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Trams

The Bacup Tramway between Bacup and Rawtenstall was constructed and opened in 1889, and at first, steam motive power was used. The line being electrified in 1909, on its purchase by the Bacup Corporation from the Rossendale Valley Tramways Co, and leased by that Corporation to the Rawtenstall Corporation.

Tram Just Passing Mc Cleries

on Newchurch Road Bacup.

Todmorden Road was one road in Bacup that did not have tram tracks laid, the Rochdale tracks ended in St James Square whilst the Rawtenstall ones ended at the bottom of Bankside. When the steam tram line was built a turning triangle was built at Burtons corner but the board of trade inspector said it had not to be used therefore trams stopped at the Market Hotel.

Tram on Market Street.

By 1901 trams where running between Bacup, Waterfoot and Rawtenstall every 20 minutes and on Saturdays and Sundays every 15 minutes.

Rawtenstall Corporation by arrangement with Bacup Corporation ran a tram service from 1909 to 1932 when the service changed to double decker omnibuses

Market Street Tram

Tram Passing Swan Hotel

Tram Approaching School Street Newchurch Road Stacksteads.

The Education Minute Book for 17th April 1905 contains a entry noting that the

Town Clerk write to the Manager of the Rossendale Valley Tramways Company to ask him to give instructions for the cars of the company to slow down when passing the bottom

of the street leading up to Western School.

Opening of Bacup to Rochdale Tram Route 1911

The Tram Route from Bacup to Rochdale was improved in 1911 by the construction of the Bacup Light Railway.

Transportation from Todmorden to Haslingden was made a little easier with the opening of the Todmorden to Haslingden Turnpike Trust road which was built in 1789. In 1794 the Turnpike through Blackburn was made to Bury encompassing Haslingden, Booth and Cowpe, Newhall hey and Tottington Higher end road. The following year the road from Burnley to Edenfield and Rochdale via Crawshawbooth was made. Thirty years then passed before the lower road between Rawtenstall and Waterfoot was constructed and the following year 1826 the road from Stacksteads through to Waterfoot was constructed. In 1834 New Line was formed and a Toll house was erected at Height Barn.

The Toll Houses and thier Keepers

Just before the end of 1881 the turnpike roads were freed from all Toll fares, the Bacup Toll house at the bottom of Todmorden Road was kept by Mr John Calvert who was also cashier and collector for the whole district. A member of the Society Of Friends he would walk every Sunday to Crawshawbooth in order to attend the services at the Friends Meeting house.

At Sharneyford " Old Malley" collected the tolls and, was also popular with travellers to whom she would sell for a small charge her home made Gingerbread. At the Broadclough toll bar was " Old Billy Colbert" father of Mr Thomas Colbert choir conductor and grandfather of Mr Lever Colbert flock dresser of Waterfoot. William or Billy was a good natured man who took up his spare time by making hand made shoes. Rockliffe toll bar was kept by John Pilling " Old Jobber Pilling " who at times was a kind of fisherman, using lime to blind the fish. His second son John county court under bailiff was better known for running with the hounds.

Robert Ashworth or " Road Bob" was the keeper of the Height Barn toll bar at Newline, but later had charge of the Underbank toll bar at Broadclough.