Blackpool: Sand, Sea and Fun

Blackpool Tower and Illuminations, Blackpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com

Perhaps Blackpool is most famous for its illuminations. These started with the installation of electric light back in the 19th century which attracted visitors to see it. Now it's an extravaganza of colour and light and usually starts on 1st September and continues until November - a great way to extend the season in a northern holiday resort. The illuminations bring thousands of visitors to Blackpool every year just to see them.

Blackpool's annual Festival of Light compliments the traditional Illuminations with a contemporary look at the concept of light and art working together to create entertainment. The festival features a number of interactive installations designed to both amuse and provoke thought in the visitor, and also produces a calendar of Illuminating events.

The brightest night of all in Blackpool is the Big Switch On, when thousands of people gather to witness the first illuminating night of the season, and the pulling of that famous switch. The styles and technology, however are constantly adapting to address the green issues of conservation and energy efficiency.

Whilst most visitors drive through the lights either by car, coach or bus, there are some more exciting and rewarding ways of viewing the dazzling displays. Hop aboard an open top tram for the clearest view of the lights, or perhaps a ride in a horses drawn carriage could be a special romantic treat. You can of course walk through the Illuminations, with a warm coat and a bag of chips: the best way to get involved with the interactive elements of this uniquely Blackpool attraction.

*Photographs of Blackpool Tower and of the Tram by courtesy of VisitBlackpool.

Blackpool started to become popular as early as the 18th century when people visited to bathe in the sea as, at the time, it was thought it would improve people's health. By the end of the 1700s, the town had four large hotels and then, at the beginning of the 19th century, Henry Banks, often called the Father of Blackpool, bought substantial tracts of land upon which he built accommodation for visitors. His son-in-law, Dr John Cocker, built the Assembly Rooms.

Although visitors liked the town, it grew slowly because travel was a slow and difficult business in the first half of the 19th century. As with many other places in Britain, the coming of the railways were the key to Blackpool's success. In 1840 the first railway line only went as far as nearby Poulton-le-Fylde but six years later it was extended to Blackpool. The easier access quickly brought more visitors to Blackpool and led to the expansion of the resort. Over the next fifty years three pleasure piers were built as was a promenade alongside the beach. New-fangled electric lighting, a real novelty at the time, was installed in the 1870s bringing in even more visitors to see them.

Building continued. During the 1890s, Blackpool Tower, the Opera House and the Grand Theatre were all built.

In 1800 the permanent population of the town was less than 500, one hundred years later it was almost 50,000.

Buy at AllPosters.com

The original visitors to the town were prosperous people but gradually this changed as factory workers of northern England and the industrial areas of Scotland visited for their annual holidays. This continued throughout the 20th century until the advent of the cheap package holiday. After that, people could afford to go further afield to the Mediterranean countries and be guaranteed sun as well as sand.

Boy Makes Friends with Two Donkeys on the Sands at Blackpool Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com

* Blackpool Tower is probably the town's most famous landmark and a grade 1 listed building. Inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the foundation stone was laid on 25th September 1891 and was first opened to the public on 14 May 1894. It was so popular that around 3000 people climbed the Tower on the first day. Now it's known as Tower World - a huge complex of leisure facilities, entertainment venues and restaurants including the Tower Ballroom and Tower Circus.
* Blackpool Pleasure Beach - In spite of its name, there's no sand and sea here, it has lots of rides and other entertainments including Pepsi Max Big One - the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in Europe.

Fair at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Buy at AllPosters.com

* Grand Theatre - Victorian theatre designed by Frank Matcham and now has the kinds of shows expected in seaside resorts.
* Winter Gardens - Large entertainment and conference venue in the town centre, it includes the Opera House and Empress Ballroom.
* North Pier - This was the first of Blackpool's three piers started in 1862. Damaged by a storm in 1997, it is fully open and provides a traditional seaside experience.
* Central Pier - Attractions include amusement arcades, now found in most seaside towns, a cabaret bar with live acts in the evening and a big wheel in the centre of the pier.
* South Pier - Situated almost directly opposite the Pleasure Beach, it houses a large theme park with traditional rides like Crazy Mouse and waltzers.
* The Great Promenade Show - On the South Promenade, past the South Pier and Pleasure Beach, visitors can see a series of modern artwork installations. The installations includes the fascinating Blackpool High Tide Organ which makes music as waves rise and fall.
* Blackpool Trams - These first appeared in the town in 1885 making it the first of its kind in the country and, fittingly, now the last of the traditional tramways. Today the tramways are greatly reduced from in their heyday and run from Fleetwood, along Blackpool Promenade to the south of the town at Starr Gate.
* Blackpool Zoo & Dinosaur Safari - This award-winning attraction has over 1500 animals from all over the world and also lifelike models of dinosaurs.
* Blackpool Model Village & Gardens - Gold award winning attraction set in two and half acres of gardens.
* Penny Farm, The International League for the Protection of Horses - Visit the farm and see the work they do for rescued horses.

Blackpool, British Rail, c.1955 Giclee Print
Buy at AllPosters.com

There's a famous seaside place called Blackpool,
That's noted for fresh air and fun,
And Mr and Mrs Ramsbottom
Went there with young Albert, their son.

A grand little lad was young Albert,
All dressed in his best; quite a swell
With a stick with an 'orse's 'ead 'andle,
The finest that Woolworth's could sell.

They didn't think much of the Ocean:
The waves, they were fiddlin' and small,
There was no wrecks and nobody drownded,
Fact, nothing to laugh at at all.

So, seeking for further amusement,
They paid and went into the Zoo,
Where they'd Lions and Tigers and Camels,
And old ale and sandwiches too.

There were one great big Lion called Wallace;
His nose were all covered with scars -
He lay in a somnolent posture,
With the side of his face on the bars.

Now Albert had heard about Lions,
How they was ferocious and wild -
To see Wallace lying so peaceful,
Well, it didn't seem right to the child.

So straightway the brave little feller,
Not showing a morsel of fear,
Took his stick with its 'orse's 'ead 'andle
And pushed it in Wallace's ear.

You could see that the Lion didn't like it,
For giving a kind of a roll,
He pulled Albert inside the cage with 'im,
And swallowed the little lad 'ole.

Then Pa, who had seen the occurrence,
And didn't know what to do next,
Said 'Mother! Yon Lion's 'et Albert',
And Mother said 'Eeeeee, I am vexed!'

Then Mr and Mrs Ramsbottom -
Quite rightly, when all's said and done -
Complained to the Animal Keeper,
That the Lion had eaten their son.

The keeper was quite nice about it;
He said 'What a nasty mishap.
Are you sure that it's your boy he's eaten?'
Pa said "Am I sure? There's his cap!'

The manager had to be sent for.
He came and he said 'What's to do?'
Pa said 'Yon Lion's 'et Albert,
'And 'im in his Sunday clothes, too.'

Then Mother said, 'Right's right, young feller;
I think it's a shame and a sin,
For a lion to go and eat Albert,
And after we've paid to come in.'

The manager wanted no trouble,
He took out his purse right away,
Saying 'How much to settle the matter?'
And Pa said "What do you usually pay?'

But Mother had turned a bit awkward
When she thought where her Albert had gone.
She said 'No! someone's got to be summonsed' -
So that was decided upon.

Then off they went to the P'lice Station,
In front of the Magistrate chap;
They told 'im what happened to Albert,
And proved it by showing his cap.

The Magistrate gave his opinion
That no one was really to blame
And he said that he hoped the Ramsbottoms
Would have further sons to their name.

At that Mother got proper blazing,
'And thank you, sir, kindly,' said she.
'What waste all our lives raising children
To feed ruddy Lions? Not me!'