A PORTRAIT of the 'father' of Blackburn and one of Lancashire's greatest cotton lords John Hornby, is getting a permanent home in the town's Museum and Art Gallery.

The painting, by Lancashire-born artist James Lonsdale, cost £3,200 and is thought to date back to 1830.

It was paid for by the Friends of the Museum and Art Gallery and a grant from the Victoria and Albert Museum Resource Purchase Grand Fund and goes on display as part of the Tiplady's Blackburn exhibition, which opens on September 22, before being sent for minor restoration.

A spokesperson said: "It means a great deal to us to have acquired the portrait and to be bringing John Hornby back to the town. We purchased the painting about five months ago when we heard it was coming up for auction at a London gallery.

"We wanted to bring it back to Blackburn because of what John Hornby gave to the town and will feature it with portraits of other prominent local industrialists."

Hornby, whose son William Henry, became the borough's first mayor and grandson Harry -- William Henry Junior -- was a local MP, was a major figure in the establishment of Blackburn's industrial heritage.

The first of his family to settle in the town, he arrived in 1779 and soon established a mill at nearby Scorton, as well as warehouses in Blackburn.

Many of his family became prominent local citizens, including cricketer A.N. Hornby.

He built his first spinning mill in 1828 and a much larger factory four years later.

In the early 1880's he moved to a large house in King Street, later occupied by son William.

By his death in 1841, he had amassed a fortune of £200,000, a great deal of money at that time. For more details on the exhibition, which runs until November 17, ring the Museum and Arts Gallery on 01254 667130.