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The Cotton Famine

During the American Civil War, the disruption in cotton supply had a significant impact on towns and villages in Lancashire, including Bacup. It is estimated that out of the 6,000 workers in Bacup, half were left unemployed while the other half had reduced working hours, often working only 2-3 days a week. The shortage of

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Built of Stone

Throughout the 1840s, Bacup underwent a significant transformation driven by the booming wool-spinning and cotton industries. This led to a surge in population, with approximately 8,000 residents calling Bacup home by this time. This population growth created a demand not only for stone to construct the numerous mills that were springing up, but also for

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Whats In A Name

Meetings of the Bacup  Local Board of Health were first convened on the 17th of December 1863 and were initially held in the Mechanics Institute, moving to a purpose-built room over the shops in the newly opened market hall in August 1867. Bacup at this time was separated into five wards, Bacup, Greave, Rockliffe, Broadclough

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Migration & Famine

Migration has been an integral part of human history for centuries, with people leaving their homelands in pursuit of seasonal work or better opportunities. As the town of Bacup expanded rapidly during the 1840s, a tragic event in Ireland had a profound impact on its population.   1847, known as ‘Black ’47,’ marked a year

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