A MEDIEVAL manor house, which once stood in Burnley, will be remembered once again thanks to almost £30,000 in heritage cash.

The only visible signs left of Ightenhill Manor House are a few mounds in a field behind Hill Farm.

But according to a local historian it was once the second most important building in East Lancashire, behind Clitheroe Castle.

Now Ightenhill Parish Council has received £29,300 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a project that will research the historical importance of the manor.

Roger Frost, who helped put the bid together and has helped research the history of the site, said: “It was a very important building. Edward II made some decisions while he was here so Ightenhill played its part nationally at the time.

“It was left abandoned from 1523 and today it is just a few mounds, but it is coming up to its 500th anniversary of it being empty.”

As part of the project the parish council will distribute a leaflet on the history of the site to every household in Ightenhill, create an information board, and also look to produce a scale replica model of the Manor House that will go on display.

It is believed that the Manor House was built in the 12th Century, but its most famous moment came from Edward II visited in 1323, shortly after his victory at the Battle of Boroughbridge.

The building also provided facilities for the local justice system and local government, and it was the mediaeval administrative centre of the Royal Forest of Pendle and Trawden and the Park of Ightenhill.

The site is a Grade One listed archaeological site which means researchers will not be able to carry out a dig at the site, but they can test the land underneath which will help understand the size and shape of the building.

Maria Chattle, project leader, said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and are confident the project will raise awareness of the historical importance of the site, and encourage local residents of all ages to get involved and visit Ightenhill, Burnley and the surrounding area.”

Sara Hilton, head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said: “The site of the former Manor House at Ightenhill has hidden clues as to the way our ancestors lived and how the community around here developed into what it is today.”