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Was life in Barracks lodging house as grim as it looked?

Barracks Lodging House, 1967 <i>(Image: Newsquest)</i>
Barracks Lodging House, 1967 (Image: Newsquest)

Here’s a very atmospheric photo which we’re hoping Looking Back readers can help us with.

The caption on the back says it was taken at the Barracks Lodging House but we don’t know where exactly that was. Also there is a date on the back - February 1967 - but we suspect that might be the date the photograph was used for an article rather than when it was originally taken.

Lodging houses sprung up across East Lancashire to cope with the large influx of textile workers when the industrial revolution took off.

This was presumably the kitchen/dining room of the lodgings - meal times are displayed on the sign on the wall. How’s that for a stove with water on the boil for cups of tea? Hanging from the roof could be bedding airing but it all looks fairly grim.

If you can help shed any light on the Barracks Lodging House email bygones@nqnw.co.uk or leave a comment and we’ll share your thoughts with Looking Back readers.