Fylde

Photographs of the Fylde coast, Summer 2004 by Martin Sullivan (13 pictures, 415 KBytes, approximately 3 minutes download time at typical modem rates, 2.5 KBytes/s).

This is Stuff, off-topic and possibly ephemeral.

Summer of 2004 saw me working on a contract at the Department of Work and Pensions on their Lytham Saint Annes site (although I was actually contracted to IBM and they were delivering to EDS). This was a return to an old stamping ground and the contract was only of just under four months duration. As is now the custom the digital camera went with me so here are my sea-side snaps.

The Fylde is an 20km long area of coast, mostly urbanised, extending from Lytham in the south, through Lytham St. Annes to Blackpool and thence to Fleetwood in the north. Although actually working in Lytham St. Annes I thought I'd take pictures of the lot. For the geographically minded amongst you there's no north-south order in my photographs.

Blackpool Tower: Built at the end of the 19th century at a height of 160 meters (about half the size of the one in Paris) the Blackpool Tower is the sole surviving example of a fashion for towers at British coastal resorts. The building at its base houses a circus and a ballroom where one can still dance to a Wurlitzer organ as well as numerous other attractions.

Pleasure Beach - the Big One: The south of Blackpool has a large traditional amusement park styled "Pleasure Beach". It is home to a number of roller coasters including the famous wooden dual-racing "Grand National". Dominating everything is the "Big One" now sponsored by a soft-drinks company and re-named "Pepsi Max". It was the worlds tallest and fastest coaster when opened in 1994 with a maximum drop hight of 72 metres at 65 degrees leading to speeds of nearly 140 k/hr. I've not been on it, and I don't want to either!

Blackpool sea-front: The promenade at Blackpool is known as the "Golden Mile" and it appears to be always trying to be the most tasteless garish place on earth (Las Vegas, notwithstanding). There are quiet places where one can sit and contemplate however.

Blackpool North Pier: The North peer is the old of the three piers in Blackpool, being built in 1863 and is 500m long. It is home to theatre and shops and is considered to be the most 'traditional' of them all.

Lytham Windmill: Blackpool is to the north of Lytham St. Annes. To the south is Lytham itself. The prominent windmill, built in 1805 on what was an area of sand-dunes and is now Lytham Green was in use until 1919 and is now a museum.

White Church Lytham: This Congregational church was one of a number of churches built at the turn of the century. Its characteristic white glazed brick cladding is responsible for it being universally named "The White Church".

Tram Fleetwood: The Blackpool and Fleetwood tram system is unusual in that it is the last remnant of standard British tramways with double-decker trams. The tramway started in 1885 and for the most part runs on separate tracks to the road. At Fleetwood, pictured here, it runs, traditional style, in the middle of the road. The picture is of a 'Balloon' tram, which dates back to the 1930s and is still in daily use.

North Euston Hotel Fleetwood: The original plan was that if you were in London and desired to travel to Glasgow you took a train to Fleetwood and then took a steam-ship the rest of the way. Fleetwood no longer has a railway, but this rather fine hotel was named to remind railway passengers of where they'd come from (Euston in London). The lighthouse, still in use, and dating from 1840 is the Lower Light. Ships line it and another lighthouse (the 'Pharos') up to guide themselves into the channel.

St. Annes Boating Lake: The area in front of Lytham St. Annes was once all sand dunes. Gradually this was built up with boating lakes, Lidos and other building encroached onto it. It is now a rather pleasant after-work walk.

Lytham St. Annes Bungalows: Lytham St. Annes (not to be confused with Lytham up the road) is a genteel town that grew from nothing at the turn of the century. The housing stock is dominated by Bungalows (single story houses - no stairs, the older citizens like them). These are some typical examples found on the way to work.

North Shore St. Annes: The sea-front at Lytham St. Annes is a jumble of hotels and blocks of flats. The somewhat garish nature of most British sea-side holiday resorts is strongly discouraged and contrast between Lytham St. Annes and Blackpool is thus all the more remarkable.

End of the St. Annes Pier: Lytham St. Annes has a shortish pier was once about twice as long as its present 182m, fire having reduced the rest. What's left is now largely an amusement arcade.

DWP Moorland Road: This is where I worked, this being the third visit to this site in my career. The government offices of the Department of Work and Pensions were originally an evacuation hospital constructed in some haste just prior to World War II, hence the rather appealing architecture.

The Lytham St. Annes contract has finished now and I'm looking for my next assignment. You can look forward to more pictures of exciting and exotic places posted here.