IT used to be a talking point for many people along King Street, in Blackburn – the baby doll sitting in the window of Duckworth’s outfitters.

For every week it would be dressed in a different outfit and passers-by would regularly stop to discuss its new clothes.

“It was my grandparents’ shop and I believe the doll’s outfit was a regular subject of conversation among local shoppers,” said Looking Back reader Michael Clarke this week.

His grandmother Helen Duckworth, pictured above, ran the store, which opened, more than 90 years ago. We think this photograph was taken in the 1920s.

Helen was married to Arthur Watson Clarke, who jointly owned the City and County Warehouse trade outlet in nearby Paradise Street and had nearby stables.

As business boomed, the couple bought all the shops along the block, which were rented out to other retailers.

Duckworth’s continued as a clothing store right up until 1965, with Michael’s mother, Jean Clarke, running the business for several years.

Today the shop, run in aid of Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, and others once owned by the Clarkes, have been renovated to reflect their previous heritage.

For the King Street area, comprising 20 buildings, which were built as town houses in the 1700s and 1800s, are now part of a conservation area.

At that time the street was favoured by many of Blackburn’s wealthiest families, including the Leyland, Hindle and Hornbys.

The Sudell family, who were land owners, also had a town house there, set back from the street in its own grounds although, later, other houses were built in a continuous row, often with warehouses and brew houses attached to the rear.

In 1824 a Friends meeting house was built by the Society of Friends in the Sudell orchard at the corner of Paradise Street.

Hornby House, now 39-41 King Street, was built in 1778 and the 1851 census gives the occupier as William Henry Hornby, who employed nine resident servants, including a butler, coachman, groom and cook.

King Street’s reign as Blackburn’s most desirable residential neighbourhood was ended when Richmond Terrace was built, but it became established as the town’s financial heart, with several banks, while new industry included a calico manufacturer and a saw mill.

Do you have any photographs, or memories, to share with Looking Back readers?