Alston Hall was, until the beginning of last year, a sister college to Higham based in the Ribble Valley in Lancashire. We shared many tutors and, indeed, students, and strived to be true to the same aims of lifelong learning, at one time both being part of the, now defunct, Adult Residential College’s Association (ARCA).
With the closure by Lancashire County Council of Alston Hall early last year, and the subsequent sale of the prestigious building, adult residential courses sadly ceased for them and their many students and tutors.
The Friends of Alston Hall approached Higham with the offer of a little funding to provide something special and, of course, we jumped at the chance. We suggested a project that had been on our minds for a while – to build a shelter in the gardens for students to gain the best view of the mountain Skiddaw, which dominates this area. They kindly agreed, and, with the consent of our own Friends of Higham and the Trustees, we commissioned the construction of “The Alston Curve” in our grounds, just to the left of the main front lawn.
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- The ‘curve’ is set on decking with an accessible ramp.
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- The view of the mountain Skiddaw and Ullock Pike framed by the curve,
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- The view from the edge of our grounds.
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- Late afternoon view, with the sun behind us, illuminating the fell slopes the other side of Bassenthwaite Lake.
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- The ‘curve’ is an organic design, of wood and perspex.
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- The perspex gives shelter, lets light in and allows the wood to be shown off.
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- Plenty of linear patterns.
We express our gratitude to the Friends of Alston Hall for thinking about us, and for their generosity in providing something that will be of practical use for many years to come, and we hope that the ‘curve’ is a fitting tribute to the positive effect on lives that Alston Hall once provided. It is an honour to have been considered worthy of hosting this remembrance of Alston, as the commemorative plaque, will say:
The Alston Curve
Donated by the Friends of Alston Hall 2017
Continuing the spirit of true Lifelong Learning
The Friends of Alston Hall are coming up in a coach and attending an Opening Ceremony with ribbon cutting & photos which shall start with a cuppa at 2pm on Tuesday 2nd May here at Higham. Friends of Higham and Members of the Higham community will be most welcome to join us for this event.