Your guide to Darwen Town Centre
North of Bolton and south of Blackburn is the town of Darwen, a market centre with a varied history. The town is in two halves, divided only by the arterial road the A666 running through the middle.
Although it is part of the Blackburn with Darwen borough, Darreners (Lancashire dialect for residents of the town) are adamant that their town's identity does not become submerged within Blackburn.
Darwen was incorporated into the Blackburn district in 1974 and was eventually renamed in 1997 as Blackburn with Darwen.
Recent years have seen many changes implemented within the area. The roads around the town centre have been redirected, with the intention of reducing congestion and allowing for a bus access only route on Parliament Street and Market Street.
The whole of the town centre is undergoing major changes and regeneration with a masterplan in place to develop the town's market heritage.
McInerney Homes are currently developing Belgrave Heights on the site of the old Belgrave Mill, the home of Crown Wallcoverings, demolition of which was completed in September of 2006.
The town's direct access to the M65, with links to major motorways such as the M61, M55 and M6, is sited as one of the selling points of the housing project.
The £30 million development is also to coincide with the council's plans of town centre living and the proposed Darwen Academy on the Redearth Triangle site which has caused major controversy for residents of the area.
India Mill chimney tower is a highly visible landmark in the town centre, standing at approximately 303ft, and reputedly the tallest in the country.
It was a hot topic of conversation for residents in the early part of 2007 when during renovation owners of the mill discovered a nesting pair of Peregrine falcons on top of the chimney.
The mill itself has long since closed its manufacturing doors, and now houses a number of business services, including Capita and Brookhouse.
In 1931 the Mill hosted the famous Indian leader, Ghandi. Despite his role in the reduction of cotton exportation from India to the West, which had a detrimental effect on the cotton industry in East Lancashire, he was warmly welcomed by locals.
The impressive Victorian building at Darwen Circus houses both the Darwen Market Hall and Municipal Offices .The Market Hall was officially opened in 1871.
It was not until October 1975 that the town received a separate annexe for a 3-day market, which came to be known as the glass shed'. The Circus is where the annual Christmas Lights turn-on takes place, and is well-attended every year.
It will be interesting to see what the town is like in an other ten years, hopefully it will have managed to retain its history and heritage but still cope with the pressure of modern commercialism.
12:03pm Friday 26th October 2007
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CommentPosted by: ivy, darwen town centre on 10:32am Fri 4 Apr 08
The Glass Shed as it was called was a Glass roofed area where the rent office is now,and not the three day market ,It was there when I was a child and I am now a 70 year old.There was a tripe stall, a fish stall ,awool stall,fruit and veg stall and I think there was another one but I can't remember what. Please get your facts right,before printing them
The Glass Shed as it was called was a Glass roofed area where the rent office is now,and not the three day market ,It was there when I was a child and I am now a 70 year old.There was a tripe stall, a fish stall ,awool stall,fruit and veg stall and I think there was another one but I can't remember what. Please get your facts right,before printing them
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