burnley dashcam footage

[sandy richardson]

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/wat ... 940-online

[CardyTheClaret]

What a fantastic find. Thanks for sharing. Some dodgy driving in the opening scenes, some things never change.

[RammyClaret61]

When did Burnley change to driving on the right hand side of the road?

Great film, but don’t really recognise anywhere on it.

[Loyalclaret]

Interesting vid, avoided clicking the thread because of the title!

I think I only recognise Manchester Road, looking up at the town hall. What's the white building in the corner that is shown a few times?!? Feel they may driven up towards whatever the Kierby replaced, passing Yates/Boot on the right at one point.

Looked an active town in 1940 considering what was going on in Europe at the time

[mikeS]

It's footage from 1954 taken by Burnley Cine Club, now Burnley Film Makers.

[The Hung Juror]

Wow. Recognised where we were on most of the film. Mostly, in what is now the precinct at the bottom of Manchester Road, with the Boot in the background and going towards where the Odeon used to be. Short piece looking up Manchester Road, and then toward the bridge passed the old Prestige building along Colne Road.

Noticeable how many buses there were. Was wondering as I was watching whether any of my ancestors may have been caught somewhere on the film.

[kindonesque]

So evocative. The year I was born...

[Loyalclaret]

It's footage from 1954 taken by Burnley Cine Club, now Burnley Film Makers.

Thanks mikeS, makes more sense than 1940 as titled.

[Eloise Laws]

Enjoyed watching that and can recognise most places, but can someone please tell me where the Palace Theatre was???
Loved the open back double deck buses, people used to jump on and off as the bus slowed down

[martin_p]

Enjoyed watching that and can recognise most places, but can someone please tell me where the Palace Theatre was???
Loved the open back double deck buses, people used to jump on and off as the bus slowed down

Think it’s where Wilko/McDonalds is now.

[cricketfield73]

That is a superb little film. So many recognisable landmarks today still as they were 70 years ago. I must admit that I didn't spot the Prestige building so will watch it again more closely. Thanks for posting.

[nil_desperandum]

Think it’s where Wilko/McDonalds is now.

Correct

[Dougall]

Duke Bar doesn’t look much different now,,

[Mayoclaret]

Great footage, thanks for posting. Appears there was no shortage of Bobbies on the streets in those days!

[Eloise Laws]

Think it’s where Wilko/McDonalds is now.

Ah yes, thanks for that

[ClaretTony]

That's brilliant

[ClaretTony]

Think it’s where Wilko/McDonalds is now.

Two cinemas next to each other, the Palace & the Grand. The Palace is where Wilko is roughly and McDonalds is where the Grand was. I can't recall the Grand being open.

[nil_desperandum]

Two cinemas next to each other, the Palace & the Grand. The Palace is where Wilko is roughly and McDonalds is where the Grand was. I can't recall the Grand being open.

I wasn't around at the time, but The Grand (which apparently had 950 seats) was demolished in 1956.
It was opened as a cinema in 1922, unlike the Palace (built 1907), and Victoria and Empire Theatres that were orginally designed to be theatres a couple of decades earlier.

[ClaretTony]

I wasn't around at the time, but The Grand (which apparently had 950 seats) was demolished in 1956.
It was opened as a cinema in 1922, unlike the Palace (built 1907), and Victoria and Empire Theatres that were orginally designed to be theatres a couple of decades earlier.

I’m surprised it was as early as that when it was demolished because I can remember the building. Apparently the seats used to be lower in the middle than the wings and it also had double seats at the back for the courting couples.

[martin_p]

This is an interesting site if you’re interested in ex-cinemas. Link opens on the closed Burnley cinemas page and you can click on each one for details (usually with a picture).

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/un ... tus=closed

[Claretnick]

Wow that was fantastic.
The town centre full of life, hustle and bustle, looked like you needed your wits about you crossing the roads.
It's such a shame we lost a lot of those buildings to the 1960's concrete and steel Arndale type of town centre, all in the name of progress...

[Rowls]

Wow that was fantastic.
The town centre full of life, hustle and bustle, looked like you needed your wits about you crossing the roads.
It's such a shame we lost a lot of those buildings to the 1960's concrete and steel Arndale type of town centre, all in the name of progress...

The money that must was spaffed on concrete in the 60s wrecking Burnley's architectural heritage is obscene and a real tragedy.

It's not about making a town "pretty" (although beauty is a real benefit) or clinging onto a mythical past, it's about a town having pride in its history and culture and providing an environment for its residents that supports their wellbeing. Rotten, ugly buildings give people poor mental health and depression.