Blackburn, Lancashire

Childhood memories in Blackburn

My first school was St Michaels and All Angels in Whalley New Road. We all had to have our gas masks over our shoulders and hang them up on our own little peg. I can remember we all had school dinners, I don't think we paid, we had no money. Also all the very young children had a sleep for a... [more]

Infirmary Memories

My first memory of the Infirmary is when I was four years old. I had my tonsils and adenoids removed because I was very, very deaf. After the operation I could hear but it would be many years before I learned that I only had hearing in one ear. When I was six I had another operation to... [more]

Nurse Training

I started my SRN training in 1973. In those days the Nurses' Home still exsisted but the view was obscured by the more recent additional buildings to the Infirmary, which included the Education Centre. However the Home was still well used. Some nurses still 'lived in' in this building but we all used the building too. We... [more]

School Speech Days

When I was a pupil at 'Blackburn High School for Girls' we used to go to Blackburn Cathedral for the morning sevice on Speech Day. In those days the Cathedral was dark and dismal with masses of dark wood and lots of box pews. I particularly remember walking over what I believed were graves - scary to an eleven... [more]

Heart of Lancashire Photographic Memories

Blackburn had two markets, the indoor market and an open air one, held every Wednesday and Saturday, when this photograph was taken. Friday was later added to the open market days. Our photograph shows the open market in New Market Street. Here we see the Market Hall (or House) from the rear, and we can also see the back of the... [more]

Heart of Lancashire Pocket Album

When this photograph was taken, Blackburn had two markets, the indoor market and an open air one, held every Wednesday and Saturday. This photograph shows the open market in New Market Street. Here we see the Market Hall (or House) from the rear, and the back of the Town Hall; its 20ft-high wall guards a courtyard. It was the Market Square that hosted the Blackburn Fair,... [more]

Heart of Lancashire Photographic Memories

Here we have a busy and bustling view of Northgate. The Town Hall did not need or get a clock, because the Market Hall had the town's clock on a free-standing tower in front of it. The Market Hall and its tower are on the right of our picture, and the square, solid Town Hall is at the side of it.... [more]