A series of articles dealing with Blackpool's attractions and events. Certain attractions such as the Pleasure Beach etc. have their own Index Pages available from the Blackpool Main Index (coming soon).
Each article can be accessed by clicking or tapping the photographs below. A link at the end of each article will bring you back to this index page.
The family crafters are at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool again this weekend for another craft fayre on the run up to Christmas.
This was the scene first thing this morning as Fran, Gill and Jeannie were setting up their stall. You can find them by entering off Church Street and just carry on walking in a straight line into the Horseshoe Gallery at the far end and the Little Egg Craft Company will be on your right just as you come to the curve of the room.
Gill has lots of jewellery for sale - necklaces, bracelets, bangles and brooches. She's a particularly strong range using Swarovski crystals and has a full rainbow of colours to choose from.
Fran has spent hours making bags of all sizes from shopping bags to tiny little present bags for Christmas which would just fit a small present to hang on a tree. Someone bought a whole collection of these whilst I was there this morning!
The Christmas range of bags. Also on hand is Jeannie with her hand-made cards for all occasions. If you're looking for an extra special card or want it to carry a personal message, Jeannie is happy to help.
And where does the Little EGG Craft Company name come from? Gill's family - Edward, Gill and their daughter Grace!
The craft fayre is open both today and tomorrow, Saturday/Sunday 30 November and 1 December 2013 until 5:00pm at the Winter Gardens Blackpool. If you can't get to the show in Blackpool, here is the Little EGG Craft Company Website.
A few weeks ago I published an article that included this photograph of the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
This was taken in April this year, but as I've been scanning my old negatives I've come across a couple of views taken from almost the same position and allow for a bit of comparison.
This one was taken in June 1982 and was taken in black and white as, at the time, I was freelancing to magazines and there was far greater use of black and white photographs in magazines then. Unfortunately that doesn't allow us to admire the colour scheme so much, but it does remind us that the comedy act Little and Large were topping the bill at the Opera House and the Irish singer and Eurovision winner, Dana was supporting them.
Fast forward to April 1998 and there's some screening to the right. I'm wondering whether this was the point where they took the doors of the men's toilets - they hid an immediate flight of steps that it was very easy to fall down after walking through the doors. I know from painful experience!
Our view is blocked by the kiosk in the centre but luckily I took another photo after walking past it!
Whilst I'm not sure who was on for the summer season at the Opera House in 1998 there's a poster here advertising a one-nighter by The Hollies.
Good Friday. Name and nature. We set off this morning with breakfast in town with David and Jeannie. I almost decided to forego the fry-up but I've never liked muesli since almost drowning a while ago - a strong currant pulled me in...
Anyway, Fran had said to take my camera as the Continental market was in town. This was a French pastries and bread stall but the one that had me almost forgetting I'd just stuffed bacon and eggs down my chops was the German one opposite. I've never really trusted sausages that are admitted by the makers to be wurst, but the stallholder had shovelled a massive amount of potato slices into a massive pan and the smell of those scallops was drawing people from far and wide. I desisted easily though after a full English - and I was supporting the home country!The Winter Gardens has been having a bit of a refurb recently. The doors were open this morning though so we thought we'd have a shufti!
Nice and shiny (I presume they haven't yet got round to washing the outside of the glass panes in the arched roof - and to be fair, access looks as thugh it may be a bit of a job!)
This hasn't really changed but I've never got a decent photo of it before. The Galleon Bar is themed around an old sailing ship and is absolutely stunning inside. Normally filled with people every night trying to grab a drink at half time from the theatre and neck it quick in order to get back to their seats for the second half!
The adjoining amusement arcade has lost its machines and is now a cafeteria. Looks a little bit like Jazz Age styling.
Oh! And there's one other thing to show you...
I've been fancying this front shoe for ages... It's just a touch expensive but wouldn't it look great on stage?!? Sooner or later I'm going to ask if they've got one for the other foot...
We set out early this morning to our favourite cafe, Quilligan's, for breakfast. As we walked in Sean told us we had just missed David and Jeannie by 5 minutes. So we met up to find David with his camera round his neck fancying a go on the Big Wheel that's appeared in St John's Square.
I didn't have my camera with me so the photos here have been taken on my mobile phone. The big wheel is there until May so hopefully I'll get a chance to take some better quality photos before it goes.
This is the view looking down Church Street. The Winter Gardens is first on the left and the new street lighting posts which have projectors so that designs float up and down the street at night. The green dome of the Grand Theatre can be seen further down the street and then the sea and Tower forming the backdrop. At the very top left of the photo can be seen the Central Pier with its own Big Wheel.
Looking north east over Cedar Square and Topping Street towards the bus station. Above it, sticking up on the horizon, is the water tower at the top of the last hill before the ground slopes down towards Bispham and Thornton and the River Wyre.
Margot was having problems placing the Big Wheel where I suggested, so I hope this helps.
In fact the two photographs look to have been taken from pretty much the same spot, with Coronation Street running off to the left and Adelaide Street running off at the junction up the side of the site.