If there was one thing our Bacup and Stacksteads ancestors knew how to do it was Celebrate. Whether it be a Royal Coronation,  Royal Visit, Carnival, Church Parade or Fund Raising event out would come the bunting and the crowds.

The Bacup Fair

Bacup Whitsuntide, fair was a grand affair well loved by adults and children alike. Road transport not being as it is today the vast majority of the fairground arrived by train. Local lads and lasses would sit  on the wall at the railway station and watch the goings on down below in the cattle yard. Every now and again a brave soul may just venture down off the wall into  the cattle pens, lift the tarpaulin  and have a sneaky look underneath, running back to join his friends  to tell of what he'd seen. Then it was off to Market Street to watch some of the fairground people arriving in their little horse drawn caravans. And what little palaces some of these were, exquisitely painted with cut glass mirrors inside and out along with the highly polished brasses these little caravans did the owners credit.

The land opposite the police station and the land at the back of the inside market was all packed with stalls ands amusements. Down each side of the Market brew would be stalls selling fruit, rock biscuits and ice-cream, coconuts and brandy snaps. Two or three stalls at the bottom of Bankside Lane were occupied by toy sellers, selling wooden trucks and trains.

Union Street was  home to a tower like structure called the Helter Skelter, which you entered by a door at ground level, taking a mat with you up to the top level. Behind the helter Skelter were more dolly stalls and coconut shies, where the cry was " Three balls a penny". Children's roundabouts and Helms bicycles and hooplas which if you were lucky you could win a watch.

Numerous shows were sited on this part of the fair including freak shows, lion shows and the inevitable boxing booths. The latter being run by Booths boxers who nightly challenged all and sundry to stay with one or the other for two or three rounds. Many a local lad took up the challenge and it was often said they were like lambs to the slaughter.

Sedgewicks Lion show was often situated at the entrance ot King Street or Irwell Street, with members of the public being invited to enter the lions cage. Ten shillings being offered to anyone brave enough to do so. One man by the name of Tom Lord, licensee of the Waterloo Hotel once accepted the challenge but pulled out at the last minute.

Roundabouts with their steam pipe organs spluttering out the best loved tunes of the days such as The Merry Widow, Oh, Oh, Antonio or Walking Out With Angeline or for a change some stirring march or other. Gaily painted and gilded these organs usually had a mechanical figure in front of them and as the organ played the figure would wave it's hands about as though conducting the orchestra. With three or four organs blaring out the hooting of the steamboats, the firing range the shouts of the stallholders and hawkers mingled with the shrieks of the children as they whirled round and round on the hobby horses the noise was like bedlam.

When The Circus Came To Town

Piebald horses gaily decorated and ridden by both men and women, small Shetland ponies prancing along behind the huge cars colourfully decorated announcing to the world that the Circus had arrived in town. Elephants, Camels and other creatures  marched through the town making their way up to the top of  Lanehead, near the cricket field. One story is told of two baby Elephants who along with their mothers were taking part in the circus about 1885. The mother Elephants were led along Lane head lane while the two babies were held back. Children of all ages sat on the cricket field wall and cheered the baby elephants on as they were let go to run after their mothers along Lane head.

The Bacup Carnival

By Amy Flynn
All eyes turned upwards as the first few drops of rain began to fall.
"Oh no, it couldn't rain today". Not today, for today was carnival day. In every district in the town, in mill yards and Sunday School pathways, lorries were being prepared for the big procession. First they had been washed down and were now being polished. For weeks men and women had been making paper flowers, painting scenery, building walls, and now - for it to rain. It just couldn't. But it did!! One fast, heavy shower, and then it was over, and out came the sun, struggling bravely to break through the grey clouds. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief and went back to the tasks assigned them. The procession was to start at two o'clock sharp; and it was managing to keep fine. Crowds lined the route, spectators having come from all the surrounding towns. The men selling streamers and balloons were doing a roaring trade, "3 pence for a streamer, buy the kid dies a streamer - only 3 pence each". What a racket! Suddenly a voice was heard to say, "Listen, the band", and an unbelievable hush descended on the crowd. The carnival had begun.

Heading the procession, with manes flying, and tails swishing, came two beautiful chestnut horses of the mounted police, the policemen in the saddles in complete control of their steeds, despite the noise and cheers of the crowd. These were followed by the Mayoral cars with the Mayors and Mayoresses of the local boroughs, their chains of office glittering in the weak sunshine. Next came the Carnival Queen and her two princesses, smiling and waving to the cheering crowds. "Put your coppers in the box for the carnival expenses" , pleaded the man with decimal coins sewn all over his black velvet suit. He rattled his box in the faces of the people, and what could they do but dig deep into their pockets and handbags. "Spare a copper". His voice was drowned as the local brass band drew nearer. Porn, Porn, Porn Porn. It was a long time since the band had played so well. Keeping proudly in step came the Morris dancers. Each group wore different coloured costumes, making a kaleidoscopic picture of red and orange, green and blue. Big girls and little girls, their medals tinkling and faces smiling, walked smartly on their toes, keeping in time with the music. A varied assortment of Fancy Dress characters on foot came next. Steptoe & Son jostled next to the Lady at Ascot Races, whilst St. Francis of Assisi in his long brown robe, a bird perched on his shoulder, and a squirrel on his hand walked next to the Pearly King and the Mexican Lady. Anything they might have had to say to each other was drowned by the bugles and drums of the Boy Scouts' Band.

These were followed by the Fancy Dress characters on ponies. What an assortment! King Neptune on his "sea horse". An Indian Brave and his squaw. Robin Hood rode next to the Lone Ranger. Cameras clicked and people cheered as the ponies went past, some with tails and manes plaited and decorated. Next came the lorries, with windows sparkling and wheels gaily decorated. Whoever would believe that only yesterday that same lorry had been loaded with sacks of coal, spilling its black dust over everything, and yet it was now shining like a new pin. Proudly displaying a certificate to show that they had won first prize was the shoe and slipper works' contribution "The Forum", glittering with gold and white. A cheer went up from workmates standing by. Next came Robin Hood and his Merry Men, all dressed in green. A chance remark was overheard in the crowd - "they had no material to make those outfits, so one lady spent every night last week dyeing calico". She had certainly spent her time well. As lorry after lorry passed by, one wanted to call to them to go slower, as there was so much to see. The first of the Sunday School tableaux was "The Kingdom of Heaven" - all glittering in silver and blue, one angel playing a harp and another one a trumpet, whilst others stood peaceably by. One little girl asked: "Daddy, is it really like that in Heaven?" The Walls. of Jericho" on the next lorry were being proudly upheld by a number of 6 and 7 year olds, whilst the Rose Queen and her retinue sat in state on the following gaily decorated lorry.
"Join the local swimming club". "Give a pint of blood to save a life", invited two more tableaux, doing a very good job of advertising their most worthy causes. The lorry displaying a three piece suite looked inviting, whilst the bedspreads and curtains on the next lorry showed just what was being made in one mill in the district. It made one feel proud to be part of a town that could produce shoes and slippers, cotton sheets and pillow cases, curtaining and dress materials. The carpenter had decorated his lorry with beautiful doors and windows, whilst the interior decorator had put his talent to good use by painting and decorating his lorry with a dozen different designs.
Like a balloon being deflated, the crowd heaved a sigh as the last of the procession went by.
What a pity it had to end - but everyone agreed that it was the best carnival procession they had ever seen in Bacup.