Belmont Bleach Works, Egerton Road, Belmont, Blackburn with Darwen - Historic Building Investigation

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has granted planning permission for the
redevelopment of part of the former Belmont Bleach Works on Egerton Road,
Belmont (centred on NGR 367684 415783). The existing planning permission
(Application No 10/12/0590) allows for the demolition of the existing buildings, and
the erection of new houses with associated parking.
In order to secure archaeological interests, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
recommended that an appropriate programme of archaeological investigation of the
works is carried out in advance of demolition. Following consultation with the
Lancashire County Archaeology Service, it was recommended that an archaeological
building investigation commensurate with an English Heritage Level 2/3-type survey
should be carried out. This was carried out by Oxford Archaeology North in October
2014.
The bleach works complex comprises numerous buildings, of which 12 lie within the
boundary of the proposed development. This part of the site had formed the historic
core of the complex, dating to the early 1800s, when it was established as a calico
printing works. The works expanded significantly in the second half of the nineteenth
century, and was converted for use as a bleach and dye works.