In fact the photo is not all that old, taken I think, in the early 1960s. The Keirby Hotel, built 1958, on the extreme left, was quite new when the photographer was at work, and, if you look at the centre of the picture you will be able to see what was then Burnley's newest road, Centenary Way which was named at the time when Burnley was celebrating its 100th anniversary as a borough in 1961.

In the background there is the distinctive Odeon cinema which was built in 1937. I have heard Burnley's Odeon described as the second largest purpose-built cinema in Lancashire, the largest being the Piccadilly, in Manchester. Be that as it may, it is the opinion of James Howell, perhaps the expert in local cinema history, that the Odeon was arguably the most luxurious cinema ever opened in town.

Another interesting fact is that Burnley's Odeon had a useful life of less than 40 years. The building closed in 1973 to be demolished a year later being replaced by a Sainsbury's store. Of course, Sainsbury's has moved on since then but, while you are reminded of the great days of the cinema, notice the big blank wall on what would have been then the Gunsmith Lane elevation of the Odeon. Do you remember the large advertising hoarding which you can see towering above the single-decker bus in the centre, middle of the picture? Think of all the great films that have been advertised there. The one I remember most was "The Great Escape" which I went to see with my father. He was a former POW (prisoner of war) and wanted to recall what were very significant memories of his war experiences with two of his sons.

Readers might wonder why, at the start of the article, I indicated this photo was one of the most interesting I have published. The reasons for this are in the foreground and to be right of the picture.

In the bottom right-hand corner you might be able to make out part of the very modern front elevation of the Ribble Garage. There are two Ribble buses, one double-decker and a single-decker behind. I am afraid I can tell you little about the vehicles although the bus at the front has an advertisement for "Carling Lager Beer" between the upper and lower windows on the side of the bus. The Ribble Garage was built on the site of Burnley's historic gas works which dated from 1823. Some of the later buildings survive in this picture although the notable gas holder, which once stood here, had gone by the time the picture was taken. The brick built buildings on the left are all that remained, in the early 1960s, of a huge collection of structures associated with, to give it its proper name, the Corporation Gas Works.

I think I should point out there were a number of very interesting buildings between the Ribble Garage and Finsley Gate which is possibly where the photographer was standing when his picture was taken. There is only space to give you two, but I have no hesitation in mentioning the first. Close to the gas works was the Finsley Tannery of William Hough and Co. who were tanners, currier and strapping manufacturers. This is a firm I would like to know more about, largely because the role of tanners as suppliers to be textile industry of Burnley has, so far as I know, not been examined. Mr Hough must have done quite well for himself for, in 1914, we find him a JP and living at Tunstead House, Simonstone.

Nearer to Finsley Gate there was the Burnley Bolt Works of Hartley & Baldwin which was appropriately in Light Street, given the factory's proximity to the Gas Works. Hartley & Baldwin were bolt and screw makers, their business flourishing at a time when there were many engineering firms, both large and small in town.

If we turn our attention to the middle right of the photo you will see, on the other side of a low brick wall, Burnley Corporation's Electricity Station. This was built in 1893 and was another very significant building. I have seen photos of the equipment in the generating hall and the only word which is adequate is wonderful. It is a great pity the CEGB destroyed the electricity station and its generating equipment when the industry was nationalised after the last war.

Behind the electricity station, although we cannot see the buildings in today's picture, was Burnley's Sanitary Depot, otherwise known as the Destructor. However, you can see what I think is the depot's huge chimney, the largest in town, in height above ground (though as readers will know the one at Clifton Colliery was bigger if the parts of the chimney which were underground are counted).

Near the Odeon, and to its right, you can see the upper parts of an old mill which has featured in these articles on several occasions. It was sometimes known as Basket Street Mill but I prefer Basket Street Works which served the people of Burnley in numerous ways by housing cotton spinning, iron and engineering firms.

Of course all this area has changed dramatically since the photo was taken and not all of it for the better.

Today, virtually nothing remains of Ribble Works and the Gas Works (now the site of Tesco's), or the electricity station and the sanitary depot, but we have this superb photo to remind us of a never to be repeated chapter in Burnley's fascinating history.

I would like to thank Mr Nigel Hopwood, of Burnley Council for permission to use the photo published today.