ILP Clarion House

[Stanley]

That's right, Stan......
Nice job, good Baltic pine boards from the look of them.

[PanBiker]

The entire building was put together for £350.00 in 1912, what would it cost now?

Timber framed and internally clad as you can see on the pictures, it stands on brick foundations and is as solid now as it was when it was first put up. When we had the major external refurbishment and extensions built it had a full survey. The sub frame is sound, the outside skin, (corrugated gables) were removed and replaced by the wooden cladding we have now. We have the original plans and those for the ILP Socialist Institute in Nelson, (now the newly refurbished Unity Hall). They are both framed and I think we may hang them when we put the main room back together.

We'll pick a nice sunny Sunday, (if we get one) and I'll run you and Jack up for a brew and inspection.

[Stanley]

Lovely.......

[PanBiker]

We had a very productive day yesterday ahead of schedule. The floor was dry enough to get all the tables and benches back in, they had been sitting on the front lawn since Saturday, We sheeted them up with tarps and put our two gazebos over them. Some of the benches from the verandah were put on the gable and sheeted up. They all got soaked regardless over the weekend and on Monday but fortunately had fully dried out by yesterday. It was a good day to get it done.

Everything was wiped down as we put it back in, all the windows were washed inside and out. We continued and redeployed all our pictures and notice boards, not all in the same places as we couldn't remember where they all were originally, no matter, a change around is good. We still have Keir to greet you as you come in through the front, he is still above the door to the boot room. When we had all the pictures and photos down on the tables we realised that we actually have five picture versions of Keir and a head and shoulders bust as well We have replaced one of our modern banners with the framed sets of plans for the Clarion and the Vernon Street ILP Institute, the banner was on the only wall large enough to accommodate them. We had a measure up and Ruth and Carol went to buy new floor runners for the walk through, front of serving hatch and the strip up to the fireplace, we got industrial quality dark grey. We opened up all our previously sheeted kitchen units and the instant on demand boiler, table oven and microwave, cleaned all the surfaces ready for Sunday opening. Last job, Barbara gave the kitchen floor another coat of sealer. All tools and stuff tidied away or removed, rubbish in the bins, job done, all locked up and we were away for about 4pm.

We were so throng, I didn't take any pictures, I'll do some next time I'm up.

[Moh]

A long time since I heard the word 'throng' Ian.

[Stanley]

Good word for a good job......

[PanBiker]

AGM of the ILP Land Society today. We are solvent having previously accepted the accounts at a committee meeting, committee and officers all re-elected en block, we welcomed a new member to the Land Society.

[Stanley]

I love hearing how well they are doing. Long may it continue!

[PanBiker]

Yesterday saw the premier of a film made by the Clapham Film Unit - "The Last Clarion". It was shown up at Clarion House yesterday. As it turned out we could not make it but I am pleased to find that it will be shown on TV on the Community Channel and is also available via YouTube.

This information is from a post over in Facebook land from a comrade of ours and fellow member of Friends of Clarion House, Bob Sproule.

The film The Last Clarion can be seen on the Community Channel at the following times:- Friday January 19th 12-30 - 13-00, 18-30 - 19-00 and for night owls 03-30 until 04-00 in the early hours of January 20th. Community Channel can be found at Freesat 164, Sky 539, Virgin 269 and on YouTube. For YouTube just search for "The Last Clarion House" and that should find it.

The filming was made over a number of weekends last summer and includes interviews with regular and occasional visitors and volunteer staff for their memories.

I also picked up from another post that it looks like the book that accompanies the new film and reprints of "Clarion House a Monument to a Movement" written by Roger Brown and Stan Iveson and are both now available.

[Stanley]

[PanBiker]

I watched it on YouTube last night and found myself on camera, very briefly doing what I do best, washing up!

[Stanley]

I've just watched it..... nice little film, got the atmosphere across very well.

[PanBiker]

Some of the projects undertaken by the Friends of Clarion House group have come to fruition. Not visible in this shot but we have had new gates installed. I remember installing the previous set back in the 80's. We have a main gate, centre post and a side gate for pedestrian access. Our new Information board shown here has also been installed on the banking.

[Stanley]

Lovely to see you working on it Ian.

[PanBiker]

ILP Clarion House and the friends of Clarion House had a presence at Burnley May Day gathering yesterday, There was a march of Trade Union Organisations of course and a multitude of allied organisations starting from the Town Hall and up into Townley Park. Our stall generated quite a bit of interest and it was a good opportunity for networking and catching up with comrades. Key speaker was John McDonnell who had been in Barlick the day before as reported here in the politics thread, he was ably introduced by Burnley Labour MP Julie Cooper. A good time was had by all in the wall to wall sunshine. A copy of our dual publication, "The Last Clarion and A Monument to a Movement" is now in the possession of the next Chancellor of the Exchequer.

[Stanley]

Nice one!

[PanBiker]

ILP Land Society AGM today, well attended I think partly due to the change of time to 4pm rather than 10am as it used to be. The earlier starting time always used to see the meeting running into Clarion visitors arriving, we have nothing to hide but it did used to be a distraction. Much better at this time as the house is running down by 4pm. All went off smoothly, Secretaries report accepted along with a vote of thanks for Carol's continued attention to the office. Financial report also accepted with no queries. Committee members all re-elected with one addition to replace a member who is living in Africa at the moment. Officers re-elected with one exception, myself, I asked to step down from my role as Treasurer but I will continue until a replacement committee member can be found to take over the roll, deferred for further discussion at the next meeting.

All in all a very successful year with increased visitors and plenty of use of the house throughout the year. This despite the decision last year to put prices up to cover inflation, we agreed 5p across the board on all drinks and confectionery that we sell, takings are on the up so it's not put anyone off. I challenge anyone to find a cheaper pint pot of tea or coffee than can be had at Clarion House.

The Big Red Picnic which we hold on behalf of the Morning Star was well attended and reported here: Big Red Picnic

Also the Friends of Clarion Summer Barbecue was also very well supported. I ran the meat barbecue and Sally did the vegetarian one, I don't think anyone ended up hungry. Lots of families in attendance, this event goes from strength to strength, with more visitors each year which is excellent.

We even had a visit from Michael Portillo as we feature as part of one the documentaries that he is involved with, due to be shown on TV next January or February.

A number of capital projects completed throughout the year, our new gates and notice board and a local contractor found to paint the inside of the house as reported earlier in this thread. A good meeting which ended at 5.15pm

[Stanley]

Lovely.......

[Tizer]

Below are images of the Michael Portillo visit to ILP Clarion House which featured on TV on 5th February 2019. The images are low resolution because I took photos direct from the paused TV screen. Panbiker can probably add captions to identify some of the people in the photos.

[PanBiker]

Indeed I can Tiz and thanks for the post. I don't know all those who were present by name on the day but know a lot as regulars from when I used to be on the serving team rota. There is Sue Nike and Carol Hopkins who were serving on the day. Charles Jepson who told Portillo that he knew he was a Tory as he hadn't paid for his tea! Charles is a Land Society and Clarion Cycling Club member. Jack Burrows, who is our ILP and Clarion House historian. Looks like Sue is giving him one of our Monument to a Movement reprints, same as I sent you, I wonder if he will read it? Must ask if he did eventually pay for his tea or make a donation to the little house at the side of the serving hatch!

When I get my driving licence back, I'm thinking of going back on the rota. I came off when my partner opo got a job where he had to work on Sunday. Brewing up and sharing the banter with proper folk is a nice way to spend a Sunday, good for the soul.

[Stanley]

Nice! I watched it last night and was hoping someone would mention Batsford and W H Smith refusing to distribute the 'Clarion' newspaper thus triggering the Clarion Movement and in particular the cycling clubs.
Good people......



Clarion House in 2000.

[PanBiker]

They could turn the story of Nelson ILP and the role of Clarion House over the years into a cracking multi part historical drama I reckon. On a related matter, I picked up from comments made at a recent GC meeting by a committee member for the newly refurbished Unity Hall centre in Nelson, (former ILP Institute) that they were hoping to install some replica stained glass windows with the ILP motif. We, (and the Peoples History Museum in Manchester) have the originals of course, one gifted to them for safe keeping after we recovered them when they were stolen a few years ago.

[plaques]

that they were hoping to install some replica stained glass windows with the ILP motif.

. A replica of that quality and pattern would cost in the region of £2000 to £3000. Unfortunately the local firm Normandy Glass who specializes in stained glass looks like it is having to close down. If you scroll down the site you can see a door he did for us being loaded in his van.

[PanBiker]

So sad to hear that the firm is closing and the circumstance. Not absolutely sure but I think it was Normandy that did the repair and refurbishment work on our ILP windows. We had donations from supporters and unions that paid for the requirements at the time. I will have to ask Carol or Sue who may remember who we used.

[PanBiker]

Notice from the ILP Land Society FB page, the "Big Red Picnic" fund-raiser for the Morning Star will be held at Clarion House on Saturday 1st June, 12 noon to 4pm