About Us
Over our 146-year journey, we have been recognized by various names, including the General Baptist Field Naturalist Society, The Bug Club, The Muck and Flea Club, and most recently, the Bacup Natural History Society, our official charitable name. Among our members, friends, and the local community, we are fondly referred to as the "NAT." Since the start of COVID-19, we have completely transformed the museum, giving it a fresh, warm, and welcoming atmosphere. To further modernize our organization, we have recently decided to adopt a simpler and more recognisable name, Bacup Museum, to better represent where we are today in 2024 and our mission of encouraging everyone to engage with Bacup’s rich history.
Our Origins
The Bacup and Rossendale Field Naturalist Society was established on February 15th, 1879 with the aim of promoting natural history. However, according to Mr. James Holmes, the secretary at the time, the society was actually formed in February 1878. He claims to have read a paper on Natural History and the first ramble he had a written record of took place on June 1st, 1878, under the title of the General Baptist Field Naturalist Society.
On October 5th, 1889, Professor William Boyd Dawkins of Manchester officially declared the new premises of the Bacup Natural History Society open.
For more detailed information on our origins, please visit our dedicated History page.
Professor William Boyd Dawkins of Manchester
“History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.”
David McCullough
