The Story of Lytham Heritage Group
The Story of Lytham Heritage Group from its original founding in 1987. Its success is due to the hard work and dedication of its volunteer members.Lytham Heritage Group (LHG) has been in existence since 1987 and is an undoubted success, far exceeding the expectations of the founder members. The voulunteers have been able to take advantage of opportunities that have arisen to establish a storehouse of local history and to display this in exhibition format. As well as promoting Lytham's history and heritage, LHG now hosts exhibitions by local art societies, individual artists, local schools and community groups, and the provision of information on what to see in Lytham and where to find it, together with booklets and pamphlets for educational purposes, including the history of Lytham - 'Our Town'.
Origins
By 1987 people had identified the need for a society or organisation to cope with the ever-increasing amounts of historical material in many forms, relating to Lytham, much of which was brought to Lytham Library.
Local people had inherited many extensive family collections, includuding myself, since my father, Ed Ashton had written a definitive history of Lytham in 1946. Peter Sharman, Lytham Lytham Librarian (1987), myself and other like-minded people put a proposal to a public meeting in February 1987 to establish such an organisation and this was agreed. In August 1987 LHG took its first opportunity to demonstrate its role when the Baths building, originally built in 1863, was to be demolished and the site redeveloped. Fylde Burough Council was persuaded that part of the building fronting Disconson Terrace with its pillared frontage should be preserved as a set of Assembly Rooms for the local community, by the stagin of a landmark art exhibition. Walter Eastwood had been a prestigious local artist and some 130 of his paintings, mainly of Lytham, were displayed and attracted national and regional publicity. A sponsored schools' award exhibition was run in parallel and these exhibitions raised much-needed cash to fund the Group at this time, and achieved the objective of retaining that part of the building for community use.
By late 1988, a constitution had been produced which would be legally acceptable to the Charity Commission; membership arrangements had been made and a programme of meetings and social events arrange to suit the interests of members.
A Windmill of Opportunity
A second majoy opportunity to establish the role of the LHG arose in 1989. Lytham Windmill, a heritage landmark on Lytham Green = if ever there was one! - was being refurbished by the Fylde Burough Council, taking advantage of financial assistance available from European Development Fun and the Countryside Commission. LHG had been retained as advisers on the restoration of the mill and was invited to stage an exhibition of the mill's history. This enhanced the building itself and after the official opening in March 1989,m the Council granted a long lease on the Lytham mill to Lytham Heritage Group in 1999, which would ensure continuity of the exhibitions.
I worked closely with the late Normal Burrows, the main architect to FBC, to advise on the mill layout to accommodate visitors with access to all floors and the basement area. Also at this time Mrs Marilyn Adams took a deep interest in the mill and was responsible with a small team of helpers to set out the mill as we see it today, followed by a booklet written by Marilyn on the hostory of the mill and how the mill worked to process grain into flour for the production of bread flour and bran.
The mill is open from spring until early September with Mondays and Tuesdays reserved for school visits, and funds for the exhibitions are raised by donations since admission is free.
In the year 2001 full regisration was granted to the Windmill Museum by the Museums and Galleries Commission enabling items to be loaned for exhibition and the support of a curatorial adviser. The mill exhibition also gained a Silver Award from the NW Tourist Board as a visitor atraction and up to the present day 367,200 people have visited the mill. On duty at all times of poening are the LHG voluntary stewards. The Windmill Museum has been a great success as a visitor attraction, as indicated by the members visiting the museum.
1989 saw another opportunity to establish a presence at a Lytham historical site. The then current oweners, Guardian Royal Exchange, had occasionally opened Lytham Hall to visitors and LHG was able to negotiate for accommodation to display archive material at the Hall. The Heritage Room provides a useful and complementary addition to the Georgian building.
By now, Lytham Town Trust had been formed and I was invited to take on the position of founder chairman. The stage was now set for historical events to take place in Lytham. the Lytham Heritage Group had persuaded FBC that part of the old Baths building should be retained for community use, the successful Eastwood Exhibition being the key to the Town Trust taking on this project. This proved the Trust's value to the town, and was followed by the subsequent purchase of Lytham Hall and Grounds in 1998, and the evntual management by the Heritage Trust for the North West assured the future of this valuable asset to the tonw.
A very generous domation to the Group by Mrs Florence Peake of £186,000 and other benefactions deposited in the Charities Investment Fund established a secure financial background to the Group.
By 1994 LHG had reached a plateau of activity. The archive collection had been established in Lytham Library and was proving its value. The Group had a presence at many of the visitor attractions in Lytham where visitor donations were encouraged. The people of Lytham had been stimulated to take an interest in the history and heritage of the town. What was now needed was a home owned by the LHG, an administration centre and a base for regular exhibition activity. One can now look back over the last ten years at what has been achieved and I would like here to name those responsible by their voluntary hard work and endeavour. Stanly Brown, our founder President and founder member, creator of the Group's constitution; Marilyn Adams, founder member responsible for the setting up of the Windmill Museum; Joan Cross, Treasurer and wise investor of our assets; Tom Battersby, surveyor to Clifton Estate; Barry Dawson who assisted in the Walter Eastwood Exhibition and was creator and designer of the Group's logo; Peter Sharman, founder member and librarian; and many others.
In 1996 the former Trustee Savings Bank, a Grade II listed building (originally built in 1989 for the Manchester and County Bank) and an architectural gem, became redundant and was purchased by the Group. The gift specifically intended for the purchase was unconditional and, supported by Gift Aid and with the Group's own funds, enabled a complete restoration and conversion of the building to be undertaken. It currently comprimises of two exhibition rooms and a reception area on the ground floor, and an office/archive on the first floor. The Groupd recieved a Civic Conservation Award in recognision of the restoration. The purchase, restoration and conversion of the building cost the Group in the region of £189,000.
The gifts and legacies, donations and subscriptions have given LHG financial stability. A full annual programme of activities and exhibitions is arranged and is well publicised, which enhances the reputation of the Group. Several feature articles on LHG have appeared in the local Press and in regional magazines, and an exhibition on the life of Charlie Cairoli at Christmas 1999 was an outstanding success being reported on BBC Radio Lancashire and on BBC Television. Such achievements will, in turn, attract future patrons and sponsors.
LHG has compiled an inventory of its collection and continues to update this, transferring it to computer. The collection consists mainly of photographs, films, slides, maps, historical records, artefacts relating to the skills, crafts, industry and art of the inhabitants of the locality, and records of daily life and events - a continuous time-capsule of Lytham.
The Group at all times seeks to accept possession of items by gift, purchase or loan (such latter items are subject to a formal fixed agreement). Loans of may, however, be solicited from time to time is for the purpose of temporary exhibitions.
At the present time the Heritage Centre sits comfortably in the centre of Lytham. The town needs the heritage Group and the Group needs the town - we are inextricable linked.
The activities of LHG need invention, management and execution by people, and this requires willing voluntters. Visitors to the Heritage Centre to date are 206,632, and it is my hope to increase the percentage of members who actively 'work' in some capacity for the Group.
LHG aims to entertain, inform and educate its public - the membership, the local population and visitors to the town. Whilst reminiscences of the past appeal to many, especially those within living memory, there is a need to keep younger generations firmly in mind as they are the next custodians of Lytham's Heritage.
I pay tribute to the Executive Committe, past and present, which works hard and tirelessly for the Group. In conclusion, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the contributions to Lytham Heritage Group of two former presidents, Fred Treasure and Burt Briggs, both alas no longer with us. As Chairman, I always valued the wise council of these colleagues and friends to whom we all owe a deep debt of gratitude.
The Old Lytham Lifeboat HouseThe group is currently in negotiation with Fylde Borough Council over a lease agreement on completion of the restorative work being carried out by contractors on behalf of Fylde Borough Council. Ongoing information relating to the intended creation of a Lifeboat Museum by the Group. An update in progress can be obtained from the Group Chairman.
The Future
At the present time the Heritage Centre sits comfortably in the centre of Lytham. The town needs the Heritage Group and the Group needs the town - we are inextricably linked.
The activities of LHG need invention, management and execution by people and this requires willing volunteers. Membership of LHG is currently around 400 and a 500 target has been set and we hope to increase the percentage of members who actively 'work' in some capacity for the Group. The group is always willing to discuss with volunteers their interests that are part of the group's activities.
LHG aims to entertain, inform and educate its public - the membership, the local population and visitors to the town. Whilst reminiscences of the past appeal to many, especially those within living memory, there is a need to keep the younger generations firmly in mind; they are the next custodians of Lytham's heritage.
Lytham Heritage Group - "Preserving the past......for the Future"