Category: 1876

Robert’s Oyster Bar, Trading on the Prom for Nearly 150 Years

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Robert’s Oyster Bar, 90 Promenade, Blackpool, FY1 1HB, located in the famous Robert’s Oyster Rooms, a staple on the Blackpool Promenade for nearly 150 years. Robert’s Oyster Rooms has been in Blackpool since 1876 and sells all manner of seaside and beach goods alongside a wide selection of fresh shellfish on the Oyster Bar. It was originally built to be Blackpool’s most famous oyster bar, and at the time, this large, three-storey building must have been very impressive. The first customers could buy seven oysters for a shilling, the equivalent of around 5pence in today’s money. What a bargain! Today,… Read more »

The Fylde’s Forgotten Roller Coasters

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Aside from the Pleasure Beach, there were two more roller coasters, one in Blackpool at the Winter Gardens called the Les Montagnes Russes, and the other in Cleveleys called the Big Dipper. Records show that the Winter Gardens Company was registered on 7th August 1875. And by the end of 1876, many of the foundations and basements of the main buildings had been built along with an outdoor and indoor skating rink. The circular switchback railway, Les Montagnes Russes, was installed in 1902. The Cleveleys Big Dipper The Cleveleys roller coaster ride occupied the stretch of land between Beach Road… Read more »

The Impact of William Cocker

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William Cocker, the first mayor of Blackpool, was a significant figure in the town’s history, serving from 1876 to 1879. Born in 1824, Cocker was part of a family deeply involved in local business and public life, which positioned him to play a crucial role in Blackpool’s development. His tenure as mayor was marked by his dedication to transforming Blackpool from a small coastal village into a major tourist destination. Before becoming mayor, Cocker was a member of the Local Board, the town’s governing body before it achieved borough status. His leadership during this time was pivotal in decisions that… Read more »