Roads and artifacts

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.

Friday, 18 November 2011

St Anne's Conservative Club

Stuck on the corner of St George's Road and Clifton Drive, St Anne's is the "remains" of St Anne's Conservative Club. Seemingly abandoned by its previous owners - they have fled and set up shop in a hotel across the road. Well its probably still for sale rumour still persists that Lidle or Aldi are going to purchase the site. Underground parking, Helicopter landing pad, luxury apartments, whatever. The truth is its still here, very much alive, rat and pigeon infested. Never very happy about seeing an old building brought to its knees - but I think this one could be put out of its misery.

The only time I spent in it was performing at the St Anne's Acoustic club a couple of times. Nice bar, good facilities and a giant smiling picture of Maggie Thatcher.

Anyhow make your own mind up. The pix!

To the right of the old Job Centre.
The one in the middle - inspiring or what!

What is that thing perched on the right? - Why did it get planning permission?

Actually has a very fine front, great bays and a fabulous view.
In its heyday it will have faced the Hydro

The very ""interesting" suspended extension

Park underneath? Have you seen the rot in the concrete?

Underneath the extension

Wow new residents!

The extension. The building behind is also the Conservative Club

The extension and fire escape.
The road in the distance is Clifton drive.
The flats are where the Imperial Hydro was.

From the corner of St George's Road and Clifton drive looking south.

The same shot

Job centre to the left. Now completely boarded up.
The Job Centre before it completely closed was taken over by Blackpool and the Fylde College. There is more information here.

However during June 2012 it was flattened - These are the photos. Just in time for the OPEN GOLF 2012! Better not let the town be untidy!

Fancy a beer!

Quite a few more pix in the files - let me know if you want copies! Why? is the question most people will ask?

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.

It does have the exterior equipment to work - but I have seen it working!

4 sides, each one has an aquatic theme.
Beautifully rendered casting. Can only be done in iron

A pipe on the other side too. This is facing the road.

Facing South.

Close up of the base. The design is so similar to the other fountain.

Not quite a circular surround but definitely rounded bays

This is the drinking trough for dogs. This is probably rain water

View from the base

The images below are the larger water fountain. It is about 400 yards north of the first one. The "Mexico" monument is nearby as is the bandstand.

From the promenade - the main prom route is just in front of the hotels

Looking North - but still prom side

Roadside but looking North

Looking due South - the new cafe is just by the edge of the prom
and juts out over the boating pool

Detail of the caste base. This is cast iron and it's high quality

Closer still It is possible to see the join between castings.
Every casting is identical in the base

Still working - Obviously an aquatic theme to the whole fountain.

The water is about 10 to 12 inches deep
One or two of the shells are broken.
Overall there is very little damage to the whole fountain

One of the damaged shells to the right

Pretty impressive casting
Supporting the cherub at the top

Pan/Cherub in all about 15 feet high!

Embedded the other video here!

Friday, 4 November 2011

Bethesda Congregational Church

This is another closed church, destined to never to open again regrettably.
Based in the Revoe area of Blackpoo, much of the property here is fine old red brick housing, but way too expensive to maintain and has now been split into flats or multiple accommodation. I boarded on Grasmere Road as a student. It is very close to the College at Palatine road. There will be pictures from this area added later - it has a fascinating history. I spent some time in the school there and also attended the Kedokwai Judo club above the library. There is a link to the Congegational Federation here. However the pix.

The Church is situated at the corner of Lune Grove and Grasmere Road. It was built I believe in 1900 and lies on the site of another church. References to the original church can be found here.

This is how the Blackpool Evening Gazette reported it:

A church which helped to bond a community for 90 years has been put up for sale.

Bethesda Church on the junction of Lune Grove and Grasmere Road in Revoe, is owned by Congregational Federation Limited and closed its doors in October(2010) because too much work needed to be done.

Members are now having to attend churchservices at the Day Centre on Ibbison Court while pastor Augusta Gibrill looks for a new church.

Connie Parker, 85, from Lune Grove, says the closing of the church was a traumatic experience.

She said:" It was very upsetting because I have been going past the church for 62 years and you get used to it.

"We couldn't afford to to keep it open because there was no money coming in and and we had to close, but we will rise again somewhere."

" It's a pity that it has to be closed but there are a lot of things that need to be replacing."

Bethesda's pastor saved the church from closure four years ago when she agreed to take on the responsibility of running the church.

Mrs Gibrill is now in charge of finding a new home for the Bethesda congregation.

She told the Gazette: "It was going to cost a lot of money to repair and it breaks our hearts.

" If I was to win the lottery I would buy the church and repair it."

The cost of repairs has been estimated at £152,00 and despite the members trying to raise money and save their church they had to move out. Mrs Gilbrill added:" It's a very sad and they (the congregation) is still grieving.

"It was a very busy community resource and that is why I care. It made me ill when I knew it was going to close down.

"Thepeople were very bitter and they are still very bitter about it because they felt someone should have kept the church open."

Carol Watson, 67, and her husband Victor, 75, from Grasmere Road have both been members of the church for 2 years. Mrs Watson said:"It meant a lot to me because it was a very loving church and everyone felt at one with each other. Any strangers coming in would not want to leave and when the service finished at 12, we wouldn't leave until half one.

"People help me all they canand other people are always asking what they can do for me."

Mr Watson added:" We feel very upset about this. It was such a lovely fellowship, and there are always people together. We are still together as a church and that is the most important thing."

Congregation Federation Limited declined to comment.

alex.ross

Corner of Lune Grove and Grasmere Road

Lune Grove Entrance

Grasmere Road view


The Top floor "Primitive Methodist Mission Hall"

The back of the Church showing security gates

The Bricks all have initials cut into them
E.B. E.H. W.S. J.H.

Blackpool Football Club is just in the distance
Looking down Lune Grove towarts the park

More initials D.M.B. T.Y.

The sandstone is worn, I think there was writing on this too,
but the initials still stand out on the bricks.
A.S.E. A.S.C. E.B. K.H. J.H. F.G.jun F.G.Sen E.S.S.
G.S.O. A.M.O. G.B.
There is traces of writing on the sandstone