Enjoying retirement
In The Red Rose County
Blackburn cathedral of course. We'd seen it many times on the Antiques Road Show. We were in Blackburn to go to M&S, and we made the cathedral our first stop on alighting at the very good modern bus station. First impressions were of a significant building with a friendly welcome. Inside the cathedral there was a lot to admire. The old Georgian parish church forms the nave of the largely Sixties new building. The roof is splendid. But your eye is immediately drawn to the Sanctuary with its striking corona (under the lantern tower) and rood screen. Whilst we were there an organist was at work, or should I say play, which added to the atmosphere. Looking back down the nave there is the 'Worker Christ' by artist John Hayward. The modern wood carving, here one of several figures adorning the lectern, was quite as good as the old masters. And not all was modern. These chairs with misericords are thought to have come from Whalley Abbey. The centre of Blackburn was pleasant enough. Here Church Street has contemporary sculptures running down its centre. The market was exceptionally good with apparently thriving butchers, bakers, a fishmonger, a tripe shop (haven't seen one of those in a long while), and much much else. But the modern shopping precinct which was dominant is full of closed down units. There are more than 40 mosques in the borough and a third of the population is non white British which certainly alters the feel and complexion of the city. It certainly no longer feels like a former mill town, which is a great shame. Not much sign of Blackburn's heritage in the city centre.
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Keith & Frances SmithArchives
August 2023
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