LENT by reader Trevor Wilson, of Lammack, these old-time views provide an intriguing snapshot of life in Edwardian Blackburn.

The first (left) shows youngsters and their instructors at the town's long-gone Freckleton Street Baths which was the town's original swimming pool when it opened in 1868.

Most are sporting the tie-on cotton swimming trunks issued by the baths -- and marked with the initials of the council's baths department. But the fully-clothed boy at the left of the group is wearing lad's "Sunday best' attire typical of the era -- a Norfolk-style jacket, stiff Eton collar, knee breeches and clogs.

The date is 1908, which is shown on the posters on the walls advertising four forthcoming swimming galas -- evidence of the immense popularity of swimming at the time. A second pool was added to Freckleton Street Baths in 1884 to cope with ever-rising demand, but by 1905 when annual attendances were 147,792, the council had to embark on building a new one at Belper Street -- the site of the present-day Daisyfield Pools.

At the far left of the picture, hanging from a trestle, can be seen cork-filled lifebelts used as an aide for learner-swimmers. The Freckleton Street pool closed in 1969.

The picture at the far right is captioned 'Griffin Brow, Mill Hill,' but was taken in Mill Hill Bridge Street looking towards the lower end of Griffin Street which rises in the background beyond its junction with Spring Lane which is glimpsed at the centre of the view.

In the foreground at the left is the forecourt of the out-of-sight imposing Mill Hill Hotel which, though built more than 100 years ago in 1902, is still known locally as 'T' New Pub'.

Griffin Street is now world-famous as the boyhood home of 86-year-old Blackburn exile, US university professor William Woodruff whose 1993 'Road to Nab End' autobiography -- originally titled 'Billy Boy' -- about growing up in the town during the Depression era of the Twenties and Thirties became an international best-seller. As a lad, Woodruff was also a swimming enthusiast and won a medal in a gala contest at Belper Street.

The third picture lent by Mr Wilson is of a children's flower show at Corporation Park, Blackburn, on August 14, 1907 -- a mid-week event that was an attraction for stay-at-homes in what was then the town's annual Wakes holiday.