Bacup Times November 1920.

DIVORCE FOR STACKSTEADS MAN

HUSBAND WAS TOLD TO CLEAR OUT.

In the divorce court, on Tuesday Mr Justice Horridge granted a decree nisi to John Willie Ray, cabinet maker, Salem terrace, Stacksteads., on the ground of his wife's misconduct with a man named Broadbent.

Petitioner said he married the respondent  Clarice Amelia in June, 1912, at  Mount Zion Baptist church Edgeside, Newchurch, and lived with her at 8 Yates terrace, Burnley. Petitioner joined the army and went to France in May, 1915. On being demobilised in 1919 he went home to Yates terrace Burnley, and spent the night with his wife. The following day  Co respondent came to the house and respondent told the the husband to clear out. Co-respondent told him he ought to go. Petitioner left after his wife fetched a policeman, and ne went to his parents house. 

Bacup Times June 18th 1949

When almost all the living  room floor collapsed as he was having his dinner on Monday Mr William Alfred Stones, 24 of 40 Waggoner  Tunstead, Stacksteads, and his two baby daughters were hurled ten feet into a disused cellar dwelling below. Trapped beneath a heavy hearthstone, 8ft by 2ft 10 ins, he was pinned amongst the rubble for several minutes before neighbours came to the rescue. It took five men to release him from under the stone, but he escaped with only a torn ankle ligament and sever bruising. An armchair which too most of the weight of the stone probably saved him from more serious injury. The daughters Patricia who was on his knee and Lynn 2 and half years were handed out through the cellar window frightened but otherwise hardly scratched. There was no way when the floor gave way. At first they found themselves sliding helplessly. The furniture, chairs, sideboard, radiogram, a pram , carpets and oilcloth all crashed down with them. And Mrs Stones who had just gone into the kitchen of their four roomed house for some plates turned to watch them disappear.  Leaving the scene pictured.

It was terrible she told a times reporter. " I just heard a rumbling as I was coming back to the room and there was nothing there. I went running for the neighbours and then rushed back for the kiddies. All that remained was the baby's high chair standing in the corner. It was unsafe to go upstairs and the family are staying temporarily with Mr Stones parents  at 198 New Line. Employed in the cobbling room of the Bacup Shoe company's Stacksteads Mill, Mr Stones had not been in the house half an hour. Their first home after more than three years with relatives they only moved in on Saturday June 4th. A start it is understood, is to be made immediately on repairing the house, which is the middle of a block of three.

DECEMBER 1940

Bacup Times  March 3rd  1900

Narrow Escape At Leewood Quarries

On Saturday afternoon a quarryman named Thomas Clynnes, of Rockliffe Bacup, whilst following his occupation had a miraculous escape from death. He was standing upon a huge piece of rock which he had been working, when he stepped to the side to throw some dirt, the stone tilted over and both he and the rock fell into the bottom of  the quarry, Fortunately the stone did not fall upon him or death would have been certain.

Bacup Times July 1876

Attempted Suicide By A Woman At Stacksteads

About mid-day yesterday the residents in the neighbourhood of Kiln terrace and Farholme were startled by a report that Mrs Carter, wife of Mr Richard Carter, confectioner of Fern Hill terrace, had attempted to commit suicide by cutting her throat. Unfortunately the rumour proved correct.It seems that for some two months Mrs. Carter has been in bad health, and the rash act she committed yesterday points to the inference that she has been low spirited in consequence. The family are most respectable people, having lived in their present house for a number of year and in addition to carrying on business as a confectioner, Mr Carter is an overlooker in a mill. During Mrs. Carters illness her daughter as been at home to look after the shop and attend to the house. Yesterday forenoon she went out  for the purpose of paying a bill, her mother being in her usual health when she left. During her absence Mrs Carter appears to have gone out of her house, and proceeded up the old lane adjoining leading past the Baptist chapel, and on to the hillside at the back of Fernhill. She had taken with her a large bread knife, and with this she deliberately cut her throat across, making a wound about six inches long, but fortunately did not sever the windpipe. She then walked back to her house, carrying the knife in her hand, and had only reached home a few minutes before her daughter returned, who horrified at the terrible spectacle ran and gave an alarm. The neighbours including P.C .Dennison immediately went to the poor woman's assistance, and shortly after Dr's Clegg and Harris were in attendance, and rendered the necessary surgical aid. Last night we were glad to hear the injuries are not so serious as had been feared, and that  Mrs Carter will recover. When asked why she had inflicted the injuries on herself Mrs Carter said that the devil had tempted her to do it at 8 o'clock that morning.

Bacup Times November 1873

A young man named Charles Beet was brought before the magistrates at Burnley charged with highway robbery. He was a servant at the Roebuck Inn, Portsmouth, and John Earnshaw of Bacup called at the house and had a glass of beer in the kitchen. Whilst there and in the presence of the prisoner, he pulled his purse out and counted his money. He then asked the prisoner whether it would be best for him to go to Bacup buy the Delph or by the Greens road, and the prisoner advised him to take the latter. He did so and had not gone far when the prisoner overtook him, and demanded his money and threatened to shoot him if he did not. He took the purse which contained £9. 12s 6d. Mr Earnshaw gave information to the police and in the course of the next day the prisoner was apprehended, and on being searched the purse was found tied in his shirt with the contents untouched. He was committed to take his trial at the Liverpool assizes.

May 2nd 1903

BLIND MAN IN THE RIVER

TIMELEY RESCUE AT BACUP

A blind man named William Henry Bradley alias Mop of Temple Court, Bacup had a singular experience on Wednesday night. It appears that at about  6-45 in the evening some women residing in Pembroke Street Rockliffe, heard cries for help coming  from the direction of the river Irwell, near the lower end of the platform of the Bacup railway station. They raised the alarm and two men named Jordan Taylor and Charles Cook along with P.C Middlesborough went to the place and found Bradley sitting in the river with the water up to his shoulders. They immediately helped him out, and he was conveyed to an outhouse belonging to Mr Taylor in which there was a fire. He was there divested of his wet clothes and some hot tea was given to him. He was also provided with some dry clothing and afterwards was taken home by P.C Middlesborough, and P. S Butler. Mr Bradley did not know how, when or why he ended up in the river.

Bacup Times 1865

Fertility

There is an old woman living in Fountain Terrace Brickfield, Bacup, who is 72 years of age and has 67 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

Bacup Times May 1905

SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT BACUP

CRANE FALLS THROUGH A ROOF4 MEN INJURED

A Rather serious accident occurred at Newhey, Mill Bacup, which is being pulled down prior to the erection of new premises for Messer's J. and J. Mclerie. Mr John Dyer, of Shawforth, is the contractor, and at the time stated four men in his employ were engaged in pulling down the third storey when the flooring gave way, and the four men together with a large crane which was being used fell through onto the floor below.

Assistance was immediately forthcoming, and fortunately the results were not as serious as might have been expected, for after receiving medical attention from Dr Rigby, all the men with one exception were able to walk home. The names of the men and character of injuries were as follows.

John Williams O'Shea Labourer 9 Bland Street, Bacup, severely bruised on both thighs.

John Cosgrove Labourer 8 Hartley Street, Bacup, severely hurt on right arm.

James Cain Labourer 17 Commerce Street Bacup, Scalp Wound.

SERIOUS CYCLE ACCIDENT AT STACKSTEADS

Rawtenstall man injured

A serious cycle accident occurred at Stacksteads about 8'oclock on Monday night. A man named Peter Hampson residing at 5 Brickfield Rawtenstall was riding a bicycle down Newchurch-road, Waterbarn when doubtless owing to the greasy nature of the road the wheels skidded and threw the rider heavily to the ground. He was picked up and carried into No 545 Newchurch-Road by two men named Oliver Ashworth and John Hartley and as he was apparently seriously injured, medical assistance was procured as quickly as possible. Dr Falconer was soon in attendance, and on examination he found Hampson to be suffering from severe concussion of the brain and ordered his removal home. The horse ambulance was telephoned for, and the inured man was taken to Rawtenstall by Engineer Jackson and PC Alderson.

BACUP TIMES JULY 1929

SAFE FROM MARAUDERS

A Thrush has built a nest on a hanging eclectic lamp on the tram route between Rawtenstall and Bacup. Another spring time bird story comes from Bacup, where a Thrush has built it's habitation on a electric lamp shade in the middle of Newchurch-Road near India-Mill. Unmindful of the hubbub of  the traffic below, the hen is to be seen calmly sitting on her eggs. Is it's choice of nesting place the outcome of an experience which teaches that the solitude of the countryside is not so secret as the populous places? At any rate, it has certainly discovered a spot which is inaccessible to egg collecting youths.

The Bacup Times, and Rossendale Advertiser Saturday February 12th 1881

Fearful  Landslip  At Tunstead

Three Children Buried Alive.

On Tuesday afternoon the greatest excitement prevailed throughout the Rossendale Valley, on its becoming known that a landslip of a fearful nature had occurred at Tunstead. The rumour was at first discredited by many persons who heard it, but on enquiry being instituted it was found only too true, indeed, it may safely be stated that the sad catastrophe is the most appalling that has taken place for many years in this district, no less that three children having met with their death, and a man and woman only narrowly escaped with their lives. The melancholy accident happened about half past one o’clock in the afternoon, and the painful sight was witnessed by a large number of persons who were passing along the road at the time the sad affair took place. The spot were the landslip occurred is called the Fearns estate. In the vicinity of Tunstead and Stacksteads most of the land to the right of the railway line consists of huge towering hills and one of these is especially noticeable being considerably higher and steeper than those by which it is surrounded. This hill overlooks Lower Tunstead, and immediately at its base is situated two cottages known by the name of Underwood. Almost adjoining the two houses being only separated by an open space of a few yards stands the houses of Mr George Shepherd, Cotton Broker, and that of the Rev John Howe, whilst situated on the opposite side of the road is the blacksmiths shop occupied by Mr John Lord. It was at the first named place Underwood that the deplorable catastrophe took place. In one of the houses  the one nearest to Newchurch resided a man named Thomas Lister until recently a woollen Overlooker In the employ of Mr Miles Ashworth, of Acre mill along with his wife, Betsy Lister, and five children, who were named Joseph, John, Annie, Lionel, and Amy and were aged respectively ten eight, six, and four years, the youngest child Amy who ay the time of the accident had only just been put in its cradle was about eleven months old.

There was also in the house at the time of the accident and elderly man, named J Broadley Turner. And invalid who had only gone to reside with Mr Lister on the previous Friday. The last named was not in the house when the sad event happened, or in all probability he might have met with as untimely  a death as did three of his youngest children. The adjoining house was occupied by a family of the name Parkinson, who, within a couple of hours after the accident had the whole of their furniture removed, it being thought by many persons that it was not improbable thee would be a second fall of earth.  Considerable alarm was also manifested by many of the inhabitants lower down the valley, lest a similar occurrence might take place. It may perhaps be stated, that on the hill situated immediately above the cottage in which Lister resided, there had been with the continued downfall of snow, a large quantity accumulated on the hill, and when the thaw ser in it caused the snow to melt, and water in large quantities  ran down into the valley, but there was not the slightest indication that anything was to be feared as to the subsidence of the soil. But about half past one o’clock on the day mentioned, a ponderous mass of earth about twenty yards from the summit of the hill was seen to give way and come rolling down the hill, dragging with it a large quantity as it fell, and on reaching the base it formed an immense pile. It missed the easing of Listers cottage, but dashed with  a tremendous crash against the wall, facing the hill, which it sent in like matchwood. The wall fronting the road suffered in the same degree, the stones, debris and other rubbish from the back wall being hurled with such violence, against it that it fell into the road with a loud crash, the place being made a complete wreck and were only a few minutes before had stood the household goods, and been seen the smiling faces of the little ones, there stood a vast heap, consisting of hundreds of tend of sandy soil, boards, bricks, and almost all kinds of debris and rubbish, nothing having been left of the cottage but a portion of the roof. Which remained fixed to the adjoining building, which strange to say, was very little if any damaged the inmates escaping without the slightest injury.