ILP Clarion House

[Marilyn]

I enjoy the Michael Portillo train journeys, but my husband can't stand his dress sense. He does tend to put odd colours together, but it doesn't bother me. He obviously loves colour...

[PanBiker]

I doubt if he will make a return to visit the Big Red Picnic.

[Stanley]

Looks like a good do! Hope you have a nice day for it.
Portaloo dresses like a bookie!

[PanBiker]

The retelling of the Peterloo massacre by the Red Shed Company should be interesting.

[Stanley]

Have you ever read 'Fame is the Spur' by Howard Spring? It relies heavily on associations with Peterloo.

[PanBiker]

Friends of Clarion House Family Fun Day and Barbecue tomorrow, Sunday 21st July. Hopefully it will stay fine, weather says there could be a fine break. We have Gazebo's but it's better if it's dry. I'm excused duties this year, (did the meat barbie last year, Sally did the veg one).

Clarion House website is under redevelopment and The Friends of Clarion FB Site is currently throng with the Pendle Hill HLf project:

Friends of Clarion House

Anyone interested in the genus and driving force for the Clarion House might like to visit here for a bit of history.

Nelson ILP Land Society

We are introducing a couple of local Labour Party friends to the Clarion tomorrow who have never been. They have an excuse in that they are originally offcumduns so it's an educational trip. Helping to save the planet as well we will car share, parking is tight so that always makes sense.

Don't worry Stanley, I have not forgotten you and Jack. I have my licence back now so when you get fully recovered I'll take you over one Sunday.

[Stanley]

Lovely! I'll admit that did cross my mind..... I'll be good for a donation when you do! I'll alert Daniel Meadows to your current efforts, he's a big fan.
PS. The forecast for today is very good......

[plaques]

Which reminds me, reading through the 'The Last Clarion House' book that Ian kindly gave me I came across an image of the heritage blue plaque awarded to Selina Cooper located in St Mary's St, Nelson. I never knew this existed, its now on my 'must do' the next time I'm in Nelson. I think this is the only blue plaque in Nelson. Could be wrong so let me know.
Also in the book was a reference to Ken Spencer who built bespoke bicycles. I mentioned this to Sean (bicycles Colne) off he shot in search of more information, I must ask him how he went on.

[Tizer]

I hope you and all your friends are having a great day at the Clarion House, Ian. It's time the ILP took over Corbyn's office!

[PanBiker]

Glad you said the office Tiz, there's nowt wrong with Jeremy's credentials.

Not been to the Clarion yet were going up around midday. Car share with Martyn and Jean and their friendly dog, I'm navigator as they have never been, being originally from foreign counties.

[Stanley]

Not a lot of sun but dry and mild, I'll bet it was a good day....

[PanBiker]

It was indeed Stanley. I reckon about 50 or 60 folk were there today. A good opportunity to catch up with a few comrades. Clarion Choir was in attendance and in good voice. Had a quick word with Mike Hindley a former Pendle MEP. We had a lot of cakes andI noticed not many left when we came away! Barlick team Hugh and Val were serving on, Hugh sings in the choir as well so that was handy. Field was surprisingly dry so folk could picnic on the grass. A good selection of meat and veggie options from the barbie and plenty of salad to accompany. Our Barlick friends we took for the first time were impressed with the hidden gem and will be revisiting. A good day with some excellent banter.

Now I have my licence back I am contemplating going back on the rota for serving on, maybe as a reserve at first.

[Stanley]

Good, I'm glad it turned out well.
Daniel responded, he sends his best wishes and is going to bung a donation in via your site.

[PanBiker]

That's nice Stanley.

[PanBiker]

Just back from a bit of back end induction training on our brand new shiny Clarion House website.

Clarion House

Completely new, built on the Wix CMS. Looking good I reckon.

[Stanley]

Indeed, it looks good Ian.

[Tizer]

Very smart and modern, clean and not too detailed, Ian. Well done!

[plaques]

An additional motto for the Clarion Cycling section. "We have nothing to lose but our chains" .
I've noticed that small group family cycling has taken off in a big way, probably the multi-geared mountain bikes has something to do with it, but how to encourage these people to take a ride over to the Clarion I don't really know. Social media and Facebook is a foreign country to me.

[PanBiker]

Very smart and modern, clean and not too detailed, Ian. Well done!

Nothing to do with with me Tiz other than a bit of feedback during the development by Hannah Stringer There is a lot more content in the drop downs. This platform will allow a number of our Clarion Supporters to contribute to the website with event notifications and articles etc.

An additional motto for the Clarion Cycling section. "We have nothing to lose but our chains" .
I've noticed that small group family cycling has taken off in a big way, probably the multi-geared mountain bikes has something to do with it, but how to encourage these people to take a ride over to the Clarion I don't really know.

You could suggest your quote on the site Plaques there is an area in the contact section for such input for inclusion.

Clarion House is on the club run calendars of lots of cycling clubs from all around the UK. We do get quite a few local families also who often ride over to the house. It should be reiterated though that ILP Clarion House although associated loosely with the cycling fraternities of the same name does not have it's genus as a cycling club but as a meeting place and weekend haven for working folk and like minded socialists before the advent of the Labour Party.

[Stanley]

I'd guess that the name was influenced by Blatchford's socialist newspaper though Ian. (LINK)

[PanBiker]

Aye, the full history is on the site and the ILP publications about Clarion House. The name was adopted as it means "to proclaim loudly" and that was the object of the ILP socialist movement of the day. Nelson ILP became the second largest ILP branch in country.

We have a slight issue with our Google reference which has us named as Clarion House Cafe which is incorrect. This is compounded not just in searches but in the directions to the house and associated maps that are linked via Google. At our meeting, Hannah was going to address that and get the Google entry corrected.

[Stanley]

[PanBiker]

From Nelson Town Councils Facebook site:

** Nelson Town Council secures Heritage Lottery funding **

Nelson Town Council has been successful in its application for almost £50,000 pounds of funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The grant will fund a project designed to celebrate the life and achievements of the suffragist and socialist Selina Cooper who lived for most of her life in Nelson. The project will also highlight the history relating to the Unity Well-being Centre on Vernon Street, in Nelson which was for many years a centre for the Independent Labour Party.

Councillor Zafar Ali- Nelson Town Council Chairman, said:

“the Town Council has worked extremely hard with the support of Gary Webb and Kevin Webb to secure this grant for such a historical cause. Reviving the heritage connection with the ILP and suffragist movement with the Unity Well-being Centre will be invaluable for the community.

We want to the thank the National Lottery Heritage Lottery Fund along with Gary and Kevin for their support and for having confidence in us in delivering this key project.”

Councillor George Adam who is the Chairman of the management committee which oversees the Unity Well-being Centre said:
“this is an exciting development for us as a town council as we expect there to be lots of visitors to the centre once the official launch takes place. We have had lots of interest from the local schools, Colleges and UCLAN and we cannot wait to get things up and running.”

The heritage project includes the installation of four replica stained glass windows to replace the originals which were removed at a time when the building had fallen into a state of disrepair. It will also include major artwork designed to celebrate the life of Selina Cooper. Additionally, existing heritage material which has been donated with the help of Gary and Kevin Webb to the project will be restored and displayed throughout the centre.



A part time post of Educational Facilitator has been created to work with students from the University of Central Lancashire, local Further Education Colleges, Secondary and Primary schools as well as community groups who will all play an important part in bringing Nelson’s history and heritage back to life at the centre.

For all interested parties, please contact the assistant town clerk- Nick Harbour at:
info@nelsontowncouncil.gov.uk


The original windows of course were removed to Clarion House which still retains one of the pair, the other is lodged in the Peoples Working History Museum in Manchester.

[plaques]

ILP building Vernon St Nelson before its makeover.

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Vernon St ILP.JPG

[Tizer]

We have a slight issue with our Google reference which has us named as Clarion House Cafe which is incorrect. This is compounded not just in searches but in the directions to the house and associated maps that are linked via Google. At our meeting, Hannah was going to address that and get the Google entry corrected.

I've just had a look at Clarion House on Google maps. It shows as simply Clarion House until I zoom right in then a second caption appears saying Clarion House Cafe. I noticed also that the Visit Pendle web page LINK has it under: `Type:Tea Room/Coffee Shop'