Listening to Lancashire Tales: A Day in the Park

We had a wonderful time last Sunday. The Rawtenstall Annual Fair at The Whitaker provided the perfect backdrop for an opportunity to share some traditional tales of Lancashire with a wider audience and spread the word that our exhibition will be launching here on the 4th October.

The phrase 'traditional tales' always seems to suggest something old fashioned and cosy, yet these tales are anything but.

Marjan, Chris and Patricia did a great job of drumming up interest. I told many of the tales that have become the inspiration for the artists' work. Talking cats, spectral hounds with blazing eyes, giant cows and enchanted fishermen were all in evidence on this sunny afternoon in the park.

But these weren't the only Lancashire stories shared that day. I'm making a short film with Graham Kay for the exhibition that will hopefully include new Lancashire tales that people are telling now. I asked for people to come and see me in between sessions if they had stories of their own to share. Three people were kind enough to come forward. There were time slip stories and ghostly presences out on the fells.

If you have any personal strange stories or experiences based in Lancashire that you think might be what I'm looking for, please get in touch. My email address is: jah@storywheel.co.uk  I'd be more than happy to meet up (and pay for coffee!) and chat if the story seems suitable and you would be happy for me to record you.

Jacqueline Harris