THIS rare drawing was one of many potential designs for the new Blackburn Cathedral put forward in the 1930s.

Architects put forward several designs, this one features a large central lantern tower which would have dominated the skyline today, never mind 80 years ago.

With the creation of the Diocese of Blackburn in 1926, the impressive parish church of St Mary the Virgin was raised to cathedral status.

Fundraising began in the early 1930s to enlarge the building to compliment its new title.

Just before the Second World War enough money had been raised and work on the design we see today had begun.

However the war efforts meant progress was halted but it continued into the 1950s and early 1960s.

Architect Laurence King joined the project, following the death of W.A Forsyth in 1950, to design the current lantern tower.

It consists of 56 different panes of coloured glass, with a slender aluminium spire which was finished in 1967.

The cathedral was finally completed and consecrated in 1977.

The original parish church was consecrated in 1826, six years after the demolition of the former parish church of St Mary the Virgin which was built in the reign of Edward III, during the 14th century.