Former Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank

Located within a Historic England High Street Heritage Action Zone, the former Lancashire & Yorkshire Bank is a landmark building in the town centre of Bacup. Originally opened in 1876, the building was in use as a bank until the 1970s, when it was turned into bedsits before being subject to a closure order. Considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the town, built in the Scottish Baronial style with stone-carved gargoyles and a distinctive turret, the community of Bacup were passionate about seeing the Grade II-listed building come back into use.

Valley Heritage, one of the AHF’s Heritage Development Trusts, acquired the building in 2019 with the support of a Heritage Impact Fund loan. The Trust drew up plans for the future of the building, aiming to provide co-working space on the ground floor and in the basement, as well as four self-contained apartments on the upper floors for single young people who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. 

An AHF Transformational Project Grant and funding from Historic England and Rossendale Borough Council through the High Street Heritage Action Zone programme funded the repair and refurbishment of the building. Alongside the restoration work, Valley Heritage has been delivering a series of public engagement activities and events to animate the former bank, including community art projects, open days and tours. The building opened in Autumn 2022. 

https://valleyheritage.org.uk/

AHF Funding

Heritage Impact Fund - £195,000 (2019)

Transforming Places Through Heritage - £311,271 (2020)

Image Credits

Catherine Smyth Media
Valley Heritage