Blackburn Town Centre 1995

Welcome to my little video from 1995! On every Saturday morning my Wife, Daughter and I went into Blackburn Town centre for our usual treat. As well as a little shopping, we'd have our usual treats of sausage rolls and a delicious pint of Sarsaparilla from Walsh's stall on the 3 day market. On this video you can relive the days of the now demolished 3 and 5 day markets and see just how Blackburn has changed in the 20 years since I recorded the film. I intend to re-visit the town for a 20th anniversary special soon, so watch my channel! I hope you have enjoyed my little video and please share, comment, like and subscribe at FJR Biker Paul.
Update: February 2019. I did indeed record an update to this video. I have also to announce that in May 2017 I lost the most important person in my life, my Wife/Best friend Lynn. These videos therefore have even more significance to me now. Biker Paul.

[@grinwald633]

I'm now 73, I can remember the amazing sarsaparilla stall from being quite young, never to be duplicated, the best sarsaparilla ever. The town has changed massively since I was a small kid going into town shopping with my mum. I returned to good old Blackburn about a year ago and ended up driving in circles as the road system was completely different. Great town, proud to be a Blackburnian. (I wish the Rovers would buck up though)

[@npr1300A8]

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I fully concur with you with your comments except the Rovers perhaps lol. My late Mum was a fan from 1947. She suffered poor health in her later years but thankfully experienced the great days of King Kenny et al. I'm 60 now and have left the town.

[@michaelbradley3061]

I remember the stall on the corner as a child. Loved the drink! Lived all over Blackburn. I now live in West Yorkshire

[@louissmith1393]

What a great video of a town I loved but now no longer recognise. Woolworths, the old market, the El Greco cafe and the Apollo cinema were delights. Sadly I can’t bear to go anymore.

[@npr1300A8]

@@louissmith1393 Thank you for watching and commenting. I could never have guessed back then how much this video would mean to us Blackburnians in the future.

[@kimsung2384]

That's the Blackburn I remember. Brings back fond memories. Loved the library. Anyone remember Nigel's hairdressers opposite the library

[@Bonkers4Hex]

Its still there. He was married to my step grandads daughter

[@kimsung2384]

Bonkers 4 Hex Wow - I don’t remember liking having my haircut there because it was never done the way I like it!

[@Bonkers4Hex]

Don't think I ever have. My mum took me to that Alan rene when I was a kid and he nearly chopped my ear off

[@kimsung2384]

Bonkers 4 Hex Yes was a long time ago. I was around 24-25. Met some fit babes in the town centre late at night. Used to see them sometimes in a club/bar near morrisons. Forgotten the name of it now

[@wanderingwolf2024]

Remember ernesto

[@Nad.n32]

brought back lovely childhood memories of going to town with my nan ..... miss her and this time dearly

[@TimZZR2]

I remember roller skating down the ramp next to el-grecos, great memories!

[@joshuaqueen3784]

Man I'm still pissed at the fact that shut down they did banging chips and gravy

[@RianSarahwislyPollard-gm3ig]

The cafe down the slope with the circle windows

[@npr1300A8]

El Greco.

[@matoko123]

OMG .. the Sarsaparilla man !!! Haven't seen him for 30+ years but it feels like yesterday. Always had a glass of that when in town :) He was a very friendly man. I remember his old mum too. It was '71 or '72 when my friend Jim first introduced me to his fine drink :)

[@EinkOLED]

12:39 They used to sell lovely meat pies there and the guy at the sasparella stall was a very pleasant man. I miss the old blackburn, I haven't visited the town centre since 2009 and probably never will.

[@waynegee2484]

That is the Blackburn I remember, enjoyed the nostalgia thanks for posting.

[@npr1300A8]

My pleasure.

[@TheAjdam]

I was 13 when this was shot and spent a lot of my time on the market after meeting up with friends at the "spiral"

[@wanderingwolf2024]

Me too. I was born in 82 and went to st bedes

[@Northernlightshow]

Brilliant! Was brought up in Blackburn, living there until about 10 years ago, and this brings back happy memories, especially of the sass stall. Thanks for sharing your memories.

[@npr1300A8]

Thank you for watching and commenting. My pleasure.

[@stephenduncan3605]

Have to be honest Blackburn town centre has never been the same since the market moved into the shopping mall in 2011. Of course in the late 80s/early 90s there was also Tommy Balls shoe store which was huge and sadly that too has gone!

[@npr1300A8]

Have to agree with you on all points here. We know things change but this country has a gold medal in the race to the bottom.

[@Snailryder]

Tommy Balls was rubbish, it never sold shoes you'd actually want to buy

[@backroomsuperstar]

I can't actually believe that I've just seen Peter and his Mum on the Sass stall. This video has historic importance, and in answer to your question on your later videos, no, Blackburn hasn't improved, it's gone backwards. The community, tradition, and trading has gone. It's great to hear the beautiful accent again, and those uniquely tuneful flat vowels, and this has been a wonderful night of remembering my youth. Thank you. I used to walk with my 73 year old great Aunt from Shad down to the market every Saturday and get the bus back from Penny Street, after we got a few bargains on the fruit and veg stall. Sometimes, I was allowed a toy from Howarth Bros. at the top end of the market. Good health and God bless.

[@npr1300A8]

I really appreciate your feedback here. Obviously KZbin wasn't around in 1995 but I did the video for historic purposes. Little did I know that it would have over 21,000 views at this time! I travel around a lot on the bike and can clearly see that Blackburn is indeed a divided and deprived town that's on its way down further. Thank you again for your story of your memories of the town. Take care.

[@lynseywales4792]

Such a simple film but brilliant

[@JamesBrown-lw6dv]

Back when the town centre was good

[@JamesBrown-lw6dv]

Ever shop was more or less full back then and the old markets was amazing

[@Jobalds80]

Paul thanks for the videos really enjoyed them.I got to show my boyfriend blackburn thanks again

[@Rookie_Matt]

Such memories! thanks for the upload mate ❤️

[@npr1300A8]

My pleasure. 👍🏻

[@RubyMarkLindMilly]

The Blackburn of my youth in the 90s miles better then better shops better people

[@fareedahmed8145]

Brilliant movie from back in the days!

[@SimonPrice-g4d]

Had a Saturday job at Bhs in the mid 90s. Exactly how I remember it, everyone coming in to get their snacks from the little food section at the corner of the store.

[@bobbyparmar]

A brilliant video thank so much for uploading it’s brought back some amazing memories of when I was a child particularly having plenty of sasprella drinks at Peters. That man and his mum looked after me so much ❤️

[@casskop]

Walsh's sasparilla on the market a treat on a Saturday morning as a kid. I miss it

[@npr1300A8]

Yes we miss Peter and his Mum too. I cannot believe myself that I captured such an important part of Blackburn's history. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@wolf_inkz]

A year before I was born, but I remember most of this, half of the place is gone now, I used to love going to town with my Mum back in the day.

[@cherylowdienko7975]

Wow brought some memories back this and the sasparalla man good times :)

[@JUSTINBARROW10]

Great memories - No longer live here but cant get over how the town has changed in less than 20 years.

[@kevn9002]

great to see peter grew up having many glass of sasparilla

[@wanderingwolf2024]

Hangover cure

[@nelm8257]

Sasperalla always when we went to town loved it big fella with glasses and his mrs lovely couple.

[@Mike12349]

OMG I was 9 years old 1995 I remember Blackburn market very well I missed the sasparalla 😢 and that fellow he was always nice ,so sad to see it all gone ,thanks for some good memories it was a good time growing up in my town Blackburn

[@npr1300A8]

My pleasure. I too miss this. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Mike12349]

Biker Paul some things you cannot replace in life,well Blackburn market is one of them.but I’m glad I can still remember some good memories

[@npr1300A8]

@@Mike12349 You are so right. I lost my sweetheart wife in 2017 so videos like these make it feel she's still with us. 😥

[@jordanryan1590]

The nostalgia is real here, I remember the sarsbarella man and ever since he went iv been looking everywhere for it but the closest thing I could find is the cordial version which isn’t the same.. and the cafe on the slope was amazing! Also who remembers the spiral next to the staircase? I think it’s still there

[@wanderingwolf2024]

El Greco

[@jennybates]

Used to go to the market, with my nan, back in the 70s. Hartys was a gracery stall, there. Walsh's was the neighbouring stall. But, that's all gone, now. But, the memories are still there.

[@ahmedshami2325]

Beautiful days 5 years in Blackburn thanks for the video .

[@npr1300A8]

Thank you for your comment and watching.

[@Syedkaaapaapa]

Very good memories of Blackburn market, Peter the sweet shop man a true gentleman sadly passed. Away two years ago

[@rosemarymossmistressroxy]

I love looking back at blackburn when i was growing up

[@RoaulMoat]

Rosemary do you still strip off in lapdancing clubs I remember you do anything for a tenner

[@SteveRatcliffe-h4w]

Rose when you and Debbie used to go shoplifting.

[@SteveRatcliffe-h4w]

@RoxyRoxy-l8v you used to beat me up in our lower Darwen property you a junkie sexworker rose.

[@SteveRatcliffe-h4w]

@RoxyRoxy-l8v we done 🌹 rose

[@SEANKNIGHT1989]

The old market when it actually was a propper market..and the pet shop..Blackburn has improved over time but never will be as good as it once was and this reminds me of being a kid with my mum...with the big slope that went dow to oxfam

[@npr1300A8]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@lordmalvada8212]

@@npr1300A8 Can't post ( addblocker ) so have too piggyback on comments. Thank you for that video. Such memory of a great market. I forgot their was a lift in it. It was a later addition to the market. As a kid going into the fish market part was fascinating to me and just loved the smell. Remember the joke shop stall and behind it was a toy stall. You could get anything in their and always bought a glass of sarsaparilla when passing the stall which was on the corner on the left as the market opened up from the entrance ( passing the fish market ). These days if you want a proper market, I go too Bury market which is so nostalgic of the old markets.

[@npr1300A8]

@@lordmalvada8212 Your description of our sadly no more market reminds me of very happy Saturdays with my late wife and our daughter. Time is precious. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@lordmalvada8212]

@@npr1300A8 Sorry to hear of your loss Paul. It is very true about time being precious and thinking you have another day to do things. I actually so one of your videos the other day of a bike ride around Blackburn ( think it was connected to a visit to the vets). Just got myself a bike but waiting on the DVLA for my licence which is taking moths to do. Your home is were the old deck access flats use to be ( ex Shad high pupil ).

[@npr1300A8]

@@lordmalvada8212 Thank you for your thoughts. I rode for a total of 23 years and started on a Honda C50 in 1980 and rode stuff like the Honda ST1300 Pan European and BMW K1600GTLE. They were the best of times. To get the most out of your riding, make sure you get as much advanced training as possible. I have the IAM certificate and I did the i2i training too. The i2i machine control 1 day is absolutely fantastic where you meet other bikers and learn so much about what your machine is about. All the best.

[@jim.....]

Thanks for digitising and uploading the footage.

[@paulsoddsends8967]

My pleasure. Hope you enjoyed it.

[@PeteMel1875]

Back when it was busy and had a decent market 👍

[@paulagregson7517]

When my first daughter was born - June 95 and I'll tell you what .... that was a HOT summer, Inside Mercers toy shop @1:10

[@juicyjulie09]

love this memories the spiral

[@northface9605]

Thanks for this

[@npr1300A8]

Blackburn Town Centre-20 Years On Parts 1, 2 & 3 can now be seen on my channel!

[@hermitage129]

Brilliant and informative well done

[@Bee-ly4gx]

Love this

[@holmesglenn]

what a video! so mamy memories, thanks for doing the 2015 versions aswell, quality stuff

[@disneylandparissuperfan0214]

Holmes Glenn j

[@npr1300A8]

Holmes Glenn Thank you very much! Appreciated.

[@LeloBoyle]

Anyone remember the horse& cart with steamed new potatoes,that used to be sold near the cinemsa?

[@Qadri2201]

The old Market, Dixons, TJ hughes, Woolworths, Debenhams, BHS all gone

[@thehermit6198]

Don’t forget the spiral ethalaustins and jacket potato van outside the old market.

[@clarkejoseph49]

I remember Blackburn Town centre being like this like it was yesterday with the Market being where the bus station is, the entrance path near where O2 is now, and the glass lift near the old Woolworths store. Where has the time gone? What has happened to society?

[@npr1300A8]

Clearly all part of a planned destruction. The powers that be don't want society where everyone gets along.

[@MarkTheMadMan]

Great video, so many memories. Would have been good if you had filmed a bit of Morrisons, I went there every week with my mum and dad and actually started working there in 1996 haha

[@npr1300A8]

Markyboy28 Thanks! Watch out for the 20th anniversary video soon!

[@rsharples1]

that lion in there used to scare the shit out me as a kid lol

[@stuartmacleod7466]

I was 5 year old when this was filmed

[@EUKBIKER]

Brings back awesome memories of the 90s. i would have been 5 when this was filmed. however now days everythings boring and rubbish, even new stuff. we need the 90s feeling back.

[@joshuaqueen3784]

Hell yeah I'm tired of the pathetic attempt of trying to make town interesting

[@ziep7865]

I miss the old town center,the market and the spiral stair case,children loved it,now its alright but could do with separate market like before,the worse is happening is closing down stores,

[@npr1300A8]

I agree with you here.

[@JaybeeDefiance]

Best sarsaparilla

[@RubyMarkLindMilly]

Sasparella man god I remember that stall

[@LeloBoyle]

Remember Moorey,s Herbalists,Websters Coffee,,all the old stalls that used to be on the market

[@paulwhite1040]

I remember the water features in and around Lord Square.. think there was 3 or 4// one was like a swimming pool

[@moonrunner303]

It isn't massively different apart from the Shopping Centre. I once did naughties on a night out in the lift going up to the car park... ha!

[@stephenduncan3605]

Wasn't Utopia Night club located on top of the shopping mall?

[@mattaikay925]

Fond memories - my now grown-up kids used to run around -

[@badwaaves]

Hi Paul, love this video!! i was born in 99 and rarely ever see footage like this so it was brillaint to watch. Would it be ok if i use some clips for an upcoming college project?? thanks :)

[@npr1300A8]

Hi. So sorry but I missed your comment. I hope you used it in your college project? Thanks for watching.

[@kamranhussain7236]

Hi Paul, making a short film on Blackburn during the lockdown and was wondering if I could use some of this footage?

[@npr1300A8]

Hi. I don't see why not. I wish I could go back to 1995! Thanks for asking. I look forward to seeing the finished film.

[@kamranhussain7236]

Also there's going to be a monologue at the start with voice overs of a number of different people from Blackburn.. if you want to participate, seeing as your from Blackburn, let me know through email: [e-mail]

[@silverfoils]

Brilliant!

[@shannybeautifulchannel2410]

Good old days remember my grandad used to visit his family there we live in walsall

[@shannybeautifulchannel2410]

Life has really changed bored no good live vibes left

[@shannybeautifulchannel2410]

1990s 80s and before that best up until 2009

[@RubyMarkLindMilly]

I met my partner in that pizza Hut 25 years ago were still together

[@npr1300A8]

Lovely to hear. 👍

[@RubyMarkLindMilly]

@@npr1300A8 thanks pal which bit of Blackburn do you hail from me and the missus are currently at knuzden Windsor Rd way it's nice not to far out to be awkward but far enough to be near some nice walks etc

[@npr1300A8]

@@RubyMarkLindMilly Hi Mark. Originally I'm from Mill Hill. Our house at the time of this video was on Leamington Road. They were happy days. All the best. Thank you for watching and commenting on my video. I'm guessing you have seen the other three part series?

[@nelm8257]

Good old times the ninetys...acid house partys then rovers won the leugue....note not many dingy men around

[@npr1300A8]

Definitely not. End times.

[@Bengaltiger1289]

Proof that humans can live on peace not stuck in endless war as we are now

[@frbaqi]

its crazy to think all these kids are most likely in their late 20's - early 30's

[@Nick_80599]

Yes me! 😊

[@wuffent4884]

Wow this mall has really involved

[@GeoffWilde]

I was born in 96 so I don't remember it's hayday, but the state of Blackburn now is saddening....

[@npr1300A8]

Sadly, this is not restricted to Blackburn as I'm sure you'll know if you travel around our once proud country. You're only 28, my advice would be to leave the UK. One of my friends who's from Italy, has left his country and is now planning to settle in Nepal. He's around my age, too. Thanks for watching and commenting on my video.

[@Captainslog2024]

Yes El Greco cafe. Best chips n gravy

[@linzainib7441]

I moved to vlackburn in 2009 with my family and I remember few places shown in the video so 2009 was still amemeory

[@jonnyjoiner2883]

hi paul, can you tell me the date of this video, thats me in the rovers shirt along with my misses,cheers john

[@npr1300A8]

What timestamp is it?

[@wanderingwolf2024]

Bloody ell, spiral 😊

[@Wookie910]

This was filmed a year before my birth

[@laad6452]

Wow that’s so cool dude so you must be 24 now am I right?

[@wanderingwolf2024]

I know the lad who was Peters appreciate in his last 2 years. He "Peter" had an allotment on revidge road. I know kieron and I'm sure he has the recipes. I bet he'd make a fortune if he set up

[@paulsoddsends8967]

He certainly would!

[@johnholder9085]

Bewutiful

[@john.highheels.3244]

Blackburn was a lot better back then demographically speaking. It did look like an English town more or less, now it's like walking through some place in Pakistan, the Middle East or Africa. I don't like seeing all these crowds of foreigners; when I do call in to the town these days I prefer to go down early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the centre is getting more emptier. It's a lot better.

[@npr1300A8]

@john.highheels.3244 With the current invasion going on, the replacement of the indigenous people of England by a demographic who have absolutely no interest in our country. As far as I know, no other culture is under so much danger of being wiped from the face of the earth.

[@john.highheels.3244]

@@npr1300A8 Well said my friend. The future of our white race in our own country is rather a little concerning. The demographic appearance of not just England but the whole UK with none of it's own people in it, entirely ethnic, is not something I care to dwell on. You've only got to look at Leicester, Bradford, Birmingham, London. Could it be the replacement has started?

[@npr1300A8]

@@john.highheels.3244 Yes.

[@mikeyt1981]

My my my, what’s happened to Blackburn 2020.....................................

[@Adam-gp7co]

I blame the council

[@thevalkyrie8]

Labour

[@paulking8476]

Thanks Stuart.

[@fourtoes412]

Blackburn town centre is now a shadow of its former self. Most of the decent retailers have left and have been replaced by countless thrift/chatity shops selling dross, slot machines arcades, bookmakers, vape stalls and pawn brokers. Not to mention the army of homeless/drug addicts who add to the dystopian atmosphere...

[@paulking8476]

Yes a real Gentleman.

[@realkingofantarctica]

History

[@junaidi3466]

In what month was this filmed Paul?!

[@npr1300A8]

I can't remember if I'm honest. Sorry.

[@susanbanks12]

the new market is never any where near packed as it used to be, the whole town has been trashed by the greedy council

[@chrisshaw-w3z]

Rosemary moss from highercroft is a tealeaf

[@JimmyDarin]

Wow....12 yr old back in 95.... I miss the old Blackburn Market.... Too many bad decisions made by the council ruined the the Town and the nightlife in my opinion.

[@npr1300A8]

I agree, in fact nobody with a pair of eyes and a brain could argue with you here. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@JimmyDarin]

@@npr1300A8Thanks for the video too Paul!

[@shannybeautifulchannel2410]

Atmosphere good bk then old people

[@RianSarahwislyPollard-gm3ig]

Blood hell I used to go northern lights under 18 in 1995 I was 12

[@qromania]

👍

[@f20aru98]

That kid at the start is probably 25 26 now madness

[@shannybeautifulchannel2410]

My grandmother dada uncle passed away now

[@npr1300A8]

Sorry to hear that.

[@shannybeautifulchannel2410]

@@npr1300A8 were u from I really want to make money

[@shannybeautifulchannel2410]

@@npr1300A8 I'm struggling now

[@shannybeautifulchannel2410]

@@npr1300A8 we used to love Blackburn's old hill street

[@robertharrold4214]

I claim the record for the earliest comment on you tube on any video. Here we go then............0.01.. a T80 i believe and a possible mbx 125. Oh come on?

[@Captainslog2024]

Look at all the white faces😳

[@bigboi7890]

Okay but WOAh

[@robertharrold4214]

Oh gawd,imagine if it is a vt250 or something. fsffss

[@lenkapenka6976]

This was before the invasion...

[@KA1xxx]

Hahaha😂😂

[@KNOWLEDGEIsPOWER-t1y]

Don't be like that. I'm Pakistani and was born in Blackburn in 1980. I love my home town!

[@IbnShahid]

Er....no, it’s 1995. So it wasn’t before the “invasion”.

[@joshuaqueen3784]

@@casbahowl8128 stop insulting people and enjoy the video

[@casbahowl8128]

Joshua Queen they insult me first talking smack about my brothers and sisters. Thats the problem with you white folks, you can always dish it out but never take it back 👊🏾 this town is ours now DEAL WITH IT

[@shannybeautifulchannel2410]

Years bk

[@sirenashirley]

2020 anyone

[@npr1300A8]

I wouldn't have thought anyone would want reminding of this dreadful year? Let's remember the good times.

[@shannybeautifulchannel2410]

I'm born 1992

[@JasonWest-ek3lb]

And coltsfoot rock

[@Dude0000]

Yet we still keep voting Labour. We deserve our slow demise, unfortunately...

[@npr1300A8]

Not my fault. My vote doesn't count here now.

[@Dude0000]

Biker Paul nor mine, but our fellow townspeople have been bought by the promise of free stuff and ‘rights’ for all sorts of rubbish. Sad!

[@joshuaqueen3784]

Man I hate politics personally I think it just divides people

[@RubyMarkLindMilly]

I've spotted just one Asian person so far ......

[@H4MZ0706]

You cant see really cus its black and white

[@H4MZ0706]

My family lived here since 70s

[@RubyMarkLindMilly]

@tom the cat123 yes to be honest

[@RubyMarkLindMilly]

@tom the cat123 because as a group of people Asians tend to struggle to integrate in they're adoptive countries they live in due to there ridiculous religion which precludes any other way of life which is at odds with its own doctrine hence all the trouble you find connected with this issue until Muslims get there own house in order and modernise accept western values they're never be a solution

[@RubyMarkLindMilly]

@tom the cat123 ok then I've a problem with the religion and what it represents and expects

[@annefurlon2484]

where is the fascists in theis video

[@IbnShahid]

Chilling out at home. Even fascists need a break sometimes.

[@mrthomas394]

Wonder if the youth of today are going to look back at Blackburn and say" ehhh in my day it was great takeaways and bookies as far as the eye could see and 1000s of immigrants sat round doing fck all those were the days"

[@npr1300A8]

Sadly, by then, Blackburn, together with much of England, will be majority Muslim. I'm hoping I'll be dead by then although in the last few months we have seen the grass roots of what will come. How is it possible that Scotland has an unelected Muslim who's clearly racist against anyone not from his demographic, then you've got the unelected British 'prime minister' who is presiding over the first invasion of England and actively encouraging it, Wales have just apparently elected a Black guy as their leader (I've got nothing against people of colour as long as everything is equal) and of course the biggest clown of them all, Khan of London. So, 4% of the UK population have all power positions. How is this possible? Do they represent the remaining 96%?

[@mrthomas394]

@@npr1300A8 couldn't have written that better if Id have tried for a day. The Scottish leader stood up in there parliament building and rattled off position after position held by white people 😡😡😡 how is that party elected are Scottish voters just staying at home and drinking whisky while their country is taken over..... And khan don't get me started on that utter joke of a mayor... London is a 3rd world shithole' full of young black men hell bent on chopping you head off with a machete..... I can feel a bit of pushback in the air but feel it's to little to late... England sadly is in ICU and the prospects aren't good