From the collection of the amicable West Craven historian and academic Dennis Cairns, the view taken in the summer of 1949 shows three of Barnoldswick's cotton mills of the day.

Here on the banks of the 127¼ mile long Leeds and Liverpool Canal are, from the left, Moss Shed, Long Ing Mill and Barnsey Mill. Other mills in the town during the post-war years included Bancroft's Mill, Butt's Mill, Calf Hall Mill, Clough Mill, Crow Nest Mill, Fernbank Mill, Wellhouse Mill and Westfield Mill.

Today, no more do these mighty mill weaving sheds echo to the clatter of loom and shuttle for the era which once brought jobs and security to local folk has gone forever. Once, thousands of mill workers' clogs echoed along out stone-flagged streets, a song of sunrise that will never be heard again. The towering mill chimneys once numbered in hundreds from Burnley to Laneshaw Bridge, now only a few remain as silent sentinels to the past.

King Cotton saw Barrowford with Albert Mill, Holmefield Mill, Lower Clough Mill, Park Mill and Victoria Mill. Colne had Glen Mills, Great Holme Mill, Stonebridge Mill, Swanfield Mill and Vivary Mill. Nelson had Albert Mills, Malvern Mill, Marsden Mill, Springbank Mill and Valley Mills.

Today, no more do the thousands of Lancashire looms run round the clock as the cotton dawn hangs in the air like smoke.