My name is Susan & I work at Blackburn Visitor Centre (Tourist Information Centre in old money). I love my job but during Heritage Open Days I was regretting having to work all weekend. Blackburn was buzzing – more venues than ever before were opening their doors, there were tours & talks all around the town & to add to the fun a spectacular Heritage Festival was keeping everyone entertained.
As the morning went on I devised a plan of action – just how many HODs could I visit in the hour I had for lunch!
I grabbed my bag & my go-faster flat shoes & set off to my first port of call – Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery. Now I know that most people never think to go into their home town museum, we dash past on our way to the shops & other such “important” business but I knew that they were showing some rarely seen pieces during HODs & today it was the turn of the Icons. I ran up the stairs – no time to admire the old masters on the walls, to the Hart Gallery. Here curator Stephanie showed me some of their most treasured religious icons & explained that our museum has one of the best icon collections outside of London & that they send pieces all over the country on tour! I could have spent much longer admiring the gold & vibrant colours (mental note – I’ll be back!)
I hot footed across town, past the Carnival of Curiosities full of vintage clothes & retro wares, past the vintage carrousel & the wooden helter skelter where children were having great fun ( I almost grabbed a hessian mat & joined in but time was pressing!), past the clog dancers, steam engines & Thwaites Shire horses & on to my next venue Blackburn Cathedral. As I ran inside the peace & tranquillity of this amazing building stopped me in my tracks. I had to pause, my gaze lifted to take in the magnificent vaulted ceiling & the modern image of Christ. I have been in the Cathedral many times but I see something new at each visit. I had a quick chat with some of their volunteers & was on my way, wishing I could stay of a tour of the Bell Tower.
I just had time to buy a sandwich at one of the concession stands around the Cathedral Green & listed to some fabulous music on the Pop- Up band stand. Local brass bands had been entertaining the crowds in the September sunshine creating a village green atmosphere in the centre of town.
With just 15 minutes to go I set off down Darwen Street – there were 3 venues open but no time to visit them all! I went to Ainsworths Jewellers – the oldest trading retail business in town. No time to gaze longingly at the precious metals & sparkly gems in the window, I was guided upstairs & a member of the Ainsworth family proudly showed me their family tree & explained the history of the business. On display was a Victorian Ear-piercing device (I now know why clip-ons were so popular!) & a wonderful, hand written, leather bound stock ledger. As I ran back to work I couldn’t help but wonder if our children, at HODS in future years, will gaze at Ainsworth’s current stock on a plastic USB pen drive with the same reverence! (Another mental note – book some time off next year!)
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