The King's Head and 3 Freckleton St, Blackburn

Built in 1777 as a coaching inn this important and prominent Georgian building was partly remodelled by Thwaites Brewery, who acquired it in 1853. The pub closed in 1996 and a fire in 2003 caused severe damage, both to it and the adjoining property 3 Freckleton St. Threatened with demoliton, both Blackburn and Darwen Borough Council and English Heritage recognised it as a crucial site in the King St Conservation Area, stating its structural condition could be remedied.

Both buildings were passed onto the trust for full restoration. Internal strengthening took place to support the weak fire damaged structure, and traditional building techniques to reapply the exterior limewash and restore the sash windows were implemented. The large, decorative window at the front of the inn was painstakingly restored in HTNW's workshops at Higherford Mill.

Info