In last week’s Looking Back supplement, we carried a photograph showing the junction of Bolton road in Blackburn near to Darwen Street Bridge.

We asked if any readers remembered the Burrows and Todd bathroom showroom which featured in the photo.

This prompted Eric Nolan, a regular contributor to Looking Back to get in touch.

He said: “I do, but more remember the company who were there before them, namely Fielding’s because I worked for them for just short of three years from 1964 to 1966.

“Joseph Fielding and Sons Limited, one of a handful of pawnbrokers in Blackburn, was established in 1875 with several local shops including one in Darwen. They also owned Neville’s (Departmental Store) on Darwen Street and Richard Holt Limited, jewellers and pawnbrokers in Blackpool.

“As an aside, famous boxer Brian London was one of our best customers for the latter services!

“After Neville’s closed in, I think, 1965, a new double windowed shop was opened just the other side of Darwen Street Bridge to continue the Clothing Club cheque business (credit drapery system) and jewellery sales.

“The then Lancashire Evening Telegraph took some photos to mark the shop’s opening, one showing manageress Winnie Coombes with a display of smart shoes - yours for only 33s 11d.

“Interestingly, and of course before the introduction of yellow lines”, I was able to park my old MG Magnette right outside the shop all day.

“One the original photograph which ran in Looking Back, the single window shop next door (towards the bridge) was Aspden’s Travel & Coaches, and on the other side of the entry, which I think went to the marshalling yards of the railway station, was a little wooden sarsaparilla shop, just shown on edge of photo.

“This, which in my mind served the best in Blackburn, even better than Walsh’s on the open market, and that’s saying something!

“However the business venture was not successful (and not at all due to the fact that I was the book-keeper/cashier), with the boss, and grandson of the founder, Bob Fielding, taking with his wife Lorna to run The British Queen on Duckworth Street in Darwen.

“Not long after, a fire burnt down the Neville’s buildings due to an electrical fault. Part of the premises straddled the River Blakewater which the fire brigade said at the time had created a draught of extra air which had fanned the flames in the burning building making the damage more serious.”

Thanks to Eric for this fascinating insight. If you have memories and photos of places you used to work in East Lancashire, do get in touch. Email bygones@nqnw.co.uk or leave a comment