STREET art in Burnley, such as the decorative gateway to the library, sets out parts of its history.

The railings to the main door were the work of Trapp Forge and the show clogs, books, shawls, the Weavers’ Triangle and flying shuttles.

The stone carvings on the ramp to the library, show another series of items associated with the town.

There’s a cockerel, which represents ‘Butterfly’, a champion bird belonging to the Ormerods of Ormerod House which took part in an epic cock fight, in 1795, with the Towneley’s champion ‘Caesar’ at Mereclough.

Vast sums of money had been bet on the outcome of the fight and when Caesar appeared to have triumphed, the Ormerods thought they were ruined and left for home.

However, with one last lunge Butterfly attacked and killed his opponent.

The horse and rider on the ramp represents Kettledrum’s win in the Epsom Derby of 1861.

Towards the end of the 1850s, Colonel Charles Towneley revived his interest in the turf and along with his estate manager Mr Eastwood bred a succession of first class horses, one, Butterfly won the Oaks in 1860 and Doefoot won 11 out of 17 races. However, his most outstanding success was the Derby win.

It’s said that at the race, the Colonel was sitting next to the pope’s emissary, who asked him if he would be kind enough to place a bet on Kettledrum on behalf of his Holiness.

This he did and shortly after, a cheque for £5,000 found its way into the Vatican coffers.

With his winnings Colonel Charles was able to have a Towneley Chapel built at Dunsop Bridge. Local interest in the race was intense and large crowds gathered outside the Hall Inn, at the top of Hall Street in the town centre, to await the result.

On the announcement of Kettledrum’s victory, there were scenes of wild jubilation.

A military band hurried to the bottom of Manchester Road and began playing rousing music, the bells of St Peter’s Church were rung in celebration and a barrel of ale was taken outside to distribute to the crowd.

A portrait of the horse was commissioned and a public house in Mereclough named after him.

An oil painting of Colonel Towneley and his brother and nephew with Kettledrum was given to Towneley Hall in 1915 by Lady O’Hagan.

There’s also a carving of a cup, which depicts Burnley FC’s success in the final of the English Cup in front of 80,000 fans, in 1914.

After their win, players and officials returned by train, with a specially decorated engine and were cheered along the entire route from Manchester via Blackburn to Rose Grove railway station and down to the town hall, where there were tens of thousands of fans.

At least one set of mill workers went on strike, so as not to miss the celebrations and it was also a life-changing event for one six-year-old boy — his name was Bob Lord.