ON THE eve of Christmas 2014, we step back to the festive season of a different century.

This newspaper report from the late 1800s told its readers that: “It is pleasing to observe, and may be accepted as a sign of progress, that the display of Christmas cheer at Darwen year by year grows very perceptibly in magnitude, attractiveness and general excellence.

“Our local tradesmen are much more enterprising than they formerly were and manifest a great desire to progress with the times.

“The various shopkeepers appear to be well supplied with the commodities in which they deal and their shops present quite a festive appearance and are,in some instances, illuminated.

“Mr W Dewhurst, clothier, of Market Street, has his large window well stocked with articles of clothing, suitable for people of all sizes and of all ranks and conditions in life.

“The window has also been made to represent a snow scene, and a capital imitation it is.

“Messrs Horrocks and Son have again this year given us a snow scene and, if anything, their window, which is always well dressed, looks prettier than ever.

“Messrs. Cartridge and Co., clothiers, have also their shop windows in School Street, embellished in a similar manner.

“But it is in the butcher’s shops where most signs of the festive season are to be met with, though the fruiterers and poulterers have also made displays.

“Messrs Leonard Bros of Bridge Street, have over 300 geese, 100 brace of game, 200 couple of rabbits, and from 50 to 60 hares.

“Mr Marsden of Railway Road, has 100 turkeys, 150 geese, 100 chickens, about 30 brace of game, 200 rabbits and 20 hares. Messrs. Entwistle and Wharton, of Bridge Street, have 100 turkeys, 75 geese, 83 ducks, 500 rabbits and 500 chickens.

“Fred Glathorn, of Bridge Street, has killed about five pigs and exhibits a meat pie that weighs 22lbs.

“The stock of Mr Catlow, in Market Street, includes a heifer from Dumfries, two Galloway Scots, fed by Bryce Smith, of Whalley, a lot of three-quarters bred hogs from Scotland, a pig, fed by James Worsley, of Moss Farm; and a number of turkeys, fed up by Royd Smith.

“John Holt, of Union Street, has a grand display of choice beef and mutton, and exhibits an entire pig with a sailor-boy on its back.

“The grocers, including the Industrial Co-operative Society and Provident Co-operative Society, with their numerous branches are wellstocked with all the delicacies of the season and prettily decorated.

“The confectioners, including Mrs Perry, Mrs Ainsworth, Miss Scarisbrick, Mrs. Marsden, the Misses Sutcliffe and Mr M Jepson are not one whit behind neighbouring tradesmen in their preparations for the festive season.”