The final talk of the season was given by David Briggs, who gave us a fascinating insight into his boyhood in the Pennines. This was not a narration of domestic life, but an in-depth description of the geology, geography – both physical and human – and industry particular to that area. His family farm, situated at the edge of the moors, is a building with ancient origins and the land incorporates medieval stone walls, ancient sandstone quarries, peat bogs and significant evidence of early life. One such item, discovered through a chance examination of a fallen stone wall, was an ancient handgun. David searched various archives to find a similar weapon and discovered that it dated back to the time of the Civil War. With the development of cotton-production in the area, Shaw, the nearest town and where David received his schooling, was transformed from a peaceful rural community to a busy centre with many mills. The invention of Hargreaves’ Spinning Jenny, which was driven by water-power, transformed the area into a hive of industry, although the nearby Pennines retained their beautiful and unspoilt landscape. A later development was the use of steam-power to drive the looms and from their farm, the family could count sixty of the chimneys built at the mills. We were shown the function of the early machinery and heard how the development of the cotton- and later linen-trade changed the face of the landscape and the lives of its inhabitants. Extensive research and the resulting information formed the basis of this talk and the audience showed its interest and appreciation through a variety of questions and a lively exchange of views. We shall hope to welcome him back to give us a talk on another area of his research.

We continue to receive scores of visitors to the two museums run by the Society: the Butcher Row House and the Heritage Centre, both in Church Lane, and we are most grateful to the team of stalwart volunteers who enable us to keep them open.