A HISTORIAN has recalled the last time Blackburn market was heralded as ‘the great new dawn’.

It was in 1964 that the Ainsworth Street complex was opened, heralding the end for the 1848 market hall next to Blackburn Town Hall.

The ‘new’ market, built from concrete in a traditional 1960s style, swiftly became ‘the Trafford Centre of its day’, said Professor David Smaller, of Blackburn Civic Voice.

But 47 years on, it is the Ainsworth Street market, billed as ‘ultra modern’ by the town’s leaders at the time, that is facing demolition after stalls move to the £66m shopping centre next week.

“At the time it was quite revolutionary”, said Prof Smalley.

“The 1960s style was typical after the war, but it was also low-cost.

“The feeling in the town was that it was a brave new world.

“There was massive upheaval in the town centre, and it was one of the first of its type in the country. People came from as far away as Manchester to shop here.”

The move into the £1million building marked the first time the market had been completely covered, as stalls had previously been set up along King William Street and on the cobbles outside the old market hall.

English Heritage recently rejected a request to have the Ainsworth Street building given listed status, concluding it had little architectural merit.

But there was fierce debate in the 1960s as its predecessor faced the bulldozers. Opponents asked the council to turn the century-old building into public swimming baths.

But Coun Tom Taylor, then deputy Labour group leader, told a 1961 meeting it was a ‘monstrosity’.

And he added: “I can’t see any architectural beauty or anything of historic importance in the market hall at all.”

Blackburn’s new market will be opening on Wednesday.