John Eddleston - Photographer

                                                                                                                                                             
In 1963, a young Blackburnian and keen photographer by the name of John Eddleston, had bought himself a new camera which he was going to take with him on a forthcoming trip to Europe. He decided to familiarise himself with his purchase by traipsing around the town (mainly the centre) taking shots of a Blackburn that would soon disappear in the planned, phased redevelopment. He took hundreds of photos and has left us with a very important archive of that period of Blackburn's history.

In the late 1990's, most of John's photos were published in two small books, which were sold locally and the proceeds used to buy equipment for The Stroke Rehabilitation Ward at Queens Park Hospital (Royal Blackburn as it is now). Quite a few people were instrumental in the publication of these books, Peter Street, Ray Hull, Simon Allen, the printer John Brown and no doubt others too. My personal thanks to them all.

Over the last few years, I have seen John Eddleston's photos crop up on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Youtube and other web-sites and rarely, if ever, is the man given a mention. Not only do they fail to mention the photographer, but often, their reproductions of his work are bad, indeed sometimes awful scans that add insult to injury (please see the example below). Here, by giving him his own category, I hope to rectify that.

Over time I will upload all of his published images. They will be in pretty random order, but I will tag them by location, so if you just want to see some photos of a particular street / road, click on the appropriate one in the 'LABELS' list.  If you would just like to view JE's photos, then click on his name in the same list.

Lark Hill and the junction of Regent St - 1963

The same image as it appeared on a Facebook group and hand on heart, I did nothing but download it from that group. As mentioned above, an insult to the photographer.

Courtesy of John Eddleston

King William Street (Looking south) - 1963

 

Looking south along King William Street from the corner of Exchange Street.

It looks like people have always sat on the benches in that vicinity, mainly pedestrianised now of course. I've sat there on sunny afternoons myself over the decades, just watching the world go by and chatting to friends.

Fantastic old lamps along the front of the old Town Hall.

Photo courtesy of John Eddleston

Darwen St looking into King William St - 1963

 

Looking along Darwen St and into King William St, with the junction of Church St to the right and Higher Church St to the left. The Old Bank, pretty central in this photograph, dominates the scene and just in the centre of the crossroads, you can see the policeman in his white coat, directing the traffic.

The building on the other corner of Higher Church St was originally the Prince of Wales Hotel, but by the time this photo was taken in 1963, it had long been an outlet of Burton's (gents outfitters).

Photo courtesy of John Eddleston

Town Hall Street from Northgate - 1963

This is Town Hall St viewed from the Northgate end. On the left are various shops and Tony's Empress Ballroom. On the right hand side, but not really visible, is the side of the Co-op Emporium. The entrance would be approximately where the people are. It is now of course, the central library.

In the distance at the bottom of the street, can be seen some of the market stalls / units on King William St, where we would now see Hornby's statue by the old Town Hall and perhaps the corner of the British Home Stores.

Photo courtesy of John Eddleston

Higher Church St viewed from Astley Gate - 1963

Higher Church St looking down towards the junctions of King William St, Church St and Darwen St.

Northgate is off to the left and the photographer would have been stood on Astley Gate outside of  The Sun and/or The Swan pubs.

Photo courtesy of John Eddleston

King William St / Church St - 1963

Looking towards King William St and the top part of Church St from Darwen St, with the familiar sight of the policeman on duty, directing the traffic.

If today, you stood where the photographer was standing, you would see the monstrous Debenhams store dominating the view and probably a dozen skateboarding Goths where Sagars the jewellers is. The Goths are fine, but the jury is still out with regards the Debenehams store. 

Photo courtesy of John Eddleston

King William St - Looking South - 1963

Looking south along King William Street, towards the bend where Lord Street crosses. The dark edifice on the extreme right of the photo is the entrance to what is now the Nat West Bank, so the photographer would have been level with New Market Street as he took this view.

Photo courtesy of John Eddleston.

King William St viewed from Church St - 1963

King William St viewed from the corner of Church St, looking north. 

In the distance, on the corner of Lord St, is the magnificent National Provincial Bank, which was built on the site of the St Leger Hotel. The St Leger was the hotel, where back in 1875, John Lewis, Arthur Constantine and a couple of others met, with a view to forming a football team, which indeed they did. That team became The Rovers.

If anyone has a photo of the St Leger, I would love to see it.  I have a couple of old postcard images, where it is seen in the distance, but both are so indistinct, you would never know it was a hotel / pub.

Courtesy of John Eddleston

King William St - 1963

King William St again. This time towards the north end, by the old Town Hall (out of view to the right). Hardy & Co, now the Royal Bank of Scotland on the corner of Museum St were furniture dealers I believe.

Courtesy of John Eddleston 

The Easter Fair - 1963

Following on from the previous photo, this is the same part of the Easter Fair, only viewed from the opposite end, from King William St and looking down towards Victoria St. The photographer would have been stood outside of what is now the Nat West Bank, on the corner of New Market St and K.W. St.

Courtesy of John Eddleston

The Easter Fair - 1963

The Easter Fair. 

For anyone unsure of the location (younger folks), the two buildings in the background are still with us today on King William St, the Nat West Bank to the left and what was until a decade or so ago, Burtons the Tailors, with New Market St running between them. Through the spokes of the big wheel, you can just see the pitched roof of the fish market and part of the old clock tower.

The area where the crowds are, is marked on maps from the past as Market Place.

Courtesy of John Eddleston

King William St / Market Hall & Clock - 1963

King William St, again looking north. 

Ever since the 1840's, when the market hall and clock tower were built, this scene must have been captured dozens and dozens of times. There's sketches, drawings, old postcard images and photographs from most decades, but this 1963 one of JE's must have been one of the last (apart from the demolition ones).

Courtesy of John Eddleston 

Lord St viewed from Lord St West - 1963

Lord St viewed from Lord St West, looking across Northgate, with Johnny Forbes outfitters on the left and Watson & Wrigley (work wear?) on the right. Just out of view (sadly), beyond W & W is the old Wine Lodge.  I think that is probably its sign jutting out a bit towards the top of those premises.

Lower down on the left hand side is the National Provincial Bank (again) on the corner of King William St and further down Harrops, the Clarence pub, Rakestraws and in the distance, market stalls and the buildings on Victoria St.

Courtesy of John Eddleston

Darwen St - c1904

A lovely 108 year old view of Darwen St, looking in the direction of King William St.

Those working chaps on the right hand pavement, had earlier been into the Prince of Wales pub on the corner of Higher Church St and also had a few beers in the Legs O Man and The County, which they've just left. They were heading for the Postal Order, but as you can see, taking their time, as it hadn't yet been built and wouldn't become a pub for another 3/4 of a century, so there was no push.

COURTESY OF THE CP COLLECTION

Town Hall & King William St x 3

Three more views of King William Street, one with a Christmas wish (well it is the 16th of December).

The top image dates to 1908, the centre one a little earlier, possibly around 1900 and the bottom image is circa 1930.

COURTESY OF THE CP COLLECTION

A Tram on King William Street

King William St, the Town Hall, market stalls, the Market Hall Clock Tower and a passing tram, viewed from the corner of Library Street / Exchange Street.

COURTESY OF THE CP COLLECTION

King William Street - c1905

King William Street (again). This postcard dates from 1905.

Note the wording on the building on the corner of New Market Street. 'Market Buildings' on one side and 'Stonehouse Drapers' on the K.W.St side. Again, as in other photos from this period, the statue of Robert Peel is still in situ at roof level.

COURTESY OF THE CP COLLECTION 

The Town Hall & Market Stalls - c1918

This photo was taken circa 1918. The Town Hall in the background and a section of the old open market.

COURTESY OF THE CP COLLECTION

King William Street & Market Place - 1927

King William Street and part of the old, open market.

Photo / postcard dates to 1927.

COURTESY OF THE CP COLLECTION

King William Street - Viewed from Darwen Street

This old postcard is looking north along King William Street from Darwen Street. On the left, on the corner of Higher Church Street, is The Prince of Wales Hotel (later to become Burton's Menswear, I think) and on the right, where the tram lines are disappearing to, is Church Street.

This is the crossroads, where for decades later, the policeman would stand in white coat and gloves, directing the traffic.

Not sure of the date, but it looks to be circa 1905, give or take a few years.

POSTCARD COURTESY OF THE CP COLLECTION