Whitworth Historical Society & Museum

Whitworth Historical Society & Museum The Whitworth Heritage Museum is open to the public on Saturdays from 11am to 4pm. We are open to the public on Saturdays from 11am to 4pm.

The Whitworth Historical Society are based at the Whitworth Museum on North Street in Whitworth. We also hold monthly lectures on the first Wednesday in each month between October and June each year. Admission to the museum and to the monthly lectures is free, but as we are self funded any donations are always appreciated, and this helps us to keep the museum running. Becoming a member of the soci

ety is easy and reasonably priced too, at just £10 per year, with membership renewals mainly starting after our AGM, which is always held on the first Wednesday in November (usually along with a very enjoyable potato pie supper), but you canof course join at any other time of the year should you prefer. If you would like to become a member just pop along to the museum when we are open, or to one of the monthly lectures and ask a member of staff for details, you can also find membership forms on our website as well. Volunteers of all ages are always welcome too, we can always find you something interesting to do, and you'll find that we are a very friendly bunch. If you would like more information about this please feel free to ask on this site, or contact one of the club officials via the links on our website.

Good news for those who were looking forward to the St Bartholomew's Tower Open Day, this has now been rearranged for Sa...
18/08/2026

Good news for those who were looking forward to the St Bartholomew's Tower Open Day, this has now been rearranged for Saturday 19th of September, from 1130 to 1330.

Those of you who attended our last monthly talk on the 3rd of June will likely have picked up a copy of our new talks p...
11/06/2026

Those of you who attended our last monthly talk on the 3rd of June will likely have picked up a copy of our new talks programme for 2026/27, which will begin in October, but for those of you who didn't, or who weren't able to attend, a copy is attached below. You can of course find full details of our lecture programme at any time on the museum's website at: https://www.whitworthhistoricalsociety.org.uk/lectures.htm

Our next, and I'm sad to say, final talk of the 2025-26 season will take place on Wednesday 3rd of June, but don't worry...
01/06/2026

Our next, and I'm sad to say, final talk of the 2025-26 season will take place on Wednesday 3rd of June, but don't worry, we will be back for a new season starting in October. Our talk this time will be on the following subject:

"Blackpool Shipwrecks" by Barry McCann:

Barry McCann looks at some of the notable shipwrecks off the Blackpool Coast during the past 300 years and how Blackpool and the surrounding coastal towns often benefited from them.

As per usual the talk will be held at the URC schoolroom on Hall Street, and the start time 7.30pm. Non-members and visitors are also welcome to attend.

And after you have visited Bacup Nat, just a few miles up the road, the Rawtenstall Civic Trust are having an Open day a...
16/05/2026

And after you have visited Bacup Nat, just a few miles up the road, the Rawtenstall Civic Trust are having an Open day at the Weaver's Cottage as well:

Hello everyone!

Great news, we’re opening the Weavers’ Cottage this weekend! Saturday and Sunday, 1pm - 4pm!

We’re hoping to have everything ready. New exhibitions as well as our usual displays.

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available!

Looking forward to seeing you there.

In case you are looking for somewhere to go tomorrow, our friends at the Bacup Nat are having an event:
16/05/2026

In case you are looking for somewhere to go tomorrow, our friends at the Bacup Nat are having an event:

04/05/2026

Here is a reminder that our next monthly lecture night takes place on Wednesday 6th of May 2026, and the details for this month's talk is as follows:

"Happa - how it began” by Amanda Berry

Perhaps surprisingly, the Horse & Pony Protection Association (HAPPA) began in London in 1937 but had its base in Hertfordshire. In 1974 the organisation moved to Greenbank Farm at Fence in Lancashire and finally to Shores Hey Farm at Briercliffe near Burnley where they remain today. Essentially the mission of the charity is to ‘rescue’ horses, ponies and donkeys which have suffered cruelty or neglect and provide them with a safe and secure home. Where possible, HAPPA try to place some of these unfortunate creatures in new and sympathetic homes and give them a second chance. Amanda explains the work of the charity, its pleasures and pressures.

The talk will be held at the Hallfold URC on Hall Street and start time is 7.30pm as per usual. Visitors and non-members are welcome to attend what will be our penultimate meeting of the 2025/26 season.

May be of interest to some of you if you are looking for somewhere to go on Monday..
30/04/2026

May be of interest to some of you if you are looking for somewhere to go on Monday..

03/04/2026

Unfortunately Keiron was unable to make it for this evening's talk due to hospitalisation, so we wish him a speedy recovery, and hopefully we will be able to reschedule his talk at a future date. Our thanks to Peter Watson for stepping in at the last moment and giving us another of his entertaining trips down Memory Lane, and I'll bet a few of you are now digging out your old Rupert the Bear annuals and scouring the Internet for suppliers of Kali and Aniseed Balls.. 😆

30/03/2026

Our next monthly lecture takes place on Wednesday 1st of April 2026 at the Hallfold URC on Hall Street, and the start time will be 7.30pm as per usual. Guests and non-members are more than welcome to attend. The subject and speaker this time will be:

“Lancashire Collectables” by Keiron Ridehalgh

Ever wondered where organisations like the BBC go when they need period ‘props’ for their documentaries, films and dramas? It is just possible that Keiron may be able to provide the answer.

02/03/2026

Just a reminder that our next Lecture Night takes place on Wednesday 4th of March 2026, and as per usual, will be at the Hallfold URC, and the start time 7.30pm. Non-members and visitors are welcome to attend.

The subject this time will be:

“M62 - Rakewood Viaduct” by Ray Whittaker

Familiar to many of us is the Rakewood Viaduct at Littleborough. Prposed as early as the 1930s, construction of the M62 began in 1966 by contractors Reed & Mallik and the viaduct, 280 yards long and 140 feet above the valley floor, was designed to carry the motorway over the deep Rakewood Valley. Despite many operational difficulties, the motorway was completed and opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in October 1971. Ray looks at its history

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Whitworth

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11am - 4pm

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