2nd visit to Darwen.

As you have probably already gathered from my last post I have been up to Darwen again. I thought you would be really interested in the house so posted that, whilst still getting over my visit.

I really only have Tuesdays to go out and about. Joseph gets picked up between 8 and 10 past and returns at half 2. But travelling on public transport means I have to make sure I'm back well in time. The weather forecast for Tuesday was not good, but I thought well if I don't go I might not get up there. So I made sure I was ready to go as soon as Joseph went, mac on - bag filled with camera, paper, pen I was ready for ACTION! Joseph left at 8.05, I left at 8.06 quick walk, little run, quick walk thus I dashed to the train station phew.... with 3 min to spare I caught the Darwen train. Not one of my favorite trains - we call them a 'rail bus' so it was rattle rattle shake shake all the way, grey clouds hanging low. But despite all this my heart began lifting once we past Bolton and we were chugging through the green, and hills, and reservoirs. Daft I know but its the thrill of the chase, the connection with the past. Was I walking in their path? It does not matter we are not related - I can identify with them as workers - they were my people. People who made this country. (Rant over).

Anyways, the train was on time so I arrived 9.07. It was threatening to rain but heeding the weather forecast I decided to head uphill and see if I could find London Terrace from memory. Details of this are given in the last post. It was a good thing I decided to do that first because on my return downhill, the library does not open til half past. I arrived a few minutes early but had a nice chat to a gentleman also waiting. I asked him if there were any bookshops in Darwen. No and he told me there is only a Smiths in Blackburn. Then we got talking about all the material that goes missing from libraries.

This part of the visit was a bit of a disaster - the library were rearranging the local history section so I was unable to browse at leisure. But I was there until 11.50 and I found plenty to do. I looked at a transcript of Lower Darwen Chapel 1751-1794 on microfiche which was very interesting. I wrote down all the references to Cooper (13 in all). That took me until 11.00. I had a quick look at some trade directories and have worked out how to use the library photocopier!! I had a quick flick through a section they were not rearranging, family histories. And I found 5 min to have a look at the Books for sale shelf in the main library and got a book on Sheep for 25p

I think to go back further than Joseph I need to have a clearer understanding of church history around Darwen and have a look at the movement of working people about the area. I am very confused about the records of the churches around Darwen, about the dates they are available for where I can find the records and where they seem to be all mixed up. At this moment in time I doubt whether I have the skill to untangle it all but I shall persevere for a while longer.

I left Darwen at 12. On the way back, as this train was also on time I decided to check out my local history library and they have a copy of that book that I wanted to read at Darwen !!!!!! It is reference only and is an original copy. Unfortunately it is dropping to bits and they are repairing the spine of the book for me so I can go and start reading it this week. I know from previously reading a book in Manchester reference library that it is much slower than reading a book at home. Here is what I hope to get from reading this book - a general feel for what it was like to live in Darwen, maybe more information on churches. I am not expecting to find any information on the Cooper family.

The photos are

Top one : Darwen station.

Middle one : View along Olive Lane.

Bottom one : View along London Terrace.