The Cotton Exchange

It is the start of an amazing new chapter for the former Apollo Cinema, The Cotton Exchange, King William Street, Blackburn. Re:Source Blackburn, a local charity, have started to secure funding to transform the building into a new asset for the town. During 2016, Re:Source Blackburn are committed to working with local partners in re-imagining what this venue could look like, and how it can best serve the town. The Cotton Exchange has been a semi dormant venue that has deteriorated over the last 10 years.Designed at the height of the Cotton Trade, The Cotton Exchange was completed in 1863, two years after the start of the blockade of cotton during the American Civil War. It is still a magnificent High Victorian Gothic style building, even though only the North wing of the two planned wings were built. It represents the prosperity of the Cotton Trade era, which was the very reason that Blackburn expanded, becoming the foremost cotton weaving town in the world. With the collapse of the cotton trade at the beginning of the 20th century, the Cotton Exchange lost its purpose, it was converted into a cinema for a time, but finally closed in 2005. Re:Source Blackburn’s vision is to save this magnificent Grade 2 listed building from continued dereliction, and see it flourish once again as a stunning venue. Even in its current state it is beautiful and awe-inspiring, but The Exchange when finished will inspire hope and raise aspirations in the town. We are really looking forward to working with the local community and business partners in seeing it come to life.