Whitworth Heritage Museum

About the museum

The Whitworth Historical Society was founded in October 1973 on the suggestion of the vicar of St John’s Church, Facit. One of its members, Bill Kearns, began collecting objects for a future museum and kept them in his garage. A showcase went on display in Whitworth Library in 1977, and in 1980 the town council offered the society an upstairs room in its office building. The first museum opened there in September 1981.

The collection soon outgrew the room, and in 1983 the society moved to a basement room in Market Street Methodist Chapel. When the chapel was due to close, the society looked for new premises and found the former works department of Whitworth Urban District Council on North Street, empty since 1974 and now owned by Rossendale Council. After a year of negotiation it agreed a seven-year lease on part of the building, which also had a room large enough for the society’s meetings. The museum on North Street was officially opened on 1 June 1985.

Today the museum is run by the society’s volunteers. It holds objects, photographs and documents about the Whitworth valley, a library of local material and archives used by family historians. The society also runs a programme of monthly lectures and welcomes gifts and loans of items with a local link.

Highlights

• Objects and photographs from the history of the Whitworth valley
• Library of local material and family history archives
• Housed in the former council works depot on North Street
• Monthly lecture programme run by the society

Permanent exhibition

• Whitworth local history collection – Objects, photographs and documents on the history of the Whitworth valley, with a library of local material and archives for family history research.

Founded

1981

Operated by

Whitworth Historical Society

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The front door has steps, but there is a ramp at the rear of the building giving easy access for wheelchair users and anyone who has difficulty with steps.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Whitworth has one main road, Market Street, which runs through the valley; the museum is a short way from it at roughly the middle of the valley.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit