Blackburn historic Exchange building set for reopening after £1.5m revamp

Blackburn’s landmark Exchange building is preparing to unveil the completion of the £1.5million redevelopment of its iconic octagonal tower on the weekend of May 30 and 31.

This will be a major milestone in the £9 million revival of one of the town’s most recognisable heritage buildings.

Funded by Blackburn with Darwen Council, the revamp of the iconic tower is the latest ambitious phase of works, which has transformed accessibility and the visitor experience throughout the historic 1865 building in King William Street.

For the first time in its 160-year history, members of the public will be able to access all three floors through one main entrance thanks to a new modern lift and improved step-free access.

The redevelopment also includes a dramatic new spiral staircase, new toilet facilities, and the careful restoration and revelation of original architectural features, including stunning stone tracery and stained glass hidden for decades.

The building opened in 1865 as the town’s cotton exchange and then became the Apollo and Unit 4 cinema, with Tiggi’s restaurant beneath it.

Following the cinema’s closure in 2005, the building was rescued in 2016 by volunteers who formed the Re:Source charity, determined to create a new cultural venue for Blackburn.

Opening celebrations will invite the public to:

explore the £1.5m redevelopment of the iconic octagonal tower; see newly revealed stone tracery and stained glass from the original 1865 building; experience the new modern lift and striking spiral staircase; discover hidden histories uncovered during renovation — including a tunnel once used to access the “cheap seats”; and celebrate step-free access to all three floors from one entrance for the very first time.

The reopening weekend will also feature a unique artistic collaboration between Steve Guinness — The Brick Consultant, creator of the LEGO typewriter and winner of LEGO Masters on Channel 4 — and celebrated regional artist Gosha Gibek of Gosha Gosh Art.

Together, they will create a spectacular large-scale LEGO mosaic inspired by Gosha’s much-loved artwork of The Exchange, which will be recreated brick by brick during the reopening celebrations, with members of the public invited to help assemble it.

The partially restored Exchange has already hosted major events including the National Festival of Making, the Adidas Spezial product launch and the British Textile Biennial.

Among the guests invited to the reopening is Rebekah Newton, whose story made headlines in 2002 when, as a young girl temporarily using a wheelchair after a car accident, she was unable to access the cinema to watch Monsters, Inc.

Her parents raised concerns about the lack of wheelchair access to the building.

Now Rebekah — who lives in Burnley — has been invited back to become one of the very first people to use the building’s new lift.

Re:Source trustee Dr Alastair Murdoch said: “This redevelopment represents far more than bricks and mortar.

“It is about opening this incredible building to everyone, preserving its heritage while creating new possibilities for future generations.

“We’re incredibly proud to welcome the community back inside to experience the transformation and help shape what comes next.”