Bygone Blackpool

Negatives from 1976 were going through the scanner last night. It was the year Fran and I were married and moved to Blackpool and I can't believe how long ago it is now. Blackpool has changed a lot since then and the change continues and will forever continue.

Here's an image that illustrates that point very well. It was taken in May 1976, probably over the Spring Bank Holiday, though I'm not certain of the exact date. There's a fair number of poeple on the Promenade though!

The pedestrian footbridge was built towards the end of the 1960s, the only one of a planned number of bridges to be built. It looked ok on the Promenade side but led to a grotty dingy platform of concrete on the other side that was isolated and not pleasant to walk past in order to get down to street level. The bridge was finally demolished earlier this year. Gone is the wonderful viewpoint for taking photos of the Illuminations, trams, parades, storm waves...

However progress continues - it is Blackpool's official motto, let's not forget! And so the sea wall curves that caused those fantastically high smashing waves during stormy high tides are now in the process of disappearing themselves and Blackpool's seafront will be a graceful sweep of steps that for some reason the Corporation want to call the Spanish Steps, as though Blackpool has any reason to feel fondly for our European cousin that has taken so mch trade away from the town's hotels and guest houses!

Once they are in place the high smashing waves soaring up to wet the tops of the lamp posts will be things of the past. Storms will be a lot less spectacular - but perhaps will cause less loss of life. I hope so. Far too many people have been swept out by a wave they were dodging...

On the left of the photo is something that was to disappear from Blackpool not all that long after the photo was taken. The pleasure boats and the ancient World War II vintage lorries that towed the boats to the sea and then ferried passengers to them from the beach.

Boat trips from Blackpool were not spectacular I'm afraid. It's a long straight piece of coast. No rocks, no seals, no dolphins or sharks, no corners to go round for a different view. Just the long line of Blackpool that for 15 minutes got thinner between sea and sky and then got fatter as the half hour trip returned. "That were nice!" someone would say. But it was just the boatman trying to cheer passengers up...

Blackpool - as a borough with a Corporation - was 100 years old in 1976. Visitors had been going to Blackpool for a bit o' fun since before 1876, but some semblance of order, things like sewers and stuff, started to be seen in Blackpool from then. Well... started to not be seen in the case of sewers...

The tram was duly decorated for the year. The following year the words "Blackpool Centenary" were removed and the words "Silver Jubilee" were installed in their place. Progress moves onwards - but don't miss a trick!