Timeline of the Exchange
Captured Moments in Time
Essoldo buys the Majestic
5 January 1956 On this day, Kinematograph Weekly reported that: ‘The Essoido Circuit has acquired the New Majestic, Blackburn, having purchased all the shares of Majestic
CINEMA STAFF ESCAPE PRISON
CINEMA STAFF UP ON THE ROOF ESCAPE PRISON On this day in history, 17 August 1954, the Lancashire Evening Post reported on the court case of
3-D GRAND REOPENING OF THE MAJESTIC
Crowds queued in the rain for two hours to the long awaited grand reopening of the Majestic Cinema on Monday 2 November 1953 at 7pm for
£10 fine for Peeping Tom
On 26 February 1953 it was reported that a peeping tom had been fined £10 after being found up a drainpipe trying to see into the
Fire watcher Found Dead
Samuel Wilson, Troop Street, Blackburn found dead at the cinema - he was employed there as a fire watcher - Manchester Evening News reports him as
DEATH OF MAJESTIC CINEMA MOGUL
This is how death of the manager of the Majestic Cinema at The Exchange, Blackburn made the headlines in theatre circles in 1935. There will
Confectioners Association Grand Social and Dance
The Exchange Assembly Rooms on Town Hall Street was the venue for a grand social and dance by the Blackburn and District Retail Confectioners Association in
Bonny Baby Lookalikes
Over 500 fond Blackburn mothers have offspring who resemble Baby Leroy, the child film star who appears with Maurice Chevalier at the Majestic Cinema this week
Sale of the Majestic Cinema
The sale by auction of the Majestic Cinema. Blackburn. by Richard Hoyle and Son. of Manchester, which took place in Thatched House, Newmarket valuation which amounted
Salvation Army Service
"OUR GLORIOUS DEAD." ARMISTICE ANNIVERSARY ARRANGEMENTS AT BLACKBURN. (Blackburn Times) Tomorrow is Armistice Sunday, and, in addition to special services at various places of worship, the
£20k Pools Cheque Ceremony
£20,000 is an amazing amount of money to win on the football pools by today’s standards, but when Tom Hartley of 121 Higher Audley Street, Blackburn
WRITING ON THE WALL
In July 1920, the Blackburn Times reported the case of a local man who was fined for writing indecent words on the lavatory walls of the
Bobby Crompton Cinema Court Case
Three days were devoted in the Chancery Court at Manchester to the hearing by Vice. Chancellor R. Lawrence, K.C., of an action arising out
Cinema Manager fined
Cinema Manager, John Darbyshire Rawlinshire fined for allowing children under the age of 14 into the cinema after 6pm without a parent or guardian
‘The Trappers’ Wild West
There was crowded house at Exchange Hall, Blackburn, last night see an excellent picture programme, while the variety fair was also very good. " The Trappers"
Backhaus – The Greatest Pianist Of the World
Wilhelm Backhaus, hailed as ‘the Greatest Pianist of the World’ at the time, played at The Exchange on 6 December 1906 in the last of a
Church Mission Overflows
In 1901 there was a UK-wide evangelistic mission initiated by the National Council of Evangelical Free Churches. Partnership events led by inspirational preachers with Bible
Relocation of stage and removal of pillars
On this day in history, 30 April 1898, news was announced of modernisations and building alterations to the Exchange, Blackburn. These included relocating the stage to
Poor turn out for Piano Great
One of the world’s greatest pianists of the day, Alfred Reisenauer - a pupil of the composer Franz Liszt performed at The Exchange, Blackburn on 2
Court Minstrels
The Livermore Brothers Court Minstrels were an English minstrel band who performed in blackface during the Victorian era. The program includes “American Song & Dance,” “The
Whistling Alice Shaw
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
Diana or Christ Painting Exhibition
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
Royal Visit Window View
When the Prince and Princess of Wales came to Blackburn to lay the foundation stone of the technical college in May 1888, businesses and homeowners with
Medium causes riot
Anna Fay an American medium/stage Mesmerist created a riot when the audience uncovered the secrets of her tricks. The police had to be called
‘Magic lantern’ Planetary Lecture
A lecture was given entitled, ‘Modern Discoveries connected with our Planetary System,” Illustrated with an Oxy-Hydrogen Lantern. It was presented by the Rev S J Perry,
The Grand Venetian Makeover
On Thursday 5th February 1885, a grand Venetian fair was held at the Exchange to raise money for the building of St Matthew's Church, Higher Audley.
Professor Andre’s Alpine Choir
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
Theatre and a New Stage
The Exchange had become a popular venue for live shows, so the owners decided to focus on its new role by applying for a theatrical license
Mesmerist – Annie De Montford
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
Right on Cue
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
“Greatest Showman” Performers, The Giantess, the Siamese Twins and the Circassian Lady, Visit the Exchange
On the 18th of June 1869, Blackburn was host to an exhibition of well-known celebrities - Miss Anna Swan, the Giantess, Chang and Eng Bunker, the
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens gives a reading of A Christmas Carol at the Exchange as part of a UK tour. In 1913, a letter was published revealing
Mrs Howard Paul
The renowned Mr and Mrs Howard Paul performed at the Exchange on the 12th January, 1869. They reportedly impersonated at least a dozen different phases of
Lorenzo Fowler – Phrenologist
Phrenology is a pseudoscience that involves the measurement of bumps on the skull to predict mental traits. It is based on the concept that the brain
Loitering Causes a Nuisance
A historical incident of public nuisance was recorded in the Preston Herald on December 9, 1865. According to the newspaper, some gentlemen had been causing trouble
A Quiet Opening
The new Exchange building, which had been under construction for several years, finally opened its doors to the public on 6th May 1865. The opening was
GRAND OPENING CONCERT
26 April 1865 Blackburn Standard MORNING NEWS The CONCERT AT THE EXCHANGE – The concert with which the new Exchange building is to be opened this
Injury at the Construction Site
Did you know that the Exchange was not built without risks? One of the workers who helped build the new Exchange had a terrible accident on
Updated Plans and the Cotton Famine
The Exchange Comittee held their annual general meeting on the 27th November 1863. In their update, they announced another sixty members had joined the group in
Exchange Hotel TO LET
Research by Kevin Pemburthy Three weeks after the laying of the foundation stone, a notice was placed in the local press by the secretary of the
Laying of the Foundation Stone
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.
Building Work Begins!
On the 29th November 1862, the Preston Chronicle announced that building work on the new Exchange had begun! It was expected that the work should be
Design competition rerun
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
Where to build a new Exchange?
By January 1860, things were well underway for the development of a new Exchange building and a commitee had been formed to investigate possible sites for
Move to the Town Hall
Blackburn was incorporated in 1851, when it was given a corporation and a Mayor. To mark the event, a new Town Hall was to be built
Exchange Plans Fail
Having bought land on the corner of Church St and Darwen Street, the Exchange committee sought to raise £20,000 to fund their new building. However, an
Exchange Company Blackburn Founded
The plans to build an Exchange on the corner of Church Street and Darwen Street had been put on hold for a number of years due
Exchange Plans Unveiled
Thirty entries were received in the competition to design a new Cotton Exchange building. The designs were put on public display and judged by the respected
Proposed New Exchange in Blackburn
In 1846, mill owners and traders used to meet at the Bull Inn Hotel on Church Street, Blackburn to buy and sell cotton for use in