Known as ‘La Belle Siffleuse’ (The Beautiful Whistler) since her 1886 debut at a New York charity ball, Alice Shaw was a touring sensation in the late 1880s and performed in Blackburn at the Exchange Assembly Room on 29 November 1889. Her doctors decided the high, narrow roof of her mouth produced her dazzling talent,…
In October 1889 this painting was the property of the Thwaites family and black and white artist’s proofs of this painting were exhibited for sale in The Exchange by a company called Messrs Thomas Agnew and Sons. The original of this painting was gifted to the Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery in 1919 after the First…
Professor Andre’s Alpine Choir performed annually for several years at The Exchange as part of a UK tour. Dressed in Swiss costume, they performed a mix of sacred and non-religious tunes with some musical sketches. This was part of a programme of events promoted by the Temperance Movement. The Blackburn Times advertised the show which…
February 26th 1877 for six nights only, Miss Annie De Montford appeared at The Exchange, pronounced by the press and public of the time as ‘the greatest mesmerist in the world’. According to researcher, writer and performer, Christopher Green ‘she was also called a ‘psychological star’ and an ‘electro-biologist’, and occasionally a hypnotist. Her bill…
RIGHT ON CUE … 11 Feb 1871: The Exchange hosted a championship billiard match between the world’s greatest players of the time, rivals, John Roberts junior and William Cook. You can read all about Cook here: https://www.snookerheritage.co.uk/normans-articles/past-masters/william-cook-senior/ the image of John Roberts junior is from the National Portrait Gallery digital collection.
The basement and cellar spaces of The Exchange were once used by wine and spirit wholesalers, Addison & Co who also had premises on Church Street. Here’s an advert from the 1870s. In the more recent past, this was where families celebrated milestone birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas works dos at Tiggis Italian restaurant. Do you have…
Bill McKeich is looking forward to the forthcoming wedding of his granddaughter, Anna Thomson when a beloved family heirloom from Blackburn will take pride of place, the other side of the world in New Zealand.
Three weeks after the laying of the foundation stone, a notice was placed in the local press by the secretary of the Exchange Committee advertising that a property called “The Exchange Hotel” was to be let with possession on the 12th of May 1863. The property was advertised as a capital hotel centrally situated opposite…
Following the closure of libraries due to Covid, we were delighted when restrictions began to be lifted in May 2021 and we were able to access the archives of our Local Studies section in Blackburn Library. Mary Painter from Blackburn with Darwen Library and Information Service has been helping us find out more about…
Tuesday 10 March 1863 Almost two and a half years after the designs for the Exchange had been chosen, the foundation stone for the Blackburn Exchange building was finally laid. The day chosen, Tuesday the 10th of March, 1863, coincided with a general holiday for the celebration of the wedding of Prince Albert Edward, the…
On the 31 March 1860 the Blackburn Times carried an advertisement and editorial article promoting a competition for architects and builders to submit designs for the building of The Exchange. The winning design by Brakespear of Manchester was commissioned and the northern range and octagonal tower was built between 1863 and 1865. The southern range was…
We are very grateful to M K Penberthy for his detailed research into the early history of The Exchange building The beginnings of the Blackburn Exchange building can be traced back to at least the early months of 1846. On the 4th of February of that year, an advert appeared on page 1 of…