Author: Ed

Catterall & Swarbrick’s Brewery on Talbot Road Closes

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Catterall & Swarbrick Brewery was established in Poulton-le-Fylde in 1871 and officially registered in July 1894. The brewery in Blackpool was constructed in 1927. It was acquired by Northern Breweries of Great Britain Ltd in 1961, along with 104 public houses. Over its years of operation, it provided beverages to off-licenses, pubs, clubs, restaurants, and more, throughout the Fylde coast and beyond. However, the Blackpool site was closed in 1971 and later redeveloped for housing. In addition to the Poulton site, the brewery also acquired the Newton Springs Brewery. In November 1927, a new brewery was opened at the corner…

Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake’s John Sykes Co-Founds Streetfighter

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John James Sykes, a virtuoso guitarist whose contributions shaped the rock music scene, passed away in December 2024 at the age of 65. A prominent figure in the 1970s and 1980s rock scene, he performed with iconic bands such as Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake, and later carved out a successful solo career. Born on 29th July 1959 in Reading, Berkshire, Sykes spent part of his early childhood in Ibiza, Spain, where his father and uncle ran a popular discothèque. The family eventually returned to Reading, where at 14, Sykes was introduced to the guitar by his uncle, who showed him…

Warbreck Hill’s Unity College Becomes Unity Academy

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Unity Academy in Blackpool has a long history, undergoing several transformations over the years. Originally, it was known as Warbreck High School, a secondary school serving the Blackpool area. In 2000, the school transitioned from a single-sex institution to a co-educational school and was renamed Beacon Hill School. This marked a significant change, allowing both boys and girls to study together, adapting to the evolving educational landscape of the time. A decade later, in March 2010, the school underwent another major rebranding, becoming Unity College. This was part of broader educational reforms aimed at improving the standard of education and…

Devonshire Road School Reopens After Demolition

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Devonshire Primary School and Devonshire Road Junior School was renamed in 2013 to Devonshire Primary Academy. Labour leader Tony Blair (left) enjoys a laugh with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson during a visit to Devonshire Road primary school in Blackpool where Ferguson was coaching the school’s boys and girls football teams. Photo taken 3 October 1996 by Fiona Hanson/PA © Alamy. Devonshire Primary Academy is a coeducational primary school with academy status, located in the Layton area of Blackpool. This school is on Devonshire Road halfway between the residential area of Layton, and Blackpool town centre. Devonshire Road Junior School…

Baines Endowed Primary School in Marton is Established

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Baines Endowed Primary School in Marton was founded through the will of James Baines in 1717. It was one of three schools set up in Baines’ will, the others being at Poulton-Le-Fylde and Thornton, teaching around 100 pupils without charging fees. Baines will also provided payments to the poor of the area and apprenticeships. Baines can claim that three of its students appear on Blackpool Timeline – Joe-Warren Plant, Susan Varley and Gerry Wolstenholme. As a Church of England primary school, the school has very close links with their local church, St. Paul’s, Marton. Pupils will have the opportunity throughout…

Julie Craven Writes First Book of Poems

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Born in the 1960s in Bury, Lancashire, England, she was educated at a Secondary Modern School where she excelled in Art, Physics, Mathematics and English Literature. From an early age, creativity and analytical thinking shaped both her academic interests and her future pursuits. She released her first book of poems, Bee Happy, on  31 May 2021. In 1977, she purchased her first property, refurbished it, and sold it a year later for more than double the purchase price. This marked the beginning of a lifelong passion for property renovation and investment. Over the years, she has bought and refurbished five…

Photo Exclusive: Joe McElderry’s First Live Performance in Blackpool

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On 14 November 2010, Blackpool BID put on the Christmas Lights Switch-On event in the town centre with Joe McElderry doing the honours. The video clip and photos featured in this post were taken at the event and are shown here for the first time as an exclusive on Blackpool Timeline. For more up-to-date information about Blackpool BID, please visit the website. The stage is at the left and Eileen Ormond from Blackpool BID is in the foreground to the right. BACK TO THE PRESENT Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group are delighted to announce that South Shields-born X…

Three Tower Blocks are Demolished at Queens Park

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Controlled explosion brings down final three tower blocks at the town’s Queens Park on Sunday, 31 July 2016 between 10am and 11am. Blackpool’s skyline changed in seconds as a controlled explosion brought down the final three tower blocks at the town’s Queens Park estate. Twenty-three storey Walter Robinson Court and 16-storey Elizabeth and Churchill Courts – dating from the 1960s and early 1970s – were reduced to rubble to make way for a 190-home Lovell regeneration scheme. As part of the regeneration the rubble will be recycled as a base course for new roads and to raise the western part…

Illuminasia Opens its Doors to Visitors

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Parents queue with their children on the first day of half term for the opening of Iluminasia, the Worlds Largest Indoor Illuminations, opened on 18 April 2014. Combining ancient Chinese tradition with modern production; this awe-inspiring display offers something for everyone. With the play of light and colour, artists of every medium gain inspiration from this beautiful Far Eastern art form. Children delight in the adventure of exploring through a garden filled with towering exotic flowers and giant butterflies, almost as much as mums and dads enjoy basking in the serenity of time spent in the Jade Palace!

Iconic Warbreck Water Tower is Built

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Warbreck Water Tower was built in 1932 for the Fylde Water Board to be able to supply water to the households in Blackpool. It was built on the highest point to be able to keep up a good water feed and good pressure to the households When the water tank is full it is estimated that the weight of water in it is 43.8 times the weight of the steelwork in Blackpool Tower. Two reservoirs at the side of the water tower feed water via pumps into the tank at the top of the tower and these reservoirs are fed…