Visit to Darwen.

On Saturday Joseph and I paid a flying visit to Darwen. First we went to Manchester Victoria to watch a double headed steam train pass through on its way to Buxton - impressive sight and it had a diesel at the back. We then caught the train to Darwen. We only had a couple of hours there and it was really just a recognisance outing. The sky was blue, the sun was shining and the pretty run up from Bolton by 'reservoirs', with trees decked in their autumn colours I was filled with excitement. We managed to find Sainsburys and toilets, and most importantly the library. But first things first what happened to the station? Its one of those modern platform only things with a bus shelter - no buildings at all!!! Looking at an old map of Darwen your Coopers lived quite close to the railway and looking from the platform it looks like the original stone terraces are still standing, this will be an objective of a future visit. Darwen is like in a valley, they lived up above the railway line. I wonder if any of them watched the steam trains passing through.

Anyway back to the library - what a charming building built circa 1908. (circa because I did not write any information down, and I am not very good at remembering things). I was after getting a feel for the place and also to see what kind of information was available in the library. However, as usual for me, I got waylaid......books books books ohhhhhhhh I was in heaven. Its wonderful but don't tell anyone else or else the hoards may descend. There was NOBODY in the local history section of the library hidden away in a corner behind the beehive of activity aca the computer part. Shelf upon shelf of old and modern books to do with Darwen. A quick flick through this book and a quick glance along this shelf and ohhhh this one looks most interesting. You see I am quite sad really but those books made my heart aflutter. Each one offering the chance of some interesting snippet of information. They have a shelf devoted to the history of football in Darwen - I am afraid that shelf may not get looked at. Another on the council minutes. Then there were photocopied books of early directories and early maps of Darwen. Books on the history of Lancashire, Blackburn and Darwen. Thick books, thin books and little slips of books which could easily be overlooked. You see I am not a creature of the present....I would much rather have a book in my hands than wrestle with a computer. A book never changes, I can go back and have another look, it has more of a sense of 'realness'. And old books are a physical link with the past. Who else has turned these pages before me? or how many years has this book stayed lonely on the shelf? .....enough of my rambling. One book more or less jumped OUT at me. J.G. Shaw 'History and traditions of Darwen and its people'. This book includes Jeremy Hunt's "Recollections of Darwen and its people". It is a reprint of an old book and the library has two copies. It includes old Darwen families, unfortunately Cooper was not mentioned but I should think it will give much interesting background information. This will be a priority read (I am going to see if I can get a copy on loan through my library first). {I have googled this book and it is for sale for £135 but that is one of the original books hmmm not worth that much.}
I am afraid that Joseph was quite bored with all this.

http://peekholden.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=peekholden&view=9&rand=912069223
Someone is actively researching the information in this book - with respect to family trees. One of Joseph's daughters married a Holden so it will be one to keep an eye on.

Finally, I got a 'good' feeling from Darwen. I look forward to visiting again. The only downside was a large message proclaiming - regeneration Darwen 2006-2010 I hope they don't destroy their beautiful heritage. The old market building is still standing, we walked through it. My local market has long since ceased to be of any use, but it would appear that Darwen market is still well patronized.