Bacup is a town in Lancashire, England, in the South Pennines close to Lancashire's border line with West Yorkshire. The town is inside the Forest of Rossendale and the upper Irwell Valley, 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometres) east of Rawtenstall, 6.4 miles (10.3 km) north of Rochdale, and 21 miles (34 km) to the east of Preston. In line with the 2011 Census, Bacup has a resident population of approximately 13323 people. Bacup was established as a settlement after the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain in the Early Middle Ages. For centuries, it was a little and obscure centre of domestic flannel and woollen cloth production, and lots of the original weavers' cottages survive as listed buildings. Following the Industrial Revolution, Bacup became a mill town, growing around the now covered over bridge which crosses the River Irwell and the North-South / East-West crossroad at its centre. Throughout that time, its landscape was dominated by recognisable and substantially sized rectangular woollen and cotton mills. Bacup received a charter of incorporation in 1882, which gave it municipal borough status and its own elected town government, consisting of a mayor, aldermen and councillors to oversee local affairs. In the late 20th century, Bacup was integrated into the borough of Rossendale. Bacup's historic character, culture and festivities have led to the town's suburbanisation and redevelopment as a more cosmopolitan commuter town for Manchester as well as other North West towns and cities. Nevertheless, English Heritage has named Bacup as the best preserved cotton town in England, and its town centre is designated as a conservation area for its unique architectural qualities. For all your home improvements, be certain that you utilise trusted professionals in Bacup to ensure you get the best quality service.