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
Mrs Mildred Stock displays her talent at lacemaking.
A sweltering hot weekend's weather greeted visitors to the 1976 Craft Fair at Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham, organised by the Friends of Gawthorpe Hall in co-operation with Nelson and Colne College, the National Trust, Mid-Pennine Association for the Arts, and the Crafts Advisory Committee. The displays were situated throughout the Hall and its outbuildings, and in a craft shop in the stables there was a selection of studio pottery, a National Trust display, and other items made by the craftsmen.
Among the exhibitors was 23 year old Rene Dymtrenko, who had arranged a display of embroidery. In the coach house, by the stable yard, visitors were able to watch Simonstone blacksmith Mr Ron Carter hard at work. His work is extremely varied in approach and design. He has made furniture, fire grates, staircases, lamps, gates, and other smaller items. There was also a display of lace making by Mrs Mildred Stock, who has been interested in lace making since her childhood and started making lace at the beginning of the last war. There were many more displays, including spinning, handloom weaving, jewellery making and wood carving.
