Issue 5 - February 2014 Photo by Kevin Taylor
Blackpool Heritage News is created by Blackpool Heritage Champions to celebrate and promote Blackpool's heritage. Blackpool Heritage News is about you, your past and your present. We want your stories and your pictures. Love heritage and discover Blackpool.
MR MEMORY LANE
In an interview with Craig Fleming, feature writer for the Blackpool Gazette he revealed his passion about Blackpool- then and now. Journalist Craig was born in Helmshore in the Rossendale Valley. His father was a Geordie, a shipwright on the River Tyne who moved south and met his future wife while working at the local Porritt’s cotton mill. Craig says he wanted a Geordie accent but never got one. He went to Helmshore County Primary, same school as his mother and before that his grandmother, who had attended on its opening day. As a youngster he was always writing stories and poetry. He attended Haslingden Grammar and then Harris College, Preston, where senior lecturers frowned on him editing the Rag mag. “They told me ‘that’s not journalism,’ but it raised lots for charity and I had great fun finding corny jokes.” His first job was in the summer break before going to college for a one year journalism course. “What a soul destroying job it was, welding metal bread trays at a factory in Haslingden. I kept hoping my A level results were good enough!” After the journalists course he applied to several newspapers, including The Gazette. “At the interview editor Brian Hargreaves told me he had misplaced my application letter, and had no vacancies, but perhaps I could persuade him to give me a job. I must have done something right, because he took a chance on me, and a week later I became a junior reporter. “I have always found the job exciting, meeting people and writing about them.” “Worst experience was on night duty and on a routine call to police I was told a chap was clinging to the flag pole at the top of Blackpool Tower. I assumed it was a wind-up. Two hours later a different officer mentioned the same incident. ‘Not you as well,’ I groaned, ‘so how long has he been up there?’ “He replied ‘since 1939’ and I suggested the poor chap would be frozen solid after all those years. The situation was genuine, the 19:39 was the time not the year!” The most memorable personality Craig has met was in the late nineties when he went for lunch with Richard Branson, head of the Virgin empire, to Majorca, to launch his Virgin Sun packages. He literally took journalists on a day trip to a hotel he owned. His mum, a former air hostess, served up ice creams on the plane. Out of the blue he changed into a matador’s costume in the men’s toilets at Palma Airport for a publicity shot. “As a person he was absolutely brilliant, so unassuming and yet at the same time you knew he was a calculating business man. We had a
press conference and someone asked, ‘What next?’ ‘Space travel’ was the answer “He claimed he was launching commercial space travel and the people on the Fylde Coast first read about Virgin Galactic in the Gazette.” “When I first started in June 1972 The Gazette was a tiled building in Victoria Street which looked like something out of the Superman films. We later moved out to Preston New Road into the old Telefusion headquarters, then to Avroe House on Blackpool Airport land. “In the early days I couldn’t afford a car so I took the bus to go out on jobs or walked everywhere but at least you got to see and familiarise yourself with an area. That was in the days before emails and mobile phones.” “The Gazette has changed over the years and was one of the first newspapers in the country to take on new technology, digital first now being the buzz word of the parent company.” Craig’s interest in heritage started when he worked in Victoria Street. “I was fascinated by the various architectural styles around - the Little Vic, the Winter Gardens and its archway.” “In my lunch break I didn’t go down to the seafront but looked above street level to see a building’s true value.” Craig inherited Memory Lane and through the articles got to know local historians. “People seem surprised I’m not Blackpool-born as they say I have a passion for the town and yes I have after more than 41 years in the job.” Reflecting on his career Craig says it is sad so many buildings were torn down in the name of progress, particularly in the 60’s and 70’s because
they certainly weren’t replaced with anything of true value. “There has been a sea change with the local authority as people like Carl Carrington and the heritage team work together to promote the past. Progress doesn’t mean you bulldoze everything in sight.” To illustrate the Gazette’s influence, Craig’s granddaughter at her primary school watched a piece about the old buildings in Blackpool. “My granddaughter recognised me as presenting ‘Then and Now,’ on the Gazette website. “She’s asked me since about buildings ‘in the olden days’ and it showed me my granddaughter was interested in local history and heritage and that is being fostered by the schools.” On asking what life would be like in retirement, Craig said he was sure he would still have an active interest in some way, not least reading Memory Lane and the Lost Archive supplement. “We have a wonderful archive of glass negatives and it is brilliant we are sharing this with the wider public.” He also has a lot of admiration for Tony Sharkey and the Local History Centre at Central Library, often working very closely with them for Memory Lane. “Various readers have collections left by relatives and we put them in touch with the library so these collections can be catalogued. It’s ironic that with newspapers in full colour when there is so much interest in the black and white photographs.” I am sure I am not alone in saying how valuable Craig’s input has been to the recognition of Blackpool’s wonderful heritage and we wish him all the best in the future! Shirley Matthews Clarke B.A.(hons)
SIR HIRAM MAXIM’S ‘CAPTIVE FLYING MACHINE’ AT PLEASURE BEACH, BLACKPOOL 1904 Sir Hiram Steven Maxim was born in Sangerville, Maine, USA on February 5th 1840. He became a naturalised British subject and was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1901. Described as a chronic inventor, patenting 271 creations during his lifetime including a hair curling iron, a steam propelled flying machine and a mouse trap, he made his name as an armaments expert creating the MAXIM (later Vickers-Maxim) machine gun. In 1894 his flying machines held the Altitude Record (8 seconds) until it was broken in 1903 by aviator Orivlle Wright. In 1904 he designed a Captive Flying Machine which he hoped would stimulate public interest in powered flight and provide finance for his experiment with aviation.
SAVE OUR COMRADES CLUB!! You may have seen publicity, or heard from various sources that the Comrades is now in administration, and we need to find a buyer or benefactor for the building on the possible basis that the new owner will rent the building back to the Comrades Club, Orb Art, and Model Railway club. Initially we have 6 months to do this before we lose the building. The photo shows the building when it was Blackpool Grammar School in the early 1900's. The building is part of the Blackpool Heritage trail, and it is the latest piece of Victorian Blackpool to be put at risk; we at the Comrades Club are looking to secure the building’s future by approaching potential buyers, benefactors and heritage organisations The debt to the brewery, plus other accumulated costs, has multiplied to an unmanageable level. Tim Pipe, has been running things for the last 3 years or so, and together with a few committee members, myself included, are trying to save the club. We are looking for interested parties in acquiring the club in order to save the building, which unfortunately is not a listed building.
On November 24th 1916, at Streatham, Sir Hiram Maxim died, sadly without fully realising his ambitions. Flying Machines were built on fun parks at Earls Court, Crystal Palace, South port and BLACKPOOL.
A note from Tim Pipe (Chairman, Comrades Club)
The Blackpool machine opened on August 1st 1904 with 20 passengers in each of its 10 carriages paying 3d (three old pennies) for the thrill of travelling at speeds of up to 40mph. It lured thousands of visitors to the sands beyond the Victoria (South) Pier. In 1921 the Flying Machine was purchased by the Pleasure Beach Company for £750 and remains today the only survivor of the originals built by Maxim. It is truly a venerable antique, being the oldest ride alongside the present day Pleasure Beach attractions. Barry Shaw Blackpool Civic Trust
Did you know...? It takes 7 years to paint Blackpool Tower from top to bottom and the tower's lift travels 3,500 miles every year!
Although the club is looking for a benefactor, investor of sympathetic buyer, the club has another option! That is to set up a new company or charity to buy the building, the company or charity will then raise funds by selling shares in the building. Initially only a pledge will be required. The building currently has some rental income but there are many areas that are under utilised that can generate further income. The company or charity could then look to apply for further funding through The Big Lottery or the Heritage Lottery Fund. There are various avenues that can be explored. With this option in mind, I am looking for volunteers to help promote and carry out the administration required to launch a company/charity of this kind. I do not have the time to take all of this work on so if no one comes forward to help this option will not be pursued! The building represents a reasonable investment whether as a club or as a plot of building land. All users of the building will have many months of notice if the club is to close, so ask that they continue to use the club until the bitter end. Thank you for your support!! Please contact Comrades Club 01253. 625812 tim_pipe@tiscali.co.uk
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY MURDER AT THE FOXHALL HOTEL Barry Shaw steps back in time to report on the events that led to the unfortunate death of Mrs Toomey. “In the memory of even the oldest inhabitant of Blackpool, does not exist a remembrance of such a sad and fearfully tragic event as that which took place on Sunday 13th October 1895 at one of the oldest hostelries in Blackpool – THE FOXHALL HOTEL! Nothing in recent years has caused such a sensation in Blackpool as has the committal of this horrible murder. Sarah Toomey had been in the employ of Richard Seed, the landlord of the Foxhall Hotel, as cook and chambermaid for over a year. Throughout that period, she had been a good and steady worker and was much liked by all her co-workers. Her husband, John Toomey, joined his wife at The Foxhall recently taking the position of kitchen porter. John Toomey was born at Cork in Ireland about 57 years ago and whilst very young went to London where he followed the pursuit of a cloth packer and was employed in that capacity in many big London warehouses. Whilst in the City, he met with the deceased whose maiden name was Sarah Wilkinson. She was then in service at a gentleman’s private house. John married Sarah 35 years ago at St Peter’s Church, London. The couple then went to live in Hulme, Manchester, where they resided for about twenty years. Toomey was a warehouseman in any of the chief houses of that city until about three months ago when he came to Blackpool. There were eight children by the marriage, two boys and six girls, all of whom are now grown up. The reason of joining his wife was because of his jealous nature. Whilst at the employ at The Foxhall he worked well and gave satisfaction. Last week as the season ended, the waiters terminated their engagements and along with them Toomey received his notice although his wife was being kept on. On Sunday, a farewell dinner was held at noon at which all the staff were present along with Toomey and his wife. As is usual, there was much merriment and laughter at which the cook and her husband joined in heartily. At the conclusion of the dinner, all the servants retired to their rooms for the afternoon and the cook went along with the rest. On coming down about ten minutes to six, Waiter Joseph Smith was surprised to find the cloth was not laid for tea as was usually done by the cook. He remarked that it was a peculiar thing the cook was not there and said to one of the barmaids ‘Where’s t’ cook?’ He saw the barmaids preparing their own teas therefore he thought the cook must have overslept herself. Accordingly, he went upstairs, knocked at the bedroom door and humorously remarked ‘Come on cook. All tickets ready’. He was greatly staggered, however, on opening the door to find the cook laid limp and motionless, face downwards in a pool of blood with her throat cut. The gash was most shocking, extending from ear to ear with the head being nearly completely severed from the body. He then informed the barmaids who had come of what he saw and said ‘she’s as dead as a door nail’’ They then acquainted the Landlord with the fact and he immediately sent Leonard Seed, his son, for
Doctor Barton and afterwards for the police. Doctor Barton arrived on the scene but his services were of no use, the woman being quite dead. About seven o’clock, the police conveyed the corpse to the Police Station. Joseph Smith, along with PC Howarth, found a knife daubed with blood under the body. The knife was a clasp knife with a blade about four and a half or five inches long with a buck-horn handle. The blade was blood-stained and blood was also clotted in the neck where the blade fitted. With regards to this knife, it had been identified as one which was purchased from the ironmonger’s shop of Messrs Bickerstaff and Son, Foxhall Road. It seemed that on the Friday previous to the murder, a man, answering the description of Toomey, entered the shop and asked for a large knife without a clasp. He said he wanted it because he was going to Canada. There was strong evidence to believe that a murder had been committed. Evidently, as soon as the crime was committed, supposedly by the husband, he fled from the scene of the dastardly deed.
Toomey was seen later that day at the Red Lion Hotel in All Hallows Road, Bispham, enjoying a beer and smoking a cigar. Toomey then had another glass of beer, after which he left the hotel remarking he was going on to Fleetwood to catch the Belfast boat. The Landlord, Samuel Castle, saw him start on the road to Fleetwood and that was the last that was seen of the supposed murderer. However, Toomey did not reach Fleetwood. It was reported that a brown billycock hat and steel-grey coloured jacket were found on the beach near where the barque ‘Abana’ was wrecked at Bispham last December. It is generally supposed that Toomey had divested himself of these garments and then drowned himself in the sea. Some two weeks later, the decomposing body of the jealous husband was found by John Rawcliffe, a Wyre Dock Wolloper*, whilst out shooting on the beach between Rossall and Fleetwood. As to the character of Toomey, his children stated that he was always very fond of drink even when a young man. In addition to this, he was a most jealous man; in fact he would go into a fit of passionate jealousy over absolutely nothing at all. Quarrels, as a result, were very frequent. They were not altogether surprised when the tragedy was reported to them as Toomey frequently threatened to murder his wife and he had repeatedly held knives and pistols over her head. It is also reported that only the Friday previously he informed one of his daughters that he would finish her mother before very long and that he would give her (his daughter) his watch and chain. At the inquest, the Coroner’s Jury returned a verdict of ‘wilful murder’ on the body of Sarah Toomey while the inquest into the body of John Toomey, the Jury returned a verdict of ‘Felo-de-Se’ (suicide) on the Foxhall Killer”. Barry Shaw Blackpool Civic Trust *n. Slang. Dock Wolloper is a casual labourer about docks or wharves.
OUR SHIPWRECK HERITAGE TRAGEDIES, RESCUES & PROFIT When writing his ‘History of Blackpool’ back in 1837, Thornber included reference to the shipwrecks along the coast. He commented that ‘…a full list of them would be a very big one’. Indeed, it is recorded that he put his pen down to observe a ship in difficulties off Bispham (Clarke, 1910). After the incident, he was to be instrumental in raising awareness of the need to provide Blackpool with a Lifeboat. Whilst records and reports clearly feature the ‘celebrity’, wrecks: Mexico (1886), Abana (1894), Foudroyant (1897), Riverdance (2008). There are however, other notable events recorded – the 12 vessels lost in a storm in 1833; the loss of Lifeboats and their crews in 1852 and 1886; and the loss of the Fleetwood Ferry in 1863, fully laden with passengers. We would be relieved to find that all but the Ferryman were saved. There are also 11 vessels listed as 'Unidentified', as indeed are, those lost also remain ‘Unidentified’.
The research for this paper included producing a comprehensive list of the 170+ serious incidents and multiple life loss recorded since before 1700. The list will be available at Blackpool’s Central Library. The list testifies to the fishing families as the main rescuers before RNLI intervention. The list also indicates the volume of traffic along, to & from the Fylde Coast. The cargo types show the dependence of the Fylde area on sea traffic. This coupled with the Shipbuilding and dock facilities at Freckleton, Lytham, Grannies Bay
(Fairhaven), as well as at Fleetwood. ‘Those Infernal Banks’ and unpredictable weather, have contributed to the likelihood of disaster. Mayes (2000, p105- 108) illustrates the shifting of the banks over a period 1885 to 1919, only adding to the unpredictable nature of sailing this coast. The decline of the ports, legislation, advent of the RNLI and predictable weather have mitigated risks and reduced casualties. Mention must also be made of the War time rescues, reflecting aircraft ditchings of operational and training flights from the three airfields in area. Other wartime records not recorded here are those of Fleetwood Trawlers lost in service and recorded on the ‘Real Price of Fish’ Memorial in Fleetwood Museum. Post war launchings have been directed to mainly leisure craft and people rescues. Fleetwood and fishing all along the coast might have provided Vessel names in the list but there are surprisingly few. Wrecks are defined in law in Section 255 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, they include the debris of wrecks “jetsam, flotsam, lagan and derelict found in or on the shores of the sea or any tidal water”. Prior to the 1854 Merchant Shipping Act and the appointment of the ‘Receiver of Wrecks’ to protect them from theft, ‘Wrecking’ was seen as contributing to the good fortune and economy of those who lived round the coast. Occasionally, locals enticed ships to founder on banks and shore, in order to pillage their cargo’s. Whilst there is no evidence of that on this coast, in 1839 three Marton men were convicted of theft of silk from the stricken ‘Crusader’. In contrast, there are records of the relief felt by locals when the ‘Happy’ foundered in 1779 providing a bounty of peas to locals suffering from famine at the time. Other commercial opportunities were presented by these wrecks. Enterprising businessmen were able to bid for the carcasses of a wreck to make money from them. Souvenirs like that on the right, cast from the copper from
the hull of Foudroyant (wrecked June,1897) and furniture made from the timber, found their way into shops and market stalls in the town, for the ‘benefit’ of the tourists. The List also testifies to the bravery of Lifeboats’ Crews in those early years, in open, oar driven boats; often in appalling conditions. A ship in difficulties used flairs to summon help. If help came, it had to come via horse drawn trailers to the sea. There are occasions when it took hours to gather the horses and launch the Lifeboat from points along the coast, not just from the Lifeboat stations. Crew were mainly drawn from local Fishermen, who may have been out fishing at the time of the call. The Sources used in the research, derive from the internet, local newspapers, the Cleveleys Shipwreck Memorial and historical accounts of the Lifeboat Stations of St Annes, Blackpool and Fleetwood. In one or two cases the author recalls conversations with his Grandfather about adventures of his great grandfather, a crewmember and later Coxswain of the St Annes Lifeboat, Henry Melling. Our Wreck Heritage offers many more fascinating stories yet to be told and 'facts' to be confirmed for someone in the future. My hope is that this article serves as a prompter to that research. MPC.
The Fylde Coast Shipwreck Memorial, Cleveleys. Photo by the author
A BIG ADD VENTURE IN BLACKPOOL What have 3 dogs, the RNLI and wonderful talk on the history of the saucy seaside postcards got in s e a s i d e t o w n f r o m i t s h u m b l e beginnings. common? Well all will be revealed. An enthusiastic and lively group of 20 people arrived for a 5 day residential course on 4th November at the Savoy Hotel. As a Blackpool Heritage Champion and a tutor for the Workers Education Association, (WEA) I was there to welcome them, explain the action packed programme of events for the week and give them the background information into the work of the heritage volunteers. The group, members of a charity which provides access to life-long learning for visually impaired people. They are called Add-Venture in Learning, check out their website for more information. The members included 10 visually impaired accompanied by three hard working and trusty guide dogs called; Ice, Hero and the mighty Quinn. Who incidentally was as big as a small horse but as soft and tactile as a teddy bear. Each person had their own designated sighted guide to support with orienteering, writing and other valuable work. They had travelled from as far afield as; Leeds, Bridlington, Oxfordshire, London, Kendal, Sheffield, Devon, Scunthorpe and Squires Gate. During the week we visited Blackpool Tower and were able to hear all about the circus and go behind the scenes to visit the animal enclosures. Then watch and listen to the magnificent organ in the Tower Ballroom. Comments from the learners included “As this was my first visit to Blackpool I was surprised at the amount of history and information given to us I feel as if I couldn’t absorb any more in the time.” The programme included a guided tour of Marton Little Windmill, The Winter Gardens and the Town Hall, Bryan Lindop, Head of Blackpool Transport gave a splendid talk on the history of the trams as well as a complimentary trip to Fleetwood on one of the new trams to see the illuminations. One learner said “Learned more than expected about trams…. as well as the additional health and well being outcomes of, “plenty of health walks and sea breezes.” In the evenings we had guest speakers, including; local historian Barry Shaw from the Civic Trust, who gave a
Tony Sharkey from the Local History Centre based at the Central library fascinated us with photographs showing the throngs of thousands of people “taking the air” on the beach in the late 19th and early 20th Century to the “Vicar in a barrel” and other obscure side shows. But the group could not resist learning about the censorship criteria of the saucy seaside postcards and had them asking if they could visit the centre before a trip to the Winter Gardens. Such was the interest in learning about the unique heritage of the town. One learner said “The enthusiasm of the historians rubbed off on the students,” On the last evening Brenda Warburton from the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) put us through our paces with the new life saving equipment used by the Blackpool branch. She explained how the 4th Emergency Service is run by very brave men and women who risk their lives saving others and they are all volunteers. Johnny said about the course “Expectations have been met largely thanks to the enthusiasm of volunteers and guides/speakers”. The “Unexpected benefit laughter and enjoyment” “Made new friends” and others have told me the “additional health and well being benefits.. too many to mention”. I would like to thank all the staff and volunteers who helped to make the course such a wonderful success and show off Blackpool as only they can. A quote from a lady who as a child living on the Wirral had not been allowed to visit Blackpool, “I realise Blackpool is a place I would come to visit” and why not we have got it all.
Anne Scholefield
Showzam Blackpool’s Festival of Circus, Magic and New Variety is back! Experience this extraordinary annual festival, all across Blackpool, with acts like the fantastic Sooty Show, ‘B’ The Underwater Bubble show and the hilarious Meet The Hogwallop Family. Showzam has something for all the family, and runs from the 14th to the 23rd of February.
WINTER GARDENS HERITAGE TOURS The Winter Gardens – Start in the Floral Hall 15-19 February, 11am £8 (Maximum 25 places on each tour) To book tickets visit www.showzam.co.uk or call the Tourist Information Centre 01253 478222
THE BLACKPOOL TOWER: HERITAGE TOURS The Blackpool Tower 15-23 February, 11am Prices from £9.95 Book tickets www.theblackpooltower.com
PLEASURE BEACH BACKSTAGE TOUR Meet at The Globe Theatre, Blackpool Pleasure Beach 17 – 19 February, 10.30am Price £14 (Maximum 35 places on each tour) To book call the Tourist Information Centre 01253 478222
S TAG E WO R K S WO R L DW I D E PRODUCTIONS BACKSTAGE TOUR Meet at The Globe Theatre, Blackpool Pleasure Beach 20- 21 February, 11am Price £14 (Maximum 35 places on each tour) To book call the Tourist Information Centre 01253 478222
“B”THE UNDERWATER BUBBLE SHOW The Blackpool Tower Circus Arena Sat 15 Feb – Sun 23 Feb 2.30pm Making its UK premier for Showzam! “B” is an original theatrical circus show that blends bubbles with dance, juggling, acrobatics, sand magic and special effects, all in a themed, visual, entertaining and colourful performance. Children (aged 3-14) £8, Toddlers (aged 1-2) £6, Adults £10, Family Ticket for 4 (Min 1 adult, max 2 adults 18+) £32. To book visit www.showzam.co.uk or call 01253 478222
SHOWZAM! PRESENTS THE SOOTY SHOW The Winter Gardens Mon 17 Feb – Tue 18 Feb 4pm Sooty comes home to Blackpool in a fabulous new show to delight the whole family. Joining the nation’s favourite bear will be Sweep, Soo and Sooty's TV Partner Richard Cadell -who will be attempting to keep Sooty from getting up to mischief! Boy, will he have his hands full! Kids under 14 - £6.99, Adults £9.99, Family Ticket (Min 1 adult 18+) - £27.99, Kids under 2 free if babes in arms. To book visit www.showzam.co.uk or call 01253 478222
MEET THE HOGWALLOP FAMILY The Grand Theatre Thur 20 Feb – Sat 22 Feb 7.30pm If you loved reading Roald Dahl’s The Twits you’ll love this! The Hogwallop family are inhabitants of a fantastic and darkly funny universe created by the fantastic Lost in Translation Circus. Children under 14 £6.99, Adults 9.99, Family Ticket (Min 1 adult, max 2 adults 18+) £27.99, children under 2 free if babes in arms. To book visit www.showzam.co.uk or call 01253 478222
If you would like to contribute to this newsletter or comment on the contents please contact 01253 301004 or email blackpoolheritagenews@volunteercentrebwf.org.uk Mission: To provide support and inspiration for volunteers, organisations and groups to develop volunteering in the community. The Volunteer Centre Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde is a Registered Charity, No: 1125184 and a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England & Wales No: 5756723 Copyright 2013 Š
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