History

In 1965 Blackburn's Member of Parliament, Barbara Castle, suggested to the Junior Chamber of Commerce that they should endeavour to form a Civic Society. Interested people were approached, a Steering Committee formed and the Society was inaugurated the following year under the Chairmanship of Clifford Bowman D.F.C. Many local people were recruited as members (yearly subscriptions 10/6 -52.5p) and a programme of activities was quickly organised.

A successful Architectural Award Scheme was sponsored in 1966 and as part of Operation Springclean, the owners of the offices along the north side of Richmond Terrace were pursuaded to restore the frontages of the buildings. The renovated terrace was  viewed by Her Majesty the Queen when she visited Blackburn in 1968

This was followed by a continuing programme of events and activities including Street Improvement Schemes, Gardening Competitions, Keep Blackburn Tidy and Tree Planting Campaigns, plus many visits and lectures. Several bulletins were published and many exhibitions held, displaying the work of the Society.

Operation Eyesore in 1973 deserves special mention when our Society was extremely successful in persuading local companies to take advantage of the grants for improving buildings. Blackburn had the distinction of coming top of the "National Table" with over £1m of Government money put to very good use in our area.

Blackburn Civic Society gratefully acknowledges the enthusiasm of the founder members who worked so effectively to get our organisation off to such a fine start.