Lancashire Day celebrated in style at Queen Street Mill

WEAVING demonstrations, traditional songs, a trail challenge and tours of the engine and boiler room are just some of the activities on offer at Queen Street Mill in Burnley to celebrate Lancashire Day on November 27.

The day will start at 12 noon with weaving demonstrations so that visitors can see how our ancestors lived and worked.

With his historically accurate programme of Lancashire street ballads, mill songs and music hall monologues, Sid Calderbank will "sing old songs to old machines". Sid is uniquely placed to take listeners back to the mill's heyday. He will be joined this year by classical violinist Joy Hunter to bring to life Lancashire's vast store of Victorian parlour songs.

The mill's historic engine, Peace, will be in steam throughout the afternoon, and people will be able to enjoy weaving demonstrations on Lancashire looms and the chance to see the mill's massive 110-year-old Lancashire boiler being fired.

Tours of the mill's engine room and boiler room are on offer and lucky visitors may be allowed to shovel coal for an authentic experience of old Lancashire.

There will also be a trail challenge to get visitors warmed up, which museum staff will explain on the day. People are advised to make sure they're clued up on their Lancashire history.

Traditional Lancashire meals such as hotpot with red cabbage, apple crumble and other home-made treats will be available in the cafe.

Admission is £3 for adults, £2 for concessions. Accompanied children and Burnley residents go free. Car parking is free and QSM is fully accessible for disabled visitors, including people with guide dogs.

Queen Street Mill is run by Lancashire County Council with support from Burnley Borough Council.

Lancashire Day dates back to 1295, when the county sent its first representatives to Parliament. This marked Lancashire's move into the wider sphere of politics. Ideally more than a day would be needed to celebrate all things great about Lancashire but the staff at Queen Street Mill intend to make this day spectacular and one to remember.

For more information on the day's activities, please phone 01282 412555 or email [email protected].

For further information please contact: Tom Walker on 01772 534372
[email protected]