Heritage Newsletter Issue 7

Lifeboat 150: The Abana In this, the second article commemorating the legacy of 150 years of the lifeboat, we look at the first major engagement of the Blackpool Lifeboat 'Samuel Fletcher' as she battled through heavy seas to support the foundering Norwegian 1200 ton barque 'Abana'.

Sailing from Liverpool, on the 22 December 1894, the Abana was bound for Sapelo, Florida. As she sailed through the Irish Sea off the Isle of Man, she encountered a major storm. The same storm had already claimed a fishing smack, the 'Petrel', off the Blackpool Coast.

M i s t a k i n g t h e To w e r f o r a lighthouse, she first hit North Pier, then drifted north with tattered sails.

At about 3pm, Little Bispham landlord Robert Hindle was watching the storm from an upstairs window of the Cleveleys Hotel.

To his horror, he saw the Abana in great difficulty just off the headland in front of the hotel. He summoned the lifeboat by sending a man on horseback to the Lifeboat Station at Blackpool, located opposite what was the Coliseum. The crew had just returned from rescuing the crew of the 'Petrel', washed ashore opposite Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Within twenty minutes, six horses were harnessed to the Lifeboat wagon and driven at full speed down the lanes to Bispham, arriving and launching some five hours later.

The rescue was only partly successful. Whilst the crew of the Abana was saved and taken to the

WHAT’S ON

Issue 7 - September 2014

Blackpool Heritage Guided Tours Stanley Park To book a tour of Stanley Park, please contact 01253 301004 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.

Winter Gardens pre-set dates: September 11th and 25th, October 9th. Start time 11:15am. Book your place now by calling 01253 478222 or online at www.visitblackpool.com

IT’S A GRAND LIFE!

Heritage Open Days Blackpool and the Fylde Coast

Linda and Geoff Tolson have been actively involved with our wonderful Frank Matcham-designed Grand Theatre since the 1970s, when they appeared there regularly as part of the Green Room Players. The theatre has been a distinguished part of Blackpool’s heritage and entertainment scene since it opened in 1894. But it was nearly lost in the early 1970s when then-owners, EMI, closed it and demolition threatened. Linda explains that thanks to the vision of Jeffrey Finestone, the theatre was designated a Grade II listed building and saved. Linda and Geoff were pivotal in establishing the Friends of the Grand, a group of dedicated, mainly local fund-raisers committed to rescuing this cultural gem for future generations.

Thursday September 11th to Sunday September 14th

Red Lion Inn in Bispham, the ship itself was lost.

For his part in the rescue, Mr Hindle was presented with the ship’s bell by the Captain at a short ceremony.

Shortly after, the bell was presented to St Andrew’s Parish Church in Cleveleys for safekeeping, and as a reminder of the fragility of life at sea.

The hulk of the Abana lay rotting and was plundered for souvenirs for many years.

In terms of the legacy of this event, the bell can still be seen in the North porch of St Andrew’s, along with a framed citation of the events which led to it being presented to the church. More especially, the carcass ribs of the Abana can still be seen at low tide, just off the promenade at Anchorsholme Park, Cleveleys, quite close to the place where the 'Riverdance' foundered 110 years later.

MPC

This year there are 54 venues opening their doors to offer you the chance to discover the unique heritage of Blackpool and the Fylde Coast. To take advantage of this free event, pick up a programme today or visit www.heritageopenday.org.uk

Visit the 2014 Heritage Open Days Exhibition Stanley Park Visitor's Centre Now until September 17th. Open Wednesday to Sunday 11:00-3:00

Linda gave her first talk about the Grand in 1979, and thanks to Herculean efforts, the money was raised to purchase the theatre in1980. However, there was still a long way to go. Geoff remembers there were no real functioning electrical systems - pigeons had nested in the curtained-off balcony area and the dressing rooms were “disgusting”. Continuing dedicated efforts meant the Grand eventually re-opened in March 1981.

Blackpool Illuminations August 29th – November 9th

Blackpool World Firework Championships Every Friday evening in September from dusk (weather permitting) 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th September

Did you know...?

The old Blackpool Lifeboat, the Samuel Fletcher, was for many years used as a pleasure cruiser on Stanley Park Lake.

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 ©

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The Tolsons’ love of theatre is in their blood. Linda’s father, Charles Farrow, was the first archivist. Later, Linda and Geoff took over, amassing a huge amount of material, from programmes going back to 1900 to posters, press cuttings and other paper memorabilia. Some of this is in the building but “space is very limited – Matcham didn’t really cater for storage and offices. His designs maximised the size of the Auditorium itself.”

The recent purchase of an adjacent building which partly adjoins the rear stage area will allow more flexibility in future. Plans are ongoing to pass the entire archive to the Local History Centre at Blackpool Central Library by the end of 2014, securing it and opening it up for public reference and research.

The Tolsons have developed a programme of tours and outreach talks on themes such as: History of the Grand, Stars of The Grand, Frank Matcham and Behind the Scenes. Four volunteers have now joined the team as guides, and monthly Heritage tours are arranged through the box office. The Grand also features in the annual Heritage Open Days. Bespoke tours and talks can be arranged on request – many are already booked for 2015.

The Grand archive is stored chronologically– around 3,500 programmes at the last count. The Tolsons are reluctant to label the collection an actual archive, preferring to call it “historic documents.” Whatever the name, it’s a fascinating record of past shows, performers and the audiences who thrilled to watch them. Three copies of each programme are kept, as well as most posters and newspaper cuttings covering all things Grand. Requests for information from the archives sometimes call for painstaking detective work! There are still many gaps in the programme collection which Geoff hopes may eventually be filled.

much involved for over 40 years- selling programmes, badges, or coffee during performances and helping at many events, including talks and tours.

Volunteers currently number around 250 and must join the Friends of the Grand before induction and training.

The posters tell of yesteryear's stars and shows, the lettering redolent of past decades in which they were produced.

Geoff and Linda frequently update the smart glass display cabinets in the corridors leading down to the stalls with reproductions of original posters. One of their oldest - a hand-tinted lithograph from 1902 - depicts actress Dora Gray, whose fascinating career and mysterious disappearance from historical theatre records Geoff has researched. During the 1940s, new posters were created weekly and an enormous number remain in the archive today. Anyone wishing to consult or add to the archive may contact the Tolsons through The Grand.

The Tolsons consider their main achievements are helping rescue and preserve one of the loveliest Frank Matcham theatres outside London, their active ''engagement with the public'' as well as ''theatre professionals, staff and volunteers''. This charming landmark, once an attraction just for its novel electric lighting, continues to generate income and visitors, raising Blackpool's profile as a centre for culture and live entertainment. The Grand Archive is a testament to the achievements of the thousands of people associated with this wonderful theatre over the last 120 years. Linda feels a previous Manager summed it up well. “The Grand is a bridge from Blackpool’s golden age to the present.” The Tolsons stress that although heritage is important, the modern theatre is a vibrant living thing.

This is demonstrated in the wide range of productions staged here – truly something for everyone!

Although there are professional staff at the theatre, volunteers have been very

by Wendy Stevenson and Lynne Charoenkitsuksun

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS A Great Event to Experience T he cultural her itage of Blackpool and its surrounding districts is both fascinating and surprising. Its humble origins and somnolent early evolution gave no hint of the dramatic transformation it was to undergo during the Victorian era.

‘Heritage Open Days’ celebrate the area’s past and provides an opportunity to view its principal buildings and learn their stories.

Stimulating curiosity and discovery, the event connects people with their local history.

And there is a lot to be proud of...

Picture a scene: light grey mist shrouds the tough wiry grasses of a bleak coastal plain... trees choose not to live here. The flatness of the terrain is sporadically interrupted by eerie skeletons of crumbling shipwrecks, struggling to keep their heads above the consuming sand. In the distance, flocks of wading birds prod the wet sand while marauding gulls screech abuse at them. The ground underfoot is swampy, sticky and threateningly black.

It’s hard to imagine this menacing landscape could evolve into an icon of pleasure and fun. This is the birthplace of Blackpool. Nature may have scorned it, but man recognised its potential and fashioned it into a singularly distinctive place with a cultural heritage to be savoured and celebrated. As the sea receded to its present coastline, homes began to sprout up; hotels appeared; entertainment centres were born; tramlines and piers developed; promenades and illuminations were created. The land was conquered and the sea almost tamed.

In a relatively short time, Blackpool burst forth into an entertainment and holiday nirvana, offering escape to thousands of hard-working families

Blackpool’s Central Library was transformed this August as four fantastic pop-up museums focussing on Blackpool’s entertainment heritage made their debut. A festive launch party in the Brunswick Room raised the curtain on the first results of the Blackpool Treasure Trove project, an exciting community heritage initiative funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Blackpool Council.

trapped in oppressive industrial towns. The population shot from a mere 473 in 1801, to 7,902 by 1870.

Thousands of seasonal visitors further swelled the numbers, as Blackpool became the most popular holiday destination in the country.

Blackpool’s attractions were bigger and better, more innovative and more daring than any other resort.

Many of them are still with us: the Grand Theatre, one of the few remaining theatres of great architectural character, designed by Frank Matcham; the magnificent Opera House, in its day the country’s largest auditorium, seating almost 3,000 and still retaining the record for the largest stage; the exuberant Tower Ballroom and its world famous Wurlitzer organ; the Jacobean architecture of the Town Hall; the Central Library and Grundy Art Gallery, partially funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and Bury artists John and Cuthbert Grundy. There is the North Pier, the Pleasure Beach, Little Marton Windmill, and the Lifeboat Station, which has launched lifeboats for the last 150 years. There are imposing, highly decorative centres of worship, catering for a diversity of faiths.

Outside of Blackpool, there are also many attractions not to be missed, like the Georgian splendour of Lytham Hall, the fascinations of Lytham Windmill Museum and Fleetwood Museum. There are buildings of various ages, styles and functions; special events and activities; and so much to see and learn. And Heritage Open Days make it all possible.

Each September, for four days, these buildings throw open their doors free of charge. It is a once-a-year chance to discover architectural treasures and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities that bring local history and culture to life. Knowledgeable

PRIDE AND PLEASURE AT THE POP-UPS

and enthusiastic guides are on hand to share secrets, expose the past, and direct the visitor to the most spectacular elements. It's a great weekend for anyone with an interest in history, an admiration for beautiful buildings or a desire to learn something new about the place where they live. Heritage Open Days has something for everyone, whatever their background, age or interests – and it’s right on your own doorstep. ‘Heritage Open Days’ is an opportunity to get a privileged insight into a surprisingly fascinating history and a perfect way to celebrate the uniqueness of Blackpool and its surroundings.

– Martyn Jones

Did you know...?

Through the 1870s and 1880s, Blackpool started to become extremely popular with ‘working class’ families and the area known as ‘Foxhall Village’ was developed as the world’s first purpose-built accommodation specifically for such families.

Invited guests, press and public had a chance to meet the talented young people who’ve been working with community-based artists to construct these imaginative and unconventional displays. Interactive, multisensory and (mostly!) portable, the pop-up museums explore the

rich variety of entertainment on offer from the 1950s to the present.

Visitors had the chance to dress up in theatrical glad rags, get an eyecatching history lesson from some surprisingly informative deckchairs, walk the Golden Mile in miniature and enjoy a wild take on the role of animals in Blackpool’s entertainment past ...as you can see, a good time was had by all!

The project, run by the Volunteer Centre Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Community Heritage Programme, gives the people of Blackpool a chance to reconnect with their past and re-imagine their future.

Participants learn about the fabulous historical collections held in Blackpool and gain new skills in oral history,

conservation, curating and media.

The pop-ups w i l l b e appearing at various venues around town, including Stanley Park Visitor Centre from September 17th–28th and hopefully will visit school groups and community centres as well. Over the next two years, more and more popup museums will be rolled out as the project continues with adult groups now forming. If you’d like to be involved, why not get in touch with us? Just drop us an e-mail with your details for your chance to join in the fun! ann-marie@blackpoolvolunteers.org.uk

Community Heritage Assistant Laura Brennan says she was “blown away” by the young people’s “creativity, dedication and passion for their hometown.”

MUSEUM FOR BLACKPOOL The development stage of the Museum for Blackpool Project is now underway and the hope is that the round two application will be submitted around November 2015.

The Blackpool Museum, planned for the Winter Gardens building, will tell the extraordinary story of the world's first working-class seaside resort, celebrating its contribution to British and Western popular culture.

Cllr Simon Blackburn, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has chosen to

support this exciting project.”

“We want to do something completely unique that you would only experience here.

It will not be a conventional museum – it will be a dynamic and celebratory space - a blend of museum, visitor attraction and theatre, filled with artefacts, film, music and performance. It will have a strong personality with a memorable and distinctive take which is true to the lively spirit of Blackpool.”

During the development stage it is

crucial to get the views and input from members of the local community as it will be the ‘people’s museum’. We want your help - so please get in touch. Whether you just want to be kept informed and receive regular updates or you would like to contribute to the development stage by sharing ideas, let us know by contacting heather.morrow@blackpool.gov.uk Please include your name, address and telephone number so that your details can then be added to our database.

THE STRANDING OF THE STEAMER ‘HUNTCLIFFE’ FEBRUARY 1894 On Sunday 11th February, 1894, the ocean-going tramp steamer ‘Huntcliffe’ departed from Liverpool after discharging her cargo of cotton from the American Deep South to Barry in South Wales, where she was to load a shipment of coal destined for Aden.

Built in 1891, the 2000 ton ship with a crew of 27, including six runners and two stowaways, left the Port of Liverpool at 2:00pm in the face of a stiff wind. By the time she reached a point four miles off the Great Ormes Head, the wind had reached gale force. Without a cargo and with treacherous weather, it was difficult to keep control of the vessel. A tremendous amount of the ship’s hull was exposed to the violence of wind and waves and, under these circumstances, it was impossible to keep her head to the seas. The ship anchored in Llandudno Bay while another plan of fighting the gales was decided upon. The anchor could not be hauled up, so 120 fathoms of chain had to be sacrificed. Still in the teeth of the gale getting broadside, on she rolled fearfully with heavy seas, and consequently started to drift. In the darkness, no-one fully realised the danger.

Between the hours of 5:00pm Sunday and 2:00am Monday, the stricken ‘Huntcliffe’ was blown across the turbulent waters of the Irish Sea, finally grounding just twelve hours after

leaving port. Intact and without loss of life, she was stranded on the sand dunes opposite the former Blackburn Convalescent Home between Squires Gate and St Anne’s.

News of the stranding hit the headlines, with many people climbing rope ladders to see on board. Had the Captain of the ‘Huntcliffe’ charged admission to the vessel, he would have made a small fortune from the many hundreds who made the steep ascent to the deck. The beach nearby was transformed into a miniature fairground with sweets, gingerbread, fruit stalls, jugglers, Punch & Judy and a variety of hawkers selling their wares. Quite a busy ‘air’ was lent to St Anne’s, owing to hundreds of visitors constantly arriving by rail. Clifton Drive was an animated spectacle with all kinds of transportation, including hoards of cyclists resting their cycles on the sand dunes.

Blackpool also contributed to the large crowds by offering cheap fares to the scene by proprietors of landaus and horse-drawn wagonettes. After all the festive excitement, the serious business of re-floating the grounded ‘Huntcliffe’ began. The ship was owned by Messrs George Horsley and Son, of West Hartlepool, with an insurance value of £35,000.

The underwriters took charge of the vessel and employed a labour force of

navvies to cut a channel for the ship’s passage into deeper water. There were about 30 men clearing shingle from the seaward side of the ‘Huntcliffe’, but the navvies were continually getting in one another’s way and one could tell from their leisurely manner that the pay was not enough. Nine pence (old pennies) an hour was the recompense offered.

Considering this amount to be insufficient, they struck out for an increase of three pence per hour. The salvage company gave most of the gang the sack for their temerity, and fresh help was recruited.

Lawrence Wright Captain Howell of the ‘Huntcliffe’ was blamed for attempting the journey in the teeth of a great storm. However, because there was a pilot on board, the ship was entirely under his orders and the captain had to take a back seat.

The crew described St Anne’s as a onehorse town. Nevertheless, some of the crew were in trouble owing to overindulgence in alcoholic beverages.

Police had some difficulty restraining the pugilistic propensities of two drinksodden men.

Mattinson bit a policeman’s finger, while Mikkolson put two Arabs to flight. An Arab lost in Blackpool was found wandering about Lytham Road in a forlorn condition, his teeth chattering with cold. Shouting, ‘Me lost ship!’ he was provided with a ‘shakedown’ in a hayloft and sent away rejoicing with a full stomach the next morning.

Meanwhile, with the help of Liverpool tug boats ‘Pathfinder’, ‘Wrestler’ and ‘Toiler’ and the gunboat ‘Reaper’, the ‘Huntcliffe’ was finally hauled to safety into deeper water on 23rd February (11 days after beaching). Some of the officers were sorry to leave, as their wives had been staying in St Anne’s during the week of the rescue.

In 1914, the ‘Huntcliffe’ was based in Andros with Greek owners and renamed ‘Violetta’. In 1915, she was based in the Romanian Port of Galatz. She was commandeered by the Imperial Russian Navy in 1916 and renamed ‘No. 107’. She was finally broken up in 1920.

- article by Barry Shaw