Paginini 002

This blue plaque can be seen mounted on a shopfront at the corner of Higher Cockcroft and Northgate, and commemorates Paganini’s overnight stay in 1833 at the Joiners’ Arms, which stood on the site. The pub was subsequently re-named the Paganini Inn in honour of such an exalted guest. The pub was closed and demolished in 1899.rnPaganini is generally considered to be one of the finest ever virtuoso violinists. His technical abilities were such that he was rumoured to have sold his soul to the Devil!rnPaganini’s stay in Blackburn was part of a grand tour of Great Britain, preceded by tours of many European cities undertaken after he was awarded the Order of the Golden Spur by the Pope in 1827.rn rnrn