History of the Fylde of Lancashire

by John Porter

On the 21st of March, 1825, the first stone of a small Independent chapel, situated at the lower end of Chapel Street, and lying on the south extremity of the village, was laid by the Rev. D. T. Carnson, and on the 6th of the ensuing July it was opened for public worship by the Rev. Dr. Raffles.

The summer of 1827 is remarkable as having been an exceptionally prosperous season for Blackpool; vast numbers of carts and other vehicles laden with their living freights arrived from Blackburn, Burnley, Colne, Padiham, and the borders of Yorkshire, and during the month of August so crowded was the place that many were lodged in stables and barns, whilst others sought refuge at Poulton. The following year a fine gravel promenade was tastefully laid out on the sea bank to a considerable distance, occupying a large portion of the site of the old road. A beautiful green turf walk was constructed from the beach to the church, leading through pleasant fields, and furnished at intervals with covered seats. The Albion Hotel was also erected at the north-west corner of Lane Ends Street.

Mr. Whittle, in his publication descriptive, amongst other resorts, of Blackpool in 1830, and entitled “Marina,” says:—“Blackpool is furnished with excellent accommodation, although it is a pity but what there had been some kind of uniformity observed, as all sea-bathing stations ought to have their houses built upon a plan entirely unique. Four assemblies have been known to take place in one week during the bathing season, extending from July to October. In fact the rooms at the hotels are very extensive. Bank’s is the most commodious. The inhabitants seem to have no taste for ornamenting their doorways or windows with trellis work or verandahs, or with jessamines, woodbines, or hollyhocks, similar to those at Southport, and many of the sea-bathing situations in the south. It is not to be wondered at that there are here frequently at the flux of the season, from eight hundred to a thousand visitors. Blackpool has most certainly been honoured since its commencement as a watering-place by persons of distinction and fashion. The hotels and other houses of reception are scattered along the beach with an aspect towards the Irish Sea; and in the rear are the dwellings of the villagers. The cottages on the beach have of late years considerably increased, and they serve, with the hotels in the centre, to give the place, when viewed from the sea, a large and imposing appearance.”

The ball and dining-room at Nickson’s Hotel, (the Clifton Arms,) was of large dimensions, and contained a neat orchestra at one end, whilst the following notice was suspended in a prominent position against the inner wall:—

“The friends of Cuthbert Nickson will please to observe that the senior person at the hotel is entitled to the president’s chair; and the junior to the vice-president’s. Also the ladies to have the preference of the bathing machines.”

Placards, similar in their import to this one, were to be seen in both Dickson’s and Bank’s Hotels.

The new promenade was improved in 1830 by the addition of a wooden hand-rail along its entire length, whilst comfortable seats were placed opposite the hotels of Banks and Nickson. The fairs, to which we have already alluded, continued to be held every second Sunday during the season, but a few years later they were abolished by the action of the more respectable portion of the residents. Letters arrived at half-past eleven in the morning, and were despatched at noon, daily in the summer months, but only three times a week during winter. Mr. Cook, an American, was the originator of the post, which he commenced some time before by having the letters carried to Kirkham three times a week during the season. At that day the arrival of the letter-bag was made known to the anxious public by exposing a board on which was written or painted, “The post is arrived.” This ingenious device proclaimed, on reversing the board, “The post is not yet arrived;” so that by a proper use of the signal the postmaster was enabled to save himself much trouble in answering the frequent inquiries of expectant visitors. Mr. Cook, who is described as having been the “Beau Nash” of Blackpool, died in 1820, and was buried at Bispham. The charges at the best hotels were 6s. per day in private and 5s. in public, with an addition of 1s. each night for a front, or 6d. for a back, bedroom. At Bonny’s the price was 4s. 6d. per day; and at Nickson’s and the Yorkshire House 3s. 6d. per day at the first table, and 2s. 6d. at the second, subject to an additional charge for extra attendance if required.

The census returns of 1831 showed that the population of the township had increased to 943 persons since 1821, when, the reader may be reminded, the total amounted to 749.

In 1835, a Wesleyan chapel, calculated to hold between 250 and 300 persons, was erected and opened in Bank Hey Street. This building, having in the course of time become inadequate for the accommodation of its increasing congregation, was pulled down, and the corner stone of the present edifice laid by W. Heap, esq., of Halifax, on Friday, November 1st., 1861. The chapel, which occupies a site near the old one, was opened for service on the 4th of July, 1862, and is capable of seating 760 persons. The total expenditure for the erection and other incidental expenses connected with it, amounted to £3,500. An organ, built by Mr. E. Wadsworth, of Manchester, at a cost of £320, was obtained in 1872.