| The Residence
Hotel |
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A Landmark of Distinction - Detached property built at the turn of the Last Century when many of Blackpool Hotels were erected.
One of the not so many Detached Blackpool Hotels
History
Hundreds of years passed by and Blackpool was a small hamlet by the sea, hard to imagine nowadays. It was during the 18th century that the upper classes thought it was fashinable to travel to the seaside for their Summer holidays. People came to Blackpool from the middle of the 18th century to enjoy free time and the sea air, but Blackpool still remained a very small place until expansion started in 1781. It was then that two men Thomas Clifton and Sir Henry Hoghton laid a private road to Blackpool. This brought people in to the Blackpool a lot faster and easier and in this year stagecoaches began running to Blackpool from Manchester and in 1782 they started to come from Halifax.
Blackpool was slow to develop in the early 19th century. It was Henry Banks that developed Blackpool in the early years of the century. He built many new properties, and his work was taken over by his son-in-law, named John Cocker.
What made Blackpool grow into a substantial town was the coming of the railway which connected the town to the industrial towns of the north. This made it much cheaper for visitors to reach Blackpool. The first railway towards Blackpool opened in 1840 but it only ran as far as Poulton in the Fylde. Luckily people did not mind going the remaider of the jouney on horse and carriage, the Preston and Wyre railway soon boosted the growth of Blackpool and not too long after (1846) a branch line was built from Poulton le Fylde to Blackpool. It was then the resort began to boom, then yet another line was built through toLytham in 1863, which was and is today a more upmarket coastal town situated on the river Wyre Estury overlooking Southport.
In 1856 onwards a Promenade was built,. and in 1863 the first Pier opened (The North Pier). 5 years later Central Pier was built.
Then in 1871 a company was formed to buy Raikes Hall and its grounds and to turn them into gardens. The Raikes Hall Garden opened in 1872. Previously this was said to be a monestry with hidden tunnels so the Monks could escape persicution. Then the Winter Gardens was built in 1878, as you can see it was rapid growth. You can tell people had not experienced the delights of travel abroad in those days, can you imagine a British seaside town expanding on this scale today. We couldnt even win a bid to build a casino which is a damn shame but life goes on and as long as I carry on taking group bookings who are out to enjoy themselves I will be able to survive the test of time.
It wasnt until 1879 that a few electric lights were switched on in Blackpool. because the electric light was so new the event attracted loads of visitors. Then the electric tramway opened in Blackpool in 1885, wow things were moving. Then the Opera House was built in 1889, South Pier in 1893,Then Blackpool Tower was built between 1891 and 1894 which it is so famous for, actually its a great day out if you have kids or not, the architecture is amazing in the ballroom.Blackpool then expanded North with a new Promenade built in 1893, and the older Promenade was widened in 1903.
Blackpool's growth was rapid in the late 19th Century it grew at an amazing rate and by 1881 its population was 14,000. Just 20 years later and the population of Blackpool had grown to 47,000 and by 1951 it had grown to 147,000.
Blackpool Town Hall built 1900. Grand Theatre built 1904. Blackpool's first cinema opened 1905. In the 1900's Blackpool Pleasure Beach began to develop the first of its rides. The illuminations were first properly switched on 1912, not used during First World War but were on again in 1925. Stanley Park opened in 1926 this is nice to visit when the weather is nice at least a few times a year, ha. Louis Tussauds Waxworks opened in 1929 I used to like this as a kid.
Today Blackpool is, of course, a thriving resort for Stag and Hen groups with its many attractions but dying with its old customer base of families.Amazingly it wasnt until 1972 that Blackpool Zoo opened now this is a great day out, I really like it, the 1970 was a time of prosperity my parents had a hotel and it was always full and life was good, how things change. The Hounds Hill Shopping Centre opened in 1980 wow how time flies I was 14 years old then it just doesnt seem that long ago. The Sandcastle opened in 1986 its good in here my kids love it, I can leave them here for the day. Blackpool Sea Life Centre opened in 1990 I think this is a little cruel but in some cases its better than the polluted sea.
So with all these places to go and see with an amazing history that North America only dream about what do you guys and girls want to see? A go-kart track, clay pigeon range, quads, maybe a health spa or paint ball but a definate is the inside of a bar and club, go on make a change visit some of Blackpool's heritage and have a cultural weekend away in Blackpool at the Residence Hotel.