News and Updates!
As we get going with the opening of the Becconsall site check back here to see what’s new and what’s coming soon! Join us on our journey #brickbybrick.
Learn
Past, Present & Future
Lancashire’s History & Heritage
Learn more about the sort of stories we want to tell on-site! Here you can read our articles on Lancashire history, the site itself and more. Get a taste of the histories of the different industries, places, and social history that have shaped the heritage of Lancashire and the North West we know today. We even have some fantastic guest writers!
Do you have any suggestions for what you want to read about next? Please get in touch – you could even volunteer to write some yourself! We hope you enjoy reading them and consider donating to support more of our work.
If you share your new knowledge in your studies, you must credit the author and mention that you found it on the Becconsall website. If you want to reuse the information for commercial purposes, please get in touch. Beconsall retains the copyright for commercial use.
![Painted Advert for Vulcan Cars. A stylish woman with a small hat is climbing out of a cream early car. Another man and a couple sit inside the car. A wattle and daub home is behind the car. Text reads ' Best Value - and British VULCAN 'TWELVE'- Price £20[?]. See it on Stand No 177.](https://becconsall.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/vulcan-1-600x400.jpg)
![A postcard published around 1907 of an Accrington Steam Tram, when they were being replaced by electric trams (the tram in this view is uncharacteristically smart). Text reads 'In Loving Memory. Weep not for me, my life is past Dearly you loved me to the last; Grieve not dear friends but continue kind to the Electric Cars I leave behind. Text at bottom reads: STEAM TRAMCAR, [Baltic fleet.] ACCRINGTON.'](https://becconsall.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/steam-tram.jpg)
Our vision for the future of Becconsall
Our vision for Becconsall is an open-air living museum and heritage park that interprets Lancashire’s, and the North West’s, rich heritage as the world’s first industrial society. Using buildings saved from across Lancashire, we’ll have different exhibits nestled between the trees that bring to life the everyday experiences of the people and communities who have shaped Lancashire into its distinct culture and identity. Did you know that while many locations claim to be the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Lancashire and the North West became the world’s first industrial society?
Becconsall will start with its beautiful nature – with a lake, forests and easy access to attractive coastal countryside and walks beyond. All sorts of plant and animal life call us home. Brickmaking, agriculture, maritime and transport histories, as well as introduced features representing life in bygone Lancashire such as crafts, trades and shops, will reveal the diversity of Lancashire’s history. Stories of human settlement, from Lancashire’s Vikings to industrial migration, will bring to life the experiences of the region’s people and communities through time. Becconsall will have a wide range of permanent features around a wide range of themes, including: industries, transport, farming, education, health and municipal services. Where possible these features will provide ‘hands-on’ or guided activities. We’ll also have temporary exhibitions!
We want everyone to be welcomed and feel at home: volunteers, staff and visitors. Based in our local community, we want locality and pride of place to be central – giving back and highlighting other initiatives our people (that includes you!) can get involved in. Hesketh Bank Fishing Club is fishing the lake. Local schools and colleges are helping with tree planting. Lancashire Beekeepers will be setting up some working hives on-site where beekeeping demonstrations can occur.
We welcome discussions about the potential donation of appropriate artefacts relating to industries, trades, crafts and life in Lancashire and the North West in former times. If you have material you would like to donate, please use the Contact form to discuss this.
From small beginnings, as with other living museums, new features will be added incrementally #brickbybrick.