A LANCASHIRE Telegraph Camera Club member took a trip down memory lane to capture images of a former mill which is set to be demolished for houses.

Work has started by Gleeson Homes for knocking down the former Duckworth Mill and Masta Bar site on Kirk Road in Church is to be transformed with 47 houses.

But before it is all razed to the ground, Gary Britland wanted to get some shots of the site which had employees from around Accrington and Oswaldtwistle to work.

He said: “I wanted to get some historical shots for our heritage as it dates back to 1881.

“It is such a huge site and my grandad worked at the site for years and that is where he met my gran met him and they started courting there.

“It was unbelievable to have a look around and getting shots before it is pulled down.

“It is good that they are going to move on and build homes which are needed for the area.

“Church needs an influx of money and new homes will give that and will give us a lift.”

Gary also did some research about the old site which was built by WM Duckworth in 1881 and was a mill with printing and dying.

It was the last weaving mill built in Church and housed 936 mills but by 1889 that increased to 1048.

It was later taken over by Mastabar Mining producing engineering equipment for industry.

He said: “I remember they used to do staples and as kids we used to get them and fire them at each other.

“The mill is largely unaltered.”