The unassuming Lancashire guest house which once hosted Gandhi
One of the most influential figures in history, Mahatma Gandhi is still a well-known name, face and force, more than three quarters of a century after his death.
An Indian lawyer, he's perhaps better known for his philosophy for non-violence, which sparked civil rights movements across the world. In 1888, he left India to study law in England and was enrolled in the High Court in 1891.
However, it was in South Africa where his road as a spiritual leader truly began. Over the years, having experienced oppression and violence himself, Gandhi was presented with an opportunity to unite Muslims and Hindus in non-cooperation with the British Government in India.
At the time, the British ruled the country in a period of power known as the British Raj from 1858 to 1947. In 1931, Gandhi sailed to England to attend the Second Round Table Conference, as stated by Blackburn with Darwen's Cotton Town.
During this trip, the British attempted to undermine Gandhi's efforts for India's independence from its rule. No satisfactory conclusion was reached, but Gandhi did accept an offer to visit a certain part of the country - Lancashire.
The invitation to visit was issued by Mr Corder Catchpool of Greenfield Mill who wanted Gandhi to see the effects of India's boycott on cotton goods and how this impacted the workers there. This effected communities of weavers who had lost their jobs due to the Indian National Congress' boycott of British goods.
On this trip, Gandhi visited Darwen, a known mill town. Whilst here, he stayed at a guest house in West Bradford, now a private dwelling in a farming community.
The property in question was Heys Farm Guest House, now known as Heys West in the village, situated in the Ribble Valley. According to Old Clitheroe, Gandhi stayed for a few days in this property and walked around the local area to meet the local people.
He commented about the area's beauty, as West Bradford sits within the Forest of Bowland and has a good view of Pendle Hill, still a beautiful view to this day. Gandhi is thought to have been entertained by Mr and Mrs J P Davies, at Heys Farm Guest House, during his stay.
According to reports, Gandhi was received with sympathy and affection by cotton workers in Lancashire and the lawyer reciprocated these feelings to those he met that had been affected by the boycott. He then returned to India and within a week, was imprisoned and civil disobedience resumed.
On January 30 1948, Gandhi was on his way to address a prayer meeting when three bullets were fired into his chest. At the age of 78 he died, but his legacy is still felt to this day.