Currently, our volunteers are working to digitise the archive of Burnley Express negatives, which range roughly from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s, a period which saw enormous changes in society. Whilst we have uploaded more than 15,000 images, so far, we have only scratched the surface. Add in the other collections that have been donated and you’ll see why www.bcthic.org is truly a photographic treasure house of Burnley’s social history. 

With the theme of this edition of Burnley ViewPoint being winter, we thought we would show you some Snow and Pantomimes. 

We have recently had some snow locally, but this snow is nothing compared to the heavy snow and icy winds which struck Burnley on the night of Monday/Tuesday 5/6^th February 1968. 

On the following Friday, the Burnley Express published some atmospheric photos of the snow. You can almost feel the chill wind. 

• Heavy snowfall in Burnley (1968)

‍

The Burnley Express also reported on the impressive way the local authority responded to the snowfall. The roads were kept open and clear for the buses and commuters travelling into work. As soon as it started snowing at 8 p.m. on Monday, a Street Lighting patrol vehicle alerted the duty foreman at the Cleansing Department, who then brought the night staff in two hours earlier than usual, and they started gritting immediately. The weather worsened at 2 a.m. and the snow ploughs were brought out, as were extra staff from Highways, Parks and Works Departments. The next night proved to be the coldest in five years and the teams had to do it all again. 

‍

On early Tuesday morning, at Rosegrove train station, a diesel engine jumped the tracks due to frozen points. Subsequently, there were no passenger trains from Preston or Skipton until the first one got through at 7.30 a.m. 

‍

Read the full report and see all the photos here

‍

For more like this browse the incidents page

‍

Panto Season - It’s Behind You!

Every pub, club, factory, and workplace arranged a Christmas trip, often to see the big TV names and stage actors in panto at theatres such as Bradford Alhambra, the Davenport Stockport, Manchester Palace, etc. 

If you were one of the lucky few, you would perhaps get a chance of going backstage to meet the cast, with the magic possibly being lessened when you caught one of them having a crafty fag… 

Plus there were lovely and fun amateur productions put on by every church and chapel where the props and costumes demanded imagination and ingenuity. It truly was a season for the ages.  

- (1976) Gas Board outing to Bradford Alhambra to see Goldilocks. 

- (1974)  A trip to Mother Goose, Preston, with Norman Vaughan, a well-known TV celebrity (just visible behind the goose).

‍

- (1970) Mother Goose. St. Luke’s, Brierfield. 

For more panto-related images, click here