THE history and buildings of Pennine Lancashire's cotton industry are no longer lying idle but bring new investment and visitors to the area.
Burnley's Queen Street Mill and its historic steam engine 'Peace' are now a major museum and tourist attraction recognised as one of the jewels of Britain's heritage crown.
The town's Weaver Triangle, centre of the £60 million 'On The Banks' canal-side regeneration project, has attracted the attention and support of Prince Charles and his Prince's Trust.
Darwen's India Mill has been transformed into a high-quality business centre with conference facilities.
Eanam Wharf in Blackburn, is another regeneration scheme on the Leeds-Liverpool canal finding new life as a business centre with incubator units for small-scale enterprises.
The historic Brierfield Mill is now being revitalised as 'Northlight, Pendle', a complex of leisure, enterprise, residential and public realm facilities.
This warms the heart of local historian Roger Frost who said: "It is just wonderful to see these buildings revived rather than knocked down or left empty.
"This is our cotton heritage being borough back to life in new ways for business, leisure and tourism or as character residential accommodation."
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