Blackburn Local History Society
A new book, by Lancashire born historian Hugh Hornby charts the history of Bowls in British sporting history. Bowls is one of Britain’s oldest and most loved sports: older that football, cricket and golf, it is still played...
Blackburn Local History Society is always on the lookout for contributions to our newsletter and journal. We always welcome contributions on all topics and of all lengths.
Museums, Libraries and the Shape of the Town
Public buildings in Blackburn have often carried more than one purpose. The history of the museum and art gallery, which opened in 1874, shows how a library, a civic collection and a community resource could share the same story. Tracing these changes helps explain how the town thought about learning and culture over time.
The society values this record because it connects the built environment to everyday life. Understanding where a building began, and where its collections moved, gives visitors a clearer sense of the place they are standing in.
Contribute to our journal
Blackburn Local History Society is always on the lookout for contributions to our newsletter and journal. We always welcome contributions on all topics and of all lengths. If you have any research, college coursework or even memories of Blackburn...
Find out how to send material through our contact us page.
Books, Newsletters and Shared Research
Printed material is one of the most lasting ways to record local history. Newsletters and journals allow members to publish short studies, corrections to earlier work and notes on sources that others may need. A archive of past issues also shows how the society's interests have developed across many years.
Older newsletters are available to read through the publications pages, including the Newsletters 1989 archive. Anyone who wishes to know more about how these resources are organised can ask the committee directly.
The 2015-2016 Winter Programme is Announced!
Blackburn Local History Society is delighted to announce the programme of talks for the 2015 to 2016 season. Starting off on September 29th our usual venue, Blackburn Library will host an eclectic variety of talks based on historical topics...
Details of upcoming meetings are listed on our future events page.
Blackburn Local History Society
Promoting Heritage in Blackburn Lancashire
Blackburn Local History Society
Promoting Heritage in Blackburn Lancashire
Latest posts
Ways to Take Part in Local History
Local history is shared by people with very different levels of experience. Some members come to every talk, while others bring family papers, photographs or half-finished research to discuss with the group. The society welcomes both approaches and sees every contribution as part of the wider picture of the town.
There are several practical ways to get involved, and each one suits a different kind of interest.
- Attend the talks and meetings listed on the future events page.
- Send research, coursework or memories for the journal and newsletter.
- Explore the useful local history resources collected for members and visitors.
- Consider membership through the join us page.
Our Winter Programme is Ready!
Blackburn Local History Society is pleased to announce our programme of events for 2014-2015. There’s an eclectic programme of events covering local history in Blackburn and the rest of Lancashire which the committee hope you will find interesting and...
Past programmes can be found on our past events page.
Why Heritage in Blackburn Deserves Attention
Blackburn has a long industrial and community past, and much of it survives in buildings, records, sporting traditions and the memories of people who grew up in its streets. The Blackburn Local History Society exists to bring that material together and to make it open to anyone who wants to understand the town and the wider county of Lancashire.
Promoting heritage means more than keeping old objects. It means giving talks, supporting the museum, publishing research and encouraging new writers to share what they have found. Each of these activities keeps the story of Blackburn active in the present rather than leaving it stored away.
Backing Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery
Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery was opened in 1874 with a library which was later transferred to the Co-op Emporium in Town Hall Street. It was the second purpose built Museum & Art Gallery to be built after the...
Learn more about our history and aims on the about us page.
Bowled Over by a Blackburn Bowling Club
A new book, by Lancashire born historian Hugh Hornby charts the history of Bowls in British sporting history. Bowls is one of Britain’s oldest and most loved sports: older that football, cricket and golf, it is still played...
Read more about the society's work on our news page.
Keeping in Touch with the Society's Work
The society's programme changes from season to season, so the best way to follow its activity is to check the latest announcements regularly. Talks, meetings and publications are added as they are confirmed, and the news page gathers recent updates in one place for members and visitors alike.
Those who would like to follow more personal reflections on the subject can visit the blog, or read about the society's background on the about us page.