THE pickle factory In Bastwell, Old Eppies sweet shop in Queen’s Park, midwife Alice Bretkle who ran a paper shop in Waterfall — they are all part of Blackburn in yesteryear.

Then there was the Co-op’s Excelsior shop in Lambeth Street, the ‘handbag factory’ run by Universal Leather Goods and Cock Sunter, who kept hens behind his house in Guide.

All these characters and landmarks that are now no more give an insight into a Blackburn of the past and chronicle its heritage.

They come from a new book titled ‘Blackburn - In Their Own Words’ - a series of interviews which sets down memories of the town from as far back as a century ago — a second is already being planned.

For it includes the story of centenarian Elizabeth Stancliffe, who was born in Canada but returned to Blackburn with her father in 1913 after the death of her mother.

Her early memories include visiting the annual Easter Fair which included sideshows of ‘two headed chickens’ and the outings by charabanc from Cedar Street school. Her husband used to own James Stancliffe shoe shop in Shear Brow.

One of the things that Tom Kennedy, who was born in Palm Street in Bastwell, in 1928, remembers was the pickle factory at the bottom of the street.

The owner would recruit little lads in the area to peel onions and cut cauliflower and gherkins for the piccalilli, which he would hawk on his two wheel cart.

Tom’s dad ran the only oyster shop in town and he also used to pitch up at King George’ Hall, when the ROF factory or Newman’s slipper works held functions, selling three for half a crown.

Ada Thomas, who was born in Edith Street in 1927, remembers Hunt’s the grocer’s and confectioners near her home, along with Aspinall’s toffee shop, nicknamed Old Eppies.

She went to St Joseph’s school, where the teachers were Misses Mercer, Bradley and O’Malley, as well as Sister Ignatius who always slapped her hand.

She worked at Saxone shoes in Church Street, Waring and Gillow furniture in Alexandra Mill and Mullards.

Vincent Gibson, born in 1941 in Tontine Street, worked for Fred Sellers greengrocery, which had eight branches in town, while Joan Bell, born in Audley in 1928, recalls watching Christmas pantos at Park Road Congregational Church and the yo-yo competitions at The Majestic in the late thirties.

John Murphy came to the area as an evacuee during the war and remembers the Pit Fields in Guide, where Italian prisoners of war were kept and Irish labourers helped bring the hay in.

Coalman Jim Whittle, born in 1940 in Charnley Street, played on Harrison’s rec and recalls Harrison’s gym and institute, as well as the giant cob of coal which stood outside Crooks and Thompson’s coal merchants.

Former newspaper photographer Howard Talbot, who worked with his father, Wally, tell of the many local characters that they met, and how his photograph of Gandhi was used in the film about his life. and the places that they visited.

  • Copies are available for £12.99 by contacting Heritage Publications on 01254 245709, through www.heritagepublications.co.uk, Lesley's News on Blackburn market and Blackburn library.

Photos courtesy of Howard Talbot