How did Blackpool develop?

Before the advent of mass tourism, Blackpool was little more than a seaside village with a population numbering little more than a couple of hundred. This all changed however in the wake of the start of the industrial revolution, workers from the big industrial centres of Lancashire such as Manchester, Burnley, Blackburn, Bolton and Preston using the new railways to travel to the seaside. This allowed Blackpool to prosper and within a couple of decades the small village had been completely transformed into something resembling the busy town that it is today. Hotels sprang up to cater for the increased number of holidaymakers visiting the town and the railway station was expanded so that it could cope with the greater demands placed upon it. The increased availability and affordability of foreign holidays hit Blackpool hard in the 1970s and 1980s, however the resort has hit back and has enjoyed a big growth in visitor numbers over the past few years. Today, Blackpool offers something for everyone with some excellent attractions, hotels and restaurants as well as some hugely popular events throughout the year.

Blackpool was little more than a tiny hamlet on the Irish Sea although this has changed by the later years of the 18th century. By this time, many people had begun to believe that bathing in the sea could cure many diseases and visitors started to arrive in increasing numbers. Nevertheless, it remained a small place until 1781 when Thomas Clifton and Sir Henry Hoghton constructed a small private road to the village, thus making it far easier to reach. Stagecoaches started to operate from Manchester to Blackpool that same year, followed in 1782 by a service from Halifax, West Yorkshire. Blackpool’s real growth started once the railway arrived in town and connected it with the fast growing industrial towns and cities of Lancashire and further afield. The first railway arrived in the area in 1840 although this only ran as far as Poulton in the Fylde. Six years later a branch line connected Poulton with Blackpool while a second line arrived via Lytham in 1863. At this point, Blackpool really started to boom as more and more visitors arrived and as a result, amenities had little choice but to improve to meet the demand. In the 1850s and 1860s, Blackpool got gaslight and piped water while a Board of Health was formed at this time. The first of the Blackpool piers – the North Pier – was opened in 1863, followed by the Central Pier in 1868. The Winter Gardens followed in 1878 and the electric lights were first switched on in 1879. In the latter years of the 19th Century, Blackpool grew at an impressive rate. The population in 1881 was around 14,000, however by 1901 it had increased to 47,000.

The Blackpool Tower has stood tall over the Fylde Coast for 130 years. On 14th May 1894 The Blackpool Tower opened to the world, with Sir John Bickerstaffe, a former mayor of Blackpool at the helm. Built in 1894, The Blackpool Tower is one of the most iconic buildings in the UK and one of Britain’s best-loved landmarks. The Blackpool Tower Circus first opened to the public on 14 May 1894 and has not missed a season since. The present interior was designed by Frank Matcham and was completed in 1900. Dating back to 1894, The Blackpool Tower Ballroom is world-famous for its unique sprung dance floor and spectacular architecture and remains to this day a destination for dance fans from across the globe. With a building full of attractions at its base, The Blackpool Tower was soon coined as ‘Wonderland of the World’! It houses five amazing attractions, perfect for a fun-packed day for all to enjoy.

The practice of sea bathing to cure diseases was becoming fashionable among the wealthier classes in the early 1800s, who began making the trek to Blackpool for that purpose. In the 19th Century people went to Blackpool to visit its 7 mile beach. The population grew from 473 in 1800 to 2500 in 1850. In 1846 the railway was built, cutting travel costs and time. It became cheaper to travel, so many working class visitors began coming to Blackpool every weekend. Central Pier opened in 1868. In the 1870s workers were given annual holidays. Blackpool's population rose to about 14,000 during this period. The Tower opened in 1894. South Shore's Fairground opened in 1904, it was advertised as the Pleasure Beach in the 1900s. Visitor numbers grew from about 3 million to 8 million. During interwar years Blackpool was recognised as Europe's leading coastal resorts, helped by a new law giving workers holiday with pay. Visitor numbers grew from 8 million to 17million.