Bacup at War

The Bank Holiday weekend of August 1914 shattered all records. Blackpool, one of the most popular holiday resorts, saw some of its largest crowds ever. In Morecambe, despite the bad weather, holiday spirits remained high. Hotels and boarding houses in Southport were fully booked, and within 24 hours—between 6 AM on Saturday and 6 AM […]

In June 1931, 236 people from three Rossendale Boroughs embarked on a journey of over 900 miles to the Somme battlefields of World War I. This second annual pilgrimage was organized by the Rossendale Liberal Association. The train, which left Bacup at 2:25 PM on Friday, May 29th, carried 32 passengers from Bacup. It picked

Warrant Officer Fred Cooper 115 Squadron R.A.F aged 24, a well-known Bacup cricketer and player for Lancashire CCC Second XI, joined the R.A.F on the 24th July 1940. Fred’s parents John and Margaret Cooper of 114 Bankside Lane received word that Fred had been reported missing after flying operations on Wednesday 29th July 1942.   Fred

Meetings In Normandy from the Bacup Times August 1944   An unexpected meeting on the Normandy beachhead was recently the happy experience of two Bacup brothers, Driver James Stevenson 23 R.A.S.C., and A.B. Stevenson 19 Naval Command. Sons of Mr and Mrs Stevenson 16, Co-operation Street. Speaking of the reunion, the younger of the two.

The Bacup Prisoners of War Relatives Association was established in April 1943 with the aim of offering emotional and financial assistance to the families of prisoners of war. The association organized meetings at the Mechanics Institute and later at the Labour Institute on Yorkshire Street. A social committee was formed within the association to coordinate

Father Gaetano Fracassi, pictured with the 1913-1914 St Joseph’s football team holding the Joshua Craven Hoyle Cup. Served as the parish priest in Stacksteads for nine years, from 1913 until 1922. Afterwards, he took up the role at St Alban’s in Ancoats, Manchester, a neighbourhood often referred to as “Little Italy.” On June 11, 1940,

Christmas 1914 in Bacup and Stacksteads was a festive period marked by a mix of joy and sorrow. Families, eager to send parcels to their loved ones at the front, faced the financial burden of postage costs. However, the spirit of the season prevailed as families celebrated Peace and Goodwill despite the knowledge that their

It is believed that Fern Hill House Stacksteads, was built about 1819, and whilst there are no interior photographs we do know that in 1871 following the death of its owner James Munn the house was put up for sale and described as follows: Beautifully situated Mansion house and Estate overlooking Stacksteads near Bacup Substantially

Colonel Thomas Backhouse O.B.E. T.D was adopted as the prospective Conservative Candidate for the Rossendale Division in May 1946. A well-known barrister, who appeared regularly in his early career at the Rawtenstall and Bacup Courts, he had a distinguished military career. A member of the Officer Training Corps whilst at school he joined the 4/5th