| Blackpool is the number one tourist resort in | | | | Construction of the Promenade along the |
| the UK and its history suggests that it | | | | seafront began in 1856 and was completed |
| always seemed destined for this kind of | | | | around 1870. At the time, entertainment in |
| greatness. | | | | Blackpool consisted wholly of Uncle Tom's |
| | | | Cabin, a simple shack that provided drinks, |
| Before the 18th century, Blackpool was simply | | | | music and dancing. |
| a quiet hamlet by the sea surrounded by | | | | |
| forests and impassable bogs. Then, in the | | | | In 1863, the North Pier was constructed and |
| 1700s, the upper crust of society began | | | | quickly became a favorite gathering place of |
| spending their summers at Blackpool, drawn | | | | upper-class tourists. The North Pier was the |
| mainly by the lure of the sea which, during | | | | first of Blackpool's three famous piers. |
| those days, was believed to have the power to | | | | |
| cure diseases. | | | | The Central Pier, then known as the South |
| | | | Jetty, was erected in 1868. It had theatres |
| By the middle of the 18th century, even the | | | | and assembly rooms as its main attraction, |
| middle and lower classes were taking summer | | | | although the pier only became popular when |
| sojourns at Blackpool to benefit from the | | | | open-air dancing for the masses was |
| sea's curative powers. It was not long before | | | | introduced in 1870. |
| hordes of people trooped to Blackpool and | | | | |
| could be seen paddling in the sea in search | | | | The South Pier was completed in 1893, mainly |
| of health and a cure for what ailed them. | | | | as a complement to the development of South |
| | | | Shore, which had well patronized 32-acre |
| The year 1781 marked a turning point in | | | | amusement park that had a huge American |
| Blackpool's history as two men, Thomas | | | | Carousel as its main attraction. |
| Clifton and Sir Henry Houghton, constructed a | | | | |
| private road that made Blackpool more | | | | The development of the Pleasure Gardens began |
| accessible to people. It is no coincidence | | | | in the 1870s. It included a lake, theatre, |
| that 1781 also marked the first time | | | | ballroom, race course, skating rink, football |
| stagecoaches from Manchester would travel to | | | | and cricket grounds, aviary and monkey house. |
| Blackpool. By 1782, the stagecoaches would be | | | | It was complemented by the Blackpool Aquarium |
| travelling from Halifax as well. | | | | and Menagerie, which opened in 1875. |
| | | | |
| During the latter part of the 1780s, four | | | | The Winter Gardens opened in 1878 and |
| hotels had been established in Blackpool to | | | | featured an indoor promenade and pavilion. |
| accommodate the town's ever-growing number of | | | | One of the novelty rides at the Winter |
| tourists. However, despite all this, the | | | | Gardens served as the inspiration for the |
| development of a Blackpool economy and the | | | | first permanent electric tramway in the UK, |
| growth of its population remained slow. | | | | the Blackpool Tram, which became operational |
| | | | in 1885. |
| This all changed with the dawn of the 19th | | | | |
| century when an entrepreneur named Henry | | | | In 1876, Blackpool was hailed as an official |
| Banks started buying huge parcels of land and | | | | Borough. In 1877, while suffering from |
| constructing new building around Blackpool, a | | | | economic depression, the Blackpool Council |
| task that was later continued by his | | | | launched a grand affair and carnival in the |
| son-in-law, John Crocker. Banks, known as the | | | | piers to spur tourism and economic growth, |
| Father of Blackpool, erected the town's first | | | | highlighted by Blackpool's pioneering street |
| holiday cottages while Crocker built its | | | | lights. The Blackpool Illuminations were |
| first assembly rooms. Many of these | | | | borne. More than 100,000 visitors from out of |
| structures still stand today. | | | | town were on hand to witness the show. |
| | | | |
| The year 1821 marked the consecration of the | | | | In 1885, Blackpool became the first town to |
| St. John's Church in Blackpool. | | | | have an electric tram system with the |
| | | | formation of the Blackpool Electric Town |
| With these developments, the population of | | | | Company. The first tram rides were free of |
| Blackpool grew quickly from less than 500 in | | | | charge and were used a great deal for the |
| 1801 to over 2,500 by 1851. | | | | transport of farm produce and building |
| | | | materials for use in the fast-growing town. |
| Despite the growth of Blackpool, travelling | | | | |
| there was still a difficult task, usually | | | | Blackpool strengthened its entertainment |
| taking a day from Manchester and two days | | | | industry in the 1890s with the construction |
| from Yorkshire. This ended in the 1840s with | | | | of the Opera House in the Winter Gardens |
| the development of the railway system that | | | | Complex and the circus and ballroom at the |
| connected Blackpool to the industrial towns | | | | Blackpool Tower. The decade also saw the |
| of the north, which made traveling to | | | | opening of the South Pier, the Grand Theatre |
| Blackpool easier and cheaper. The development | | | | and the famous 220-foot Gigantic Wheel, which |
| of the railway system propelled Blackpool | | | | was then the biggest in the world. |
| into a period of prosperity. | | | | |
| | | | The 1900s marked the development of the |
| By 1852, gas lighting was introduced in | | | | Golden Mile and the Blackpool Pleasure Beach. |
| Blackpool, followed by piped water in 1864. | | | | |