lancashiretodundee

Where was the first cinema in Oswaldtwistle and what was it called? It seems to be the Empire Picture House of 1915. I checked out a plan of the proposals from the Lancashire archive during our visit in March 2018. There were further proposals in 1920 and 1931 but I ran out of time and could not follow these up. The proposal was to take over and modify the former New Jerusalem Chapel. When new, it was situated off Warren Lane which later became Union Road. Across the road to the East is the 1930 Palladium cinema, long disused. The plan involved building side aisles to allow access and a ticket office. The entrance was the alley between the former pub and bank on the corner of Foxhill Bank Brow. I think I once saw a movie there. The building still stands but you will not be welcomed if you try to view it by going through the gate on Foxhill Bank Brow. I tried. I was confronted by an aggressive get-off-my-property type. I only just got out.  The funny thing is, I saw nothing of valu...

St Matthew records that at the Roman trial of Jesus Mrs Pilate sends a message to Mr Pilate, even as he is dealing with Jesus and the Jewish Leaders, to the effect that she has a bad feeling about this. This detail is only found in Matt. Some Christians have concluded that she was a secret follower of Jesus. This is just about possible but very unlikely. Some sceptics have claimed that Matt made this up (without giving a reason why he should do so). I think there is a better explanation (got from J P Holding). Mrs P was of higher social status than Mr P. In other words, he married up. She would be motivated to maintain her social standing by protecting her husband, so she sends him a warning. Remember that events are moving very fast, giving people little time to think and plan. What could she be warning him about? One possibility could be the threat of assassination, but this seems to be unlikely as Pilate would be well-protected. The other possibility is the threat of a set-up. Thi...

In March 2016 we visited the Lancashire Archive for the first time. I checked out a will for Richard Barnes, miller, of Oswaldtwistle dated 1738. A check of parish records showed that he married Ann Dilworth of Church at Church Kirk (St James) on 4 June 1712 but I was unable to find other parish records. The will made her his executor and provided for his family even though he was of modest means. He also willed his soul to God trusting in the merits of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, the will did not say where his mill was. I have read that there was a medieval mill at Foxhill Bank (originally Fox Hole Bank). If there was, it was obliterated by the print works later that century. This is the only place you would place a mill. Understand that NE Lancashire is very hilly. This place is at the Northern, lower end of town. The town's main water course, Tinker Brook, passes it. It is a modest stream, but has a big catchment area on the moors and the flow is reliable. Over the centuries ...