A History of Blackpool

Blackpool is situated on the Fylde plain between the Wyre and the Ribble.
Barded arrow heads have been found in the area proving that wild life has been hunted for over 11,000 years in this area.

The Fylde area was inhabited by the Brigantes tribe, a tribe of British.
80AD The Romans built a fort at Kirkham and controlled the then inhabitants the Brigantes.

Many Fylde villages are mentioned in the Domesday book, Blackpool however is not.
This area was also used by Scandinavians during the 9th and 10th centuries.

1257 Henry III granted an annual fair to William le Botiller (Butler) and a week day market which was Wednesday.
Later the Butler’s built a manor house which was close to the present day Hollywood Avenue in Layton.

The township included a stream called “le pull”which drained Marton Mere and Marton Moss and reached the sea near the present Manchester Square.
The stream ran through areas of peat bog and this made the water appear dark or black so the area eventually became known as “black poole”.

1332 The first mention of the “Poole” as a settlement and not an area.

1602 Bispham Parish Baptismal Register mentions “Poole” and “Blackpoole” for the first time.
1680c Foxhall built as a costal retreat and Blackpool’s first house of any substance.

1755 Four registered ale houses.
1788 Bather’s were split into men and women when women bathed a bell was rung and any gentlemen found on the shore was fined a bottle of wine
1790 Four substantial hotels in the resort. Bailey’s”(The Metropole) Forshaw’s (The Clifton Arms) Hudson’s ( On the site occupied by Lewis’s) and Hull’s ( Where Pricebuster’s now is).

1801 First census population 473.
1810 Henry Banks started the purchase of Lands End Estate.
1819 First Houses built at South Shore.
1837 The Assembly rooms open.
1846 Railway station opened at Talbot Road.
1852 Gas lights.
1856 First sea defences built from Talbot Square to Hounds Hill.
1862 Police Station opened.
1864 First life boat.
1867 Imperial Hotel opened.
1872 The Prince of Wales Arcade was turned into a private aquarium and menagerie by Dr W.H.Cocker.
1874 The Prince of Wales Arcade was opened to the public, some still survives and is now part of the Tower Aquarium.
1875 The Winter Gardens Co was formed.
1876 Blackpool was incorporated as a borough.
1877 Prince of Wales Theatre opened.
1878 Grand opening of the Winter Gardens.
1881 Swimming Baths opened.
1891 The foundation stone of the Blackpool Tower laid.
1897 The development of the Golden Mile began
1899 Tower Ballroom opened.

1901 population 47,000 approx.
1904 Blackpool made a County Borough.
1904 Foundations for the Pleasure Beach were laid. One of the first rides was Sir Hiram Maxim’s Captive Flying Machine. Some of which still remains under different guises.
1912 Blackpool’s first illuminations switched on.
1916 Synagogue opened.
1923 The big dipper opens.
1931 population 101,000 approx.
1937 Woolworths super store next to the Tower completed.
1939 The Odeon and New Opera House opened the largest cinema and theatre in Britain.

1955 The Borough was extended to include parts of Poulton-le-fylde.
This and earlier extensions in 1879 (Marton) 1917 1920 and 1934(Carleton, Hardhorn, Staining and further parts of Marton) made the Borough over 4 times larger than in 1876.
1965 Locarno Ballroom opened.
1975 M55 link with M6 opened.
1980 The Hounds Hill Centre opened.
1984 Two Conservation areas’ designated, Stanley Park and Talbot Square.
1987 The Pleasure Beach station opened.
1989 Tower Shopping Centre opened.
1990 The Sea Life Centre opened.
1991 100th Anniversary of Blackpool Tower.
1994 Queen visits the town.
1998 Blackpool achieves Unitary status.

With the best of intention all of the above information is true, correct and given in good faith, however, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions contained within the above.

Equally we recommend that should you need or want to find out more you should conduct more detailed independant research.