East Blackburn

This is kind of a sequel to the Blackburn post I did in October 2024, in that it is a walk along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, from the same point, but in the opposite direction. In fact, I did it on two consecutive Mondays as two circular loops, but it is not the most scenic of areas, and for the purposes of this bog it will be a walk along the canal with occasional diversions to points nearby.

So we start at the same canal warehouses, but looking at it from the east side.


The canal curves to the right, and on the other side. this was Windmill Works. The Windmill was built in 1822, and taken down around 1888; as far as I can tell Blackburn's only windmill. I guess some of these buildings were built around 1822, though the brick one is presumably more modern. Are the openings at the bottom level were to load or unload boats?


St Albans Roman Catholic Church, at imposing sight on top of a small hill 400 m north of the canal.


Bridge 103B. I do not know when canal bridges were numbered. On the Lancaster it is after all the railway bridges were built, which makes me think after 1850. However, I think it was earlier on this canal. It was clearly before this bridge was built.


The Foundry Arms pub, on Cleaver Street, about 300 m north of the canal.


This is Daisyfield Corn Mills, Daisyfield being this area of Blackburn, built in 1871. The two towers had hoists allowing good to and/or from the canal to be readily handled. It used water from the canal in its boilers - something most canals prohibited. On the other side there was a connection to the railway which is only about 75 m away.

Note the logo on the tower; at one time it was used as studios by Granada TV. Looking back the other makes it look like it was a nice day.


Sorry to say, I failed to get a photo of bridge 104; the significance of that will be apparent later.

The railway splits, with the mainline (relatively speaking) going to Accrington, and the smaller line to Whalley. There was a station on the latter for Daisyfield. This is the signal box, all that is left, and the level crossing, one of very few with gates rather barriers left I guess.


A pub near the old station, the Florence, only closed two years ago.


On the south side of the canal, about 300 m away, is St Jude's Church. The church was built in 1901, but I think only consecrated in 1914. Most of it was demolished 30 years ago, and only the tower remains of the original. A rather ugly combined church and community centre replaced the church.


Imperial Mill, built in 1901. The bit the juts out towards the canal is the boiler room, so I would guess it got both coal and water from the canal, despite the relatively late build date. The canal was still being used commercially until in early sixties - some sections until 1980. This is looking from Bridge 104A by the way.



In contrast on the other side this is all that remains of Hole House Mill, built in the 1860s, and closed in 1959. It was demolished sometime in the last ten years for redevelopment, but no sign of that yet.


Bridges 104AA and 104B, with a duck. Both are road bridges, and hardly used today. The further bridge, 104B has a metal ramp on it, suggesting it is not as strong as it might. Both have plaques with the year 1996. I find it hard to believe they built two such useless bridges in the same year, so that might be when the plaques were added? Given the numbering, 104B must predate 104AA by at least a few years?


To the south is Red Lion Roundabout, with this curious art installation in the middle, which marks the entrance to Blackburn for anyone coming off junction 6 of the M65. I suspect the cage-structures are to support the plants, and it might look better in a few years. Apparently the sphere points to the town centre.... as only a sphere can.


One or both of bridges 104AA and 104B used to take Whitebirk Drive over the canal, on to the roundabout - or across where the roundabout would later be. Today the road goes over bridge 104C. Or possibly 104D. It says 104C on it, but at least one canal maps tells me it is 104D.


You cannot tell from the photo, but the canal goes over Knuzden Brook here; the bridge is not numbered. Or it is 104C.

All along the canal I saw geese, but just beyond this bridge, there were a lot of them! Not just in the water, but on the other side of the canal too.


There was a bridge here at one time, I assume 105. It disappeared after the war, but I cannot say when.


The East Lancashire Railway bridge is 105A, suggesting that on this canal the bridges were numbered before that was built, around 1848.


The canal as it heads on to Leeds. At this point it is going north, and to the west is a retail park and to the east, the countryside; the canal marks the end of the city.


And that photo marks the end of the post!














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