Our Story at a Glance
Accrington Pipe Band was founded way back in 1885 by James McBain, Sam Dawson, a man named Strathearn and the Shannon Brothers.
James McBain was gamekeeper at Dunkenhalgh Hall as well as piper to the Accrington Borough Caledonian Society.
It is unclear if McBain ever held the rank of Pipe Major of the band. Sam Dawson was an ex-piper of the Scottish Rifles.
These men used to meet on Abbey Street in Accrington in the old service men’s club, commonly known as the ‘Old Vets’, the building is still there and is now a pharmacy.
The reason why there were so many Scottish families in and around Accrington at the time is largely due to the huge mills in the town, namely Platts Textiles, Calico Fabric Printing and the famous billiards table manufacturers E J Rileys who needed a constant supply of fabric for their tables.
This attracted many a skilled Scottish family to the town and caused a homesick longing which eventually led to the formation of the band.
A book detailing the full history of the band in depth is coming soon.