Two views of the Council Chamber at Blackburn Town Hall.
back to top
Blackburn's first Borough Council was created in 1851. In the 1880s it was renamed a County Borough and received new powers. Then in April 1974, some of its powers were transferred to Lancashire County Council and a new Local Authority was created which included Blackburn, Darwen, North Turton and parts of the old Blackburn Rural District. The new Authority became known as Blackburn District Council. On May the 15th 1974, the Queen made up for the district's loss of prestige by giving it the title of Borough once more in this document. The Great Seal of Elizabeth II is attached at the bottom.
COPY OF THE CHARTER OF INCORPORATION FOR THE BOROUGH OF BLACKBURN,
Victoria by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, to all to whom these presents shall come, greetings.—
Whereas by an act passed in the first year of our reign, intituled “An Act to amend an Act for the Regulation of Municipal Corporation in England and Wales,” it was enacted, that if the inhabitant householders of any town or borough in England or Wales Should petition us to grant to them a charter of incorporation, it should be lawful for us, by any such charter, if we should think fit, by the advice of our privy council, to grant the same, to extend to the inhabitants of any such town or borough within the district to be set forth in such charter, all the powers and provisions of an act passed in the session of Parliament held in the 5th and 6th years of the reign of his late Majesty King William the Fourth intituled “An Act to provide for the Regulation of Municipal Corporation in England and Wales,” whether such town or borough should or should not be a corporate town, or should or should not be named in either of the schedules to the said act, for the regulation of municipal corporation in England and Wales. Provided nevertheless, that notice of every such petition, and of the time when it should please us to order that the same be taken in consideration by our privy council, should be published in the London Gazette, one month at least before such a petition should be so considered, but such publication should not need to be by royal proclamation.
And whereas, after the passing of the said act of parliament, passed in the first year of our reign, the inhabitant householders of the borough of Blackburn, in the county palatine of Lancaster, did petition us to grant to them a charter of incorporation, and to extend to the inhabitants of the said borough all the powers and provisions of the aforesaid act, for the regulation of municipal corporations in England and Wales.
And whereas, notice of such petition, and of the time when the same was ordered by us to be taken into consideration by our privy council, was accordingly duly published in the London Gazette , one month at least before such petition was so considered.
And whereas, after the expiration of the said month, to wit, on the 10th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty one, and on other days and times after the expiration of the said month, our privy council did proceed consider, and did consider the said petition, and having fully considered it, our said privy council have advised us to grant a charter of incorporation to the inhabitants of the district comprised within the boundary of the borough of Blackburn, in the said county palatine of Lancaster, that is to say, the district comprised within the parliamentary borough of Blackburn in the said county palatine of Lancaster, and to extend to them all the powers and provisions of the said act for regulating municipal corporations in England and Wales.
We, therefore, as well by virtue of the powers and authorities vested in us, as by virtue of the powers and authorities given to us by the said recited act, or any other act now in force, and with the advice of our privy council, do hereby grant and declare that the inhabitants of the said borough of Blackburn, comprised within the district hereinbefore mentioned and described, and their successors shall be for ever hereafter one body politic and corporate in deed, fact and name, and that the said body corporate shall be called “The Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Borough of Blackburn,” and them by the name of The Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Borough of Blackburn,” into one body corporate and politic in deed, fact and name, do, for us, our heirs, and successors, erect and constitute by those present.
And we do grant to the said body corporate, that by the same name they shall have perpetual succession, and be for ever hereafter persons able and capable in law, to have and exercise, and do and suffer, and that they shall have and exercise, and do and suffer all the acts, powers, authorities, immunities, and privileges, which are now held and enjoyed, done and suffered by the several boroughs named in the schedules to the said act for regulating municipal corporations in England and Wales, in like manner, and subject to the same provisions, and as fully and amply to all intents and purposes whatsoever, as if the said borough of Blackburn had been named and included in the first section of schedule B to that act annexed. And we do hereby extend to the inhabitants of the said borough, comprised in the district hereinbefore mentioned and described, all the powers and provisions of the said act for regulating municipal corporations in England and Wales, and of all and every other acts or act of parliament made and passed for the altering, amending, or enlarging the same act, and the powers and provisions thereof, or in anywise relating thereto.
And we further, will, grant, and declare, that the said mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of the said borough of Blackburn, and their successors, shall and may for ever hereafter, have a common seal to serve them in transacting their business from time to time, arising within the said borough. And also shall and may use and assume armorial bearings and devices, which shall be duly entered and enrolled in the Herald’s College.
And we further will, grant, and declare, that the said mayor, aldermen, and burgesses, shall be able and capable in law, to purchase, take, and acquire, lands, tenements, hereditaments, and all other possessions whatsoever to any value, situate, lying, and being within the said borough. And also to purchase, take and acquire lands, tenements, hereditaments, and all other possessions elsewhere out of the said borough, not exceeding the sum of five thousand pounds by the year, to have and to hold the said lands, tenements, hereditaments, to the said mayor, aldermen, and burgesses and their successors for ever.
And we further will, grant, and declare, that the council of the said borough shall consist of a mayor, twelve aldermen, and thirty-six councillors; to be respectively elected at such times and places and in such and the like manner, as the mayor, aldermen, and councillors for the boroughs named in the schedules to the said act, for the regulation of the municipal corporations in England and Wales; except that the first mayor, aldermen, and councillors, and the first auditors and assessors for the said borough, shall be respectively elected at such times and such manner as hereinafter mentioned. And that the said mayor, aldermen, and councillors, auditors, assessors, so to be elected for the said borough of Blackburn, shall respectively have the same qualifications, and have exercise, and enjoy all the powers, immunities, and privileges, and be subject to the same duties, penalties, liabilities, and disqualification, as the mayor, aldermen, and councillors, auditors, and assessors of the several boroughs enumerated in the said act, for regulation of municipal corporations in England and Wales, so far as the same are applicable to the said borough of Blackburn.
And we further, will, grant, and declare, that the title and qualification of the burgesses of the said borough of Blackburn, shall be the same with regard to the said borough, as the title and qualification of the burgesses of the boroughs named in the said act, for regulating municipal corporations in England and Wales are, with regard to such boroughs exactly as if the said borough of Blackburn had been included in the first section of schedule B to the act annexed; and that all persons possessing such title or qualification with respect to the said borough of Blackburn, shall be entitled to be placed upon the burgess list herein after mentioned.
And we further will, grant, and declare, that the said borough shall be divided into six wards, to be respectively called St. Mary’s ward, St. John’s ward, Trinity ward, Park ward, St. Peter’s ward, and St. Pauls ward, and that the said wards shall be bounded and described as follows, that is to say:—
St. Mary’s Ward shall be and comprise all that part of the township of Blackburn, in the county of Lancaster, commencing at the point at which Church street, Astley gate, and Northgate meet, thence along Northgate, to and along Thunder alley, thence along the northerly side of the market-place, to and along Cort street, to and along Ainsworth street, to and along Union street and Old Chapel street, to and along Penny street to and along Syke street to and along Salford, to and along Audley Higher Barn Lane, to its intersection with the East Lancashire railway, thence along the centre of the said railway, to its intersection with the Bolton and Blackburn turnpike road, thence to and over the House of Correction bridge, along Darwen street to and along Mill lane to and along Back lane, and Astley gate, to the point first described; in which ward are comprised all the streets, lanes, passages, and places lying within the aforesaid bounds.
St. John’s Ward shall be and comprise all that part of the township of Blackburn commencing at the point at which Northgate and Thunder alley intersect, thence along Northgate, to and along the Blackburn new turnpike road to the extent of the township at Shackerley Brook, thence along the northerly boundary of the township to the Blackburn, Whalley, and Clitheroe, turnpike road at Bank Hey estate, thence along the said turnpike road, Lark hill and Penny street to and along Old Chapel street, and Union street, to and along Ainsworth street, to and along Cort street, the northerly side of the Market-place, to and along Thunder alley, to the point first described; in which ward are comprised all the streets, lanes, passages, and places lying within the aforesaid bounds.
Trinity Ward shall be and comprise all that part of the township of Blackburn commencing at the point of intersection of Old Chapel street and Penny street, thence along Penny street, Lark hill, and the Blackburn, Whalley, and Clitheroe new turnpike road, to the extent of the township at Bank hey estate, thence along the north-easterly boundary of the township, to the intersection of the Accrington road at Abbatt clough, thence along Facit brow, Furthergate, Bottomgate, Copy Nook, Higher Eanam, and Eanam, to and along Syke street, to and along Penny street, to the point firs described; in which ward are comprised all the streets, lanes, passages, and places lying within the aforesaid bounds.
Park Ward shall be and comprise all that part of the township of Blackburn commencing at the point of intersection of Salford, and Audley Higher Barn lane, thence along Eanam, Higher Eanam, Copy Nook, Bottomgate, Furthergate, and Facit brow, to the extent of the township at Abbatt clough, thence along the south-eastern boundary of the township to the Blackburn and Bolton turnpike road at Ewood bridge, thence along the said road to its intersection with the East Lancashire railway, thence along the centre of the said railway, to its intersection with Audley Higher Barn lane, thence along Audley Higher Barn lane, to the point first described; in which ward are comprised all the streets, lanes, passages, and places lying within the aforesaid bounds.
St. Peter’s Ward shall be and comprise all that part of the township of Blackburn commencing at the House of Correction bridge, thence along the Blackburn, and Bolton turnpike road, to the extent of the township at Ewood bridge, thence along the south-western boundary of the township, to the river Blakewater near Redlam, thence along the midchannel of the river Blakewater to Whalley Banks bridge, thence along King street, to and along Back lane, Mill lane, and Darwen street to the first mentioned bridge; in which ward are comprised all the streets, lanes, passages, and places lying within the aforesaid bounds.
St Paul’s Ward shall be and comprise all that part of the township of Blackburn commencing at Astley gate, thence along King street to Whalley Banks bridge, thence along the midchannel of the river Blakewater to the extent of the township, near Redlam, thence along the south-western boundary of the township, to the intersection of the Blackburn and Preston new turnpike road, at Shackerley Brook, thence along the said road to and along Northgate, and Astley gate, to King street; in which ward are comprised all the streets, lanes, passages, and places lying within the aforesaid bounds.
back to top
On the 22nd March 1878, the people of Over Darwen were given permission by this Charter to set up their own Borough Council with a Mayor, Aldermen and 18 Councillors, who would have the power to acquire property and appoint Officers in order to carry out the functions of Local Government. The Charter provides a time schedule for the setting up of the new Council and divides the Borough into six electoral wards. Attached to the Charter is the Great Seal of Queen Victoria. In time the original name of Over Darwen, shortened to Darwen and the Darwen Council continued to operate until 1974 when the Borough of Darwen, the County Borough Borough of Blackburn and various other Local Authority areas were merged together to form the new Borough of Blackburn.
Blackburn County Borough Coat of Arms
© BwD - terms and conditions
The arms of this Borough have been enrolled in the Herald’s college, on February 7th, 1852 at a cost of £76 10s, the patent has been received by John Hargreaves, Esq, the Town Clerk. The heraldic blazonry may be interesting to some readers. ARMS – Argent: a fesse wavy sable, between three bees volant, ppr; on a chief vert, a bugle horn stringed argent, between two fusils (or lozenges); Or. CREST – On a wreath of the colours: a shuttle, Or; thereon a dove, wings elevated, argent; and holding in its beak the thread of the shuttle, reflexed over the back, and an olive branch, ppr. MOTTO – Arte et Labore. (By skill and labour).
It may be interesting to the uninitiated to have some explanation of the devices; * this I briefly subjoin, but would first premise that, as the Borough of Blackburn is not indebted for its advancement to the ancient lords of Blackburnshire, yet an allusion is made to them in one device, the fesse undy. It is within the memory of the “oldest inhabitant”, that Blackburn was a small town and that it has risen to wealth and importance through the energy and enterprise of her spinners and manufacturers, combined with the skill and labour of her operatives; and as there are no peculiar natural advantages, the armorial bearings have a special reference to those arts, manufactures and families, which have administered to its prosperity. Such have been the leading principles which guided the seal committee in the selection of devices for the borough arms. The motto Arte et Labore (By skill and labour) is very appropriate, and naturally suggested the principal charge on the shield – the three bees volant; the bee being an emblem of skill, perseverance and industry and these qualities are the characteristics of the merchants, manufacturers, tradesmen and operatives and have been the means of raising the town to its present eminence. B, is also the initial of the name of the town; and further, as the Peel family sprung from this neighbourhood, and bear a bee volant on the chief of their shield; in future ages the idea will naturally suggest itself that Sir Robert Peel had adopted the Blackburn bee.
The shield being argent, or white, is emblematic of the production of the Blackburn bees- calico. The fesse wavy sable very appropriately represents the Black Brook or Burn, and is both enigmatical and emblematic of the name of Blackborne, and of the town; though in reality it has derived its name from Blake and Burn, meaning, adumbris; yet as a fesse wavy, (or), would not be correct in heraldry on a field argent, the former has been adopted, and is a device belonging to the ancient family of Adam de Blackborne. To carry out a fanciful idea; if the proposed new town hall to be taken as the nombril point, the bee dexter will represent the workpeople of Brookhouse and adjoining mills; the bee sinister, those of Park Place and Nova Scotia; all on the upper side of the brook; and the bee in base those belonging to the mills at the bottom of King Street, on the lower side of the brook. The chief vert has allusion to the ancient history of Blackburnshire in the time of King Edward the Confessor, when it was one of the royal forests. The commission of William the Conqueror in the Book of Judicial Record says, “King Edward held Blacheburne, and with the other forests named, the whole manor, with the hundred, paid to King Edward a rent of thirty-two pounds two shillings.” The bugle horn argent in the centre of the chief is the cognizance of the first mayor of Blackburn, William Henry Hornby, Esq, and the two lozenges, (Or,) denote the connection of Joseph Fielden, Esq, with Blackburn, as lord of the manor, he bearing those charges on his shield. The horn is also an emblem of strength.
The lozenges, or rather fusils, which are lozenges slightly elongated, are the heraldic emblems of spinning, derived from fusus or fusilum, (a spindle), and have reference to the invention of the “Spinning Jenny” in Blackburn.
CREST. – The shuttle is the emblem of weaving: and the improvements in that art and the preparatory processes have contributed more than any other to the prosperity of the town; whilst the dove, taking wing with an olive branch in her beak (the emblem of peace) united to the thread of the shuttle is very appropriate, and representative of the beneficial results emanating from the art of weaving. The exported product of the shuttle is one olive branch of peace, and like a silver zone encircles the globe, and through our extended commerce is gradually uniting us in the bonds of friendship with all nations.
Notes:
Or – Means gold
Argent – silver or white
Sable – black
Ppr. –proper or natural colour
Volant – flying
Vert – green
EXTRACT FROM VOL:- “BLACKBURN AS IT IS” BY P. A. WHITTLE, 1852
Transcribed by Shazia Kasim
Published September 2023
