Clare Hartwell’s major revision of Nikolaus Pevsner’s The Buildings of England: North Lancashire has just been published. The book describes all the significant buildings of the region from early history to the present day. It is an engrossing work and provides us locals with the chance to find ourselves in the Index of Architects, Artists and Patrons alongside, amongst others, Pugin, Hansom and Velarde.
The pictures here show Francis Xavier Velarde’s Our Lady of Lourdes Thanksgiving Shrine in Blackpool. According to the book the building was built in thanksgiving after the Lancaster R.C. Diocese was spared serious damage during the Second World War; now in the care of the Historic Chapels Trust. A singular building which combines familiar forms with exotic motifs…
Book details on Amazon: Lancashire: North: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides)
Our Lady of Lourdes Thanksgiving Shrine: Photoset
Have a look at St Gabriel’s Brownhill, Blackburn, also by Verlade, A very different building from around 1930’s. Mostly at the moment intact, there are moves afoot, heating turned off present priest in charge not a big fan of a great building! Would love to see it on your site. Also in Clare Hartwell’s revision.