Waterfoot, Lancashire

Like the majority of the industrial communities in East Lancashire, Waterfoot expanded rapidly in the 19th century with the growth of industrialisation; it became a centre for felt-making, a process related to the predominant textile industry of the region. Before that, the main centre was Newchurch-in-Rossendale, that sits above Waterfoot to the north. The township of Newchurch stretched from Bacup to Rawtenstall, and in 1511 it was recorded as having a population of 1,000 people, served by the monks of Whalley Abbey. Waterfoot was on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway line between Bury and Bacup. This was dismantled in 1972 and the route is now hard to trace, although the tunnels can be…

The centre of Waterfoot has a distinctive canopied walkway in decorative iron and glass that is in need of restoration, forming the frontage of Victoria or Trickett's Arcade, started in 1897 and completed in March, 1899. The arcade was built by Sir Henry Whittaker Trickett – a local businessman who was five times mayor of Rawtenstall. In 1914, a clock was added to the front of the arcade in his memory. Hidden inside are eight other shop spaces and a decorative central iron and glass feature that have been closed to the public for 50 years. Yet on its opening 15,000 people turned up for the ceremony. Waterfoot has a number of independent, specialist shops including Fletcher's Hardware, a…