Blackpool History, Mystery, Heritage and Hauntings

Why do I love old vintage buildings or one's in a state of dereliction ! It does seem that I am not the only one thank goodness ! My Junior school - Hawes Side has now been knocked down and rebuilt - below is the old hall Next was Bispham High also known as Greenlands when I attended ( I could do an entire blog on that school but will not waste my time or yours ! ) I used to live near Arnold school and did wish I could attend - however the fee's were rather expensive - years later when they merged with King Edwards and Queen Mary's in Lytham the school had an auction around 2015 - of course I attended ! I have a thing about tiles you see , stair rails and old doorways ! Ohh it was a joy to capture the old fashioned style that was soon to be gone. I have tried to include old, new and nearly gone for you !  T he new school has been named after Jimmy Armfield in the hope that it will be a fitting tribute to such a well-known loca

In 2015 vintage railway track over 100 years old has been revealed in Station Road Poulton. The long derelict site is at the junction of Breck Road and Station Road, adjacent to the traffic lights near the entrance to Wyre Council - it's being cleared in readiness to erect some assisted living apartments.   Plans to demolish a landmark Poulton pub are set to be given the green light tomorrow. Blackpool-based Keystone Design Associates has applied for planning permission to pull the derelict Royal Oak down completely and replace it with a three-storey block of 12 apartments Read more at: https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/decision-on-poulton-s-historic-royal-oak-pub-due-1-8581036 It had been hoped the Victorian frontage of the Royal Oak in Poulton could be saved and incorporated into a new flats development. But concerns have been raised over the potential stability of the building shell which dates from the 1840s. Blackpool-based Keystone De

Layton Station - smashing house that was up for sale in in previous years - http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35838510.html  vacant former three bedroom 1860's station masters house, station buildings and outbuildings ! Vacant former station masters house. Part is in residential use and part comprises the former ticket office, waiting room, parcels/left luggage office & detached Ladies waiting room with toilet (also included within this building is a dismantled sauna/steam room and contents). The property offers a unique opportunity to either a rail enthusiast or for someone looking for a property with refurbishment potential.   https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/the-house-on-platform-one-could-be-yours-1-7411101   How many times have you sat at Carleton waiting, wanting the train to be quuick so you can be on your way! Guessing which way the train wouuld be going... Carleton Crossing signal box is a London and No

Bet no - one missed me !  Here we are in 2018 , I must say sorry first off as I have not been typing weekly as I should have , so lets make amends for that... 2017 saw a year of houses, heritage buildings, Pop up art gallery's , loons on quite a large scale , people being jealous of my friend's and copying as they have no original idea's ! Friends made and lost, ventures mooted at, ponderings and the rest... I will have missed things out here... Below is artwork by my dear Mother - Kath ... this was drawn over 50 years ago ...passing likeness to me ! Shall let you decide - hopefully this year will sort and frame  these delights. Above saw myself  being asked to be the one of the  official photographers for Jane Littlewood and the Visit ** sites and groups on facebook and the internet Watch this space !!

Every Year the Winter Gardens have a free open day for the public - of course I do attend and see what new area's I can capture to share of course ! 

  I like Fleetwood - There ! I have said it ( will wait for a comment from Brian about this !! )  After the lovely birthday present back in January 2017 ( Nikon B500 ) bridge camera I could finally get long distance shots of the Wyre Light ( come on folks - someone must know who owns it ! )  Fleetwood is so full of history and I urge you to visit the local museum http://www.fleetwoodmuseum.co.uk/ and also facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Fleetwood-Museum-Trust-Friends-1013816528668977/  

Social media has a lot to answer for since the inception of Yahoo groups, MSN chat , My Space and of course Facebook. This in turn has created a positive effect with the local 'Past' groups for the local area's that we all live - I am very much guilty of this and admin on quite a few !   Six years ago , I created one for Blackpool with the idea that I was sick of reading rather negative remarks   about my home town and wanted to share my love of vintage photographs and local heritage and history. Even now with my Past group I still think it's me and about 30 friends in a room going ohhh do you remember this !  *Look up, down and around you Juliette ! * - words from my wise mother Kath Gregson , I do this today and have been known to wander off and see what lies behind a door or tunnel... My father David Gregson has a great interest in aviation and camera's - this boded very well for me in later years , as he took many slides of the area on his fligh