Tag: Landmarks

The first Grosvenor Casino opened its doors in 1970, marking the beginning of a long legacy of entertainment in the UK. Over the decades, Grosvenor Casinos have grown from a single location to a network of venues across the country, reaching millions of people worldwide through both physical sites and digital platforms. By 1972, the company made a significant acquisition with the purchase of Butlins, a well-known British brand synonymous with family fun and excitement. This move further solidified their vision of delivering entertainment in all forms, though the exact construction date of the Blackpool casino remains uncertain at the… Read more »

The South Pier, one of Blackpool’s trio of iconic piers, stands alongside its counterparts, the Central and North Piers. Although today it is known as South Pier, when it first opened in 1893, it was named the Victoria Pier. The pier was designed by architect T.P. Worthington and is the youngest of Blackpool’s three piers, despite its age. It was commissioned by the Blackpool South Shore Pier & Pavilion Co. Ltd., with construction starting in 1892 and costing £50,000, a considerable sum at the time. The pier officially opened to the public on Good Friday in 1893, becoming an instant… Read more »

Lowther Gardens, a cherished public space in Lytham, were established in 1872 as a gift from John Talbot Clifton of Lytham Hall to the local community and visitors. The gardens, built on what was once poor grazing land known as Hungry Moor, were named in honour of Clifton’s wife’s family, the Lowthers, to mark her brother, Henry Lowther, becoming the 3rd Earl of Lonsdale. Initially, the upkeep of the gardens was funded by the Clifton family until 1905 when ownership transferred to Lytham Urban District Council, to be held in trust. The gardens saw their first permanent entertainment venue in… Read more »

Lytham Hall, completed in 1764, was designed by John Carr of York in the Palladian style. The earliest known structure on the site was a Benedictine Priory from the 12th century. This small group of monks was linked to the main Benedictine Order at Durham. Richard Fitzroger, who granted the land for the priory, was reportedly saved from death after being taken to a local church dedicated to St Cuthbert. In gratitude, he later journeyed to Durham Cathedral, where St Cuthbert’s bones were buried, to offer prayers. The monks remained at Lytham until the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry… Read more »

Michael Taylor, a former press photographer who began his career at The Gazette’s sister paper, the Lancashire Evening Post, passed away in hospital on January 16 at the age of 78. During his national service, Taylor worked as a photographer for the Ministry of Defence, travelling extensively across Africa and the Middle East. In 1993, Taylor’s company, Carr Royd Leisure, launched Pleasure Island on the site of the former St Annes outdoor baths. The venue included a four-screen cinema, bowling alley, amusement arcade, and restaurant. At its peak, the site also featured a casino and a static steam train. However,… Read more »

St Annes Pier, located in St Annes-on-the-Sea, Lancashire, was designed by Alfred Dowson and opened on 15 June 1885 by Lord Stanley. Originally intended as a peaceful promenade, the Victorian-era pier later included various attractions. However, changes to the estuary channels meant to improve access to Preston Dock eventually left the pier stranded on dry land, which ended steamer services to Blackpool and Liverpool. A Tudor-style entrance was added in 1899, followed by a Moorish Pavilion in 1904 and the Floral Hall in 1910. Unfortunately, both were destroyed by fire—first the Moorish Pavilion in 1974 and then the Floral Hall… Read more »

Lytham Mill, constructed in 1805 by the Squire of Lytham on a plot of land known as Lytham Marsh, was initially leased to Mr. Richard Cookson. Although the mill itself was relatively new, some of its machinery was much older, likely repurposed from other disused mills in the region. Notably, the central shaft, a crucial component for transmitting power to the mill’s various parts, was marked with a sign stating, “this shaft is of Baltic Oak and it has done its work for 150 years.” When the mill was first built, it lacked the surrounding plinth that is present today…. Read more »