bump so I had taken it with me as I knew they'd be there....

[PanBiker]

Over 200 cyclists and visitors to the Clarion yesterday for the annual Clarion Sunday meet up. Report and pictures here on the National Clarion Cycling Club Facebook page.

National Clarion Cycling Club 1895

[Stanley]

Good! Glad to hear it was a success.
We need to remember the story of the Clarion movement, why it happened and what the results were. Out of it came every advance the workers saw from 1900 until the 1950s, so much advancement in so little time. Unfortunately the the Labour Movement has staggered since then mainly because of internal arguments and consequent divisions. Will it ever attain unity and strength of purpose again?

[PanBiker]

A nice article in The Guardian today on Clarion House.

Walkers of the World Unite!

[Tizer]

That's a great article, Ian, let's hope it gives Clarion House a lot of publicity. I've emailed the Radio 4 Open Country programme and asked them to consider it as a topic for a future episode. It should fit their needs perfectly - the combination of countryside activities with social and historical aspects. Let's not raise our hopes too much but, nothing ventured, nothing gained!

[Stanley]

Indeed, a good article and one that shows how Clarion House can still attract attention for all the right reasons. Long may it continue!
Peter, I might be wrong but I have a nagging feeling Claire Balding has already done Clarion House.

[plaques]

Spooky. George Monbiot in his book 'Out of the Wreckage' devoted two pages about the 'Clarion' and the Independent Labour Party by lifting people out of their isolated depressed working and living conditions and getting them into the countryside while at the same time promoting education and communal enterprises. All a far cry from Thatcher and Cameron getting rid of public services under the guise of helping the working class.

[PanBiker]

and getting them into the countryside while at the same time promoting education and communal enterprises. All a far cry from Thatcher and Cameron getting rid of public services under the guise of helping the working class.

I once spent a magic best part of an hour one sunny Sunday afternoon walking up the path from the corner stile at the bottom of the field with Gilbert Kinder who we had met on Jinny Lane. He, as was his norm had walked over from Nelson and we had just arrived at the same time. Gilbert was one of the gentlest souls you could ever meet, he was a pacifist and one time occupant of Walton Prison during the war as a conciousness objector. It took the best part of an hour to cover the 50 yard or so as our chat included discussing just about every variant of flora and fauna found on the field. I still miss Gilbert.

[Whyperion]

That's a great article, Ian, let's hope it gives Clarion House a lot of publicity. I've emailed the Radio 4 Open Country programme and asked them to consider it as a topic for a future episode. It should fit their needs perfectly - the combination of countryside activities with social and historical aspects. Let's not raise our hopes too much but, nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Portillio did it on British Railway Journeys. I think another recentish (Countryfile ?) heres something interesting in this land type of TV programme mentioned it too.

[Stanley]

I think I was thinking about Portaloo....

[PanBiker]

A very productive meeting of the ILP Land Society yesterday. We are looking at how we can make Clarion House even more ecologically friendly.

We have discussed replacing the open fire with a stove and moving to all smokeless fuel and the potential for solar panels we really need advice for the best way forward for a wood built building. We have opted to get an ecological and environmental survey done for advice on the best way forward. One thing that we are going to action is the installation of outside electrical charging point for electric bikes. Also an outside water supply for easier site maintenance.