A DOCUMENTARY looking at the history of the UK's last Clarion House has been made.

Funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund gave the Clapham Film Unit the opportunity to look at the last Clarion House in Newchurch-in-Pendle.

Founded by the Independent Labour Party, the houses sprang up across Britain before the Second World War and provided much needed respite for factory and mill workers in towns and cities.

The house was originally located at Thorneyholme Square in Roughlee, then moved to Nabs Farm before the third, current site was built in 1912.

The project was funded by a £350 loan from the Nelson Weavers Association.

The house now runs as a cafe and is open once a week on Sunday from 10.30am to 4.30pm.

Activist Sue Nike, one of the driving forces behind keeping the Clarion House going, said: "This has been a wonderful opportunity for us to capture the history of this important heritage and also the memories of our older members.

"Like Jack Burrows whose parents ran the Clarion when it very first opened in 1912.

"We’ve been able to update our booklet and hopefully share and inspire more people to get involved and ensure the tradition of the Clarion Houses lives on."

The Clarion House was built to be a non-profit making co-operative, 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.

Charlotte Bill, the film's director, said: "As soon as I heard about the Clarion House, I knew it held a fascinating story.

“Particularly in today’s society where people seem to be becoming more interested in doing things collectively as a community and it’s very exciting to be involved in discovering and celebrating this heritage."

The film can be views from the Clarion House and Nelson Library in Market Square, Nelson.