Roads and artifacts: 06/11/2011

Milestones, Boundary Markers, Historical Artifacts, Street Furniture, lost roads and buildings.

There are many traces of our ancestors scattered around our landscape. Mile Markers and Boundary stones are there too. The Milestone Society believes that there are approximately 9000 left in the United Kingdom. Some are cherished but others are hidden in hedgerows, some have been unwittingly destroyed by crashes, road equipment or even stolen. Roads have been straightened to make them safer. There are old gateposts still left in place, old buildings, and place names that declare an evocative past. The aim is to capture some of this information at least photographically before it disappears.

Although the Fylde Coast does not have ancient history, the Romans apparently struggled to Kirkham. There have been huge changes in the last two centuries from literally a a few fishermans' and agricultural dwellings, to a full blown tourist and light engineering industry.

More historical information can be found here about the Fylde coast.

It also seems that time has marched on and left what appears to be some very respectable buildings... which just should be used, but seem to have no worth.

Links from this Blog

Nearly-Midnight The genealogy website relating to the family. A tangled web of people all related to one another, explore!
Memorials Website dedicated to War Memorials - The majority in the North of England. Visits to churches, but also memorials in out of the way places.
Robert Clark The Father of Henry Martyn-Clark - A missionary out in the North-West Frontier of India. One of the first Europeans to set foot in Afganistan
Affetside Census A small village north of Bury, Lancashire, I can trace many of my immediate ancesters from there. On the Roman Road, Watling Street
Andrew Martyn-Clark My Father and his part in my World. Also my mother and his parents too.
Henry Martyn-Clark My Great Grandfather, his roots and his achievements. Discusses malaria but also his confrontations with Islam.

Saturday, 12 November 2011

Blackpool Town Hall Gents Toilets.......

Probably for once, been where no camera has been before! Blackpool Town hall gents toilets. (Well it is on the heritage trail!) They are absolutely wonderful. Leaded glass, glazed tiles and polished wood. 110 years old plus a bit. The last time I've met toilets this magnificent was in a school in Leyland doing teaching practice. Shame the school was pretty ordinary (Sue, Sue, Sue.......)


BUILDING OF SPECIAL ARCHITECTURAL OR HISTORIC INTEREST GRADE 2 BLACKPOOL TOWN HALL BUILT 1895-1900 ARCHITECTS POTTS SON AND HEMMINGS

BLACKPOOL CIVIC TRUST HERITAGE TRAIL
THE TOWN HALL
(GRADE 2 LISTED)

Built on the site of the former Town Hall
demolished in 1895. It was completed in 1900
Designed by Potts, Son and Hemmings, built in
a Jacobean style of brick, faced with Yorkshire stone
and originally topped with a spire and weather vane.
These were taken down in 1966 on the grounds of
structural safety.
Comprehensive restoration took place in 1985/86
and the building now stands as the focal point
of the surrounding conservation area.

Kindly donated by
BLACKPOOL BOROUGH COUNCIL

The mens' toilets. These are on the first floor.
Wood panelling and 2 sorts of tile. Modern handbasins though.
Suspect the chrome plumbing is new(ish) too.
But it sets of the original work really well!

Definitely the original standups
White porcelain- immaculate!


The mens' sit down. A single chamber with stained glass door. Does it get better than this? NO!!!!

I will be revisiting! Hope to get some shots of other parts of the Town Hall!
The memorials in the entrance hall are really interesting.
Well it is 110 years old so it does qualify as an artifact. Who says there aren't decent toilets in Blackpool?

Thursday, 10 November 2011

St Annes-on-Sea Water Fountains

Back to the pretty stuff! There are two water Fountains on St Annes seafront, Both are pretty old - I will do research later. There is a small one at the entrance to the, now open swimming pool, which is the most southern one. Further up the promenade and close to the Mexico monument is a far larger and still working fountain. It is very large, quite magnificent and constantly being repainted by the council. No sophisticated colours here! For the first time I have added a video to an item on any of my blogs. It is here

Early Sunday morning before the car-park gets busy.
This is set back about 5 yards from the footpath next to the main prom road.
The reopened swimming pool is in the background.
The boating pool is to the right of this and the new lifeboat house is there too.

Closer still! About 7 feet in all. About half the size of the next one. This is right on the thoroughfare. Have to walk round it to get to the swimming pool.