Blackburn and Darwen

Indeed, it has a history dating back at least 1,000 years, and quite probably more.

The settlement was built around a dark, peat-stained river and was therefore called the Black Burn. Others think that the name may derive from the Saxon "Bleach Water" and this implies that the textile industry had ancient origins.

Like many Lancashire cotton towns, Blackburn is huddled in a dip surrounded by impressive moors, bubbling and unpolluted streams and attractive villages.

The Blakewater has been tainted by industry and meets the River Darwen, which was also contaminated by the Industrial Revolution. In recent years massive clean-up operations have resulted in the presence of trout close to the confluence of the two watercourses, near Witton Country Park.

Witton is a 480 acre country park. The visitors' centre, open from Thursday to Sunday and Bank Holidays (tel 01254 55423) has a collection of farm machinery and an impressive display of native small mammals. There are also nature trails, picnic sites, play areas and fishing. While the River Darwen is very much a feature of the area, the River Blakewater has hidden its light under a bushel. During the Industrial Revolution the river was culverted and now flows unseen beneath the town centre.

Blackburn's brass led to the construction of some magnificent Victorian buildings, such as the Museum and Art Gallery, the Lewis Textile Museum and

The Central Museum and Art Gallery is a splendid piece of Victorian architecture situated, as one would expect, on Museum Street. Here are paintings by Turner, the best display of East European religious icons to be found in Britain and the multi-cultural mix now part of the town's heritage is reflected in an exhibition of the culture of Southern Asia.

The Lewis Textile museum in Exchange street has not always been fully appreciated.

Now, however, this takes its place as a major display of the textile industry.

It is open from Tuesday to Saturday and staff can be contacted via the Central Museum and Art Gallery (01254 667130).

With the opening of the pedestrianisation project focused on King Street, Blackburn is destined to improve its already impressive reputation as a shopping centre.

Transport is efficient around the town, with the bus and railway station close to the shopping centre and to the splendid cathedral.

The Anglican cathedral has a magnificent tower and a stained glass window dedicated to the late Princess of Wales dates only to 1896.

This is somewhat misleading because there has been a religious settlement on the site since at least the 8th century and the cathedral houses some impressive artefacts. It is open daily and can be contacted on 01254 51491.

Before the railway came Blackburn was an important coaching stop on the route to Manchester via Haslingden and in the early 1800s the Leeds to Liverpool Canal bisected the centre of the town.

Eanam Wharf is a wonderful cameo of the Canal Age, with buildings dated to 1816 now converted into a public house, restaurant, small museum and business centre. The old canalside stables are now the home of the dray horses operated by Thwaites Brewery and which are rightly the pride of Blackburn.

The beer is also excellent and tours of the brewery can be organised.

Blackburn has more than its share of entertainment. There is a Premier League football team, East Lancashire play cricket of a very high standard, Blackburn arena is an excellent ice rink, Waves is a Water Fun Centre and Witton Outdoor Leisure Centre includes floodlit sports facilities including athletics and football.

Darwen

DARWEN should not be regarded as a rival to Blackburn but rather as half of a dynamic duo which could and should be marketed as a major tourist focus.

Darwen is dominated by its historic tower, which in these days of open access to the countryside should be regarded as an icon. The Tower was opened in 1897 as a memorial to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and was paid for by public subscription.

The local cotton workers needed a better excuse to part with their hard-earned brass and they had just won a legal battle with the local landowner. He denied access to Darwen Moor Grouse Shoot but was defeated in the courts.

The Tower and the footpaths leading up to it represented a victory for those who needed a breath of fresh air. Thus they willingly paid up to provide funds for the Queen's Tower.

Below the tower is Sunnyhurst Wood, which has a children's paddling pool, a cafe and visitors' centre, all produced without any adverse effect on the wildlife of the area. The Visitors' Centre (Tel 01254 701545) is open on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 4.30pm.

Darwen's textile heritage is commemorated not by means of a purpose-built museum but by pieces of heavy textile machinery located in open spaces throughout the town. Then there is India Mill chimney, recently restored and the most impressive smokestack to be found in the country.

India Mill was constructed of red brick in the style of the Campanile (bell tower) situated in St Mark's Square in Venice. In September 1931 the mill was visited by Gandhi, who was on a textile fact-finding mission to Lancashire.

Just as traditional as Lancashire Textiles were the public houses but these hostelries have survived the ravages of time much better than King Cotton. Many pubs now serve excellent food and welcome visitors both to the towns and also to the villages dotted around the attractive countryside.

RODDLESWORTH

RODDLESWORTH offers some of the best walking areas in the whole of Lancashire. Roddlesworth Wood consists of 200 acres which is predominantly deciduous. It was planted in 1904 by Liverpool Corporation, who had built three reservoirs between 1851 to 1864. There is a small information centre from which a guide can be obtained. During the walk to and around the reservoirs the remains of Hollinshead Hall can be seen and the old carriage track leading to this building forms part of the Nature Trail.

Nearby Tockholes is an excellent example of an unspoiled upland Lancashire village. This derives its name from Toka's Hole. Toka was possibly a 9th century chieftain who settled in this hollow. The settlement may even be earlier as some think there is the lower part of a Touches Stone cross dating to AD 684. There was a Saxon church on the site in AD 640.

Turton AND ITS TOWER

THE Tower is situated between Blackburn and Bolton, not far

from Belmont reservoir, which is now the focus for a sailing club.

Turton is an interesting museum administered by Blackburn council. The word Turton is Scandinavian roots and means Thors Town but some suggest that Tower Town might be more appropriate. There is a stone circle on Turton Moor which was a religious focus during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.

The present house is built around a Pele tower in 1400 and provided essential protection against the invading Scots.

The Orrell family added the impressive half-timbering but in 1628 they fell on hard times and sold it to Humphrey Chetham, whose name is commemorated in the local pub.

Chetham was a Manchester cloth merchant who richly endowed the church which is now Manchester Cathedral. Humphrey also established what is now known as Chetham's School of Music.