Author: Ed

Mark Raffles Comes to Blackpool and Helps Make it the Home of Magic

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Few performers have become as closely associated with Blackpool’s magical heritage as Mark Raffles. A master magician, celebrated pickpocket entertainer and respected ambassador for the art of illusion, Raffles enjoyed a career spanning more than eight decades. Although born in Manchester, he made Blackpool his home for many years and became one of the resort’s most recognised figures within the world of magic. Mark Raffles was born Albert Taylor on 22 January 1922 in Hulme, Manchester. As a child he struggled with a severe speech impediment and stammer, something that would shape the direction of his future career. Encouraged by…

The Great Lytham Flood of 1719–1720: When the Sea Overwhelmed the Fylde

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Few natural disasters have had as profound an impact on the history of Lytham as the Great Flood of 1719–1720. Occurring more than three centuries ago, the catastrophe devastated farmland, destroyed homes and left many local families facing ruin after the sea breached the fragile coastal defences protecting the low-lying landscape. The flood took place during the night of 18–19 December 1719. However, because Britain was still using the Julian calendar at the time, with the new year beginning on 25 March, contemporary records often describe the event as occurring in 1720. Today, historians generally refer to it as the…

Karl Bartoni Gets Married While Suspended From Blackpool Tower

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Few performers have pushed the limits of daring quite like Blackpool-born escapologist Karl Bartoni. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Bartoni built a reputation as one of Britain’s most accomplished escape artists, combining traditional magic with breathtaking public stunts that drew huge crowds and cemented his place in Blackpool’s entertainment history. Bartoni developed an interest in magic from an early age. Fascinated by illusion and showmanship, he immersed himself in the art of conjuring before discovering the dramatic world of escapology. Inspired by legendary performers such as Harry Houdini and later encouraged by the famous Australian escapologist Murray, who spent his…

The Rossall Roman Hoard: Fleetwood’s Lost Treasure and a Museum Mystery

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Among the most intriguing archaeological discoveries ever made on the Fylde Coast is the story of the Rossall Roman Hoard – a remarkable collection of Roman silver coins discovered near Fleetwood and surrounded by a mystery that remains unsolved nearly two centuries later. Unlike many archaeological finds, the Rossall Hoard is not simply a story of buried treasure. It is also a tale of mistaken identity, bankruptcy, missing artefacts and a museum display that may not actually contain the original treasure at all. The story begins in 1840 when workmen digging for clay near Rossall, on the coast between Fleetwood…

The Carleton Elk and the Earliest Humans on the Fylde

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One of the most important archaeological discoveries ever made on the Fylde Coast emerged unexpectedly in the summer of 1970, when construction work near Blackpool uncovered the remains of an animal that had lain hidden beneath the ground for more than 13,500 years. The find, which became known as the Carleton Elk or Highfurlong Elk, not only revealed a remarkably preserved Ice Age animal but also provided the earliest direct evidence of human activity ever discovered on the Fylde. The discovery transformed historians’ understanding of prehistoric Lancashire and offered a rare glimpse into a world that existed shortly after the…

J. R. Taylor Serves St Annes for 114 Years

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For more than a century, J. R. Taylor was one of the best-known names in retail on the Fylde Coast. Occupying a prominent position in the Century Buildings at the corner of Garden Street and St Annes Road West, the family-owned department store became a landmark in the heart of St Annes, serving generations of local residents and visitors alike. The business was founded in 1901 by John Robert Taylor, who established his first store in the newly completed Century Buildings. St Annes itself was still a relatively young seaside town, having begun its rapid development only in the final…

Witch Wood: The Hidden Woodland with One of Lytham’s Most Unusual Stories

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Tucked away alongside the railway line between Lytham and Ansdell lies one of the Fylde Coast’s best-kept secrets. Known as Witch Wood, this peaceful strip of ancient woodland is a haven for wildlife, walkers and history enthusiasts, but it is also home to one of the area’s most curious local legends. Despite its mysterious name, Witch Wood has no connection with witchcraft, trials or folklore about supernatural beings. Instead, its name comes from a much-loved horse called The Witch, owned by the Clifton family of Lytham Hall. Witch Wood is all that remains of what was once known as The…

Blackpool’s Aaron Sharples Takes on 1,000 Mile Run for Veterans

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Blackpool-born veteran Aaron Sharples is preparing to undertake one of the most demanding endurance challenges ever attempted, running 1,000 miles across Spain to raise money and awareness for the veterans’ charity Healthier Heroes. https://www.blackpooltimeline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Aaron-Sharples-El-Camino-Espaol.mp4 Born and bred in Blackpool, Aaron will begin El Camino Español in October 2026. Supported by a small crew and a motorhome, he will cover approximately 80 kilometres each day while documenting not only the physical challenge, but also the mindset behind it and the importance of choosing courage over comfort. To Aaron’s knowledge, the route has never been completed or officially recorded in this way before,…

Stanley Park Centenary Celebrations to Feature Spectacular Drone Show

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A spectacular drone show will light up the skies above Stanley Park as part of the park’s centenary celebrations this October. The display will be created by Celestial, the company behind the acclaimed drone performance filmed at Stanley Park for Britain’s Got Talent in 2025, which was later seen by millions of television viewers. Opened in 1926, Stanley Park is celebrating its one hundredth anniversary throughout 2026 with a programme of community events, heritage activities and family entertainment. The main celebrations will take place on 2 and 3 October, marking a century since the park officially opened. Visitors can look…

Peter Shakeshaft Helps Keep St Annes History Alive

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Few people have done more to record and preserve the history of St Annes-on-the-Sea than local historian Peter Shakeshaft. Through decades of meticulous research, he has become one of the leading authorities on the town’s heritage, producing books that have become essential references for historians, researchers and anyone with an interest in the Fylde Coast. He was born in St Annes in 1942, where his parents had settled in the early 1920s. He lived in St Annes until 1958, when he moved to Freckleton, before returning to St Annes in 1967, where he has lived with his wife, Maureen, for…