WHEN it was opened 83 years ago it was intended to be a ‘constant reminder of the men who had fallen in the war’.

But now the war memorial wing of the former Blackburn Royal Infirmary could be demolished to make way for housing.

Historians said it was ‘terrible news’ that the wing, which was built after £100,000 was donated from townspeople, could be pulled down.

However, council bosses said it was a price that had to be paid to get the development moving again.

The rest of the old infirmary has been demolished as part of plans for 253 new homes on the site.

Original plans were to retain the wing, but the scheme ground to a halt two years ago amid the credit crunch without a house being built.

Now developer John Wilson homes has approached Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council to look into pulling down the remaining building, overlooking Bolton Road, which does not have listed status.

In 1920, Blackburn Council wanted to create a memorial for those who died in the First World War.

Mayor Lawrence Cotton said it should ‘be one which would give the greatest satisfaction to the greatest number. The town’s memorial should take the form of an extension to the Royal Infirmary . . . which would be a constant reminder of the men who had fallen in the War.”

Over the next eight years, £100,000 was raised from the town, with much of it coming from cotton mills and their workers. The infirmary war memorial wing opened in 1928.

The war memorial is believed to be owned by another developer, PJ Livesey, which specalises in converting old buildings.

Its future will depend on talks between the two parties.

Since the building work started, the wing has deteriorated as it has been targeted by vandals, said Professor David Smalley, of Blackburn Civic Voice.

He added: “We cannot afford to lose a building that has such an enormous emotional attachment to people in the town.”

Coun Tony Humphrys, the executive member for regeneration, said: “We wanted to keep that section.

"It would be a shame if it was demolished, but it would be a price we would have to pay to get development moving on that land.”

David Wilson Homes and PJ Livesey did not respond to requests for a comment.