BRITAIN’S pagan heritage will be the subject of the annual lecture organised by the Friends of Blackden Trust.

Professor Ronald Hutton, an acknowledged expert on Early Modern Britain, will explain that the UK has the richest and most complex pre-Christian heritage of any country in Europe.

His lecture on Saturday, March 12, will investigate the reasons why Britain has such a collection of inspiring monuments and texts and what difficulties and opportunities that heritage poses for the modern world.

Jill Gover, one of the organisers of the event, said: “As there is evidence that Blackden was the site of a Bronze Age settlement it is most appropriate that we should be hosting this rare opportunity to hear from an expert on Pagan Britain.

“We are delighted that Professor Hutton will be introduced by Alan Garner, the famous author who lives at Blackden.

"Ronald and Alan first met around the fire of a restored Iron Age hut in Dorset ten years ago and have been talking around the fire in the chimney of the Tudor Old Medicine House in Blackden on and off ever since.

“At the moment, they are wondering why the men that built the railway bridges between Sandbach and Wilmslow in 1840 carved the outlines of hands and shoes in the coping stones

“The audience will also be able to find out about all the wonderful work that is going on at The Blackden Trust. Tickets are limited and so I am sure they will sell out very quickly.

"The Friends of the Blackden Trust is a group of volunteers who fund raise and support events in The Old Medicine House and on site in many practical ways from making the tea to leading tours of the property and assisting with courses for school children and students in a voluntary capacity according to their skills and preferences.

"If anyone feels they have the time and would like to become a volunteer we would be pleased to hear from them."

The programme of events for the coming year can be found on the Blackden Trust website.

The talk, which costs £10 (students £9) will take place at Terra Nova School at 3pm on Saturday, March 12.

Refreshments will be available.

Tickets are available from: Mrs Kettle’s General Store, 168 Main Road, Goostrey.

For queries and ordering of tickets to be collected at the door of the venue, contact Brian Rich on 01538 384713 or e-mail brianrich457@btinternet.com.