Residents were amazed to see an elephant walking along the streets en route to a circus.
The image was captured by former Observer photographer Garth Dawson and shows the elephant walking up Manchester Road, Accrington. It was taken during the 1960s when a circus was put on in Baxenden.
As the village does not have a train station, the animals were escorted from the rail station in Accrington town centre to Baxenden. Garth said the sight of an elephant in the middle of an Accrington street was something he will never forget.
He said: “It was probably the most unusual thing I have ever seen.
“It certainly isn’t every day you see an elephant walking through town. The streets were lined with people who wanted to see the circus animals.”
Garth said the circus coming to town was an infrequent occurrence but something residents always enjoyed.
Our next photo takes us to Accrington town centre and features one of the eight new pillar boxes installed in the town centre by police in June 1961. The boxes were used by members of the public to report incidents to the police.
The final picture features a service at Accrington’s Coppice following a cross walk in April 1968. Crosses are placed on the hill in the run up to Easter and worshippers ascend to the top of the hill to mark the occasion.
Garth said: “The photo was taken in April 1968 and there were a couple of hundred people in attendance.
“Not everyone walked to the top of the Coppice because it is a difficult walk, but the event was very popular.”
Do you remember when the circus came to town and elephants walked to Baxenden? Why not send us your memories for our letters page via the contact details below. You can contact Garth on email:garth@dawson84.freeserve.co.uk . We want to publish your old pictures. They can be from any era right up to the 1990s. Please bring them to our office at Accrington Market Hall or email us ataccringtonobserver@menmedia.co.uk and tell us why they are important to you.
