Blackburn Heritage Blue Plaques

Also known as Blackburnshire, the Blackburn Hundred incorporated the Ribble Valley, Burnley, Rossendale, Blackburn, and South Ribble. Blackburn was the chief town.

Hoghton was MP for Clitheroe and later Lancashire and in 1643 became High Sheriff of Lancashire. He died in Preston in 1648, aged 56, 5 years after the loss of Preston.

Peel, born in Fish Lane, Blackburn in 1750, was one of the early pioneers of the industrial revolution. Having made his fortune, he became involved in politics. His son, also Robert Peel, would twice be Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

This crossing of the River Blakewater marks the site of the original ford by the South side of this bridge stood the 18th Century lock-up.

Paganini transformed the idea of the violin and an ensemble instrument to a solo one. His concert in Blackburn in 1833 was part of a European tour for the Italian. This was the North West of England part before he departed for Paris. 

Harry Hornby was the older brother of A.N. 'Monkey' Hornby. He was an industrialist and M.P. for Blackburn between 1886 and 1910 - famously not speaking once in Parliament!

The "Plug Plot Riots" also known as the 1842 General Strike was a British civil unrest which began in the mining industry in Staffordshire, spreading to mills and factories across the north of England, Wales and Cornwall. 

Hornby was captain of the England cricket side which lost the test match with Australia that resulted in the Ashes. Played for Blackburn Rovers in their inaugural match at Alexandra Meadows, against Partick Thistle on 2 January 1878.

Wolstenholme's compositions included Fantasia in E Major, The Question and The Answer.

Garstang founded the British Institute of Archaeology in Ankara. He died in 1956 aged 80 in Beirut, Lebanon.

The tramway ran from Blackburn Central to Darwen Whitehall, following Darwen St, Bolton Road, and through Ewood and Earcroft. It was in use for 17 years before closing in 1898.

Vimto is a cordial (concentrate) drink used to flavour water which Nichol invented in 1908.

This station was completed by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway in 1888, replacing the towns first station opened by the Blackburn & Preston Railway at this site in Stonybutts on 1st June 1846. The station frontage and building is listed Grade II and stands in a Conservation area.

Blackburn Rovers, founded in 1875 by John Lewis and Arthur Constantine, became one of 12 founder members of the Football League in 1888.

Whipple was an English author of fiction and children's books - including They Were Sisters and They Knew Mr Knight.

Opened as a music hall in 1880 and was a cinema between 1896 and 1902. In the early 2000s it was in use as a nightclub: 'Never Never Land' and 'C'est La Vie'.

Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon founded their Norden Film company in 1897, with Kenyon was 47 and Mitchell was 33. They initially made documentary style films where local people could see themselves on film. They also produced news, sports and comedy films until approximately 1913.

Vertical steam engine: "Nellie". Built by George Rushton, Lodge Bank, Darwen, installed at Sunnybank Mill, Darwen, April 1898. Last operated December 1972. Weight of fly wheel 3.5 tons, preserved March 1978.

Alfred Sharman Giles was the Blackburn Borough Electrical Engineer and Manager of the Corporation tramways for 10 years.

Woolfall was only the second FIFA President and held the post from 1906, ending only when he died in 1918, aged 66. He also introduced the first non-European nations into FIFA. He lived in Blackburn from his birth in 1852 until his death in 1918 and was Blackburn Rovers representative to the LFA when they formed in 1875.

Wainwright was a British fellwalker, author and illustrator who became famous for his series of "Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells"; later becoming a TV personality. He was born in Blackburn in Audley Range and died in Cumbria, aged 84.

Although born in Higher Walton, Ferrier spent part of her life in Blackburn. Working as a telephonist, she had a talent for playing the piano and signing - contralto, the lowest type of female signing voice.

Wensley Fold CE School. The Victorian House formerly in these grounds became Crosshill Preparatory School attended by Kathleen Ferrier, Contralto (1912-1953)

Jack Walker was born in Blackburn in 1929. He joined, and eventually ran, his family's sheet metal business. In the late 1980s he sold the business and bought his beloved Blackburn Rovers Football Club, returning the club to its former glory and taking them back to the top of English football, winning the Premier League in 1995. He died in August 2000, aged 71.

The Samaritans is a UK & Ireland charity whose aim is to provide emotional support to anyone in distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide.

The Samaritans is a UK & Ireland charity whose aim is to provide emotional support to anyone in distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide.