All images courtesy of: ISF Photography

On 24 February, the Flying Scotsman rolled into Accrington station, much to the delight of the locals who lined the platform to pay homage to this important historical and cultural icon.

The locomotive’s first journey was in 1923, at a time when Accrington was a thriving manufacturing town; famous for being a hotbed of textile machinery fabrication and for its Nori engineering bricks which would later be used to build the Empire State Building.

The town’s public buildings reflected this prosperity and success. The Victorian market hall, built in Renaissance style, is one of the finest in the Country, and the striking Art Deco fire station – now an e-cigarette distribution centre - resembles a classical temple at the town centre’s gateway.

In the Victorian shopping arcade with its glazed roof and slender columns its sole occupant is a catalogue furniture shop whose owners sit outside on a camping chair waiting for a rare customer.  In London this building would be home to upmarket retail outlets such as Burberry and Charbonnel et Walker. In Didsbury it would be bustling with trendy cafes and bars.

When the impressive Cannon Street Conservative Club opened in 1891, it was the largest in Britain, and it’s proud, imposing architecture echoed prosperity and patriotism. In 2013 the building was included in the Victorian Society’s top ten most endangered list and in 2016 it was destroyed by arson.

Today, the surviving façades enclose a graveyard of fire-damaged Nori bricks, rather symbolic of the town’s fate.

It all makes for a pitiful environment.

The local newspaper reported the Flying Scotsman’s visit under the headline ‘Surreal scenes as ‘beautiful train’ rolls into town for 100^th birthday’. But what exactly was ‘surreal’ about it?

Was it the sight of such a magnificent, well-preserved piece of history contrasting sharply against the neglect and dereliction of the town?

Our buildings define the identity of our towns and cities and shape the mindsets of those who visit or live in them. Accrington’s Edwardians must have felt hugely proud and patriotic surrounded by such magnificent public buildings. So proud in fact, that it took only ten days to raise the entire ill-fated WWI battalion following the Mayor’s call for volunteers.

Does the community now feel that their culture and their memories are no longer relevant?

Accrington is not alone. It is estimated that there are circa 160,000 heritage buildings (listed or otherwise) in the UK that are not being repaired, developed or repurposed in the wider community.

Heritage buildings run to the core of our culture and identity, and saving them is critical. However, salvation requires repurposing, and repurposing requires innovation - and capital.

Having received £26m from round two of the Levelling-up Fund, Accrington is one of the luckier towns. The successful heritage-led bid, will see significant investment in the Market Hall and the acquisition and refurbishment of two adjacent Chamber buildings around the centrally located ‘Town Square’.

This is great news for the town and one can only hope that the scheme will attract further private investment to ensure that other the empty heritage buildings surrounding the shiny new Market Hall do not tarnish its lustre.

So, whilst Accrington’s populace flock to the train station to witness a piece of history and to revel in Britain’s glorious workmanship and industrial achievement, there are built examples of this to be found every day, right on their doorstep. And it looks like three of them at least are on track for rejuvenation.