No look back at old Blackburn could be complete without a mention of the Rovers. This is a photo from a vintage cigarette card. The man is John Lewis, who along with Arthur Constantine, called a meeting at the St Leger Hotel (King William Street), way back in 1875, with a view to forming a football club. And the rest, as they say, is history.
The old postcard above, is the only image I have that shows the St Leger Hotel, which would have stood on the corner of King William St and Lord St. Sadly, it's not the pub to the left, that's the Prince of Wales on the corner of Higher Church St, it's the indistinct building in the distance, sort of over the heads of the group of gents. If anyone has a close up / better image of the St Leger, I would love to see it.
The top photo (click photo to enlarge it) is a stoneware porter bottle from the same hotel, it dates to approximately the same period. The impressed writing reads - Eastwoods St Leger Hotel Blackburn
Two Ewood Park legends. Ronnie Clayton (RIP) and Bryan Douglas
This plaque, along with other similar merchandise, was issued in 1975, to commemorate the Rover's centenary as a football club.
COURTESY OF THE CP COLLECTION
Hi, do you own this plaque? What is it made of and how big is it?
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Stuart
Hi Stuart
I'm having problems with the comments app mate, it's not publishing the comments as it should, so I've had to copy & past your question.
I did own the plaque, but I sold it on ebay a few years ago. It was quite well made. I think the backing was just a bit of varnished pine (or similar) and the emblem and scroll were only moulded plastic, but it looked to be hand painted and always felt quite 'chunky' when held. It measured about 9 inches from the bottom tip to the top of the wood.
I bought it in a second hand shop that was just lower down than the Holehouse pub on Burnley Rd, about 20 years ago. I think I paid a fiver. I got about £25 for it when I sold it on ebay ;)
Regards
Colin