DESCENDANTS of the family which founded Nelson travelled from all over the country for a reunion in Pendle.

The Marsden family last got together to revisit historic places in the town 16 years ago.

One of the organisers, Peter Marsden, of Hastings, said: "It is a lovely reason to bring people together and it has given us the opportunity to reflect on the past and consider the future."

In all 22 made the journey, travelling from Scotland and all over England. Others, who live in Switzerland, France and America, were unable to make the reunion. Nelson was founded from the settlements of Great and Little Marsden after the railway station opened in 1849, taking its name from the Lord Nelson Inn.

Peter's great-great grandfather Sir Leonard Marsden was a Liberal councillor for Central Ward and involved in the creation of Nelson Council 150 years' ago.

He was also a founding director of Marsden Building Society.

The party visited the town hall and Sir Leonard's grave at St John's Churchyard.

They removed a tree which had dislodged his gravestone and had the stone replaced.

Yesterday they visited Gisburn, Paythorne and Newchurch and celebrated the 81st birthday of Peter's mother Emily.

The earliest recorded Marsden presence in Pendle dates back 800 years and the family has a large collection of papers and documents detailing its history.

Peter said the visit had also made the family consider what to do with the historical data.

They were considering setting up a trust fund to look after the information and possibly display it at Pendle Heritage Centre.

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