Archives & Research

Resource Area

Our resource area is a welcoming and well-equipped space, offering free Wi-Fi, computers, printers, and photocopiers for members to use at no cost. Members have the opportunity to explore our extensive image collection, documents, maps, and other sources of information.

Photographs and documents can be printed for a small fee or accessed for free by members. Please note that access to the full archives is limited for non-members. Additionally, our resource area is available for rent for small meetings. For more information, please email us.

Refreshments are available for a small charge.

A slice of pink and white layered cake with a dark crust, garnished with a mint leaf and berries, on a small white plate. In the background, there are white teacups, a teapot, and a blurred background with warm bokeh lights, on a wooden table.
Office workspace with a computer monitor, keyboard, mouse, and various office supplies on the desk, and an orange and black office chair.
Make Yourself a Member

Our Archives

The Nat archives and library house a treasure trove of materials, including hundreds of books, documents, photographs, maps, and plans all related to Bacup. Our library is well-stocked with local history books, pamphlets, and gazetteers, along with other research collections on local mills, mines, public houses, and chapels, compiled by dedicated late members.

The collection features a wide array of documents (some available exclusively to members), such as the parish relief book of 1864, booklets, leaflets, service documents from both World Wars, advertisements, receipts, letterheads, diaries, scrapbooks, ledgers, invitations, certificates, and menu cards.

We are also thrilled to announce that our newspaper archive is once again accessible at the Nat library, as well as online through our Rossendale Newspaper Archive. This invaluable resource was generously donated by the late Mr. Peter Fisher. The collection includes the Bacup Times, several editions of the Free Press, the Bacup Echo, and the Bacup and Stacksteads Chronicle.

Rossendale Newspaper Archive

Life through the Lens

Our photograph collection includes over 5,000 images ranging from glass plate negatives, lantern slides,  photograph and postcard albums and individual photographs of all sizes. covering various topics such as transport, mills, churches and people. They provide an invaluable pictorial record of Bacup and Stacksteads streets, shops, businesses, houses, people, events, buildings and organisations, making  up an interesting collection depicting the life and times of the people and the past of Bacup and Stacksteads and surrounding areas.

If you have a photograph you can’t identify call in and see us. There is a good chance one of our members could help you!

Black and white photograph of a vintage street scene with a few women walking on the sidewalk near multi-story brick and stone buildings. An old car is parked on the right side of the street, and there are overhead wires in the street.
Black and white photo of a cobblestone street with old buildings, storefronts, and pedestrians from an earlier time period.
Black and white photo of an industrial street with buildings on the right, a large chimney in the background, and a horse-drawn wagon with a load traveling down the dirt road. Trees are on the left side.
Black and white photo of a factory floor with workers and shelves of shoes, belts, and other goods, with machinery and pipes overhead.
Black and white photo of a marching band in uniform standing on an upper level of a store, with various goods and shoes displayed behind them, and signs reading 'C. W. S. Grocery Dept. Sales Stand' and 'Wheatsheaf Brand'.
Black and white photo of children and adults, including a woman with a suitcase, walking and standing in line on cobblestone street, near police officer and old buses, possibly at a train station or refugee arrival area.

“If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.”

Rudyard Kipling

Family History

We have various documents to aid you in your family history research.

Our Family History Group meets every Thursday in the NAT rooms, please pop in and see us.

Bacup Museum Family History Photograph from the History archives
Contact us