The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Although this is an old article, the stones will soon be on display at the bottom of St James Street. Hope Mr Benson, (now deceased) gets a mention on the plaque.

Civic Trust in bid to restore old stone coat of arms - Accrington Observer

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Do you mean this one.
Retlaw.

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Thats the one (believe there may be two in total) - nice one Retlaw!

The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

This is to remind/inform folk what the building looked like. Used to be bottom corner of St James Street/Willow Street - the new Job Centre was built on its site (approx 1973) - now a solicitors office.

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

There are two, but they are so covered in moss, that one was the only one visible enough to photo.

Retlaw.

The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

And here is the exact site where the stones are obviously going to be put.
On the RH side of the photo you can easily see the red brick building, which is the former site of the old Gas & Electricity premises.

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Was that Alan Benson former solicitor and Councillor Atarah

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Yes he was Jaysay

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Thanks Atarah, Alan was a good friend of mine

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Wonder if P.B. will put a plaque on - Saying "We sold em Off"?:D

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

I wondered why they were jet washing it on sunday and all the soil had been rolled

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Am beginning to learn that TESCO surprisingly enough, may have something to do with these old stones being "brought back from the dead". Apparently many many years ago it was a Mr Brian Ashton, (the then Chief Librarian of Accrington Library) who was involved in saving the stones. They were moved onto Library land (i.e. the garden of the Childrens Library on Willow Street). Mr Ashton allowed them to be put there until a proper place could be found for them. Am "picking up" that Tesco offered to pay for some public art or something and it was suggested that the stones should be cleaned and displayd properly with a plaque to show where they were from etc.

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Alan Benson, who I never met but is spoken very highly of, is due to have his name on the plaque so I understand.

The unveiling ceremony should rightly be opened by the Mayor.

The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Photo taken yesterday (in sunshine). Will post a better one once plaque is in place.

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Anyone else got the impression that this looks like a plinth for a statue? If so, I wonder who or what will go on top?

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

I was going to take a picture of this to put on here but the wire cage thing put me off.......I will take one when it has been removed and you can see it without the cage.

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

I suspect that it will need protecting from the yobs - maybe cast iron railings are on order - (just surmising)

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Either that or some electrified deterrent set in the plinth. It is a lovely lump of stone.
I wanted to touch it......but alas not able to for the wire cage.

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Fortunately not, the top of it is angled.

With the current climate there is only one man who would want a statue on top of that and it would probably be of himself.

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Believe that the offical unveiling of this date stone is to be Fri 15th Oct 2010

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

That's correct, Atarah - approx 2.15pm Friday 15th Oct 2010

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Who would that be? :)

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

When they were putting the slabs on the bottom of this the front left corner - they put it upside down (cemented in too). And then when you look at it now (the right way up) its actually a different colour stone.

A chap was cutting a slot out t'other day - I think there may have been a chip in it so he was putting a new bit in.

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

There is a plaque covered in a cloth & bit of wood waiting for the unveiling.

I hope that it's not Brass, otherwise it will soon walk.

The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Well here it is, in all its glory, just awaiting the "all important plaque". Wonder who's name will be on the plaque? Might bob down and see later.

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Am I the only one thinking -
'why haven't they cleaned the soot off it?'

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Adds character.

The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

Hi, photo of new plaque and some of the people involved.

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

O good, its Aluminium alloy rather than Brass - may last longer :D

In the 2nd picture you can see what I mean about the base stones being different, most are a sandstone colour while the corner one is a concrete Grey...

Re: The old Gas & Electricity Board premises in St James Street, Accrington
 

What's happened to the role of the Mayor in Hyndburn ?