THIS distinctive building in Darwen, built 140 years ago, is fittingly now the town's heritage centre.

Holker House in Railway Road today houses large collections of artefacts, memorabilia and images and as they grow, so does its visitor numbers - so now the trustees want to increase its membership.

Anyone interested in Darwen and its history can become a member for £10 a year - and so help keep the town’s proud heritage alive.

It also means you can vote at the annual meeting, enjoy concessions for events and see previews.

The centre was gifted to the town two years ago by the Livesey Foundation, but the trustees and volunteers need to keep the money flowing for overheads.

Holker House was built by Dr George Hindle, Darwen’s first Medical Officer of Health, in the early 1870s and it was later used as the Divisional Education Office for Darwen.

Our image, dating back to the Sixties shows the office sign on the corner of the cobbled road, with St Peter's Church, at the top of Church Street.

Home, today, for an abundance of Darwen-related artefacts and documents, the centre is open every Wednesday from 10am to 12.30pm and on Fridays from 10am to 3.30pm.

Volunteers are planning to open the centre on the last Saturday of every month. Look out for the notices.