The archive is extensive and we aim to make many of these images available online.
*SEPTEMBER 2025 UPDATE*
There are now more than 17,553 images on the website including those on our Other Collections section. There are more images to see if you View our Articles section to read longer articles written by our volunteers on a range of historical subjects.
We have received a donation of Burco Dean archive material which has not yet been digitised for the website but you will find information about Burco Dean and a small selection of images on our Articles page.
We are now operating without the benefit of Heritage Lottery Funding and welcome donations to enable us to continue scanning negatives and making them available on the website. Donations can be made directly to us or via JUSTGIVING
Or scan our Just Giving account QR Code
BCTHIC is most thankful for the generous donations made by:
Burnley Rotary, Burnley Pendleside Rotary, Stocks Massey Bequest Fund, Celeste & Kevin (in Canada) and other donors who have contributed to our funds to enable this project to continue after our Heritage Lottery funding ceased.
All funding contributions are gratefully accepted
We WELCOME NEW VOLUNTEERS and have vacancies on our Wednesday and Thursday afternoon sessions. If you can spare a couple of hours why not contact us and arrange a visit to the archive. All that is needed are some basic computer skills and an interest in local history. PENDLE AND WEST CRAVEN images can be found in the Surrounding Districts pages and we would welcome volunteers from the Pendle area to digitise images and stories about this area as we have no volunteers working on this area at the moment.
We have produced a short history about the project which you can download.
50 Years Ago
A quarter of a million miles and more than 20 years separate these two buses. The old half-cab wears its engine up front-the new one hides it at the rear. Same engines, almost, but look at those bodies.
When Burnley and Pendle Undertaking buses Number 44 and 45 made their last working journeys recently it marked the end of an era. For as 75 years of municipal transport in the area was celebrated OUT went the last two half cab, front engine single decker buses which have served in the area so well over the years on both normal and school routes. And IN came the first of a fleet of 14 luxury double-deckers-the latest word in public transport. The new double-deckers share one thing in common with the old half cabs-they both have bodies built by a Blackburn coach building firm. Originally 14 of the 39 seater half-cab Leyland Tiger buses were brought into service with the former Burnley, Colne & Nelson Joint Transport undertaking between 1953 and 1955. Subsequently they were modified for one man operation and were given a front entrance. The majority were sold in 1974.
