The traditional Blackburn Market building, which opened in 1964 and featured a separate fish market, closed in late 2009. The market was subsequently relocated and reopened as part of the new £66 million Mall shopping centre in 2010. Earlier, in the 1960s, the original Italian-style market house was also demolished.
Before his death, Walker had put in place a family trust structure to own his various business interests, including the club. Blackburn Rovers were sold by the Jack Walker settlement in November 2010 to Venky's. In September 2001, the Jack Walker Memorial garden was unveiled at the Blackburn End of Ewood Park.
Church Street is Blackburn's oldest street and takes its name from its original church, the Church of St Marie (St. Mary), which, like the street, can be traced back over 1000 years.
M&S have been clear and consistent: they will not continue trading in Blackburn town centre beyond 2027 — and could close the store even sooner once the new Food Hall at Whitebirk opens. The building, by their own admission, no longer fits their retail model.
Most of Blackburn with Darwen's population identified as White, making up 60.35%. However, it is a diverse area, with a large proportion Asian and Asian British people making up 35.66% of the population. This is much larger than national averages of 9.61%.
The Kings Head, or Kings Head Inn before that at 43 King Street was built in 1765 making it the oldest pub building still standing in Blackburn, The King referenced in the name being King George III.
Blackburn's match against Sheffield Wednesday was abandoned with the hosts leading 1-0 due to a waterlogged pitch, the second time that has happened this season. Blackburn came into the game four days after fulfilling the rearranged fixture against Ipswich, a game they were also originally on course to win 1-0.
The richest football club owners are led by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns Newcastle United, with vast sovereign wealth, followed by Sheikh Mansour (Manchester City) and Sir Jim Ratcliffe (Manchester United), with major figures like Stan Kroenke (Arsenal) and François-Henri Pinault (Stade Rennais) also ranking high, though rankings vary slightly by source and date, reflecting immense wealth from state funds, industry, and investment.
Yes, Venky's (the V H Group) still owns Blackburn Rovers as of early 2026, having been the majority owners since 2010, though they have faced significant fan criticism and expressed reluctance to sell despite rumors and fan protests, with recent reports indicating they are committed to supporting the club and haven't received any concrete offers.
Mohsin and Zuber Issa. Mohsin Issa CBE and Zuber Issa CBE are British billionaire brothers and businessmen who founded Euro Garages (later renamed EG Group) in 2001, a Blackburn-based operator of filling stations, convenience stores and food service providers across Europe, the United States and Australia.
Step back in time and immerse yourself in the rich history and exquisite charm of this stunning Grade II* listed 4-bedroom detached house, Miles Wife Hey is believed to be the oldest house in Blackburn. Built in 1543 (with parts dating back to 1525), this architectural gem exudes character and elegance at every turn.
The original "Pub with No Beer" refers to the Day Dawn Hotel in Ingham, Queensland, which ran out of beer during WWII, inspiring local poet Dan Sheahan to write "A Pub Without Beer," later made famous by Slim Dusty's iconic song. Today, Lees Hotel stands on the original site and is known as "The Original Pub with No Beer," though the pub at Taylor's Arm, NSW, also claims connection through songwriter Gordon Parsons.
David Ross is a British actor from Blackburn, Lancashire. He is most known for his work in television series, where he has enjoyed a lengthy career. He has also appeared stage productions and films. David Ross' most famous role was that of Kryten during his first appearance on comedy series.
Crime Rates: Is Blackburn Dangerous? Blackburn's crime rate is higher than the UK average, with around 127 crimes per 1,000 residents annually. Antisocial behaviour occurs at over twice the national rate, alongside elevated violent crime, criminal damage, and vehicle offences.
GlobalData estimated that M&S grew its UK clothing market share from 4.9% in 2023 to 5.2% in 2024 while John Lewis's has remained flat at 1.6% since 2019.
