Royal Vist - King George V - 10th July 1913

A royal visit to Blackburn.

King George V and his entourage were here on 10th July 1913 to lay the foundation stone of the public halls, now better known to us as King George's Hall. Here the cavalcade can be seen crossing the Boulevard in the direction of the Railway Station.

It would be October 1921 before the halls were finally opened, the main delay being the Great War of 1914 - 1918.

Sadly I would estimate that a proportion of the people in this crowd, especially the men, would not have survived to see the completion of the halls. Although many would do and as with future generations of Blackburn folk, they would in later decades have attended ceremonies, dances, concerts, pantomimes, plays and a variety of other performances, functions and events held there.

Courtesy of the CP Collection

Station Road (Railway Road) - c1905

A 1905 view of of Railway Road, or Station Road as it was back then. Taken from Salford Bridge, the group of people to the right would have been stood on the White Bull corner. Beyond them we can see the railway station in the distance, the corner of The Adelphi Hotel, Telegraph House with its dome on this side of High Street and the canopied shops down to the corner where the Hake Boat chippy would eventually be.

With the exception of Telegraph House, if you were to stand in the same place as the photographer did back then, you would probably get a similar view today.

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Ship In A Case (S. S. Viking) - Railway Station

Whenever Blackburn people reminisce about our old Victorian railway station, they very often talk about the old 'ship in a glass case'' which used to sit on Platform 2, just by the ramp that took you down to the entrance hall / booking office.

The ship was actually the S. S. Viking and was one of the passenger ships operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Ltd.

From what I can gather (off the internet), she was built in 1905, was then sold to the Admiralty in 1915 and converted into a seaplane carrier, then bought back by the IofMSPCo in 1919, used during the years of the Second World War as a troop ship and then scrapped in 1954.

I can't remember when the model in the glass case was removed from the railway station, but I'm pretty sure it disappeared long before the station was modernised a few years ago. I can remember seeing a similar ship in a case at Lancaster railway station, during my busking days (so kind of 1987 - 1989 ish). Whether it was the Viking or another ship, I wouldn't like to say. Maybe someone out there could confirm?.

Top photograph courtesy of Blackburn Library Services - Reference Dept.

Postcard courtesy of the CP collection.

Bottom image courtesy of artist John L Chapman

Visit of Princess Louise - 30th September 1905

This is the visit of Princess Louise, who was in Blackburn on the 30th September 1905 to unveil the statue of her late mother Queen Victoria, on the Boulevard.

This photo was taken after the unveiling, as they're just coming out of Jubilee St and turning right into Darwen Street. Just look at the crowds

That corner door to The Merchants was still being used right into the 1990's, though it's blocked up now and the pub has changed its name and is part of the Last Order's chain.

There's a couple of other photos of this visit elsewhere on the site (in fact one is on twice). Just type in Princess Louise into the search in the top left corner and they should appear. 

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Railway Road - Early 1920's

An early 1920's view of Railway Road, looking out across Salford Bridge onto Holme Street and the Theatre Royal on the corner of Ainsworth Street in the distance. To the right, the old properties that led into New Water Street and extreme right, the curve of the Bay Horse Hotel.

Don't the chaps in the foreground look smart, in their suits and hats ?

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The Railway Station - c1940's

A nice shot of the railway station when it was still London Midland and Scottish (LMS) Railways.

This image dates to the 1940's, I would think.

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Station Square / Boulevard - c1920

The Boulevard or Station Square as it is called here. Doesn't it look tidy? There's about four modes of transport on view, the taxis to the left, the tram over towards the cathedral, the bus/charabanc in the foreground and what appears to be  a pony & trap just beyond that.

Photo probably dates to around 1920.

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The Boulevard (x 3) - 1900 to 1960's ?

Three more images of the Boulevard, all looking in the same general direction, but from different periods. The top one dates to around 1900 - 1915, the middle one dates to the 1920's and the bottom one is probably the 1960's.

I like the 1920's one best.

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Boulevard / Station Square - Early 20th Century

Another image of the Boulevard or Station Square as it was known. The postmark on the rear looks to be 1910, but it's a bit smudged. It's early 20th Century anyway

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Shoe Shine Person on The Boulevard - c1920's (?)

I really like this old photo. I don't know why (maybe Hollywood movies), but shoe-shine boys, or whatever the correct term is, are something I always associate with America. Though I'm sure they must have had them here in the UK too. Evidently they did.

Unsure of the year, but I'm guessing the 1920's ?

( Another photo that enlarges well )

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The Boulevard (x 2) - 1925 & 1966

Two quite common shots of the Boulevard, taken from a similar angle. The top one is from c1925 and the bottom one dates to approximately 1966.  As fond as I am of the 1960's, I have to admit I prefer the 1920's view.

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Station Square - c1905

A lovely Edwardian view of the Boulevard, or Station Square / Station Road, as it was then known. Like the Church Street photo, it's very animated. The original image is a little larger than this, I've had to crop the ragged edges off, so lost a bit.

(Please click the image to enlarge it a little)

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Blackburn Railway Station (platforms)

I know, it's not strictly speaking on the Boulevard, but the entrance is and I had to give it a label.

Ding Dong......  '' The train now standing on Platform Four, is the 08:35 for Blackpool North. This train will call at Mill Hill, Cherry Tree, Pleasington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Preston and all stations to Blackpool North. Passengers to other destinations, please change at Preston ''  ......Ding Dong

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The Boulevard - c1900

(Please click on the image to expand it)

Yet another view of the Boulevard. This one dates to the early years of the 19th century. Note the 'Daily Star' sign on the gable of the property to the left.

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Railway Road and Salford viewed from the Boulevard

Eeeeeeeh there's a lot more traffic on that stretch of Railway Road these days. This shot, looking towards Salford, from approximately where the Adelphi is, on the corner of High Street, dates from the 1950's. The shop premises and the White Bull on the left are still there, but half of the premises on the right have gone, as has the Woolworths building on the corner of Church Street.

(Please click on the image to expand it)

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Boulevard and The Parish Church c1890's

Another view of the Boulevard, showing the cathedral (or parish church, as it still was, back then). Both Queen Victoria's and Gladstone's statues are captured in this image.

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Railway Road and Boulevard

Not exactly a picture postcard image, but this view of  Railway Road, with a foggy/smoggy skyline behind, is the Blackburn that many people remember. In the centre of the photo, on the corner of High Street, is the Adelphi Hotel, with part of the Dutton's Brewery complex, directly behind it. On the other corner are the offices and production plant of the ' Northern Daily Telegraph' newspaper. Just over the roof of that building, you can see the Soho Foundry, which still stands at the foot of Cicely. At the bottom of the picture is the statue of Gladstone, which has long since, been moved to the Blakeymoor/Northgate area.

(please click on the image to expand it)

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The Boulevard c1900

Another 'grainy' old view of the Boulevard, but still interesting to see how it altered from decade to decade. The Telegraph building was built in the last decade of the 19th Century (c1895) and this postcard probably dates from around the turn of the 20th Century. I think the railed shrubbery/flower beds, survived into the late 1930's. Probably only removed to salvage the metal railings for the war effort, circa 1939-40. 

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The Boulevard - Cast Iron Fountain

The upper of these two photographs, is one of the oldest images I have of the Boulevard.  I'm assuming it was taken before the Palace Theatre was built. There are other photos of the Boulevard, which show that circular fountain. I think the chap by the lamp is looking in the direction of where the Palace would eventually be built.

The second photo, shows the same fountain from a different angle and of course, the cathedral in the background.

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Boulevard / Station Square

A nice old scene from a time long ago, showing the railway station, the electricity works and the Palace Theatre. Probably dates to the turn of the 20th century.

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