Location: Market Street

The building now known as The Alliance is the former Lancashire & Yorkshire Bank on the corner of Market Street and Union Street in Bacup. It is one of the town centre’s most distinctive landmarks, instantly recognisable for its turreted corner, bold stonework and the sort of architectural swagger Victorian banks used to project stability and confidence.

The bank opened in 1876 and was built in a Scottish Baronial style, using sandstone with a steep slate roof and dramatic detailing. Features like the gargoyles, carved stone elements and the strong corner presence were not just decorative. They were part of a deliberate message that this was a solid institution you could trust with your money.

Over time, the building’s use changed as banking and high streets evolved. After its years as a bank, it passed through various lives including different commercial uses, before falling into decline and eventually becoming empty for several years. Like a lot of prominent town-centre buildings, it became a visible symbol of what happens when historic assets are left without a clear purpose or investment.

In 2019, the building was acquired as a heritage regeneration project, with a plan to bring it back into use for the community and the town centre. After a major restoration, it reopened in 2022 as The Alliance, combining co-working and meeting space on the lower floors with residential flats on the upper levels. Part of the restored accommodation has been used to support young people at risk of homelessness, tying the building’s revival to a practical social purpose, not just a cosmetic facelift.

Today, The Alliance is a strong example of what “regeneration” looks like when it actually sticks. A heritage building brought back into use, a town-centre landmark given a future and a space that supports both local enterprise and local need.