Category: Local History
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The Slippery Slope of Caygill’s Infamy!
In this video, we retell the story of poor Ellen Caygill, matriarch of the Caygill clan that would strike terror in the minds of local residents of Newchurch, Waterfoot, Bacup and other villages further afoot! Married to a violent man, and with several sons who would all fall foul of the local authority, with convictions…
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St James’ Church Graveyard Explore! / Altham
This was only our second visit to this extraordinary graveyard in Altham, which is situated close to Accrington and Burnley in the heart of Lancashire. A place of worship has been there since around the Norman times, with the Church that still stands there now being built around 1512, just three years after the Coronation…
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It all started with a dog! A visit to Rossendale Pet Cemetery / Crawshawbooth
In the heart of Rossendale you will find a cemetery that contains over 2,500 graves and memorials of family pets whose lives have sadly ended. The story begins back in 1967 when a farmer, who had tragically killed his pet dog, Judy, in an accident, buried his pet in just one of the many fields…
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The Story That Wasn’t.. True? Blackburn’s Darkest Rumour – 1929
In Victorian Blackburn, a single whisper was enough to ignite fear, outrage, and suspicion across an entire town. What began as a shocking wager quickly spiralled into panic. But as the dust settled, one chilling reality emerged: was the story actually true? In this episode of Days of Horror, we examine the Blackburn Hoax -…
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Words Before the End: The Last Letters of James Hamer / Haslingden (1854)
In 1854, in the quiet Lancashire town of Haslingden, a young man named James Hamer sat down to write his final words. Those letters – heavy with sorrow, confusion, and resignation – would be the last trace he left behind. In this episode, we examine the life and state of mind of James Hamer, explore…
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The Town That Should Have Been Wiped Out (Church, 1917)
On 28th April 1917, disaster erupted at a chemical mill turned munitions factory in Church, Oswaldtwistle. Flames, shockwaves, and the threat of a far greater explosion placed hundreds of lives in immediate danger. In the midst of chaos stood James Hardacre — a local police constable who refused to run when others fled. His actions…