Tag: 1847

The Railway Hotel & the Hansom Cab

The Railway Hotel in Lytham is a well-known historic pub that has stood for over 175 years, witnessing the transformation of the town from a quiet coastal settlement into a bustling seaside resort. Purpose-built in 1847, it was constructed adjacent to Lytham’s first railway station—known as Lytham Station (Station Road)—which had opened the previous year, on 16 February 1846. The original station was designed in a grand classical style, built from Longridge stone, featuring a striking façade and an octagonal booking office topped with a domed roof. The Railway Hotel was intended to serve travellers arriving by train, offering refreshments… Read more »

Booths Supermarket Started as China House

Edwin Henry Booth (1828–1899) was a pioneering English entrepreneur who founded Booths, a family-owned supermarket chain renowned for its quality and innovation. Born in Bury, Lancashire, he was orphaned by the age of 11 and ran away from home. At just 19, Booth secured an £80 loan to open his first shop, The China House, in Blackpool in 1847. This marked the beginning of a retail legacy. By 1855, Booth had opened a second shop in Chorley, and with the relaxation of UK licensing laws, he expanded into selling wine and liquor. The added profitability enabled further expansion, leading to… Read more »