Did you realise that George Gordon, Lord Byron, used to own part of Stacksteads? Or that the producers of the TV series League of Gentlemen found Bacup more Royston Vasey than Royston Vasey itself?
The name of the valley originates from the 13th century Forest of Rossendale. The forest itself was designated royal hunting ground but was cleared during the 19th century when the cotton kings moved in.
If I can find my research on Byron selling the small strip of land, which I traced to somewhere close to Blackwood Road in Stacksteads, then I will properly reference this, but he sold it to the monks at Whalley when he disposed of his entire estate.
Tourism
Rossendale is popular with dry slope skiers, ramblers, hill walkers and mountain bikers - and those interested in the Industrial Revolution. The Visit Rossendale website
Book, Film and TV
The scrubby moors, cobbled streets and industrial architecture of Rossendale have provided the backdrop to several films and television programmes.- Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit (BBC three-part drama of the novel by Jeanette Winterson, set in Accrington and filmed in Rossendale in 1990.)
- Juliet Bravo (BBC police drama series filmed at Bacup Police Station and other locations between 1980 and 1985.)
- A Brother's Tale (Trevor Eve starred in this three-part drama filmed locally by Granada TV, 1983.)
- Railway Children (apparently one of the train tunnel scenes was filmed in Bacup.)
- Girl's Night (1997 film starring Julie Walters and Brenda Blethyn. Notable is the use of the old Unit 4 Cinema in Rawtenstall, now an abandoned shopping centre.)
There's somewhat of an urban legend about League of Gentlemen.
Steve Pemberton (one of the actors) said on the LoG official homepage: "Bacup was the furthest we went into Lancashire. Bacup was our hot favourite, but it was too frightening - when we arrived there was this cartoon drunk with a bottle shaking his fist at us. Bacup in real life was worse than Royston Vasey."
It doesn't seem to have dampened the enthusiasm of local people pleased some scenes were apparently filmed here and that we out-weirded the weird.
Some famous lads and lasses
- Ted Robbins (comedian, DJ, actor)
- Natalie Casey (actress)
- Jane Horrocks (actress)
- Sean Ruane (opera singer)
- Betty Jackson (fashion designer)
- William Roache (actor)
- The Britannia Coconut Dancers (folk/clog dancers with a pagan or mining influence who spark their clogs on the tarmac between Stacksteads and Bacup on Easter Sunday and appear at many other events locally, nationally and in Europe.) The Tunstead Mill troupe, according to the website, celebrated its half-century in 1907. Annie would have missed their inaugural dance by three years.
- Rumour has it that Shelia from the Smiths' "Sheila Take A Bow" lived in Stacksteads.
Famous landmarks
- The Halo
- Observatory above Bacup
- Helmshore Textile Museum
- Rossendale Ski Slope
- East Lancs Railway
- Whitaker Park
- Waugh's Well
- Holcombe Tower
- St Mary's Church in Newchurch
- The Irwell Sculpture Trail
- Grane Reservoir
- Lee Mill Quarry
The Creative Community
Being a recluse, I don't engage much in the local creative community, but it is thriving within Rossendale.The Boo, or Horse and Bamboo Theatre, housed at the old Liberal Club in Waterfoot, hold some great events and take their theatre around the world.
All photographs are copyright Jackie Trippier Holt. In most cases, large images can be purchased or negotiated for by emailing me at jackie.trippier.holt@googlemail.com
