The Charter for the Incorporation of Bacup Borough was signed on August 22nd 1882 and preparations were commenced to elect a new Municipal council. The old Local Board put its house in order and held it's last meeting on October 30th 1882.  On November 1st the first Municipal elections took place. The names of the candidates and numbers polled were as follows..

 

Broadclough Ward.

 

G Shepherd Liberal 326, John Lord Liberal 319, Thomas Aitken L 286

J Hoyle Jnr Conservative 178.

 

Tong Ward

 Joseph Lees Liberal 381, E Gledhill Liberal 351, W J Clegg Liberal 349, John Pilling Conservative 337 W Pickup Liberal 272.

 

Tunstead Ward

G Shepherd Liberal 348, James Turner Liberal 297, G Stansfield Liberal 292 J Marshall Conservative 243, G Taylor Liberal 164

Holden Conservative 80

 

Greens Ward

Jno Hargreaves Liberal 232, W H Lord Liberal 231, T Barrowclough Conservative 226, J Simcock Liberal 169.

 

Irwell Ward

H Firth Liberal 293, P J Cropper Conservative 277, J H Sykes Liberal 212 J Shuttleworth Liberal 136, J R Pilling Liberal 76, Clegg Liberal 17.

 

Brandwood Ward

Joshua Hoyle Conservative , Rawden Ashworth Liberal, Jas Hardman Conservative.

 

At the first meeting of the newly elected town council on November 9th 1882 Mr. Hargreaves was elected to be Bacup's first Mayor and Alderman of the Greens ward.

 

In 1885 Councillor James Smith Sutcliffe J.P. presented the Mayoral chain to the borough and in the same year the Mayoral robe was presented by Councillor Miles Ashworth. A new mayors robe was presented in 1953  to replace the  old one.

 

In 1919 the council decided to convert Stubylee Hall, the former home of the late Mr James Maden Holt, into municipal offices. By 1920 most of the municipal offices had been transferred to Stubylee.

 

The Mayoral chain was a gift to the borough by Mr J.T.Hoyle J.P.C.C during his mayoralty in 1922. Two halberds for ceremonial use in Mayoral processions were presented by Local Freemasons to Alderman J.H.Maden J.P, during his mayoralty for himself and his predecessors.

 

1882 - 1884 Alderman John Hargreaves

 

 

 Mr Hargreaves lived at Greensnook, he was one of the first deacons and trustees of Zion Baptist chapel holding the office from the date of it being built. He was a member of the Bacup local board and overseer of the poor and poor law guardian and also a chairman of the board. At the tim eof his death he was chairman of the Rossendale union Gas Company. After being elected mayor for the second time in 1883 he resigned from the council shortly afterwards. He was a member of the board of directors of the Mechanics Institute. Throughout his life Mr Hargreaves was a great admirer of flowers and the cultivation of plants and flowers. Mr Hargreaves died in May 1899.

 

 

 

1884 - 1886 Alderman William Jas. Clegg.

 

 

Dr Clegg was an Alderman of the borough  and had twice served as Mayor

884-1885-1886 and 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 his father having run a school  that once stood on the site of the Mechanics Institute. He was instrumental in the building of the public baths. His wife Hannah continued to live at Rock house until her death in1898. Educated by his father Roger Clegg he then attend the famous French college Sobourne, and from there attended the university of Edinburgh, taking his degree after three years of M.D  coming out as a double gold medalist. Commencing  his practice in Bacup in 1853.                                                                                            

 

 

1886 - 1887 Councillor James S Sutcliffe.

 

 

Died May 1891.

 

1887 - 1888 Alderman Joseph Lees.

 

Joseph Lee's family originated from Royton in Oldham settling at Hogshead Britannia about 1820. Working Britannia colliery the firm was eventually managed by Alderman Lees until  1887 when the colliery was sold of having been completely worked out. Born in 1845 he lived in the same house in Britannia that he had been born in attending the Friends school near Warrington. His first role in public life was as the representative of the Rockliffe Ward of the local board. Later being elected for the ward of Broadclough and then later once again the Rockliffe ward. At the incorporation of the borough in 1882 he was returned at the head of the poll for the Tong Ward. He died in January 1898 aged 53 years.

 

1888 - 1889 Alderman George Shepherd.

George Shepherd owner  of Holmes Mill was the Mayor of Bacup four times

died in 1906.

 

1889 - 1890 Alderman Daniel Greenwood.

Born in 1839 at Priestley Fold farm Dean , he was head of the firm of Greenwood Corn dealers of Rockliffe Vale Corn Mill.

Died Dec 17th 1917 aged 78 years.

 

 

1890 - 1891 George Shepherd.

 

1891 - 1892 Councillor Henry Salmon.

Died 14th March 1910 aged 77 years at his home Forest House.

 

1892 - 1893 Alderman William Jas. Clegg.

 

Dr Clegg was an Alderman of the borough  and had twice served as Mayor

884-1885-1886 and 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 his father having run a school  that once stood on the site of the Mechanics Institute. He was instrumental in the building of the public baths. His wife Hannah continued to live at Rock house until her death in1898.                                                                                             

 

 

 

1893 - 1894 Alderman Thomas Disley.

Died April 1903 aged 59 years.

 

1894 - 1895 Alderman George Shepherd.

 

1895 - 1896 Alderman Edwin Hardman.

 

Died 1919.

 

1896 - 1897 Councillor J. H .Maden.

 

1897 - 1898 Alderman George Shepherd.

1898 - 1900 Councillor Ben Smith.

Died 1901 aged 69 years.

 

1900 - 1911 Alderman J.H.Maden.

 

 

1911 - 1913 Alderman J Craven Hoyle.

 

Died 14th March 1942 aged 76 years.

 

1913 - 1914 Councillor Edmund Lord.

Died Feb 16th 1926 aged 76 years.

 

1914 - 1916 Councillor James Henry Lord.

 

Died May 19th 1934 aged 67 years.

 

1916 - 1917 Alderman Sir J.H.Maden.

 

1917 - 1919 Councillor Samuel McLerie.

Died March 1942 aged 66 years.

 

1919 - 1921 Councillor Thomas Thompson.

A liberal councillor for the Broadclough Ward, from 1911 to 1925 when he retired.

 

 

1921 - 1924 Joshua Thomas Hoyle Esq.

 

 

Died 1937 aged 79 years.

 

1924 - 1926 Alderman Heyworth Whitehead.

Died 6 August 1931 aged 73 years.

 

 

1926 - 1928 Sept. Councillor William Rhodes.

 

Died September 1928 aged 74 years.

 

1928 Oct Alderman Heyworth Whitehead.

 

1928 - 1930 Alderman Walter Nuttall.

 

Died 27th March 1962 aged 95 years.

 

1930 -1932 Alderman John Brierley.

 

 

1932 - 1933 Councillor Samuel Crabtree Smith.

Died January 1957 aged 83 years.

 

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