TheNo.11 Summer 2010Raven The quarterly magazine for the whole of Rainow

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G Village News G Social Events G Parish Council News G Clubs & Societies G School & Church

Your Update on Council Activities

Annual General Meeting More advertisers needed for the Raven The AGM was held on the 18th May for the election of The Council are urgently seeking advertisers to ensure the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Working Groups and continuation of the newsletter. If you are interested in Representatives. With no other nominations for Chairman and advertising, or if you know someone who could be, then please Vice Chairman Cllr Butler agreed to continue as Chairman for contact Cllr Ian Brammer on [email protected]. one more year with Cllr Mary Marsh agreeing to stand as Vice Chairman. We would like to thank Ken and Mary for their hard The Mount Pleasant Phone Kiosk work over the past few years. The council has had several suggestions on the use of the redundant phone box and some of these are listed in the The following Working Groups were agreed by the meeting: Raven Readers Forum on page 13 in this issue. PLANNING and TRANSPORT GROUPS - All Council If you have any other suggestions then please let us know. Members Also if you can help look after the kiosk please contact the PROJECTS GROUP – Cllrs John Stagg (Chairman) and Clerk or a member of the Council. Ken Butler Dog Fouling Update FOOTPATH GROUP – Cllrs Vivienne Law (Chairman), We are waiting for Cheshire East to produce new leaflets with Ian Brammer, Ken Butler, Judy Wilkinson and Wendy Vernon updated legislation. The Council plan to distribute these in JUBILEE PLAYGROUND INSPECTION GROUP – problem areas along with free bags in the near future. Under Cllrs Mary Marsh, Alan Taylor and Judy Wilkinson the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 it is an offence for PARISH PLAN IMPLEMENTATION GROUP – Cllrs Alan anyone in control of a dog to allow it to foul on any open Brett (Chairman), Ian Brammer, Geoff Cooper, Vivienne space to which the public have access. Also if owners throw Law and John Stagg; Tony Nicol their bags in hedgerows etc. they can be prosecuted under CHESHIRE ASSOCIATION – Area Meeting this act. Cheshire East Council will carry out surveillance of Representatives – Cllr Ken Butler areas frequented by dog walkers and Fixed Penalty Notices WEBSITE EDITORS – Cllrs Ian Brammer and Ken Butler (FPN) of £50 are served on dog walkers who allow their KRIV REPRESENTATIVE – Cllr Ken Butler (Deputy dog(s) to foul and don't clean up after them. As a resident you Chairman) can notify the Council of any dog walker who persistently allows their dog to foul without cleaning up. You do not Rainow Parish Council Annual Report necessarily have to provide your name and address. The financial statement is listed on the village website. There are currently two active dog wardens covering Rainow 2010/11 Precept Cheshire East and they are Keith Massey and Dave Brewster Every year the Parish Council gets its funds from Cheshire who can be contacted on 01270 529599. East Council who, in turn, get their funds from your Council Please, please pick up your dogs waste and keep our village tax. Our share of this tax is small and is shown on your a clean and healthy place to live in. Council tax bill as “Rainow Parish”. Last year we requested £11000 from the Cheshire East Council This year we have The Pleasance and asked for £10000 which reflects a 9 per cent reduction in the Trinity Gardens budgeted expenditure for the coming year. The gardens are Civic Service looking fantastic at The Parish Council warmly invites you to their Civic Service to the moment. The be held at Holy Trinity Church, Rainow on Sunday 26th Trinity Gardens are September with the service commencing at 10.00 a.m. You blooming following are also welcome to join the Parish Councillors afterwards in the completion of the a procession to the school hall and to join them for light grant work by Louise refreshments. We look forward to meeting you then. Baylis and the continuing efforts of Hedge Cutting WI members. The Where it is your responsibility, please cut back any overhanging impressive tidiness hedges on footpaths to give the full width of the footpaths to of the Pleasance is pedestrians. Thank you for your co-operation in this matter. all due to the hard Remember the Parish Plan? work of David Hinkes There’s a lot of information on the special Parish Plan for which we are website, but successes include getting grants for the first very grateful. David issues of the Raven, a survey to find a public open space will be putting in new (proved too expensive), equipment for young people such as bedding plants and a laptop computer and projector, establishment of a on his behalf we Countryside Group and improvements to path marking and would ask that countryside access notice boards. Other elements in the plan special care is have been progressed by the Parish Council, including the shown when using setting up of a Countryside Group, getting speed limits the garden and that established and developing better communications with the the beds are not police and planning bodies. The Parish Council will now trodden on. continue to pursue some of the Plan’s recommendations and Thank you for your

arish Council News will explore further the possibility of an open space/community co-operation. facility, better presentation of village history, some form of retail facility and greater coordination of village groups.

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Other issues The Council continues to pursue a number of issues with the responsible authorities:

G Re-installation of grit bins removed from Sugar Lane, Hough Hole and Millers Meadow G Replacement of signs for Tower Hill and the top of Blaze Hill G The repair of a number of stiles in the area G Filling pot-holes in a number of places

We would ask for your patience. These are things we don’t control directly. Repairs to the war memorial wall are now completed.

Vandalism/theft You may have noticed that the flags have been removed from the seating area on Smith Lane. Regrettably we have to report that these were stolen. Ian Townley has offered to replace these with John Leigh stone he has available from work on one of his barns. We would like to thank Ian for his very generous offer. n the last issue of ‘The Raven’ John was featured in If you see any damage to local seats, fencing, bus shelters and so I‘Meet the Councillors’. on please do not hesitate to contact the Parish Council so that we Sadly we now feature him again, this time to record his can get repairs put in place as soon as possible. If the item is not untimely death. John was very well known and held in high the responsibility of the Parish Council we can pass the request on esteem in the village both for his long service on the parish to the relevant authority. council and for his outstanding professional work.

Future Meetings Born 24th November 1948, the third of four children, he lived his early years on Round Meadow where his parents had moved 15th June 20th July at the time of their marriage. John’s mother was Alice Rushton 17th August 21st September and his father also John but known as Jack, had lived at Chapel All Parish Meetings commence at 8.00 p.m. Lane Farm, then a smallholding. As a boy John attended the local Church school and being very interested in farming, would go down to Hough Hole Farm to help the farmer Jack Oldfield. At that time he was apparently very keen to possess a Your Parish Councillors pair of ‘clogs’ such as ‘real’ farmers then wore. Going on to the ‘Central School’ he excelled at practical work Ken Butler (Chair) 433168 and upon leaving in 1957/8 he joined the family business of Mary Marsh (Deputy) 573508 dairy engineers, then based at Gin Clough. This business, in addition to varied dairy activities, also undertook plumbing and Ian Brammer 426059 heating work. On the death of John’s father in 1999, John Alan Brett 576108 concentrated on domestic plumbing and heating whilst his John Cantrell 422107 brother Peter continued with the dairy work. Geoff Cooper 574878 John was a man who from boyhood had a diverse range of Vivienne Law 575201 interests. These included fishing, archery, poultry, a pig named Annabelle, vegetable gardening and latterly bee-keeping. Many John Stagg 572816 will remember the honey and beeswax products that were part Alan Taylor 575544 of his interesting bee-keeping display at the Rainow fetes. He Wendy Vernon 572812 reconditioned two ‘vintage’ tractors, a ‘Grey Fergie’ and a Judy Wilkinson 614650 Fordson Major, the latter once put to use to take the bride of a local farmer to her wedding. Other activities were self-taught Clerk: Sarah Giller 850532 welding and the spraying of cars. In these interests he had wide [email protected] experience and was very knowledgeable, but in his plumbing and heating work he was quite simply without peer, supremely Cheshire East Council competent, diligent, thorough and completely trustworthy. Your Councillors for Bollington and Disley As a companion he could be witty and amusing having a Cllr Harold Davenport 01663 763986 delightfully unexpected turn of phrase with a fund of Cllr Matthew Davies 01625 426023 knowledge available to anyone who asked. His many years of service on the parish council are well known but less well Cllr Diana Thompson 01663 763329 known was his unobtrusive work around the village doing practical jobs that he had spotted needed doing. Editorial Team for this issue: He is, and will continue to be, greatly missed in the village and Ian Brammer Bob Langstaff our most heartfelt condolences go to his wife and family. In this Louise Leigh Jane Mellings we doubtless echo the sentiments of many. Kate Kilpatrick Design by Mel Wilcox (01625 576182)

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Rainow Rainow Church Fête Players t will soon be Rainow Fête season again – undoubtedly one of the best times to ainow Players have now stopped be in the village! The date for your diary performing and have closed their I R is SATURDAY 17th JULY and the Fête books. will be held at Hough Hole Farm courtesy It was with great pleasure that of Bill and Diane Moss. The Players donated the remaining Scarecrow Fortnight Attractions will include a children’s train funds to:- (10th to 25th July) ride; brass band; Fancy Dress This year’s theme will be: Competition, and the traditional Kerridge Rainow Institute Climb. Ravens Church Youth Group “Famous People from History” First Rainow Cubs In the weeks either side of Fête Day the village will once again host the popular - Rainow Scout Troop First Prize will be £100 Rainow Pre-School Second Prize £75 Friends of Rainow School Third Prize Junior Church £50 Rainow Beaver Scouts Scarecrow entry forms will be First Rainow Brownies available (£1 each) First Rainow Guides from Liz Lawson (01625 573632) Jolly Tots Throughout the scarecrow fortnight Praise and Play (except for Fête Day itself), refreshments will be available These donations were made in loving in the Church Centre memory of Deborah Duckworth (nee from 12 noon until 8pm. Laing), a former Rainow Player. John Forbes Chairman, Rainow Players.

Meet the Photographic group shooting ahead! Councillors ainow’s recently formed Photographic Group is gathering strength in numbers and Rbecoming more ambitious. There are now a dozen enthusiastic photographers who Name: JOHN STAGG have decided to get together informally about once a month to develop their skills and share ideas usually through sessions where new digital techniques can be demonstrated Time on Council: 7 years and tried out. The idea is that a member with knowledge of something the others want to learn will share his or her experience using equipment pooled by the group. Some out- Born: Bedford, March 1944 ings are also likely where people can work together on a common theme. A new idea Star Sign: Aries which was put forward at the last meeting and was enthusiastically taken up was to set up an internet group using the Flickr website. This will enable everyone to share pictures Interests: Conservation Work and make useful comments on how each other’s photographs and techniques can be improved. This “Rainow Collection” will be accessible to anyone and could form the basis Home: Millers Meadow for a future exhibition. The only thing lacking from the scene is obvious from the photo of the last group meeting – no women members! The group are keen to see more females Family: wife Janet, David, Tim and joining but are keen to emphasize this doesn’t mean you have to become a model! Rebecca Anyone (male or female) can join in by phoning Bob Langstaff and coming along. Occupation: Retired

Hobbies: Motoring; Aviation, Archaeology

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'Little green fingers' ?? by Jane Mellings Pre-School has long wished for space re-School parents and staff have been busily digging this spring to create a new beyond the limited Institute yard where the Poutdoor space behind the Robin Hood pub. Landlady Karen has very kindly given children can run about, get their hands us access to a portion of the field beyond her chicken coop, and work is apace to dirty and learn more about their environ- create a garden with some raised vegetable beds, planters of flowers, an area of lawn ment. As a charity which banks with The and even a berry bush hedge. Co-operative Bank, we're eligible to apply for funding from the banks Customer Donation Fund, and Karen's generous offer of access to the land encouraged committee members to give it a go. Our funding application stressed the ecological and community benefits of our plans, and we were delighted when we heard we'd been successful. With the money from the Co-op we can really do the job properly; investing in the equip- ment and tools we need to get started, making the plot safe, secure for the children, as well as being able to buy some fun 'scientific' equipment for our Can many small hands make light work of this! three and four-year olds; watch out the insect world!

Out of School by Mark Bertinshaw Celebrate he children of Rainow School We have a school council of pupils who 25 years of enjoyed a wonderful week prior to are elected by their classmates who have Rainow School Thalf term. We occasionally put our some say in future school developments. usual timetable to one side to hold a This elected group is run by Mr Norris, special week to celebrate other cultures. our Deputy Headteacher and this school with the Friends! The children (and staff) were able to council provides a pupil voice as well as ulminating their first year of fund experience samba music, have a go at giving the children an understanding of raising, the Friends of Rainow African dancing and join in with Chinese citizenship. They have been involved in a School are organising a special music and artwork along with a number number of developments and through C party and barbecue to celebrate the of visitors. They also enjoyed looking at questionnaires and suggestion boxes, silver anniversary of Rainow School. This artefacts from different cultures and they have identified that one of the areas will be a special social event where you’ll having a go at some recipes from around where children would like to see some be able to meet up with old friends, share the world. It was a really memorable changes in is playground provision. As a memories and find out what they’re up to week. result we have recently built a superb now! outdoor storytelling/sitting area at the top We have had further success in school An open invitation is extended to every- sports recently. Both our A and B teams of the bank and have recently installed a tyre play area. The school council one involved with the school over the won their respective football leagues with past 25 years. The barbecue will be at games to spare and we also celebrated arranged a competition to design the tyre park layout which was won by a pupil in school on July 10th at 5pm (see the an outstanding overall victory in the Raven What’s On sheet) Macclesfield cross country finals where Year 2. His reward was being the first Last month, Fizz Fashions came to the George Moss and his team won every pupil in school to test out the area. school with a show of ‘high fashion at race over the year. high street prices’. It was a huge success on two counts as not only did it raise over £700 for the school, but it also attracted fashion-conscious ladies from school and the wider community. Thanks to everyone who came along! We’d also like to thank everyone who donated prizes for the ‘May Day’ raffle, which was a tremendous success, raising over £1,000, and to those who supported the sponsored walk on a very hot day. Adding all the events together, we’ve made a fantastic £6,081, which is already more than last year, and which the school can use to enhance the children’s learning environment.

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Recipe of the Month Rainow Church Appeal Jo Rogers’ by Michael Fox on behalf of the PCC Welcome Cake he Parish Church in Rainow needs to raise £30,000 over the next three years to meet the costs of its - a delicious Victoria sponge T ministry and to develop its role in the community. with lemon butter icing Vicar Steve Rathbone is a familiar figure to many around the village, not only as leader of worship in Rainow and its sister churches at Forest Chapel and Jenkin Chapel, but also as an active participant in many aspects of village life. Steve is a warranted Scout Leader who also takes groups of young people on holiday camps in the summer and mountain biking trips year round as well as helping to develop life skills amongst groups of younger people in some of the more deprived areas of Macclesfield. His ministry includes visiting the sick, the lonely and people in crisis, as well as conducting the ‘life events’ – baptism, weddings and funerals – which affect all of us at some time in our lives! On top of this he provides counselling and spiritual support to those who need it and is of course a figurehead for civic occasions such as Remembrance Sunday, the fete and the Civic Service. Jo has presented newcomers to Rainow with a welcome cake together with a However all this activity is under serious threat and if the target is not achieved, Rainow copy of the Rainow Parish Paths map will lose its vicar and the parish will be absorbed into a neighbouring area. Many people and an information sheet from the Parish beyond the Sunday congregation will view this as a major loss to village life. Council for about eighteen years. She Rainow and associated parishes in Forest and Saltersford have a unique character with shares her recipe with Raven readers. a fiercely proud community spirit and many people would agree that Steve and his church ministry play a significant role in promoting the village’s sense of well-being. In Ingredients particular Steve would like to see the church buildings becoming more accessible and 6 oz Soft margarine open to the community throughout the week – not just on Sundays! 6 oz Caster sugar If you value Steve’s ministry and recognise the importance of having a vibrant, open 6 oz Self-raising flour and accessible church in Rainow, please send a donation to the Appeal. Cheques 2 teaspoons baking powder (payable to Rainow Parish Church) can be sent to the Church Treasurer, Christine Fidler at 17 Millers Meadow, Rainow, SK10 5UE. 1 tablespoon cold water 3 Large eggs If you would like any further information, please ring Steve himself on 01625 572013.

Method Cream the marg and sugar then Flying High with his Feet on the Ground! gradually add the beaten eggs, sifted flour, baking powder and cold water. eter Neville and his partner Jackie have lived in Rainow for just a year but they both know the village well having spent ten years in Bollington before making the ascent Line and grease two 7 in tins with P to Rainow Low. Making ascents is nothing new to Peter. Once a helicopter pilot, he is greaseproof paper or use cake liners. now making use of his background, his engineering and computing skills, and his Divide the mixture between the two tins interest in photography in a very unusual hobby – kite aerial photography (KAP). and bake at 190 C, fan 170 C or gas “Kappers” as these enthusiasts are called, are to be found around the world but there are probably no more than thirty in the UK. Don’t confuse them with the people you see mark 5 for 20 to 25 minutes until in the park flying flimsy toys. These men and women are to be found at the controls of golden. The cake should spring back large, strong and manoeuvrable flying machines used to lift digital cameras two hundred when pressed. feet into the air. The legal height limit is 60 metres but Peter can fly above this altitude if he gets the necessary approval from air traffic control like the pilots of ordinary aircraft! Filling & topping Kites give photographers opportunities for dramatic shots often with better perspective 10 oz of Icing sugar, sifted and definition than from aircraft. Peter uses a standard Canon digital camera he has 4 oz Lurpak light butter modified to allow remote control from the ground. Keep an eye out for one of his red and blue machines in flight over Rainow as he sets out to provide the Raven (see our cover) Lemon juice to mix with a whole new vision of Rainow! Cream the icing sugar and butter and Recently Peter co-authored an award-winning book showing the pictures from an add the lemon juice. Divide this butter international group of “Kappers” who took pictures on the same day around the world. icing between the centre and top of the Some of his own shots appear in the book alongside those from the USA and the Far East. Take a look at his website www.kap.toadstone.com. to see what his pictures are cake and decorate with lemon and like and to find out how he takes them. orange crystallised fruits. Kite flying depends on the weather; no wind, no take-off. Understanding the weather is no problem to Peter as he has built his own weather station by his home above Rainow Low. Complete with web cam, his weather station compiles reports on the meteorological conditions every ten minutes. Rainow people can check the readings on his website www.biglow.co.uk/weather/php/

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The Future of Farming By Rainow Countryside Group

ne clear conclusion from the survey undertaken for the Rainow Parish Plan was that the Rainow The kind of view Rainow people want to keep Ocountryside should remain more or less as it is. Given that this landscape has been created by Average net income per farm for grazing livestock farms in many generations of farmers over some 900 years, less favoured areas (like Rainow) was £5,000 in 07/08 and the viability of farming is of major concern. £11,900 in 08/09 and the average age of farmers is currently 58. Few potential entrants to farming are coming forward so At the start of the war there was almost no mechanisation on farming skills and experience acquired over generations are Rainow farms and a varied mix of livestock, poultry and some being lost. The rules and regulations covering farm arable. Mechanisation and technology changes enabled great tenancies and employment are disincentives for what are increases in farm production but this left the hill-farmer high and mostly very small businesses and farms now coming onto (not very) dry as the land is much less suitable for the market are considerably more valuable divided into mechanisation. Grazing livestock became the only option and small lots. Since no proper return can be expected, no after abolition of the Milk Marketing Board dairy farms became capital is available for farm purchase. uneconomic, sheep being the only remaining option. Perhaps there is some hope for the future. In a masterstroke Individual farmers have little commercial power having become of hitherto unknown common sense, our new coalition suppliers to large and powerful organisations, not noted for their government has appointed people with knowledge of generosity, who dictate price levels. The era of cheap food farming to the commanding heights of Defra. Secretary of benefited the consumer in the short term but it has created State is Caroline Spelman MP who had an extensive career longer-term problems, chiefly the unprofitability of farms. in the agriculture sector. Minister of State for Agriculture and Confronted by this, governments have spent taxpayer’s money Food is Jim Paice MP who has had a lifelong involvement to subsidise farming at national and EU level. with farming. He recently stated “There’s too much red tape tying up our farmers and preventing them from getting on Farming makes a big contribution to the UK economy, some with the business of producing our food and managing our £7.2 billion in 2009, using 75% of the land area, and employing countryside.” (This is very true). One of Defra’s priorities is around half a million people. EU funding for UK farms is worth to: “reduce the regulatory burden on farmers by moving to a about £3 billion per year. A Defra survey in April 2010 on the risk-based system of regulation, and develop a system of effects of abolition of these subsidies found that the financial extra support for hill farmers” (Good!) Another priority: “We condition of grazing livestock farms in the UK would be as will ensure that food procured by government departments, follows: and eventually the whole public sector, meets British standards of production wherever this can be achieved G 1% would remain on a proper commercial footing without increasing overall cost” (If only…..) with some money available for further investment. Farmers work long hours under conditions few would G 26% would have an income above zero but the tolerate today for little or no return. Many do this by choice farmer could earn more in other employment. but reasonable remuneration should be obtainable. The G 30% would have an income below zero. remedy is obviously that the farmer should receive more.

G 28% survival would depend on external finance or Who wants to pay? other employment. G 15% are in dire straits already.

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Friday Night Disco 1978 Rainow Institute Present & Fut ast ure P ucked away on Stocks Lane, approached by a narrow path and with no car park to call it's Town, the Rainow Institute has a seemingly modest place in our village. But perhaps it deserves a little more attention. More than 200 years ago it was established as a place to provide education in an isolated and fairly impoverished community; whilst in today's 'networked' world our Institute can take it's place amongst the other 9000 English village halls, which according to ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) have a total asset value of more than £2.1 billion.

Some believe a building on the Stocks Lane site was first in use during the 1750s as a poor house, but we know for sure, from date stones displayed on the outside of the current building, that public subscription helped establish it as a Methodist Sunday School during the early 1800s. By the 1840s, and following a couple of extensions, it had become a Parochial Day School, charging 'school pence' to more than 160 children. It also relied greatly on the benevolence of James Mellor, owner and creator of the gardens at Hough Hole House. By this time the Methodists and the Church of England were vying for influence in the parish, and, after quite a struggle, the Church of England established it's own school (the buildings beside the Holy Trinity Church gate) in 1843. Rainow continued to have two separate primary schools until 1984, though The Institute was vacated as one of these in 1896 when the Wesleyan day school at the end of Stocks Lane was completed.

Another date stone on the building bears the inscription 'Rainow Institute 1901'; and it was around that time that the place switched from school to community building. It's running and administration fell to a Charitable Trust, established, it is thought, in 1897. Sometime later the Trustees gave this job over to an elected management committee of volunteers which remains in place to this day.

It's hard to find a specific reason for the name 'Institute'. Some think it comes from associations with activities as diverse as mining, Methodism and working men's clubs, whilst dictionary definitions include, more straightforwardly, 'an organisation for the promotion of learning'. Certainly it's a relatively common name for other similarly aged and used village buildings, though nowadays it sounds old fashioned and may throw any newcomer seeking out the 'village hall' temporarily off track.

There have been many changes in more than a hundred years of community use. That said, diversity seems an enduring theme; from Whist, drama or gardening last century, to yoga and felt-making in more recent years. One of the first uses was what appears to have been a 'men-only' billiards club – one of the full sized tables was known to have been donated by the Gaskell family of Ingersley Hall (now Savio House). Keeping things equal though, Rainow Women's Institute have held monthly meetings at the Institute since 1936. The billiard tables are now long gone, but not so the card tables used for the Whist Drives every Saturday night until just a couple of years ago. One of these tables is still used at each management committee meeting to set out, and draw, the lucky winning numbers from the '100 club'. This '100 club' has been keeping Institute funds healthy for almost 30 years now.

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Unlike many village halls, the Institute is lucky to boast a stage, the boards of which have always been well trodden, notably by the Youth Club and the Rainow Players during their 1970s heydey. Musicians also praise the acoustics of the building, and the wood floor makes for a great dance floor as many village parents discovered for the first time at the recently revived school disco.

Rainow Players

For many Rainow families, their first encounter with the Institute comes via Rainow Pre-School. Evolved from the Playgroup established in 1972, the current Pre-School team of six staff are now guided by the OFSTED 'Principles for Early Years Education'. They do a great job at making the 200-year-old building work as a daily 'learning through play' space for the thirty-plus tots on the register; we can only wonder what those early Methodist educators would make of it.

The diversity of groups still using the Institute on both a regular and irregular basis, often making conflicting demands on the space, make the job of the management committee interesting to say the least, and not without challenge! Enough rental income must be brought in each year to cover running costs, and a building of this age and type is expensive to heat and maintain. Heat and light were first installed in the 1930s and whilst various improvements have taken place over the years, now seems a good time to push for a more major refurbishment across the building's two floors. Things we could consider are insulation, secondary glazing, and improvements to the kitchen, toilets and storage space. This is something the current management committee are keen to do if they can garner enough energy and enthusiasm. Cheshire Community Action's Village Halls Advisors, who recently visited the Institute for the first time, are optimistic that it would be possible to find funds for such a project, with the most likely sources being money available for community projects through the government's Landfill Tax. If this is something you'd like to become involved in, or if you have your own ideas for the future of the Institute, the committee would really like to hear from you via the contact email address at the end of this piece.

In the meantime, keep using your Institute! It can accommodate up to 100 people, has a kitchen and space for a bar (we can advise about license requirements). It's available for anyone to hire (call Chris Marsh on 01625 573508), with a party for children costing as little as £32, and for adults from £74. Club or organisation rates start at £10 per session. Finally, don't forget the '100 club'. For a £12 full year's subscription you'll be entered into a monthly draw for one £20 and two £10 prizes. And at Christmas there are three extra draws. Tickets from Noreen Wood, 6 Millers Meadow. Email: [email protected] Sunday Youth Club 1983

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At the oche with the WI ! by Mary Meecham

YOUR LOCAL SERVICE

he WI is often thought of just for away matches. They meet making jam, singing Jerusalem, regularly for practice and knitting and flower arranging. We do matches at the Rising Sun on T Thursday nights. Olwen Hobson all these things but many others as well – serious things like being is Rainow’s current team captain, represented on government committees marshalling her troops to play but also having a lot of fun, too. Here in in surrounding villages against WI teams Rainow our activities extend beyond our in the Macclesfield group. At the end of enjoyable monthly meetings to include a the recent season they were pleased with wide variety of other interests. We have a their second position in the league. All the darts group which has been meeting for team members have fun, enjoying HarropRainow Fold Farm over thirty years sometimes just for meeting the other village teams and are informal play but also playing home and great ambassadors for Rainow WI. Tel: 01625 560085 Somewhere very special... Carole Harvey Telemarketing A Quintessentially English Experience, Delightful Award Winning 5 Star Guest Farmhouse and New Business Development Self-catering Cottage Accommodation set in 20 acres with breathtaking Appointment Setting views over the Cheshire Plain. Telephone Marketing We offer ’Cupcakes Galore’ - hands on cookery courses as well as a 22 Millers Meadow, Rainow, Macclesfield 01625 573576 [email protected] ‘Cornucopia of Canapés’ - hands on Canapé courses along with Cookery Demonstrations with Lunch or Dinner using the finest local ingredients Computer & I.T. Solutions led by our own Cordon Bleu trained Chef. for home or office Day & Residential Art Courses Commonside Farm with our Resident Professional Artist. Ecton Avenue, Buxton Road, Macclesfield SK10 1RB Gift Vouchers available and Corporate and Group Bookings welcome. Contact STUART [email protected] www.harropfoldfarm.co.uk 01625 669750 or 07770315443 www.michaelmooreart.co.uk www.leahspantry.co.uk

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KRIV Project nears completion By Ken Butler

Many historic features have been uncovered and restored. Some stiles and makeshift gates, a lot of which were unusable by young families and older members of the community, have been replaced with fully accessible kissing gates. Part of the educational objective of the project has been achieved by involving 6 local schools in the production of a teaching reference booklet on the work and findings of the project. This booklet has been produced for use by schools to meet some of the National Curriculum requirements for Key Stages 1 & 2. A Heritage map and booklet have been produced by the team and are available for purchase from members of the Volunteer Group or Members of the Steering Group. These describe the features that have been restored, their location and the history behind them. The Project has had its critics but these are few in number. It is also unfortunate that a few landowners haven’t permitted conservation work to be carried out on their land. Stone Bridge Nevertheless the overall aims of the project have been after reconstruction achieved and the project remains the first and one of the most successful Community led Heritage Landscape he KRIV (Kerridge Ridge & Ingersley Vale) Heritage schemes in the country. Landscape Project is coming to its end with the last To ensure that the good work is continued, funds have been of the work scheduled to finish by end of July. T allocated to allow for a 5 year maintenance period starting At a public meeting in May at Savio House, Richard in September. The work will be carried out by members of Thorogood, the Project Manager, gave a comprehensive the Volunteer Group under the direction of the Steering review of the project. The project has been extremely Group and Groundwork Cheshire. Looking to the future; a successful and Richard described how it has achieved Countryside Skills and Learning Centre is proposed, based its three main goals of conservation, improvement of in the little used out-buildings of Savio House. These will access to the area and education. Not the least of these contain classrooms, laboratories and some living achievements has been the teaching of countryside skills accommodation and will continue the work of teaching to a wide cross-section of the local community through countryside skills with the support of Reaseheath and a regular programme of teaching by experts. The Macclesfield Colleges. A planning application been made Volunteers, groups of 15 to 20 local people (over a and funding is currently being sought to enable this project hundred people in all) have turned up every Friday and to move forward. acquired the skills of stone walling, path laying, hedge laying, pond clearance and a whole range of other For those involved in the project it has been a thoroughly countryside skills. They have worked alongside rewarding experience and has left the communities of professionals and have provided a large part of the work. Rainow and Bollington with a better understanding and fuller The project owes them a great deal. enjoyment of the historic and beautiful area in which we live.

The new Redway Footpath- Over the 4 year period the achievements included: newly built by the Volunteers

1km of hedge laying 1.5kms of dry stone walling restoration Five stone stiles restored 223 new steps built to White Nancy Restoration of Claytons Tower, an historic gritstone waterfall, a dry-stone footbridge (see photo above) and a dry-stone well A community archaeological dig of the Cow Lane mill Improved access along major routes to White Nancy The creation of a wildflower meadow The creation of ten acres of new woodland

11

Law-breaking at Hordern in 1503 by Jane Laughton

a second, larger piece of land and again caused an edieval Rainow lay within the royal manor and forest obstruction, this time on the ‘highway’ leading from Beristowe of Macclesfield and the inhabitants were therefore up to the ‘forest’. The term ‘forest’ then denoted the hunting Msubject to forest law. This law provided protection for area known as the Chace del Coumbes, a tract of land which the venison, the deer which the king and his friends eventually became the township of Macclesfield Forest. By hunted for pleasure and for meat, and for the vert, the the late 14th century, however, the Combes were used woodland cover where the animals lived and bred. Kings primarily as a grazing area, supervised by a keeper based in rarely hunted in Macclesfield Forest but local officials were the forest chamber. This royal official kept a watchful eye on nevertheless regularly appointed to police the area and the animals and made sure that the appropriate fees were justices were commissioned on occasion to inquire into paid. forest offences. One such inquiry was held at Macclesfield on 17 May 1503, presided over by the prince of Wales’s The place-names allow us to trace the route of these medieval chancellor and the bishop of Lincoln. Hundreds of offences lanes. The starting point was Berristow (today’s Berristall) and were reported, some against the venison (killing deer or the lane climbed up past Hordern Lane End to Hordern, keeping greyhounds which had not been crippled by cutting continuing towards the ‘forest’ via Gulshaw Hollow, Walker off their toes for example), others against the vert (such as Barn and Charity Lane. The lanes survive in the present cutting down timber or extending the land under cultivation). landscape and are shown as footpaths 69 and 65 on Rainow Parish Map. When we walk along these paths we are following in the footsteps of medieval villagers taking their horses and Offences had been committed throughout the forest, from cattle to graze in the Combes. Disley in the north to Bosley in the south, but the justices may By 1503 the harsh penalties of forest law were no longer well have taken particular note of Rainow yeoman John Lowe, imposed and John Lowe would merely have been fined for evidently a persistent law-breaker. They heard that in April 1500 he had put 30 cows and 40 sheep to pasture on the king’s land, where they yet remained; they learned that in March 1502 he had cut down and carried away 40 cartloads of greenwood (hazel, holly, alder and hawthorn) growing in Rainow and Sutton. Lowe had also been involved in land clearance, burning ten acres of heath at Hordron Egge in July 1501, and a further three acres at Hordron Lowe the following May. On the latter occasion he had not only damaged the king’s pasture but also destroyed the king’s woods of Brynkelowe and Brynkewode next to le Wyndewayhed. These place-names reveal the focus of John Lowe’s activities and indicate that he lived at Hordern, as his family had done since the 14th century. Indeed, his ancestor William del Lowe had served as an under-forester in 1378 and was among those responsible for upholding forest law. John Lowe’s other offences affected the lanes around Hordern. In September 1500 he enclosed a piece of land lying on the The course of the lane from Hordern. ‘common lane’ leading from Berristowehed to Horderon More, Visible on the skyline are Walker Barn (to the right) and the final thereby blocking the way. In February 1501 he enclosed approach to the ‘forest’ (Charity Lane) in the centre

Looking back from Walker Barn. his misdeeds. He also agreed to pay rent for his newly Could the hill in the distance be Hordern Lowe? cleared land in the future. Succeeding generations of his family continued the process and Hordern became one of Rainow’s largest and most successful farms. By 1611 the house was a four-bay dwelling surrounded by several large outbuildings including a four-bay barn, a five-bay stable and turf-house, a kiln-house and a wain-house; there were two gardens, four little yards and a hay-house out in the fields. The fields covered some 30 Cheshire acres but there was still work to be done; amidst the arable land were fields described as ‘brushy’ and ‘heathy’. John Lowe of Hordern headed the list of Rainow taxpayers in 1663 and was charged for five hearths, a total exceeded only by the seven hearths at Saltersford Hall. Around this time two new farms were established close to the medieval lane. In 1648 Ferdinando Jackson of Brookhouse gave his second son John two acres of

12

Out & About with the Cubs by Sue Grimes

ince the last edition of Raven Swe have tried Tai Kwondo at the Martial Arts Academy in Macclesfield and each of the cubs made their own personalised tie-dye T-Shirt which looked amazing.

Looking back towards Hordern Lane End. When rebuilt in 1812 the house still faced onto the medieval lane although the lane known today as Lamaload Road was then in existence. Berristall can be seen through the trees We started the Summer Term with a day at Camelot Theme Park along with several hundred other Cubs from Cheshire! Cheshire measure on Hordern Moor ‘at the lower side The weather was good and we all had a lovely day. thereof lying to the end of a lane called Hordern Lane’. The This term we have been working for our Hiking and Navigator house John built has been replaced by the present Hordern Badges, one week we left the School and following written Lane End. By 1692 there were also Jacksons living at instructions ended up at Thornsett Farm to see the lambs and Berristall, a three-bay dwelling with main living room, parlour another week we met at Teggs Nose Country Park and and kitchen on the ground floor and three chambers above. followed the Gritstone Trail back down to Rainow. We were More farms were built elsewhere in Rainow and the fortunate with the weather both times but had to cancel our population continued to expand in the following decades. kayaking evening as it was snowing! The Haywards kindly allowed us to use their assault course and astro turf again and © Jane Laughton we finished by cooking marshmallows round a fire. The following week we again lit fires, this time down by the stream and cooked a variety of food, sausages, bacon, bananas and chocolate, burgers and so on. It always tastes delicious cooked outside. Raven Village Forum The first bank holiday in May saw 21 Cubs with Leaders and parents going to a PGL multi activity weekend in Lincolnshire. new feature in the Raven which gives readers the The boys (and the adults!!) abseiled, kayaked, fenced, opportunity to air their ideas or views anonymously. A climbed up a high pole and jumped on to a trapeze, went on a If you would like something mentioned please email the zip wire, and drove quad bikes. They were a pleasure to take editor (email address is [email protected]). away and everyone enjoyed themselves Topics which have come up recently include: We took part in District Sports Day, everybody who went G How to make best use of the redundant red phone box gained their Athlete Badge and also won the ‘Runners Up’ at Mount Pleasant. Shield for the second year running. So far ideas have included: Activities planned for the rest of the term include: windsurfing, A small library of local information. shooting and abseiling. A book exchange – leave a book and take one in exchange. A “for sale or wanted” notice board for residents Art Gallery Residents to buy a day for a £1 in the year to do what they want in it Buy your birthday and have a sign put in it to celebrate Any more ideas for the phone box? G Can’t we have a better noticeboard near the school? It’s too small and looks a mess www.rainowphotos.co.uk Beautiful Landscapes 13

Wellington Road, Bollington SK10 5JR The Yellow Teapot Café G For jazz G For comedy G For chamber music G For professional & amateur theatre productions G For talks Homemade scones Kerridge End Holiday Cottages G For art exhibitions Delicious sandwiches Rainow's Only 5 Star Self Catering Holiday Cottages G For poetry readings Homemade pies Cheshire's Only Green Tourism Silver Award winning Cottages G For rehearsal space Large selection of cakes N The Hayloft sleeps 6 N The Coach House sleeps 4 N The Stables sleeps 2 G For classes G For hire “Follow the yellow teapot signs!” For details of each cottage see: www.kerridgeendholidaycottages.co.uk Open 10am – 5pm Wed, Sat & Sun For more information visit our website: Email : [email protected] Tel : 01625 424220 www.bollingtonartscentre.org.uk Common Barn Farm, Smith Lane, Rainow or ring 573863 Tel: 01625 574878 Winners of North West Tourism for All Award 2009

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Rainow’s Sculpture Trail now firmly on the map he Sculpture Trail held at the intricate felt animal TOne House Nursery is sculptures were displayed becoming a regular annual within the walled garden, event and this year’s trail semi hidden as if for real. attracted 300 appreciative The children excitedly made visitors on the first Sunday, their way through the fields raising £1200 for charity. and gardens, looking at the People came from far and fantastic sculptures of wide with one visitor taking professional artists along the home a sculpture to Norfolk way. No fingers were lost as on the first day! Organiser they passed the pigs in the Louise Baylis gave special Angela Sidwell’s “Cow and calf” apple orchard, admiring the thanks to Mr & Mrs Porter who wonderful sun, rainbow and generously allowed access to Pre-school children enjoying raindrop display made by their adjoining bluebell wood their visit Rainow School children. which thanks to the cold spring Pupils not only saw their work was especially brilliant. The displayed alongside sculpture exhibits by over professional artists, they also twenty artists from all over experienced and questioned England ranged from the firsthand how sculptures and realistic to the futuristic. landscape can be combined in Several exhibitors commented many different ways. The that the involvement of the children were clearly inspired local community, especially and fascinated as they hunted children, made the trail really through the beautiful special and they are already landscapes of meadow, planning a return visit next woodland and gardens. It was year. The children themselves group of excited children from Rainow Preschool hopped on a a delight to see the faces of the also found the trail special. coach to One House Nursery to visit the fantastic Garden little artists light up as they saw Elizabeth Martin reported on Sculpture Trail. The visit was inspired by a sculpture project at their own creations in situ. By the visit of the pre-school preschool based on the Tales of Beatrix Potter, where during the end of the morning the group: “On the Morning of preschool sessions the children helped to create animals from children were clearly exhausted Wednesday 19th May, a her books. Here in the beautiful setting of One House Nursery by the wonderful experience.”

Guides are 100 years old! bviously, Rainow Guides in Rainow. We had many ex Oaren’t 100 - although by 9 Guides as well as the current o’clock on a Wednesday girls, comparing notes and night the two leaders are feeling uniforms, looking at old badges as if we might be! As has been and camp logs - were you at the featured in the National Press, Norfolk camps? Members of the Guiding has now existed for Sioux patrol, for example? The 100 years, from the moment Guides helped plan and cater girls marched into a Scout rally for the party and therefore won and demanded similar activities their Party badge as well as for them - why should boys their Centenary badge. The have all the fun? From those cake was cut by our newest feisty girls to today, Guiding has Guide, Abigail, and a Mum who offered girls the chance not only used to be a Rainow Guide - to meet friends and play Ann Carter - whose daughters games, but also try all sorts of have all also been Rainow activities. Guides. We started our centenary year Manchester (and several Guides made their promise by the Next venture? We finally get last October, by joining in with Christmas tree in Piccadilly Gardens), before helping at the to use our tent- at the Great the Cheshire launch party in village market, serving hot soup. We’ve had a few evening and Centenary Getaway Gig at Congleton. Unfortunately, the night hikes when again several Guides made their promise. the Cheshire Show Ground. weather wasn’t kind, but there We now have 15 Guides attending regularly. There will be about a thousand were a variety of activities to try. Guides, several bands - and a At Christmas we visited the The youngest of these made her promise at our special few headaches! Christmas Markets in centenary party, celebrating 100 years of Guiding and 35 years

15

Walks for All; Rambles in Rainow by Plodder

Walk 6: Harrop Wander Map: Rainow Parish Paths; OS OL24 The White Peak 1:25,000 Distance: 3.5 miles Ascent: 250 m. Going: Good tracks and paths with a few climbs Time: 2.5 – 3.0 hours Start and Finish: Spuley lane Footpath numbers relate to the Rainow Parish Paths map.

n last summer’s Raven we sent you off leading a group you can always use the Here go downhill towards Further Harrop Ion a Harrop Hobble from the excuse of admiring the views to pause for Farm, Now you are back in Rainow (19). Highwayman. But the Harrop valley is breath. and have a wonderful descent; if you are such a wonderful asset, especially at this feeling fit try jogging down you’ll find it time of the year, that we are setting off exhilarating! You’ll be able to see the road up the valley again. on your left skirting the upper reaches of the valley and disappearing behind the Start on Spuley Lane at the bottom of Highwayman, the valley spread before Hedgerow. There’s parking there. The you and Billinge and White Nancy from a Country Cafe has been demolished and higher and different angle. the Cheshire Hunt Pub is long gone...so carry some refreshment with you (though Climb the great step stile over the wall by you can always nip down to the Poachers the farm and shortly in a grassy field for a pint afterwards). you’ll reach a marker post (maybe still Walk up Hedgerow (path 21) for a short lying on the ground) where you turn right way past the old Cheshire Hunt (now a onto 22. Continue down across a small private house) and turn left through a brook and up over a stile by a farm gate gate into a field (28). You’re now on the then along a fallen down wall contouring across the fields to Harrop Wood. Some Gritstone Trail and heading in the Tiny but perfectly formed... direction of Disley! Follow this nice grassy would say this is the best bit, to me it is just a different aspect of an all round path across the fields until it dips down to Continue on this path in the same north brilliant walk. the Harrop Brook at Berristall Dale. Cross easterly direction, passing through a gate this by a tiny but perfectly formed stone and rising steadily all the way with views Emerge from the wood back into Pott bridge (right) and head up past Berristall improving all the time. Eventually you will Shrigley parish and head in the same Hall on your left. As you cross the brook come out onto the Bakestonedale Road easterly direction on PS21 (shortly you have entered foreign parts and the at Brink Farm. This can be quite a wild becoming PS 8) back towards Berristall path now become PS (Pott Shrigley) 4. place in winter. Turn right along the road. Hall. At the crossing track turn left and Don’t worry the natives are harmless and Although quiet and very rural, with the retrace your steps to the start. we’ll soon be back home. Follow this path farm on both sides, this can be quite upwards until you reach a crossing track. dangerous so watch out for traffic. You’ve missed the bluebells in Harrop Continue across (it is now PS5) still on Wood but never mind you’ll have had a the Gritstone Trail. As you rise take a look You’ll come to where the Gritstone Trail splendid walk...I hope. Do let us know back towards White Nancy and across turns left off the road towards Sponds Hill about your favourite walks in Rainow or the Harrop Valley to Billinge Hill. The and Lyme Park. Ignore that and continue comment on these..too long? Too short? views are splendid and if you are for a few metres to a stile on the right. Too much/too little information?

The former Cheshire Hunt Inn Above Berristall Hall The path to Harrop Wood 16