If you haven't been to Pendle Heritage Centre yet, why not?

I went today to visit Frank Walsh, one of the tourism officers, and Angela White, the centre manager.

I'm always a bit unsure of heritage centres mostly because I am history-phobe, I never enjoyed the subject and school.

Our teacher was the sort of person who was easily distracted, so we would ask her about her dog, and she would spend the rest of the lesson talking about 'Trix' instead of William the Conqueror.

However, I have discovered what my real problem is. I don't enjoy reading history, but I love experiencing it.

Pendle Heritage Centre is a little gem of a place. They have a really small museum but its packed with information, voiceovers and videos.

Frank gave me the guided tour, and to see history for yourself is what makes it worth the visit.

He showed me beams of timber that had been uncovered during renovation, dating from the 1300's, a pigeon loft in a barn which has since been converted into the centre's gallery, but they have left the original pigeon holes visible and intact, remnants of stonework and stained glass windows which have been saved from nearby derelict churches... the list goes on.

Obviously because it's a Pendle centre, there is no chance you can have all that history without mention of the 'witches' and the trials. Apparently the centre is used quite frequently by students researching European Witchcraft as part of their studies.

They have a herb garden which has been restored and planted based on 3oo year old diaries, and discoveries during excavations of the grounds.

It's really a fascinating place, but it's the people that make it special.

The staff are a real bunch of characters - I only met a few of them but they have such a warmth and friendliness about that you feel like you've known them for years.

They have a great selection of stories to tell too, so I'm hoping they will relay some of those funny tales here on the Barrowford community site.

My favourite part of Frank's Fabulous Tour, was when he took me to Cruck Barn. The building is used at Christmas for a very realistic nativity, complete with straw floor and farm animals.

I think I may have made a couple of new friends whilst in the barn - the resident goats seemed to take quite a liking to me, chewing on my bag and one of them attempted to eat my sleeve!