Old directories can be a source of fascinating information about a town, providing as they do a listing of businesses and prominent individuals of the period. Here's how Bacup was described in a 'Directory and Topography of North East Lancashire, with Bury and District' published by P. Mannex and Company in 1876.

‘BACUP is a manufacturing town, and the most important in the Forest of Rossendale, or Rossendale Valley, as it is generally designated. It is connected with the general railway system by a branch of the East Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway from Ramsbottom, opened in 1852. The town is situate on the banks of the Irwell, 7 miles S.E. from Burnley, the same distance N. by W. from Rochdale, 6 miles E. by S. from Haslingden, and 21 by rail from Manchester. The establishments for spinning and weaving cotton are numerous and extensive; and here are also iron and brass foundries, saw mills, brick works, &c.; and in the vicinity of the town are plenty of stone and flag quarries, and other building material. In 1851 the population of the town was returned at 10,318; and in 1861, 10,935. In 1871 the population of the township, which also includes Newchurch, Deadwen Clough, and Woolfenden, amounted to 26,823. A large portion of the population find constant employment at the numerous large establishments in the place, and the laudable interest evinced by the employers to encourage the moral and intellectual improvement of the operative classes is highly commendable. In 1839 a Mechanics’ Institution was established, and in 1846 a convenient building for the purpose was erected in Irwell Street, at a cost of £1,300. It contains a lecture hall capable of holding 750 persons; and there is a library of 3,000 volumes. The principle of co-operation has been largely developed in this district; and there is in conncction with it a department devoted to education, free to the members, with a library of some 5,000 volumes, and reading-rooms attached to the various branches.

The Market Hall, opened 17th August, 1867, is a substantial and commodious building in the Italian style of architecture. It stands in the centre of the town. The roof is in three divisions of iron and glass, and is supported by twenty cast-iron columns, with ornamental segmental girders. The altitude of the central roof from the floor is 32 feet, and its circular-headed ends and the openings in the gables are filled with ornamental and coloured glass. The interior is divided into three principal aisles, with cross passages, and fitted up with convenient stallage for various purposes. The market is held on Saturdays. There is, in connection with the building, a room for the meetings of the Local Board, which was formed under the Government Act, 1858. Near the Market Hall is the Court House, in which petty sessions are held weekly. The Police Station is in the same building. The county court is held in the Court House every four weeks; and the district comprises Bacup, Brandwood Higher End, Brandwood Lower End, Cowpe, Lench, Newchurch, and Whitworth Higher End. Crompton Hutton, Esq., judge; E. M. Wright, registrar. The Cemetery, which is situated at Fairwell, near Stacksteads, was opened in 1862. It contains 13 acres, and has three mortuary chapels, viz., one each for the Catholics, the Established Church, and the Nonconformists.

The Parish Church of St. John, consecrated in 1789, is now in a most dilapidated condition, the building being almost roofless. But there are two other churches belonging the Establishment. Christ’s Church at Green’s Nook, Todmorden Road, is a beautiful edifice in the early English style of architecture, and its interior is tastefully arranged. Rev. John Mc.Gubbin is the incumbent. Excellent schools, capable of holding 300 children, were opened in 1861, and the cost of their erection wns £2,000. St. Saviour’s Church is an edifice of great architectural beauty. It is situate in the street called New Line, and was erected by James Maden Holt, Esq., M.P., of Stubby Lee. The church consists of chancel, aisles, tower, and spire, and its style of architecture is the subdued Gothic. Rev. William Johnson, M.A., is the vicar, and resides in a commodious residence near the church. There are schools for children of both sexes. In 1855-7 a neat Catholic Chapel was erected at Bank Side, Bacup. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and is under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Henry Mulvany, who resides in the Presbytery, which, with the new schools, was built in 1871, at a cost of £2,000. The Dissenters are very numerous in this town, and have several places of worship. The Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, at Mount Pleasant, is seated for 1,200 persons, and their chapel in Newchurch Road is a good building. They have also chapels at Irwell Springs, Sharneyford, and Alma Street; the latter was built in 1871, at a cost of £2,5OO. The Baptists have several chapels in the town and neighbourhood. They are situate at Doals, Irwell Terrace, Lane Head Lane, Market Street, Farholme, South Street, and Tong Bridge. The Congregational chapel is in South Street; and the United Methodists have chapels at Britannia and Waterside; and the Primitive Methodists have chapels in Brickfield and Todmorden Road.

Bacup is well lighted with gas by the Rossendale Union Gas Company. They have an office in Lee Street; William Blackledge, manager. The water is supplied by the Rossendale Waterworks Company, whose office is in Yorkshire Street. The water comes from Spotland. There are two reservoirs, the largest of which is capable of holding 22,000,OOO gallons, and the other 11,000,OOO. Number of families supplied, 600. James Aked, manager. There are two Newspapers published in that town -- the Bacup Times and the Bacup and Rossendale News. They are both issued on Saturday. The Manchcster and County Bank, and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank, have each a branch in Bacup; and there are also Liberal and Conservative Clubs and a Literary Club. Fairs are held on the Tuesday and Wednesday before Good Friday, the Friday and Saturday in Whitsunweek, and October 25th.'