Town Centre

This picture gives some indication of the extent of redevelopment in Burnley centre.  The white flat top building still remains and is recognisable as Burton’s building.  The building site is bounded by St. James Street and Bridge Street, with the former Webster’s shop on the extreme left.

A readily recognisable view which shows, on the right, some of the fine buildings which were demolished.

This is the junction of Manchester Road and St. James Street with Bridge Street opposite Manchester Road.  Only the Old Red Lion pub on the extreme right of the picture remains.

Talking of demolition.......

Probably one of the centre’s more distinctive pubs, the Thorn Hotel was situated along St. James Street, around the corner and across the road from Burtons.

This picture shows the “police bridge” at Keighley Green. The site is now occupied by the St. Peter’s Centre and car park. The red brick building remains at the bottom of Bank Parade.

We think this was Smith's Warehouse (fabrics) on Bridge Street, on the corner of the short street which linked it with Fleet Street.

This is Market Street and shows a number of businesses which will be fondly remembered. The market redevelopment is taking place on the left and in the distance is Standish Street, which is still with us.

This is the top of Standish Street, after it had crossed Bank House Street. All this has disappeared and been replaced by Active Way and the Anchor Retail Park.

This gable end on Newcastle Street, since demolished, extolled the virtues of Parkinson’s powders. Parkinson’s was a substantial local manufacturer of pharmaceutical and associated products. Whether claims in this advertisement would have stood close examination may be debatable.

Many older citizens argue that the loss of Burnley’s Market Hall was a tragedy. These two photographs give an impression of the inside as it was.

Modern developments are not immune to change and we wonder how many people realise there was once a paddling pool in the present-day Market Square.

St. James’ Church, with cars parked on Bethesda Street. The initial demolition left the steeple standing, but after several years this, too, was demolished and the site is now occupied by a car park.

Here in the town centre we can see the Odeon cinema, with the Yorkshire Street aqueduct  and the Keirby roundabout providing present day reference points.