Beneath the surface of Watson Road Park in Blackpool lies one of the most significant First World War archaeological sites in northern England—known locally as the Loos Trenches. What makes this site remarkable is its urban setting: whereas most trench training grounds in Britain were located in remote countryside, this one was created on the edge of a rapidly expanding seaside town. Its proximity to Blackpool, a place already accustomed to crowds and spectacle, gave it a unique dual identity—first as a military training ground, and later as an unusual wartime attraction.
The trenches were constructed and used for training between September 1915 and May 1916 by the Third Line Battalions of the West Lancashire Division. These units, formed largely of local recruits, were responsible for preparing men for the realities of trench warfare on the Western Front. The layout of the site replicated the complex systems of communication, firing and support trenches found in France and Flanders, allowing soldiers to practise movement, defence, and coordination in realistic conditions before being deployed overseas.
When the Army no longer required the site, it was transformed into a charitable attraction, open to the public in aid of the Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital, located nearby at the former Clifton Park Racecourse. Visitors could explore the network of trenches for a small fee, with proceeds supporting the rehabilitation of wounded servicemen—a striking example of wartime Blackpool’s dual role as both a centre of training and a place of convalescence.
Although few photographs survive, the 1916 souvenir guidebook produced for visitors has proved invaluable to historians and archaeologists. Its detailed descriptions and maps were later verified through excavations and surveys, confirming the accuracy of the original documentation. The survival of this guidebook has been instrumental in reconstructing an understanding of the site’s scale and layout.
Today, the Loos Trenches remain buried beneath the park, their memory preserved through research and local heritage interpretation. They stand as a poignant reminder of Blackpool’s contribution to the Great War effort—linking the town’s history not only to recreation and tourism, but also to the training, sacrifice and resilience of Lancashire’s soldiers.
This sign at the park’s entrance is the source for most of this post’s text.
This is one of two entrances to the park. It leads straight to the park’s cafe and features the Loos Trenches sign.
The Loos Trenches were formally opened to the public on 10 June 1916 by the Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor R. Holt, J.P. Named after the Battle of Loos, fought between 25 and 28 September 1915, the site quickly became a popular wartime attraction. Admission was sixpence, with serving members of His Majesty’s Forces admitted free. In 1917, the price rose to sevenpence to include a one-penny War Tax, and visitors could purchase a souvenir guidebook for one penny.
At the start of the 1917 season, the attraction was renamed the Arras Trenches in recognition of the recent Battle of Arras, fought from 9 April to 16 May 1917. The change was intended to celebrate Allied victories and bolster public morale.
Financially, the attraction was a success, raising approximately £2,000 between 1915 and 1917 for the Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital at the former Clifton Park Racecourse—equivalent to over £86,000 in modern value. This charitable contribution reflected the town’s deep commitment to supporting the war effort and the welfare of returning soldiers.
Following the end of the First World War in 1918, plans were drawn up to redevelop the area once occupied by the Watson Road trench training grounds. Several housing schemes were proposed for the surrounding land, many of which were completed by the mid-1920s as Blackpool’s population expanded southwards. Alongside these residential developments, the Corporation advanced proposals to create a public recreation space that would serve the growing community.
In October 1924, the Council purchased the former military training site from local landowner Thomas Fenton for £6,433, with the express intention of transforming it into a park and recreation ground for local residents. The new Watson Road Park provided a welcome green space for leisure and play, symbolising both renewal and commemoration in the aftermath of war.
The park remains in public use today, maintained by Blackpool Council with the active support of the Friends of Watson Road Park, a volunteer group dedicated to preserving and enhancing the site. In 2014, marking the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, the Friends organised a community archaeology project to investigate the surviving condition of the buried trench system beneath the park. The results were encouraging, revealing evidence of well-preserved features, and further exploration is planned to continue uncovering this unique link between Blackpool’s urban landscape and its wartime past.
Text source: Sign at the park's entrance
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