20th Changes: Production and Decline Blackburn was at its zenith
as a cotton centre at the beginning of the 20th century. Its
dependence on just one industry caused major problems for the
town when the decline began. The second world war boosted the
industry temporarily and afterwards there were labour shortages
and employees were recruited from India, Pakistan and from the
Asian communities of East Africa. By 1976 there were only 2,100
looms running in the town, that from a high of 79,405 in 1907.
By the end of the 20th century the industry was dead.
Diversification, regeneration, re-use became the watchwords, as
the Blackburn reinvented itself as a modern, successful, multi-
cultural community.