Lancaster University: Golden celebrations to mark 50 years of championing local history and heritage

50 years ago, in 1973, a small band of visionaries at Lancaster University decided to put the spotlight on regional history, making the heritage of Lancashire and Cumbria a subject of serious study.

Just as importantly, the founders of the Centre for North West Regional Studies (CNWRS), now known as the Regional Heritage Centre, wanted that scholarship to reach the broadest possible audience, and felt that the University had a responsibility to engage not just with students, but with the general public.

The CNWRS brought together academic excellence from various departments with local expertise, publishing books and pamphlets covering many of the significant historical, cultural, social and environmental aspects of the region.

The launch of the Centre’s 50th anniversary celebrations took place at a special reception for patrons, guests, supporters and partners in the University Library.

The event was attended by the Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University, Professor Andy Schofield, who spoke about the significance of the CNWRS and RHC to the University’s role in the region.

Former Centre Director Professor Angus Winchester spoke about the foundation of the Centre and its development up to recent times and current Director Professor Fiona Edmonds outlined some current and future priorities.

Marion McClintock, the Centre’s first Administrator and current University Archivist, identifies an interdisciplinary approach and accessible style as key elements of the CNWRS’ early efforts.

“From the outset, the CNWRS was eclectic in its range of projects,” she says. “What they all had in common was a drive towards communicating with partners and participants across the North West, to stir up debate on topics as diverse as late 19th century life in Barrow and Lancaster, the deindustrialisation process, housing in the Lake District National Park and the ecology of the Furness coastline.”

One early development was to take on the organisation of the Annual Archaeology Forum, which also marks its 50th anniversary in 2023. This popular event provides an excellent opportunity for professionals, volunteers and enthusiasts to learn about ongoing archaeological research in the North West.

The experience of arranging and delivering this annual event was eventually brought to fruition when CNWRS marked its 20th anniversary, as it encouraged the team to start offering a regular programme of public study days, a tradition that was identified as a key activity when CNWRS evolved into the Regional Heritage Centre in 2014.

During the pandemic when meeting in person was not possible, the Centre rapidly switched to online and hybrid study events, reaching an audience across the UK and even beyond.

The RHC’s online offering has also been enhanced by a free online course, developed by the RHC in partnership with the Duchy of Lancaster, that looks at Northern English history through the prism of Lancaster’s iconic Castle.

This five-week course was made possible by a generous bequest and can be accessed at any time, having so far been completed by almost 10,000 learners all over the world.

And the RHC is also working with the youngest historians, rewarding primary schools for their sterling work on the local history curriculum. The first Schools’ prize will be awarded during the anniversary year of 2023, a fitting way of marking the RHC’s long-standing dedication to telling the stories of the North West.

Current RHC Director Professor Fiona Edmonds says: “We are building on the Centre’s longstanding tradition of engagement in North West England to bring the region’s history to new audiences and the wider world.”

The RHC maintains close contact not only with a loyal group of patrons, friends and supporters, but with heritage organisations and partners across the region.

Academic Coordinator Dr Sam Riches feels these connections underpin the work mission to support tomorrow’s historians.

“We are responsible for the offer of Heritage Placements that forms a key strand of activity on student employability within the History Department,” she says. “We are already seeing our students go on to exciting careers with Historic England and the royal palaces, as well as professional qualifications in museums and archives.

“We also work with older learners. Our Post Graduate Certificate in Regional and Local History by Distance Learning, attracts students from many different backgrounds and levels of experience, and gives them the opportunity to develop and consolidate their skills then put them to use in a supervised independent project.”

The RHC has also developed a consultancy service to help community groups who are interested in exploring their own area.

The RHC holds an internationally-important archive of oral history, courtesy of Dr Elizabeth Roberts, a former CNWRS Director and a ground-breaking scholar. The Elizabeth Roberts Working Class Oral History Archive is a unique resource for scholars everywhere – but it is firmly rooted in the North West.

Comprising hundreds of interviews from Barrow-in-Furness, Lancaster and Preston, these fascinating stories were collected in the 1970s and 1980s. An ongoing digitisation process is bringing the transcripts to a worldwide audience, offering a rare and precious glimpse into the lives and experiences of ordinary people from the late 19th century up to 1970.

Having reached a historic anniversary of its own, the RHC is not only looking back on a proud record of 50 years of championing local history and heritage – it is looking forward to the next phase of activity.

2023 will feature an extra-special programme of events throughout Cumbria and Lancashire.

These will include the world premiere performance of John Balshaw’s ‘Jigge’, a combination of music, poetry and drama illuminating the tensions of the English Civil War that was written in the Lancashire village of Brindle 350 years ago, participation in a wider initiative to explore the Duchy of Lancaster’s Great Cowcher Book, an important and beautiful medieval manuscript, and a fresh look at some of the hoards of North West England, organised in partnership with Lancaster City Museums.

RHC Administrator Ann-Marie Michel says that everything the team does is aimed at making sure that the RHC will continue to act as a beacon.

“We’ve been highlighting the unique history of the North West since 1973 – so many people have worked so hard to keep that commitment that we certainly can’t stop now,” she added.