End of an Era for Clitheroe Castle Museum

The closure marks the end of an era for the museum, which opened in 1930, initially at a nearby building now housing the North West Sound Archive.

 

The museum will be closed for 18 months as part of the £3.2million Clitheroe Castle Heritage Scheme, one of the biggest heritage projects in the North West.

 

It will undergo major restoration and internal modernisation in a bid to develop a reputation as a quality visitor attraction, with strong links in the education and specialist interest sectors, with a glass atrium linking the museum and North West Sound Archives on two levels, facilities for the disabled, café, exhibition space, interactive display facilities and education suite.

 

The scheme has attracted a £2million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £250,000 from Ribble Valley Borough Council and £250,000 from the North West Development Agency, as well as substantial support from the private sector and community groups.

 

Ribble Valley Borough Council's tourism and arts officer, Rebecca Kay, said: "The museum has been open seven days a week from Easter to October for many years and is a popular tourist attraction.

 

"Its closure really is the end of an era, but we are all looking forward to reopening what will be a fantastic facility for many more years to come."

 

Clitheroe Castle Museum reflects Ribble Valley's history and geology with special events, displays and exhibitions, including the famous Hacking ferryboat, a reconstructed lead mine, clogger's shop and Edwardian kitchen.

 

The new facility will include numerous interactive exhibitions, including the bedrock of Ribble Valley, fossil collecting, the art of castle building, the social history of Clitheroe and the Pendle Witches.

 

Ends.

 

Ref: PR420.

 

Date: June 18 2007.

 

Notes to Editors: Clitheroe Castle has dominated the Ribble Valley skyline since its construction in the 12th Century by Robert de Lacy to protect the administrative centre of his vast estates.

 

Early in the 14th Century, the castle passed from de Lacy to the family of the Earl of Lancaster and, following the 2nd Earl's revolt and execution in 1322, became part of the Royal estates until the Restoration.

 

The castle suffered considerable damage after being captured by Royalist troops in 1644 and subsequently fell into disrepair. In 1848, it experienced its first restoration of sorts at the hands of 5th Duke of Buccleugh and in 1920 was purchased by public subscription as a memorial to those who had fallen in the First World War.