Blackburn Accrington Hyndburn Museums Tourist Guide King Georges Hall Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery & Blackburn History

Blackburn's main museum and art gallery, centrally placed just near the town hall, first opened in 1874 as both museum and Free Library. The museum's collection is extensive and varied and includes bequests by local notables such as Robert Hart who left a considerable coin, manuscript and book collection to the museum.

The former Lewis Textile Museum's collection is now here at the Blackburn Museum digging deep into the town's cotton industry heritage. The comprehensive 'Cotton Town' Blackburn History webguide (see weblink right) compliments the museum's cotton textiles displays, tracing the history of the factory system and documenting the stories of workers through to 20th century production and decline. Canals, cotton, child labour, wakes weeks and more are all explained on this superb Cotton Textiles history website. The history of the Blackburn Museum & Gallery from its early Free Library roots is also on the website, with more detail on each of the galleries.

Many of the outstanding constantly changing exhibitions have a particular Blackburn focus, drawing on the town's many historical themes including as both a musical and cotton textiles centre. Specialist archives include the Kathleen Ferrier archive left to the museum by her sister Winifred. Ferrier, who was born just outside Blackburn, was an international operatic star by the mid-20th century. The nurturing of her musical talents, although it was a struggle for her to achieve fame, was no accident in Blackburn which has a long tradition as a centre for music, particularly classical. Other treasures pertaining to local history include an extensive Lancaster pottery collection decorated by the famous Walter Crane as well as working models of spinning and weaving machinery inherited from the Lewis Textiles Museum. The social history gallery within the museum is a particular highlight, drawing on the museum's extensive local history archive of photographs, mill machinery, toys and the contents from local shops. A fair few hidden art gems are here at the Blackburn Museum & Gallery, which is particularly good on classic Victorian painting featuring the most popular Victorian artists of their day including Thomas Sidney Cooper and his famous cow paintings. The popular work by Frederic Leighton - 'Cherries' is here and moving further back the museum boasts eight works by JMW Turner!

Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery, Museum Street, Blackburn, Tel: 01254 667130. See also exhibitions at the visitor centre within Witton Country Park, Preston Old Road, Blackburn BB2 2TP. Tel. 01254 55423. Witton Country Park sits to the West of Blackburn and covers 480 acres. The estate was once the home of the Feilden family, one of whom was an MP for Blackburn. Witton House dates from 1800.

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Accrington's Haworth Art Gallery & Accrington Tourist Guide

For more outstanding art move to Accrington's Haworth Art Gallery which not only boasts a unique collection of Tiffany Art Nouveau glass permenantly on display upstairs, but also has some superb visiting exhibitions (an exhibition of the work of Peter Blake was here recently). The collection of Art Nouveau glass sits more than comfortably in this striking Edwardian Tudor Style house set within Haworth Park. The house is of particular internest for its oak-panelled entrance hall and Arts and Crafts staircase plus wood and plaster decorations around the reception rooms.

Accrington, much like the Yorkshire town of Halifax, has a stunningly array of particularly Victorian architecture with Accrington Town Hall forming the centrepiece. The aptly named Acorn Trail (pick up leaflets inside the town hall or download one via the Accrington/Hyndburn Tourist webguide link right) guides you around Accington's impressive architecture. You'll note the Acorn motif engraved on many a historic Accrington building - deliberately so as the town was originally surrounded by oak woodland. 17 sites are included in the trai, covering features such as the flower mosaic on the town hall entrance floor.

Accrington's town hall plays host to numerous events through the year (see the Hyndburn Entertainment webguide link right) including performances by the Blackburn Symphony Orchestra, various dancing nights, tribute bands and festivals including the Pennine Lancashire Food Festival (weblink right). When the first football league was formed in the 1880s, Accrington was one of 5 Lancashire clubs to be included in the league. Read a full history of the historic Accrington Stanley Football Club via the weblinks right. One of Hyndburn's most famous stories - that of the Accrington Pals is also comprehensively explained via the Pals history website right. 235 Pals were killed and 350 wounded in under 20 minutes on the morning of 1st July 1916. There was hardly a family in Hyndburn that wasn't touched by this devastating loss of life.

Haworth Art Gallery, Haworth Park, Manchester Road, Accrington, BB5 2JS. Tel. 01254 233782.

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King Georges Hall Blackburn & Entertainment Venues

Blackburn's famous Events and Entertainment centre King Georges Hall, with its regular popular Soul nights, was built both before and after the First World War. Prior to the war the two smaller halls were completed, with war delaying the building of the largest concert hall - the official King Georges Hall which finally opened in 1921. With a seating capacity for 3,500 and with war memorial organ, this premier historic concert hall was one of the first in the UK to have air conditioning and was built in a classical style using Butler's Delph in Pleasington stone. The hall was also electrically lit from the beginning. The war left its mark on this historic building literally with war and peace carvings. Consistent sympathetic renovations have retained numerous original features including highlights such as the art deco house lights. Retention of such features gives King Georges Hall a particularly special atmosphere.

An eclectic programme of events includes the famous frequent Soul nights, Variety Music Hall, Comedy, dance, Pop concerts, Tribute bands and Classical music concerts. Music and comedy performances are particularly well represented, with King Georges Hall featuring on most high profile comedian's tour dates. Blakeys Cafe Bar is on-site and offers pre-concert supers. See the King Georges Hall webguide right for performance listings, map and more detail.

King Georges Hall, Northgate, Blackburn, BB2 1AA. Box Office Tel. 0844 847 1664.

Located in the heart of Darwen Town Centre just to the south of Blackburn, Darwen's Library Theatre offers a superb programme of performances. Like King Georges, this little theatre has a long history and today you'll find a superb mix of comedy, drama, musicals and more here. See listings via the theatre's webguide right. Darwen Library Theatre, Knott Street, Darwen, BB3 3BU. Tel. 01254 774684. Box Office Tel. 01254 706 006. Tickets can also be purchased at the theatre's box office 1 hour before opening time, and also at certain times from the library. The King Georges Hall Ticket Shop also sells tickets for performances at the Darwen Library Theatre.

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Blackburn Rovers FC

First formed in 1875, and one of the mighty Northern and Midlands football clubs to be members of the first football league formed in 1888, Blackburn Rovers is a premier English football club today with a long history.

The club's first ground in the 1870s at Oozehead had a cow pit (watering hole) near the centre circle! For the 1881-82 season a new ground was purchased at Leamington Street. Moving from strength to strength, and nudged by threatened rent rises at Leamington Street the team sought a move to the Ewood Park site in 1890.

Read the full history of Blackburn Rovers via the club's webguide right. Ewood Park is easily reached off the M6 and M65 Motorways. Detailed directions are also on the website. Ground Tours are usually available (although check the website first for match days and potential renovation work). The Blues Bar (Blackburn's colours are light blue and white), extensive hospitality facilities and the club shop are all on-site

Blackburn Rovers Football Club, Ewood Park, Blackburn, Lancashire BB2 4JF. Ticket Office Tel. 0871 2221 444.

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Blackburn Ice Arena & Waves Water Fun Centre

Blackburn is home to the North West's Regional Ice Skating centre. As well as the site for ice skating lessons, competitions and ice hockey, the Blackburn Ice Arena offers year round skating and disco sessions open to the public. A live DJ is on hand on Friday and Saturday nights, and both Junior and Senior Disco sessions are offered. Checkout the Arena's webguide right for public session opening times. A large free car park is adjacent and the Ice Arena is easily accessed off main motorways. It's also conveniently close to Blackburn Railway Station. See the webguide link right for a detailed map.

The Blackburn Waves Water Fun Centre on Nab Lane is a popular family attraction in the heart of Blackburn town centre. Waves boasts a lagoon shaped pool with Alien space bowl water feature, jacuzzi, waves machine and children's shipwreck slide. A gym is also on-site. Adjacent pay & display parking receives a discount if you present the ticket to the centre on entrance. For more details see the Waves weblink right.

Blackburn Ice Arena, Lower Audley, Waterside, Blackburn BB2 3DY. Tel Information line.08712 223388.

Blackburn Waves Water Fun Centre, Nab Lane, Blackburn, BB2 1LN. (01254) 51111.

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Blackburn Shopping, Indoor Market & Oswaldtwistle Mills Shopping Village

Blackburn town centre is rather good for its shopping range. Blackburn's vast indoor market offers a superb range of goods across over 300 stalls. You'll find everything here from fresh fish, meat and game to specialist jewellery, arts and crafts and musical instruments. Browse the choice of stalls via Blackburn Market's weblink right. The town's main shopping centre - The Mall on Church Street (weblink right) boasts a huge selection of well known retail names all under one roof including Debenhams, River Island and JJB Sports. For a comprehensive guide to Blackburn's town centre shopping, including specialist independent shops around the Cathedral Quarter, see the Blackburn Shopping webguide link right.

Blackburn Shopping Centre, 25 Church Street, Blackburn, BB1 5AF. Tel. 01254 54455. Peel Leisure Centre in Blackburn has a choice of leisure facilities including a multiplex Vue Cinema and a choice of restaurants. Peel Leisure and Retail Park, Lower Audley Street, Blackburn BB1 1BG. Blackburn Market, Ainsworth Street, Blackburn, Lancashire. BB1 6AF. Tel. 01254 52911. Market Hall Open Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 5.15pm (10-4 on Thursdays). Three Day Market Open Wednesday Friday & Saturday 9.00am to 5.15pm. Checkout Blackburn Market's webguide right for stalls listings and the Blackburn's long history of markets stretching back to 567AD.

Just off the M65 outside of Blackburn sits the famous mammoth specialist shopping and attractions village -Oswaldtwistle Mills. This historic converted mill complex is a day out in itself. Blending attractions with retail, Oswaldtwistle Mills is one of area's top attractions. A Heritage Centre is on-site exploring the history of the Mill and cotton textiles and the local area. Featured is a tribute to the Accrington Pals. Other on-site attractions include The Northern Ingredient Food Hall, Mr Bubbles Play Centre, The Textile Time Tunnel, The Mill Grounds & Picnic Cafe and Potter 'n' Paint Ceramic Workshop. Regular events take place on the complex - see the webguide right for details, plus a choice of restaurants are on-site. On the retail side Oswaldtwistle Mills is a specialist shopper's heaven! Arts & crafts, childrens and womens fashions, shoes, food, flowers - the list is endless with shops housed in this atmospheric mill conversion which includes feature enclosures such as the Victorian Arcade. Local produce and an emphasis on quality and unique gifts and products are what you can expect here at Oswaldtwistle Mills.

Oswaldtwistle Mills Shopping Village, Moscow Mill, Colliers Street, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, BB5 3DE. Tel.01254 871025.

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Blackburn Cathedral

Elevated to cathedral status as recently as 1926, Blackburn Cathedral is one of Blackburn town centre's most striking landmarks. The parish church dates from 1826 with the additional lantern tower added later from the 1950s. Full completion of additions came in 1977.

A cafe and cathedral shop are on-site, and the cathedral opens to the public for tours (lasting around 90 minutes). The choirs at Blackburn Cathedral have always had an outstanding reputation - Kathleen Ferrier, Blackburn's own great contralto and major international star in the 1950s performed here.

Blackburn Cathedral, Cathedral Close, Blackburn. BB1 5AA. Tel. 01254 503090. (see the Cathedral's weblink right for more details on tour times).

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Accrington Stanley FC

Accrington Stanley began its life in 1893 as a local side, but pushed on to become one of the best semi-professional sides in the North of England. In 1921 they entered the football league and achieved classic moments like the FA Cup defeat of Blackburn Rovers and of course the reign of Walter Galbraith.

The strength of local support for the team can be seen in the determination of a few to ensure the club's survival after its resignation from the football league in the early 1960s. Starting from nothing, a group of dedicated fans set about rebuilding the club.

www.accringtonstanley.co.uk

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