The Weaver’s Cottage is the building we will discuss in this article. It’s a building that to some seems out of place between a modern Health Hub and a converted cotton mill.

Have you ever wondered what the weaver’s cottage was?

The Cottage can be found on Bacup road between Ilex Mill and Rawtenstall’s Health Hub; this cottage would have been common during the time it was built.

Many people have seen this building but they don’t know anything about it or its history.

The Cottage is

• Dated around the 18th century when English weaving was at its height.
• A three-story Stone building
• The first and second floors have six large windows.
• Built with two large floors with an open plan layout for working.
• South facing
• Access to the working floors was at the rear of the building.

 What was the cottage originally used for?

The cottage name tells us that the main use was for Wool and/or silk weaving. Though known as the Weaver cottage, the main purpose of this building was the housing of the large loom machines, locally it could have been known as the loom shop.

Weaving was a trade common among the working people. Therefore the cottage work area’s were available to all the weavers in the province.

It seems like the designer had taken in the risks of this profession when they had planned this building. A good building design is necessary for specialised work.

You can see this in the used of windows so that the natural lighting would reduce the number of candles needed in the room, this will minimise the risk of possible fire. A fire was a major worry in the weaving business, just one spark could lose your livelihood and your home.

Some weavers employed their own or local children to assist with the weaving process as children could easily reach more difficult areas on the loom.

Until the introduction of the powered loom, this cottage would have been in constant use.

At the height of the industrial revolution, work in the mills was encouraged. With mills able to produce large quantities of fabric it became harder for those who worked in these cottages to earn a living.

As a result, the weaving profession began to be abandoned and more people began to work in the large cotton mills. Some of these mills can be found around Rawtenstall today, one is the Ilex mill next to the weavers cottage.

English weaving is a traditional skill among those in decline.

Resulting in the cottage workshop being left vacant, the large space was partitioned off to create homes. But, as more desirable homes were built, the weaver’s cottage again was empty.

Just outside The weavers cottage was the location of the first murder in Rossendale’s living history. The shocking murder of Nancy Chadwick in 1948. Find out more Click here.

What is it now?

In the 1970’s the area was under an urban renewal.

This council approved arrangement resulted in several old buildings being demolished.

The Rawtenstall Civics Society saved the cottage from being completely demolished. Unfortunately, the rear sloped roof was lost.

The civic society was able to restore the cottage to as much of its original format. Now using it as a heritage centre for the local area.

The cottage became a grade II listed building registered on the 16th October 1970. This gives the weavers cottage the status of a building of national importance and special interest.

Learn More

The Construction Development Alliance (CDA) are hosting awards on the 24th May 2018.

It is held every two years to congratulate five construction individuals on their hard work and determination in the construction field.

There are few awards in the country for young individuals and the CDA are excited to be among the few that can contribute to supporting them as well as helping a local charity.

This year’s awards will be held at the Burnley Mechanics.

If you know of an exceptional young construction individual why not nominate them now! the deadline is fast approaching.

Show your support for the young construction people.

The guest host for this years event is Charlie Dimmock from ‘Ground Force’, she along with the award sponsor will hand the award to the winner.

Categories

The categories are:

1. Overcoming Diversity
2. Young Apprentice
3. Young Construction Professional
4. Young Construction Environmentalist
5. Young Designer

All winners receive a trophy and a prize.

Charity

This year the chosen charity is YMCA Housing Trust.

The  Annual ‘Gathering’ of the New Guild for the Traditional Plastering Craft, was held this year on September 8-9 2017. The venue was the Heritage Craft Alliance training centre in Thorpe Perrow in Bedale, North Yorkshire.

Mr. Glenn Young the founder welcomed us, to this specialist training centre. He explained the need for such craft based training, also the focus and development of the centre.

The setting of the centre is ideal as traditional building are available for repair and renovation.

The guild took a big step forward with the selection of a chairman and committee of who can drive its development. Philip Gaches explained that with an increasing membership and work load, it seemed the right time for him to take on a smaller role allowing other members to move the guild forward.

The Program

The 2 day program began with slide shows and discussions by experienced craftspeople who are leaders in their particular fields, the presentations outlined the work methods that were employed to overcome problems, selection of materials and techniques used.

The sessions were then followed up by practical demonstrations in the centres workshops.

Practical Demonstations

Mr. Keith Langton open the Friday with a demonstration of using a variety of mounds for casting, and the methods and techniques in using plaster and Jesomite products. This included the use of traditional reinforcing materials such as the traditional timber lath, hessian, cotton and the more modern GRG (Glass Reinforced Gypsum) fibre mesh.

Mr. Mark McCorrie demonstrated methods of dealing with plaster lath ceilings that need remedial work to stabilise them. The problems of water penetration, infestation, lath failure to other trades damaging the historic fabric were discussed and methods old and new discussed. Mark reviewed his methods developed from his personal experience. (Photographs show Demonstration of mechanical and resin based fixing methods and solutions). Main point was how to preserve historic ceilings and decorative plasterwork often attached to them with minimal intervention. A very interesting session and lively discussion followed as to the pros and cons of the various methods and techniques.

Pargetting

One of the best known practitioners of Pargetting in the country is Bill Sergeant provided an insight into the historic decorative external lime work he and his team had carried out. Using a small lath panel prepared with a lime mortar floating coat, scratched an outline of the design. Then built up the layers of lime mortar then after completing the design applied a hot lime wash over surface. Bill has been feature on a number of TV programmes over the years.

Andrew Fawcett who works closely with Bill Sergeant, provided an insight into the application of the application of frescos, it limitations and it development from famous examples in Italy, to the history of painted lime plastered wall surfaces.

Phil Gaches and George O’Malley concluded the session with a reminder about how to maintain and length our working lives. Reminding us of  our hand board skills and the fewer the movements the less wear and tear.

Kevin and Bill took the opportunity of wearing our new corporate sweat shirts.

Sympathetic works ltd was represented by Kevin Millar and Bill Oakes. We would like to thank all who made the two days instructive and enjoyable.

The New Guild for the Traditional Plastering Craft.

National Heritage Training Group.

Princes foundation. Email

A gathering of the historic plasterers was held at Philip Gaches Lincolnshire workshop, Philip organised and hosted the event.

This two-day event brought together construction professionals, crafts people and SPAB students specialising in conservation and restoration.

The program including talks and demonstrations by experts in the various traditional crafts and disciplines.

Highlights

The discussions highlighted the urgent need for the different specialist training and for recognition, skills and understanding to be of the highest degree.

There is a need to have the right skills for restoration, repair and maintenance work, as this is very important. In addition, these skills are vital when dealing with heritage buildings; especially those older than 1919. Any work attempted by untrained people would create more problems in the future.

Example – Bill Sargent came to do remedial work on a property, he was unable. This small job turned into a major renovation; due to badly executed work and wrong materials. The previous work men had not been trained in heritage and conservation methods.

Need for higher-level heritage building and conservation students.

UK’s buildings are getting older, heritage and conservation training is needed. Moreover, to save these historic buildings more people are needed to train in conserving heritage buildings.

Historic Techniques Demonstrated

Philip Gaches – Elizabethan and Jacobean decorative plasterwork.

Andrew Fawcett – The painting frescos on lime plaster, and the application of sgraffito.

Martin Brown director of Warmcote, – the development and use of a new lime based wall coatings for traditional building.

Bill Sargent and Johanna Welsh  – known for their expertise Bill and Johanna discusted the history of Pargetting, its practical application spread to other regions in the UK.

Nigel Copsey –  Master Mason, Nigel demonstrated the advantages of ‘hot lime mixes’ when carrying out restoration and repair work on historic buildings.