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 are most thankful to K M Chartered Accountants who support the Trust.
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
The Mayor (Michael Wooler) makes an announcement to the townsfolk in the Towneley School production of "The Wizard of Oz".
From a review by Norman Powell:
Somewhere over the rainbow lies the wonderful world of Oz. A short trip along Towneley Holmes will bring you to the Emerald City, for the fantastic characters from "The Wizard of Oz" have taken over Towneley Drama Studio this week. Munchkins, jitterbugs an army of generals, witches, wizards, a tin man, a scarecrow, and a very vociferous lion, joining Dorothy in providing a night of gaiety and magic. Mike Dawson, the producer, must have suffered blood, sweat and tears in drilling his cast of 60 youngsters, but it was well worth the effort. By imaginative use of lighting, ingenious scenery and properties, and some very gay costumes, it was really a night of magic. The enthusiasm and sense of fun of the youngsters was infectious, and quickly communicated itself to the audience.
