Hoghton

The home of the de Hoghton family, the house (which is still there today) was mainly built in the reign of Elizabeth I. In the early 14th century, Sir Richard Hoghton and his wife, Sybilla de Lea, presided over an estate which was was already over 40,000 acres. The Tower will always be associated with the visit of James I when he dubbed a simple loin of beef ‘Sir Loin’. Thomas Hoghton built most of what we see here in 1565. This was a time of religious troubles, and he left for Belgium in 1569 to spend the last eleven years of his life there. In the Civil War, Sir Gilbert, the Lord of the Manor, was for the King, yet his son and heir Richard fought for the Roundheads. The house was never fortified, so it escaped destruction by Cromwell. Today it is open to the public.
An extract from from"Heart of Lancashire Photographic Memories".

The home of the de Hoghton family, the house (which is still there today) was mainly built in the reign of Elizabeth I. In the early 14th century, Sir Richard Hoghton and his wife, Sybilla de Lea, presided over an estate which was was already over 40,000 acres.The Tower will always be associated with the visit of James I when he dubbed a simple loin of beef ‘Sir Loin’.Thomas Hoghton built most of what we see here in 1565.The house was never fortified, so it escaped destruction by Cromwell.Today it is open to the public.
An extract from from"Heart of Lancashire Pocket Album".

This is how local historian W A Abram described the Town Hall: ‘The west front, 120 feet wide, with an elevation of 63 feet, presents the main entrance in the centre, by three massive arched doorways. The front is emboldened by Corinthian columns resting upon a rusticated basement upholding a broad tablature surmounted by a perforated parapet’ - an impressive piece of architecture.
An extract from from"Blackburn Town and City Memories".

The Exchange looks here much as it did when Charles Dickens ascended its steps to give his reading. The premises on the right advertising Whittle Springs Ales was W H Gregson’s brewers’ agents, later to become an office for Grant’s whisky, the only one they had outside Scotland - a tribute to Blackburn’s fondness for strong liquor. On the left was the Exchange Hotel.
An extract from from"Blackburn Town and City Memories".

Note the change of illumination outside the Town Hall. On the right is the Exchange Building in its incarnation as the Majestic Cinema. Davy Crockett is showing, and you could have had a seat in the stalls for one shil- ling (5p), or in the circle for one shilling and sixpence (7½p).
An extract from from"Blackburn Town and City Memories".