The information about Blackpool's very early days, it's roads and buildings is limited, but what we do know is that it wasn't until the mid-1700s that Blackpool began to take shape. It's main building boom was in the 1800s and early 1900s
The earliest tracks linked Preston with the Fylde through marsh land. According to local historians, in October 1655, the people of Great and Little Marton petitioned for permission to build a bridge over the outlet from Marton Mere to the sea – was that bridge the first thoroughfare? In later years, Blackpool gained access to the wider county via a private road constructed by Thomas Clifton and Henry Houghton, which began in 1721. The town centre’s development started with Lane Ends Hotel, Foxhall, Metropole and Clifton Hotels. These photos delve into the history of our town’s roads.
They were early buildings and were no doubt central to how Blackpool shaped up. On the fringes of the town, The Manchester was an early one, so was Raikes Hall and Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Thanks to Ordnance Survey maps beginning in 1840 we have pieced together how the town centre sprawl began.
(Credit to local historians Juliette Gregson and Nick Moore for help in research)
1. Historical Blackpool
This is one the earliest maps of Lancashire printed for wide circulation. Lancashire was the last of the ancient shire counties to be created for governmental purposes. This map appeared more than a century after the first known map of our county and includes Blackpool in its earliest days Photo: LCC ARCHIVE SERVICE
2. Clifton Hotel, circa 1750
There has been an inn on the site of the The Clifton Hotel in Talbot Square since 1750. It faces Talbot Square which was one of the earliest developments in Blackpool Photo: National World
3. North Promenade, 1777
Undated picture of the Metropole Hotel. It was originally called Baylies Hotel and construction started in 1776. Another testament to Talbot Square and North Promenade being early roads into Blackpool Photo: National World
4. Lane Ends Hotel, circa 1790
The Lane Ends Hotel was built around 1790 on the corner of south corner of where Church Street is. It can just about be seen to the left of the photo. The procession on Blackpool Promenade in 1897 marked Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Photo: submit
5. Bank Hey Street / Victoria Street, 1860
This is possibly one of the earliest photos we have in our archive of Blackpool town centre in a relatively undeveloped state. It dates back to 1860 and is taken from Bank Hey Street looking up Victoria Street. Bank Hey House, home of William Cocker at the far end. It's an 1846 building, part of which survives inside the Winter Gardens today Photo: National World
6. Blackpool's Earliest Streets
A Google image which mirrors the same scene, this is one of Blackpools first streets Photo: Google