New home for the Ramsbottom Heritage Society

Date published: 01 September 2010

A new home for the Ramsbottom Heritage Society is now complete thanks to support from Bury Council and 90% funding made available in 2008 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Skills Funding Agency.

The new £400,000 extension to Ramsbottom Library will be officially opened on 10 September and a range of special activities will take place between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm.

The new extension includes a new classroom and heritage gallery space which will be run in conjunction with Ramsbottom Heritage Society and Bury Museum.

As part of the celebrations the Worshipful Mayor of Bury John Byrne, will accept, on behalf of Bury Museum, the repatriation of ‘cremated human bones’ from Simon Mays from English Heritage. The bones which date back to the Bronze Age and were discovered on the top of Whitelow Hill by enthusiasts from Bury Archaeological Group.

Events and activities will be taking place at the library throughout the day to showcase some of Ramsbottom’s interesting and diverse history such as spinning, quill writing, a workshop by a Lancashire dialect speaker, plus taster sessions 11.00 am to 12.00 by Bury Adult Learning demonstrating flower arranging, stained glass, patchwork and quilting, photography, calligraphy and languages.

Members of the Ramsbottom Heritage Society will also be on hand throughout the day to provide expert local information with displays and demonstrations depicting the rich history of Ramsbottom.

Councillor Yvonne Creswell, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “This is a fantastic investment in a community resource and a exciting addition to the library, which will be used by many different groups from the local community. The new extension provides a great resource for Ramsbottom Heritage Society and help them tell lots of visitors and local residents about Ramsbottom’s heritage from the Bronze Age through to the Industrial Revolution and present day”.

For further information on the event contact Joanne Fitton, Archivist 0161 253 6314 or email archives@bury.gov.uk 

The gallery will be open to the public during normal library opening times and on Saturdays staff from the Ramsbottom Heritage Society will also be available.