THEY have been at the centre of the community for generations.

The local pub is very much a British institution although increasingly landlords are finding it harder and harder to keep going.

The recent pandemic has been the latest obstacle put in their way adding to problems caused by competition from supermarkets, rising rents and changes in society.

But the pubs remain - and long may they continue to do so.

Here we have taken a delve into the archive to find some photographs of some of Blackburn’s pubs in years gone by.

It’s a town with a proud brewing tradition and, at one time, there was hardly a street corner where you wouldn’t find the lights on and a warm welcome from the local pubs.

Now many of them have have fallen by the wayside and sadly some of them are no longer even standing but their legacy remains and their contribution to the life of the communities in which they were based cannot be underestimated.

What are your memories of some of these pubs? Are there other favourite drinking establishments which are no longer with us which you remember fondly?

If you have any photographs of Blackburn pubs when they were in their heyday, we’d love to be able to share them with Bygones readers.

Send any memories or photographs to bygones@nqnw.co.uk.