The three sculptures – Boll, Mercer and Gin – were the work of artist Ian Randall, and were part of five “Transition” pieces, which symbolised the growth of Blackburn as a town built on the cotton industry.
Three of the sculptures on Church Street, Blackburn, October 2002 (Image: Newsquest)
The £240,000 sculptures – commissioned by Blackburn with Darwen Council with the help of European grant money- each depicted a different stage in the life of a blooming cotton plant
Only one of the three pieces could be installed on the day due to ‘technical problems’. Work was completed in the following days.