Heritage expert RON FREETHY's personal view on plans to close the Lewis Textile Museum in Blackburn

I AM at present working on a book called "King Cotton" which traces the history of Lancashire's textile industry.

My brief is to place our cotton where it should be - right at the centre of the world's textile trade.

For a county which dominated cotton for almost two centuries, Lancashire seems happy first to let our heritage gather dust and then to fade away altogether.

I was appalled at what I read in the Editor's Opinion on page six of this newspaper yesterday and Eric Leaver's fears which appeared on page one.

The idea of losing the present Lewis Textile Museum is a disgrace to Blackburn, an affront to Lancashire Cotton History and a worry for textile historians throughout the world.

Here in Blackburn the Lewis Museum seems to have been relegated to a minor exhibition whereas it is one of the world's most prestigious collections. Instead of closing the museum altogether or, at best relegating it to a back room, Blackburn should be spending money to improve the Lewis. Give it more space not less.

This newspaper has long been a supporter of our heritage and would be willing to give space to allow those who worked in cotton to share in the pride of old Blackburn.

The Lewis collection of old machinery should be restored and displayed properly..

Lancashire looms should be gleaming and set up in a ready to work situation. Spinning mules should be celebrated.

There must be folk in the Blackburn area who have tales to tell, and artefacts or photographs to give to the museum.

Personally, I would not give anything to a museum collection which was going to be relegated to a back room. The pride of Blackburn deserves better.

Think of all the Millennium projects which have been accepted. The most important industry during the Millennium in Blackburn is Cotton. Why has this fact not been celebrated?

Even worse why is our local authority set to close a museum with a world reputation even if Blackburn fails to appreciate what heritage it has under its own nose!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.