BLACKBURN (named after the river Black burn. from AS. barna, brook, stream, Ger. Brunnen, well, Engl. burn, rivulet, brook). A manufacturing town in Lancashire. England. on the Blackburn, and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, 21 miles north•northwest of Manchester (Map: England, D 3). Among its notable pub lic buildings are a handsome town-hall. a fine Gothic exchange. and a newly erected Drapers' Hall. There are two large parks—Corporation Park and Queen's Park, opened in 1887. Black burn was incorporated in 1851, and since that date has rapidly advanced to the front rank of flourishing manufacturing towns. It has owned its water-supply since 1875. The acquisition of the gas-works followed in 1877, and in 1895 the corporation began the supplying of electricity. The street railways and suburban lines were taken over in 1899. The town also maintains public baths, markets. slaughter-houses, and cemeteries.
Among its educational institutions are an an cient grammar school. founded by Queen Eliza beth in 1567; a technical school, maintained by the corporation; a public library, with which is connected a museum; and an art gallery. The town also maintains two hospitals. It has a modern and profitable sewage system. including extensive irrigation-wo•ks, precipitation plant, and two sewage farms. The great business of the town is the manufacture of cotton stuffs. There are also woolen-factories, and large establish ments for the manufacture of weaving-machinery. Here ,lames Hargreaves (q.v.), a native of the town. invented the spinning-jenny in 1767. He WAS driven out of the town by a mob of working men. who feared Heat machinery would deprive them of their livelihood. Population, in 1891, 120.064; in 1901, 127.527.