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Dr Joseph Hardman Worrall had his surgery in Rochdale Road pictured above. For several years during the doctors early life he kept a monkey in his surgery called Jack. Sometimes the monkey would be in a cage or left to run free in the sanatorium of his cottage. It is said that Dr Worrall used Jack to experiment on testing various anaesthetics and medicines on him. For several years he was the Medical Officer of Health a job he did without payment. Dr Worrall never married and spent his life working for the people of Bacup quite often refusing payment for his services from the less wealthy folk. In 1892 three years after his death at age 64 a monument was erected over his grave.
Dr Worrall whose motto was " deeds not words"
Rock House pictured above was built in 1852 by John Hoyle. The house would be home to many of the local doctors. The first doctor to take up residence there was Surgeon William James Tattersall in 1872 followed by Dr Snell in 1876.
Dr Clegg
1880 Saw the arrival of the houses most renowned Doctor that of Dr Clegg who was Mayor of Bacup from 1884-1885-1886 who was in the middle of his second term 1892-1893 when he died. Dr Clegg was 64 when he died in April of 1893 and had been a strong advocate of Education for the masses and was instrumental in the building of the public baths. His wife Hannah continued to live at Rock house until her death in 1898.
Dr Samuel T Brooks Dr Samuel Brooks was born in Farnworth in 1868 Bury son of William and Mary Brooks he came to Bacup in 1892/3 in practice with his brother Dr Edward Brooks. The census of 1901 shows Dr Samuel Tong Brooks living at Rock House with his wife Jane whom he married in 1900 however Dr Brooks is also shown in Kelly's Directory of 1901 as having premises at 33 Rochdale Road Bacup with his brothers Doctors Edward and William Brooks and is shown as being the Public Vaccinator for Bacup Borough. Dr Brooks eventually moved to Forest House Bacup where he and his wife had four sons all of which followed their father in the medical profession becoming Doctors themselves. An old man remembers how when he was a young lad he had toothache, but the dentist were all shut. He went to Dr Brooks, who protested that he was not a dentist, but still produced a huge pair of pliers from a leather bag under his desk. He sterilized them over a gas jet and proceeded to extract the tooth, causing the pair of them to end up on the floor as the tooth had very deep roots. He gave the boy a tanner for a shot of whiskey, with a firm note to the proprietor that the boy was to rinse it around his mouth but not swallow it. Dr Brooks who sported a fine handlebar moustache visited people in a pony and trap. One could always tell when he was coming because the pony had a very large bell around it's neck. Later he acquired an A.J.S motorcycle. He had a love of brass candlesticks and was well known for cadging them off people. He once told off Mrs Potts for cooking rabbit " Its vermin, put it in the bin!" She never ate rabbit again. Dr Brooks served the people of Bacup as a doctor for 54 years.
Dr Taylor In 1907 the house passed into non medical hands when it was bought by auction by Mr Hargreaves Sutcliffe. The house was bought in 1923 by Dr Arnold Taylor born in Bacup in 1880 the son of James and Mary Taylor a Unregistered Dentist and shown in the 1891 census as living at number 2 Bankside Lane. Qualifying as a Doctor at the age of 21 he set up his practice in 1913.Serving as a Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Great War. In 1923 he was appointed Police Surgeon and was involved with the St Johns Ambulance. He was also known to like a drink and on one occasion a bemused recipient of a visit opened the door to find no one there. Dr Taylor had fallen over and was found supine in the bushes beside the front door goodness knows how he managed to drive his car a Rover Coupe. Dr Taylor died in 1933 from Pneumonia a complication of the Flu he had contracted earlier.
Dr Mc Vean
In 1938 the house was bought by Dr McVean the house was said to have been very dark in those days with lots of brown painted woodwork and the surrounding buildings on Market Street. On one occasion he returned from holiday to find that a horse had fallen off the bank above, through his garage roof. seemingly remembered by everyone as being a good Doctor who showered them in ash from his ever present cigarette. He was well known for carrying out post mortems in his role as Police Surgeon with a glass of whiskey at his side and a cigarette in his mouth with a long plume of ash that never seemed to fall off. Dr Mc Vean retired in 1967 and moved to Bournemouth.
Dr Jones Dr John Llewellyn Jones bought the house in 1967 when he moved to Bacup from Maghull Liverpool a ex Navy surgeon he was well known for his drinking and could often be found in the Deerplay Pub known to many as his " Second Surgery". In March 1973 he married Margaret Susan however his wife left him 5months before his death in September 1976.
Burwood House
Was home to Doctor Whitaker whose father Doctor Edmund Whitaker began the practice. Dr Whitaker began his education in the school owned and run by Mr Clegg father of Dr Clegg of Rock House the school occupied the site now occupied by Bacup Library. He began his medical studies at the Manchester School of Medicine aged 16 and afterwards at the London University. Returning to Bacup to take up his fathers practice he became a Justice of the Peace on October 20th 1869, he was for several years the Honorary Surgeon of the 4th Lanc. Rifle Volunteer Corps. He was also vice chairman of the Rossendale Waterworks Company and the president of Bacup Cricket Club. Dr Whitaker died on December 29th 1877.
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Dr John Brown Burwood House Bacup. Dr Brown lived at Burwood House with his wife Amelia and their fours sons the 1901 census shows him aged 51. Born in Callington Cornwall son of Thomas and Elizabeth Brown Tailor and Grocer educated at Knights Commercial School Callington, Charring Cross College of Medicine London, The University College London, and Owens College and Victoria University Manchester. He became House Surgeon of the Western Ophthalmic Hospital London and later Analytical Chemist to the Rossendale Waterworks Company. In 1877 he was appointed Medical Officer of Health to Bacup and in 1899 appointed Surgeon at the Sourhall Smallpox Isolation Hospital. In 1902 he was appointed Medical Officer to the Bacup district of the Haslingden Union and Post Office Medical Officer to Bacup Post Office in 1906 and Medical Inspector for Bacup Schools in 1909. In 1913 Dr Brown moved to Blackpool were he devoted much of his time to cancer research having many of his articles published in various medical journals of the time. Dr Brown died aged 79 in August 1929 at his home in Blackpool.
Dr J.P Brown Burwood House Bacup.
In 1913 the practice at Burwood House was taken over by Br Brown's son Dr John Percival Brown who also succeeded his father has Medical Officer of Health, School Medical Officer and Maternity and Child Welfare Officer. He published a number of reports one notably in 1915 on a outbreak of Food Poisoning in Bacup. An active member and supporter since it's beginnings in 1891 of the St John's Ambulance Brigade and became involved in the Red Cross during the war. In recognition of his long services he was appointed an Officer of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem in England, and was an examiner for the St John Ambulance Association. Dr J.P Brown was vicars warden at Christ Church Bacup for many years and Vice President of Bacup Golf Club. He died on November 30 1942 at his home Burwood House. Dr Brown was a character with slow drawling voice and his first greeting when he visited you was always the same: "And what's the matter with you •.• huh huh huh huh huh?" He presented to the schools a cup which used to be keenly contested for, the Victor Ludorum cup. Dr Brown made his visits to patients in a Austin car.
Dr William Barclay Forest House Dr William Bowie Barclay shown in Kellys Directory for 1901.Medical Officer Bacup District and Haslingden Union and Living with his wife Amy nee Bentham at Forest House. The second son of Mr and Mrs Robert Barclay he was born in Kilwinning Ayshire and studied at eh Anderson college Glasgow and at the age of 21 took the degrees of L.R.C.P. and L.R.C.S at Edinburgh six years later he took the degree of D.P.H at Victoria University Manchester. Taking over the practice of Dr Snell in Bacup almost immediately he was greatly involved with the St John Ambulance brigade and highly regarded as a lecturer with them.
Dr William Haslam Brooks Newchurch Road Stacksteads
Dr William Brooks practised from his surgery at Rainford Villa Hindle Street Stacksteads and was the brother of Dr's Samuel and Edward Brooks. Born in Farnworth Bury son of Mr and Mrs W Brooks he studied at Farnworth Grammar School and then at University Glasgow for medicine. During the Great War he served with the British Forces in Russia. An elderly lady recalls him taking her tonsils out on the kitchen table at Hindle Street. He had tied her hands behind her back, but forgot about her feet. He was unable to ride his bike for a bit because the lady had kicked him black and blue with her clogs. At the time of his death he had practised in Bacup for thirty fours years. Having come to Bacup in 1900.
Dr Rigby Oak House Bacup
Dr T. S. Shaw Bankside House
Born at Coldstream, Scotland, Dr Shaw obtained his degrees M.B and C.M at Edinburgh. He came to Bacup to assist Dr W. Stewart and went into partnership with him. When Dr Stewart retired at the end of 1908 Dr Shaw took over the practice, and eventually took over a junior partner in the form of Dr F.J.Thornton, of Brighouse Yorkshire. The partnership lasted until about 1928 at which time Dr Thornton moved to Peace haven. Dr Shaw then went into partnership with Dr Ivor M.Hughes. Dr Shaw was vaccination officer for number 2 district Dr Shaw died in January 1934 aged 72.
Dr Frederick Hall Dr Hall lived at 92 Market Street with his wife Mary Agnes the census of 1901 shows him aged 27 and from Ireland.
Dr Stewart Born in 1815 Dr Stewart first practised in Bacup alongside Dr Whitaker of Burwood House. A native of Ayshire Scotland he began his working life in the early 1850's living at Bankside Hall. He was for many years the vaccination and factory doctor carrying out his visits on horse back. He was followed into practice by his son Willie his father dying August 4th 1894.
Dr Edwin Walter Falconer Newchurch Road Stacksteads. Dr Falconer lived at 235 Newchurch Road Stacksteads in the 1901 census he is shown aged 24 and unmarried. He was born in Birmingham the son of John and Lucy Falconer his father was the Vicar of Tunstead church from 1889 to 1917.Dr Falconer lived for many years at Heath Hill house, and had 3 sons all who followed him into the medical profession. Dr Falconer died in October of 1941 at which time his surgery was taken over by his sons, Dr's J.A. and F.E. Falconer.
Dr R Brooks Rochdale Road
The youngest son of Dr Samuel Brooks was Dr Robert Brooks born in 1908, he lived at The Bungalow in Rochdale Road and began practising with his father in Bacup in 1940. He was a member of the Home Guard during and after the war and in 1942 he joined the R.A.M.C serving as a doctor until 1946 serving in England and Africa. He retired in 1963 leaving Bacup to live in Anglesey.
Dr James T Brooks Was born at Forest House, and was the third of four brothers all of whom became doctors like their father Dr Samuel Tongue Brooks. Dr Jimmy as he was affectionately known had lived in the valley all his life moving to live in Lumb in 1945. His surgery was in Stacksteads and like his wife he was a Magistrate being appointed for that office in 1949.
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