Category: 1922

Manchester’s Wood Street Mission Comes to Blackpool

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Wood Street Mission was founded in 1869 by Methodist minister Alfred Alsop to relieve poverty among children and families in Manchester and Salford. For generations it provided food, clothing, shelter and toys, becoming a trusted institution in the industrial North. In the 1920s, its work took a new turn with the creation of a holiday home at Squires Gate in Blackpool. Opened in 1922, the site gave over 1,000 children each summer the chance of a week by the sea. With seven acres of playing fields and a swimming pool, it offered freedoms unavailable in the city. Many annual reports…

The Lytham St Annes War Memorial Hospital

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The Lytham St Annes War Memorial Hospital was not merely a place of healing — it was a lasting tribute to the fallen, conceived in the aftermath of the Great War as a gift to the community and a memorial to its dead. Established through the generosity of Lord Ashton, a noted industrialist and philanthropist, the hospital was built to honour those from Lytham St Annes who had lost their lives during the First World War. It stood as a unique and practical monument — one that would serve the living while remembering the sacrifice of the lost. The hospital… Read more »

The Start of Jaguar Cars in Blackpool

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Sir William Lyons was a pivotal figure in the British automotive industry and co-founder of the Jaguar car company. He was born on 4 September 1901 in Blackpool and attended Arnold School. From there he obtained an engineering apprenticeship at Crossley Motors in Manchester, where he also studied at the technical school. Lyons played a crucial role in shaping the design and engineering of some of the 20th century’s most iconic cars. He began his career by co-founding the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922 with William Walmsley. Their first factory, located at No. 5 Bloomfield Road, was home to the Swallow Sidecar… Read more »

Lytham YMCA Sports Hall

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The YMCA was originally established in 1922, operating from a modest hut on Squires Gate Lane. During the Second World War, it played a crucial role in supporting troops, providing much-needed services and facilities for those stationed in the area. As its impact grew, so did the need for larger premises, leading to its relocation to St Alban’s Road in Lytham St Annes, where it could better serve the community. Today, YMCA Lytham has evolved into a multi-purpose leisure centre and sports facility, located at the far end of Lytham. The centre caters to individuals of all ages and abilities,… Read more »