DETAILED plans for the £6million regeneration of one of Blackburn's landmark buildings have been revealed.

The Exchange, or Cotton Exchange, on King William Street was built at the height of the town's Victorian prosperity.

The Grade II listed building with its distinctive octagonal lantern tower has had a long and varied history and has hosted some distinguished visitors over the years,

It was at the heart of, and paid for by, the Blackburn cotton industry, and served as a rival to Manchester's larger Cotton Exchange on Wednesdays for local traders in cloth.

A hotel and second wing proposed in the original plans were never built but the completed building has remained and imposing part of central Blackburn and its architectural heritage.

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Its design came from a competition in 1860 and its foundation stone was laid on March 10 1863.

It opened for business on April 26 1865, shortly after the end of the American Civil War and blockade of cotton.

The Victorian Gothic building was soon a popular entertainment and lecture venue hosting a performance by Christy's Minstrels in 1866 and reading by celebrated author Charles Dickens in 1869 - his last outside London.

In 1878, famous explorer and discoverer of missing missionary David Livingstone H M Stanley gave a lecture.

It also was the venue for variety of political meetings and suffered a fire in 1898.

Some of the meetings proved equally incendiary.

In 1881 an Irish Land Leaguers gathering saw the platform stormed while in 1899 angry Roman Catholics broke up and address by ex Priest Ruthven.

Calmer political rallies saw speeches by Conservative Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, First World War Liberal Premier David Loyd George, and Labour's first PM Ramsay McDonald. It hosted concerts by Sousa's band, Madame Albani and The Royal Carl Rosa Opera.

With the collapse of the cotton trade at the beginning of the 20th century, the Exchange changed its purpose and by 1908 it had become a cinema - The Exchange Picture Hall.

It became The Majestic Cinema in 1924 with a 'Grand Re-opening' and he New Majestic in 1932. In 1954 it was the first East Lancashire cinema turned over the Cinemascope with a £3,000 investment. The following year it was bought be the Essoldo chain and renamed.

It became The Classic in 1967. In 1981, Unit 4 Cinemas took control. Finally in 1992, it became The Apollo which closed in 2005. It then lay empty until Re:Source Blackburn bought it in 2015.