Blackburn, Exchange 1899
Photo ref: 43478
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Photo ref: 43478
Photo of Blackburn, Exchange 1899

More about this scene

Here we see the grand facade of the Blackburn Exchange & Reading Room, which opened in April 1865. It was known later as the Cotton Exchange. The building, at least the front, is still there today, and is a cinema. Blackburn had had three local newspapers by the time the Reading Room opened. The 'Blackburn Mail' started in 1793; the 'Blackburn Alfred' newspaper was first published in 1832; and the 'Blackburn Times' was first issued on 2 June 1855. We can just make out the advertisement for Whittle Spring Noted Ales to the right of the main door. The spring at Whittle le Woods was known to have healing properties, and when it was made into beer and stout it was said to be good for arthritis and other ailments.

An extract from Heart of Lancashire Photographic Memories.

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Heart of Lancashire Photographic Memories

Heart of Lancashire Photographic Memories

The photo 'Blackburn, Exchange 1899' appears in this book.

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A Selection of Memories from Blackburn

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Blackburn

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I am trying to make contact with any close family or friends of the late Bryan Sharples and his late wife Sarah (Sally) McKinnell. Bryan was born in Blackburn in 1932, served with the 11th Hussars in the Regimental Band and worked for Yates & Thomas. Sarah was born in Belfast in 1937 and they married in Blackpool in December 1958. They emigrated to the USA in 1961. I am hoping that any ...see more
This isn't a memory. I have just found out a relative of mine lived at Cromwell Lodge can anybody tell me something about this place and where in Blackburn it was. Many thanks Jill Page
I was born in 1935 and raised in Blackburn, attending the Grammar School until my widowed mother could not afford to keep me there. I left school in February 1952 and got a job as a Junior Clerk in the Markets Department of the corporation, which was then run by James Peel with other office members Fred Morris, John Smith, Cyril Bateson, Harry Ormerod and Vincent Clark. I was there till I did ...see more
I moved with my parents from Preston to Blackburn in 1946 We lived on Park Avenue off Shear Brow attended Four Lanes End CP School on Revidge Road where I was very happy My recollections of that school was a teacher called Mr Sharples who when he caught you whispering in class would throw the wooden board duster at you Mrs Hargreaves who was the top class teacher and Miss Jackson the headmistress who ...see more