At the time of the opening of the new fire station on Rochdale Road, in 1960 the Bacup Borough Fire Brigade had been in existence for about 66 years. Under the control of the local board the brigade may never have come into existence had it not been for a devastating fire at Beulah Methodist […]
The Irwell – Not the River Read More »
The Bacup Benefit Building Society was founded on May 8, 1813, almost two years before the Battle of Waterloo. It was initiated by three individuals who agreed to establish the society to raise funds through subscriptions for the purchase of land. The land would then be used to develop streets and construct houses and cottages,
The introduction of a new manufacturing process in 1854 by Edward Rostron marked a significant development in the Rossendale district. This new industry involved the production of felt and emerged as a consequence of the declining importance of Rossendale as a traditional woollen manufacturing centre. The felt manufacture in the region evolved as a complementary
The Rossendale Felt Industry Read More »
The River Irwell was the receptacle for all solid matters that were found to be inconvenient or unprofitable. Old building materials, ashes, and cinders from the houses, and from all the steam engines in the town were poured into the river. The results were inevitable in that the bed of the river was raised which
A Pig Went Swimming Read More »
In 1841, when Bacup’s first census was conducted, the town’s water supply was severely lacking. The absence of a reservoir meant that residents relied solely on scattered wells. The quality of water from these wells varied significantly, with some sources being described as resembling sewage. One particularly notorious well was located in Down t Yard,
Water, Water Everywhere Read More »
During the early 19th century in Bacup, most dwelling houses were in deplorable condition. Families crowded in cramped, poorly ventilated cellars and houses lacking proper drainage. These dismal living conditions posed significant health risks and hardships for the residents. With only a limited number of toilets available, open cesspools became a common sight at
A sketch from August 1974 of the new Rossendale Borough Council Coat of Arms. Designed at the time by Alexander Colin Cole, now Sir Alexander Colin Cole. Interestingly the original sketch doesn’t contain the shoe symbol shown in the Coat of Arms used today. To save me typing the rest is courtesy of Wikipedia. Official
Prosperity Through Endeavour Read More »
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
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
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