That doesn’t mean though that the town is turning its back on its roots. In fact, several businesses have been in the town for decades and are now riding this new wave of success. One of the oldest is Barlows’ Herbalist, dispensing herbal treatments since 1882 and now, as a vanishingly rare breed, finds its services in demand throughout the UK.
Owner Brendan Salmon – originally a linguist and now a highly trained herbalist and author of a best-selling book on the topic – took over in 1982.
‘I came to find a cure for my sister’s acne. She got rid of the acne and I gained the shop. People still come in with skin complaints, but we cover everything from digestive worries to herbs that might help cancer sufferers,’ says Brendan, who also offers personal consultations and engages therapists who use up to the minute electronics.
‘These days, we find more people want help with anxiety-based issues, although the shop itself, with its original counter and cabinets, can be pretty calming as soon as they enter.’
John Spencer Textiles has a 20-year start on Barlows’.
In the same family since it began, it weaves in the centre of Burnley and if you’re a fan of upmarket textiles, there’s a good chance your fabrics were made here – they’ve even made material for ejector seats’ parachutes: no wonder Patrick Grant of The Great British Sewing Bee was mightily impressed.
This story is from the September 2019 edition of Lancashire Life.
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This story is from the September 2019 edition of Lancashire Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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