The old Reference Library. This was taken around 1926. In the 1930's the library was inundated by borrowers, many of whom had been put out of work by the depression. There were queues before the doors opened, often stretching out into the street and people stayed all day long. The shelves were almost constantly empty, books were taken out as soon as they were returned. During 1930 the people of Blackburn borrowed 800,000 books.
The reference library expanded until it occupied nooks and crannies all over the building and in the admin block over the road. There were dozens of sequences and they ended and reappeared elsewhere in a bewildering fashion. The reference staff became an elite group, as only they could penetrate the department's dark secrets.
The Children's Library. This department was opened in 1925, when Blackburn Library adopted the open access system and allowed the public to browse the books. The children's library had about 5,000 volumes.
back to top I have often wondered how people discovered Malcom Saville. There have been many reminiscences in Acksherley! About this. Children seem to have to come to Saville’s stories in two main ways: through the recommendation of an adult, or through their local library. Others were introduced to his books via the media. Not very long after the publication of Saville’s first Lone Pine novel, Mystery at Witchend, it was serialised on the radio in Children’s Hour. There were also a couple of Saville films (Trouble at Townsend, released in 1946, and Treasure at the Mill in 1955-6).
Many recollections in the society magazine tell of the influence of adults in guiding them to a Saville novel. In Acksherley! 77, p.24, Dave Jordan wrote about his aunt who introduced him to these stories. He was lucky because his aunt lived near Rye. He stayed with her during the summer holidays. He read Saville’s invitation to visit the places mentioned in the books, and he needed no further encouragement to spend his holidays searching for the Rye locations.
Blackburn Childrens' Library, b02815
Other members came to Saville when their teachers recommended his books. It was in this way that I first found out as a boy about Saville’s ‘Lone Pine’ adventures. However, my love for the books was fostered by my local library in Blackburn. At that time, Blackburn public library and museum was an imposing Victorian building. Its architecture shouted out its importance as a palace of culture and learning. Its address was most appropriate, for it was situated in Museum Street. The lower floor was the library and the upper floor was the town museum and art gallery. Some of my visits to the lending library were on my way home from school. I remember how the library was very welcoming, pleasant and inviting, with tables and chairs near the library shelves. After browsing through the books, I would find a comfortable seat and look over my choices and select the book to read at home. I was thrilled when I came across a reference to Blackburn in one of Malcom Saville’s stories (Ambermere Treasure, Chapter 3).
I was surprised to learn from Acksherley! that the late John Allsop also lived in Blackburn. He too was a frequent visitor to Blackburn library. Acksherley! 73, p. 25 states that in 1958 John read his first ‘Lone Pine’ stories as a boy of 10. He borrowed other Saville books and his interest in this author lasted throughout his life. I recall reading Saville’s serialised stories in the Children’s Newspaper. I am not sure if this was at the library or somewhere else. It was in the library where I read his serialised illustrated stories in children’s comics.
Blackburn Library, Museum & Art Gallery ( b02866)
I also made Saturday morning visits to the library with my friends. Once we had checked out our books, we had time to visit the museum. A grand stairway led to the museum and art gallery. My friends were very interested in birds and we often visited the ornithology part. I found that there were animals and birds in the collection which were featured in Saville’s stories. I am sure other local Saville readers found this of interest too.
Blackburn Library, Museum & Art Gallery (b02834)
After the Saturday morning Library visit, our afternoon activity was to visit the cinema. Many cinemas had a children’s film club which was held in the afternoon. Mine was at the ‘Star Cinema’. It was where I originally saw ‘Treasure at the Mill’. I recalled this when I saw the DVD of the film. I do not remember seeing the television serial made in the mid-1950s. My parents did not have a TV then and when we did it was long after the programme was broadcast.
My interest in reading Malcom Saville’s stories grew, and with it a longing to buy some of his books for myself. Seed and Gabbutts was the bookstore in Blackburn, but I did not often buy books then because they were far too expensive to buy with my pocket money. Usually, books were Christmas presents from my uncle and aunt. I expect that, for many children, a Saville for birthdays and Christmas was often the solution when adults wondered what to buy as a gift!
When Armada paperbacks came on the scene, children could buy their own Saville books with their pocket money. Many society members recall with pride their Armada Saville collections, and some still have them. Saville’s readers were encouraged to become members of the Lone Pine Club. In this way his readership could keep in contact with him. They would be the first to have news of forthcoming releases, or where his book signings sessions were to be held. At the end of Saville’s books, there was always an invitation to write to him. Many children did so, and his replies are cherished memorabilia, often kept into adulthood. Sadly, some letters from him have become lost treasures!
Some Saville fans have had the pleasure of meeting him. In his recent Acksherley! article (Acksherley! 77, p.24), Dave Jordan wrote of meeting Malcolm Saville at an exhibition held at Olympia.
It seems to me that the period from 1942 until the last quarter of the 20th century was a golden time to experience Saville’s world of adventure. And for many children of my generation, a liking for his books began in the library.
First published in the Winter 2022, no 78 edition of 'The Malcolm Society Magazine' called Acksherley.
Published on Cotton Town by kind permission of the author, William Ferguson, November 2022
Images from Blackburn with Darwen Library & Information Service's Collection
