Plaques Etch Local History in Memory

Ribble Valley Borough Council has joined forces with Ribblesdale High School , environmental regeneration charity Groundwork Pennine Lancashire and the Lancashire Museums Service to produce a series of 10 zinc-etched colour plaques that will be fixed to the wall of the creative activity area at the foot of Clitheroe Castle Keep.

Visitors to the castle will be able to take rubbings from the plaques, each of which will highlight a local historical event.

The plaques, which will be designed to look visually appealing and decorative, as well as containing Braille text, will encourage people to further explore the town's history in Clitheroe Castle Museum .

Robert Thompson, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council's community committee, said: " Ribblesdale High School pupils have been working with the council's arts development team and artists in recent months to research local history and produce the designs and we are looking forward to unveiling the latest stage of the magnificent Clitheroe Castle refurbishment project."

Andy Nash, director at Groundwork Pennine Lancashire, said: "The creative activity area was designed to facilitate a sensory learning experience - from the aurally interactive play equipment to the fragrant planting and optical games.

"The tactility of these new plaques are a great addition to this experience and we are pleased to have been able to open up this project for members of the community to enjoy."

Clitheroe Castle Museum keeper and manager Rachel Jackson added: "The timeline project has provided a wonderful opportunity to work with a local school and establish links between interpretation in the museum grounds and stories in the museum buildings."

A photographic record of the project is being made and the plaques will be unveiled at the creative activity area on Wednesday, April 21, alongside a display of the artwork in the nearby education suite.

The creative activity area and education suite were part of a £3.5million refurbishment of the Clitheroe Castle Museum Complex that received a Royal opening in July 2009.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester opened the site after a two-year refurbishment - featuring a glass atrium linking the museum and North West Sound Archives, café, exhibition space, interactive display facilities, education suite and several multi-media exhibitions depicting the history of Ribble Valley - funded by Ribble Valley Borough Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and several private and public sector partners.

Clitheroe Castle also features the first public labyrinth in Lancashire , an award-winning skatepark and bandstand hosting a series of popular summer concerts.

The Clitheroe Castle Museum Complex is owned by Ribble Valley Borough Council and managed by the Lancashire Museums Service.

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Ref: PR1510.

Date: March 24 2010.