Category: 1864

The Mystery of Blackpool’s Number 1 and Number 2 Public Houses

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Among Blackpool’s oldest historical mysteries is the disappearance of Number 1 and Number 2, two public houses believed to have once formed part of the town’s unusual numbered inns. While The Number 3 and The Number 4 have survived into the present day, the first two establishments vanished long ago, leaving historians to debate where they stood and why they were numbered in the first place. The numbering system almost certainly originated during the eighteenth century, when Blackpool was still a small coastal settlement linked to Poulton-le-Fylde by the old road through Great Layton. Before the railway arrived in the…

The Shard Bridge

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For more than 160 years, Shard Bridge has provided an important crossing over the River Wyre, linking the communities south of the river with Over Wyre. Although situated a few miles north-west of Poulton-le-Fylde, the bridge has long been associated with the town, serving as a vital transport route for residents, farmers, businesses and visitors travelling between Poulton, Singleton, Hambleton, Knott End and Fleetwood. Before the bridge was built, crossing the River Wyre relied on a ferry operating between Cockle Hall and Wardley’s Creek. While effective in good weather, the ferry could be unreliable during poor conditions and increasingly struggled…

Blackpool RNLI Lifeboat Station

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Blackpool lifeboat, early 1900s. © Alamy Blackpool Lifeboat Station, located on the Central Promenade just south of the iconic Blackpool Tower, is a crucial part of the RNLI’s operations. Established by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1864, this station plays a significant role in safeguarding lives at sea along the busy Blackpool coast. Unique among RNLI stations, Blackpool Lifeboat Station is one of only two in the country to host three inshore lifeboats: an Atlantic 85 and two D class lifeboats. This diverse fleet is equipped to handle a range of maritime emergencies, from rescuing individuals in distress…