About Bacup Musuem
Welcome to the Bacup Museum, home of the Bacup Natural History Society. We have served the community since 1878 and have been located at 24 Yorkshire Street since 1947. We are affectionately known as the "NAT" and are proud to be a registered charity. Although we have received some funding in the past, we rely heavily on the support of our members to maintain and preserve our unique Bacup treasure for future generations.
By becoming a member, you will be contributing to this important cause. If you want to join the NAT, please visit our Support Us page for more information.
We open every Tuesday & Thursday from 1:30 - 4:00 pm and from Easter to the end of October every third Sunday of the month. Please see our Whats On page for details of our special events.
Our Origins
The Bacup and Rossendale Field Naturalist Society was established on February 15th, 1879 with the aim of promoting natural history. However, according to Mr. James Holmes, the secretary at the time, the society was actually formed in February 1878. He claims to have read a paper on Natural History and the first ramble he had a written record of took place on June 1st, 1878, under the title of the General Baptist Field Naturalist Society.
On October 5th, 1889, Professor William Boyd Dawkins of Manchester officially declared the new premises of the Bacup Natural History Society open.
For more detailed information on our origins, please visit our dedicated History page.
Professor William Boyd Dawkins of Manchester
“History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.”
David McCullough
