Around Bacup

Here we go again with another short ramble, but this time around Bacup looking at some of the curiosities in and around the town. We shall look at the famous 'Wall of History', the Bacup Natural History Society museum and a couple of war-time memorials and, anything else that we might find of interest along the way. So, come along on this little ramble and enjoy.

Start at the 'Wall of History' in the Heritage Garden (originally called Newgate Gardens) a little way along Todmorden road, just past the N.A.T museum. Here we find many things of interest including old date stones, foundation stones, carved heads, stone lions and a manually-operated stone grinding machine complete with a huge millstone sitting upon a round-shaped pathway. Running through the central hole of the millstone is a wooden beam that would have been pushed round by either a person, or maybe a mule ?

One of two stone lions guard the entrance to the garden -- this one survives intact and bears a shield with a worn inscription. This carved lion obviously came from some very grand house in Bacup and could well be 19th century in date.

This rather gruesome looking stone-head is built into the wall of the garden here. And, although often considered to be Celtic in origin it is, in fact, a 19th century carving that was rescued from the wall of the Rockcliffe Vale mill chimney in Bacup in 1913 and later given to The Bacup Natural History Society Museum. The mill itself was built in 1837. They then had the head and a similar head, of an animal, placed in the History Garden next to their museum building. It is what one might call a Victorian "fake" Celtic head, but it is very, very convincing nevertheless.

Here is another curious stone which is built into the 'Wall of History' in The Heritage Garden. This one is obviously a date stone from some religious building or meeting house that once stood in Bacup. Carved onto the stone is A & B Hill along with some religious symbolism and the date 1821. An angel blows a horn while the lamb of God carries a cross and a sun symbol can be seen.

Here's another curious date stone set into the wall of the garden. This one is inscribed with the name J.M.W. 1855. Pleasent View. So, did this stone come from some rather grand house or maybe from a Victorian industrial building in Bacup? There is what looks like a blacksmith's forge, two heads and two trees at either side. A very odd one indeed.

 

 

Now as you leave the garden by way of the steps down onto the path you will notice two stone heads built into the wall at either side. But now very worn one in particular looks like the head of some notable local personage or the benefactor of a church, or some other establishment. By the look of the hat the figure could be from the late medieval period ? And lastly we will take a look at The Bacup Natural History Society Museum (N.A.T.S), so go back down towards the town a short distance and the little building is there in front of you on the right-hand side.

 

Here is the Bacup Natural History Society Museum (N.A.T.S). There's lot of Antiquarian stuff inside the museum from prehistoric to more recent times from in and around Bacup and, one or two other surprises to! The museum is open every Thursday evening from 7.30 pm for lectures and for people to come and have a look around.