The Clarion House
Registered Office of the Nelson Independent Labour Party Land Society
This is the text only page
Welcome to the Clarion House
The purpose of this site is to combine information about the history of the Nelson Independent Labour Party with the present uses of the Clarion House.
The "Clarion" is situated in its own grounds within the "Hidden Valley" and is surrounded by a myriad of public footpaths and close to both the Pendle Way and the Two Roses Way.
There is a magnificent view to the North.
We are deep in the heart of "Pendle Witch" country.
Roughlee, Barley, Read and the historic towns of Colne, Whalley and Clitheroe are all within walking distance.
Celebrated Pendle Hill is to the immediate North West and a few miles to the East, Boulsworth Hill towers over the Pennine Way.
Within the grounds children can play under the watchful eye of their parents. There are lawned areas and a new adventure playground.
Part of the grounds has been set aside for wildlife and a pond has been dug to develop this potential.
A survey of the flora was undertaken during 2004 and the results will be published in 2005. We intend to post the results on this site.
Thank You!
The members of Nelson ILP Land Society wish to thank everyone who has donated money and contributed their time and labour to our ongoing renovation project.
We have received £18,000 from donations, fund raising and grants.
This has enabled us to carry out a major part of the renovation work including a new floor, the rebuilding of the veranda, external & internal painting, a new kitchen and an extension with indoor toilet facilities for the less able and baby changing facilities.
We need to raise a further £3,000 to replace the roof and provide easy access for the less able.
History
The Clarion House was built to be a non-profit making co-operative with any excess money to be used in spreading the word of socialism.
This was no accident, no coincidence. It was planned in the hope that others would take it as a model of how society as a whole ought to be organised.
Visitors could come and witness how people - lots of people - were prepared to devote their lives to the Clarion movement for no personal gain, other than the knowledge that they would leave the world a better place than when they entered it.The Clarion is a vision of the future, a vision of a socialist society, a commonwealth, based on co-operation and fellowship, not conflict and material greed.
Those early socialist pioneers who built the Clarion chose a place of recognised natural beauty in the fervent hope that the rest of the world (for socialism knows no boundaries) would come to resemble it and become a place of beauty, not only physical beauty - but also a moral and social beauty.
The Clarion (meaning - to proclaim loudly) was to be the instrument by which their message would be spread, uniting the world under one banner of socialism, peace and harmony.
The present and last Clarion House is one of several ‘Clarion Houses’ that were used by the Nelson Independent Labour Party.It was built in 1912 under the direction of the trustees of the Nelson ILP Land Society. The building project was funded by a loan of £350 from the Nelson Weavers Association. The size of the loan at that time, says as much about the size and success of the Nelson Weavers Association as it does about the inescapable relationship that existed between the developing trade union movement and the emerging political parties which were forming to represent "labour” independently.
The history of the Clarion House is encapsulated in a book written by Roger Brown and the late Stan Iveson, titled: “Clarion House - A Monument to a Movement”.
This book is currently out of print, however it has been reproduced in electronic form and along with a photographic history of the ILP and other items is available on a CD-ROM (please email for details).
The ILP in Nelson
The Nelson branch of the ILP was formed in 1893, one of
the first and eventually the second largest branch in the country.For many years
the focal point for the branch was the former Independent Labour Party Institute
and Socialist Sunday School, which were situated in Vernon Street, Nelson.
The land on which the institute was built was purchased in
1906.
Many fund raising events were held. A single three day “Grand Socialist Bazaar” raised the princely sum of £580.
In 1907 memorial stones were laid by Socialist Pioneers. Selina Cooper laid a stone in memory of Caroline Martyn & Enid Stacey. Mrs Bruce Glasier laid another in memory of William Morris & E.F. Fry.
The magnificent stone building costing £3,000 was opened on the 28th of March 1908.A procession of over 600 people led by the Mayor and a brass band marched through the town to the new institute.
The opening ceremony was performed by Philip Snowden M.P. and was followed by a Tea and Social for 600 people.Two stained glass windows were situated above the main entrance, together with a stone lintel proclaiming: “Socialism Our Hope.”
Both of the windows have been preserved, one of the windows is on loan to the People's History Museum Bridge Street, Manchester. The other window of the pair is placed in an honoured position in the Nelson ILP Land Society Clarion House (images of the windows are on our CD-ROM).
The institute consisted of an extensive basement and boiler room. The ground floor containing a grand entrance and stairs, cloakroom, bathroom and toilets, reading room, library, committee rooms, school rooms, billiard room and kitchen. First floor accommodation comprised, lecture/concert room for 600 people, a stage with anterooms and back stairs.
The decline of the ILP in Nelson mirrored the national decline of the ILP and as a consequence the institute is now used to serve a wider community.
The Nelson ILP branch, the members of which were mainly cotton workers, rented a cottage (Thorneyholme Square) in 1899 to allow its members to escape the polluted air of mills and towns. The out of town venue was used to promote good health and stimulate socialist fellowship.In 1903 when it had become apparent that the cottage was too small they rented Nabs Farm, Dimpenly and it was renamed the Clarion House.
The Independent Land Society was formed in 1910 raising money from ILP members through the purchase of £1 shares. A plot of land was purchased at Jinney Lane, the Nelson Weavers Association loaned the Land Society the money needed to build the present Clarion House.Both the land and the building are still held in trust by the Land Society.
Present Day
Today the Clarion House remains a monument to those early socialist pioneers and continues to be a haven for walkers and cyclists.
The "Hidden Valley" where we are located is truly wonderful and our regulars never tire of the many and varied paths that bring them to the Clarion.
Major refurbishment of the building has taken place, made possible with funds raised by our supporters and the labour of volunteers.
Further work is also underway. We need to raise a further £3,000 to complete the last restoration phase.
We are open every Sunday and some Bank Holidays and we offer a warm welcome to both seasoned walkers and cyclists and families out for a Sunday stroll.
Pints (and mugs) of the celebrated Clarion Tea are on sale along with a variety of other beverages and confectionery. You can even wash down your own packed lunch with a drink purchased from us.
The local ramblers have made a major contribution in ensuring that both the spirit and the fabric of the Clarion House have survived until today.
Cyclists visit in profusion including several Clarion Cycling Clubs. Serious riders from as far away as Keswick, having left before breakfast, refuel and join in the banter with local family groups who have peddled a blissful few miles from one of the nearby towns or villages.
The Clarion is a simple stop off for those who find contentment from their own labours, the great outdoors and friendly company. We hope to see you soon
Clarion House CD-ROM
Included on the CD-ROM are:
PDF version of "A Monument to a Movement" - the history of the Clarion House.
PDF version of a Concise History of the Early Days of Nelson ILP.
PDF version of Photographic History
PDF version of Golden Jubilee.
JPEG image of a letter to James Keir Hardie from George Cadbury, in response to being requested to support the ILP.
PDF version of James Keir Hardie – The Lochnorris Collection.
Microsoft Windows Media Audio File – ILP Reflections 1998 - Gilbert Kinder & Ivy Iveson in conversation
(Copyright North West Sound Archive, Clitheroe Castle, Clitheroe. No re-recording without the permission of the Archive).
All views expressed in this recording are personal views and should not be taken to be the collective view of the Nelson Independent Labour Party Land Society.
The folder in the contents of disc “ILP Photo History” contains the 44 images from "Photographic History" plus 3 additional images.
The PDF files can be read with Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be down loaded from the Adobe web site or is easily obtainable as free software.
The Microsoft Windows Media Audio File can be read with Windows Media Player and certain software associated with computer recording/playback devices.
Prices by surface mail: UK £6.80, Europe £7.40, Rest of World £7.80
email enquiries for CD-ROM
How to find us:
Ordnance Survey Maps
LANDRANGER 1:50 000 Series, Sheet 103
OUTDOOR LEISURE 1:25 000 Series, Map 21
National Grid Reference SD 832 396
The Clarion House can be reached by easy or moderate walks from the surrounding towns of Nelson, Colne, Burnley & Clitheroe.
There is car parking at nearby Barley.
In summer a "Hopper Bus" operates from Nelson, Burnley, Padiham, Sabden, Pendleton, Clitheroe & Downham.
The East Lancs Railway Line lies close by to the East.
The Railway Stations at Brierfield & Nelson are good starting points for a walk to the Clarion.
Navigators of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal will discover the Clarion House to be "nobbut a cockstride away".
Contacts:
For general enquiries regarding the Clarion House and Nelson ILP Land Society, please write to:The Secretary, Nelson ILP Land Society, The Clarion House, Jinney Lane, Newchurch-in-Pendle Lancashire BB12 9LL
Donations to the “Clarion House Restoration Fund” can be sent to: The Restoration Fund Organiser, The Clarion House, Jinney Lane, Newchurch-in-Pendle Lancashire BB12 9LL
Please note that we are a voluntary organisation and response time will be affected by the availability of a volunteer, however we will respond as soon as possible.
Page last updated 18.10.2005