The Old Blackpool Lifeboat Station © Gerald England cc-by-sa/2.0

SD3035 : The Old Blackpool Lifeboat Station

taken 14 years ago, near to Blackpool, Great Britain

The Old Blackpool Lifeboat Station

Behind the roadworks at the junction of Chapel Street and the Promenade and by the side of Central Pier is the Old Lifeboat Station which was built in 1937 to accommodate the ever-growing needs of the lifeboat crews of the time. It was in active use until 1998, when a new station was built a little further north. The building is a well-preserved example of classic 1930s architecture, and is today owned by an ice-cream firm, selling a complete range of refreshments for a hot summer’s day.

Update: The building was demolished in 2009.

Blackpool Central Pier

The second of Blackpool's three piers to be built, Central Pier (then "South Pier") was completed in 1868. It is "central" in that it is situated between the other two piers.

Central Pier soon became known as the 'people's pier' because its emphasis was on fun rather than the genteel relaxation provided at North Pier. In Victorian times the class system was rife, and working class activities like dancing were very much frowned upon by the genteel folk frequenting the North Pier.

In the 20th century, roller skating was introduced along with fairground rides and amusement machines. The dance halls became less popular after the War and, by the 1970s, the facilities had been adapted into a theatre, bars and amusement arcades. The most noticeable feature of recent times is the 108ft high Ferris wheel, added in 1990.

When it was first opened, the pier was 1518ft (460m) in length, which included a 400ft (121m) low-tide jetty at the head. The overall length was reduced to 1118ft (339m) in the 1970s when the obsolete low-tide jetty was demolished.

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Link The Heritage Trail

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Grid Square: SD3035, 575 images (more nearby )
Photographer: Gerald England (find more nearby)
Date Taken: Wednesday, 12 November, 2008 (more nearby)
Submitted: Friday, 6 February, 2015
Geographical Context: Coastal
Former (from Tags): Lifeboat Station
Date (from Tags): 1937 1998
Subject Location: OSGB36: SD 3057 3550 [10m precision]
WGS84: 53:48.6679N 3:3.3540W
Camera Location: OSGB36: SD 3060 3551
View Direction: WEST (about 270 degrees)