THOUSANDS of vehicles pass a prominent building in Blackburn every day of the week -- but few realise what history lays behind its door.

And far from being a historical building that has laid down to rest the former George Inn -- on the corner of Darwen Street and Weir Street and only a couple of hundred yards from Darwen Street Bridge -- has changed repeatedly with the times and only recently underwent yet another transformation.

But long before the combustion engine was a regular passer-by and the mind-boggling gyratory road system that runs alongside the former public house sent on-lookers dizzy, the the George Inn must always have considered itself a building of distinction.

Its arched windows and doorways give the appearance of a library, a courtroom, or a seat of learning instead of a place to relax and imbibe.

But our researcher Barbara Riding can reveal the long history behind the chameleon of Darwen Street.

As well as being a public house over a hundred years ago it was also the headquarters of John Dixon, a coach proprietor.

Mr Dixon was born in Clitheroe in 1828 and moved to Blackburn at an early age.

At one time he was the licensee of the Golden Lion in Church Street, which was demolished for the Woolworth's extension - now TJ Hughes.

He later became a hay and straw dealer in Bolton Road and during this time launched his coach business.

He later transferred his business to the George Inn where he remained until 1890. Mr Dixon was a councillor for Peel Ward in Blackburn in the 1870s and was made alderman in 1885. He was married three times and died in 1905.

For many years he ran the Post Office Mail Coach between Blackburn, Bury, Preston and East Lancashire.

When the printing department of Blackburn Paper Company on Randal Street was closed down some years ago some copper engraved plates were rescued from being melted down.

When one of these was later printed it turned out to be what John Dixon would have used on his letters and bills.

It shows a picture of the George Inn followed by an advertisement for Mr Dixon's hearse, mourning coaches and shillibeers, wedding carriages, cabs and drags.

Few will ever have heard of a shillibeer but Barbara explains that according to a story in "Tales of Samlesbury" it was a coach brought into use by George Shillibeer in 1829.

Sometime later it was adopted as a funeral carriage drawn by two horses. It was glazed all round with a long, narrow chamber in the middle for the coffin.

Above the coffin were two rows of seats for the mourners who sat back to back.

Entrance was at the back by means of a drop flight of steps.

There were immense black plumes at each corner and a black velvet pall covered thecoffin ... butthese were charged as extras!

Throughout the 20th century the George Inn was a popular hostelry on the edge of the town centre and for many years was a tenanted house belonging to Blackburn brewers Thwaites. During the 1990s the pub was closed for the last time and reopened as a restaurant with an Italian flavour.

Any reader who remembers tales about the pub they would like to share with our readers should send their memories to the address which appears on the right.