South Shore is an area of Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It forms the southern part of the town for two miles along the Promenade from Rigby Road to Starr Gate. Its inland boundaries run along Rigby Road, Queen Victoria Road, Ansdell Road, Hawes Side Lane, Common Edge Road and Squires Gate Lane. [1]
| South Shore | |
|---|---|
 Blackpool Pleasure Beach in South Shore from Blackpool Tower | |
  South Shore Location in Blackpool  South Shore Location within Lancashire | |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BLACKPOOL |
| Postcode district | FY1, FY4 |
| Dialling code | 01253 |
| Police | Lancashire |
| Fire | Lancashire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | |
Area of Special Local Character Edit
In February 2023 Blackpool Council proposed that South Shore be recognised as an Area of Special Local Character, which Historic England describes as historically important. It pointed to a significant cluster of locally listed buildings on Waterloo Road and Bond Street as well as the grade II listed Holy Trinity Church and some interesting original architectural features on the upper floors of other buildings.
The report stated said that “commercial pressures and poor development management in the past have resulted in the loss of historic shop fronts and architectural features.” And that designation “would assist the decision-making process… where proposals would result in further erosion of historic character”.[2]
A public consultation on the designation met no objections.[3]
Heritage assets which would be included in the new designated area are:
- Holy Trinity, Bond Street/Dean Street (Grade II)
- Holy Trinity School, Dean Street (adjacent to church)
- Harte’s Store, 7-11 Bond Street
- Former bank, 29-31 Bond Street
- Former bank, 46 Bond Street
- Former assembly rooms, 98-100 Bond Street/Station Road
- Former villa and bank, 87 Bond Street/22 Dean Street
- Dutton Arms, Waterloo Road/441 Promenade
- Bull Inn, Waterloo Road
- Talbot Court, 5-9 Waterloo Road/Promenade
- Former Post Office, 20-32 Waterloo Road
- Former bank, 44 Waterloo Road/St Bedes Avenue
Tourism Edit
Several major tourist attractions can be found in South Shore including Blackpool Pleasure Beach, which was founded in 1896 in an area populated by Romani Gypsies,[4] including members of the Boswell family,[5] one of England's largest and most important Gypsy families,[6] who were subsequently evicted.[7]
The area is also home to: South Pier, which opened as Victoria Pier at Easter 1893;[8] the Sandcastle Waterpark, which sits on the site of the former Open Air Baths on South Promenade; and Ripley's Believe it or Not.
South Shore is home to a significant amount of tourist accommodation including highly-rated hotels – The Boulevard, Number One South Beach and Number One St Luke’s; chain hotels – The Hampton by Hilton, Premier Inn, Travelodge and the Radisson Individuals' Blackpool FC Stadium Hotel; private holiday accommodation; and many independent hotels and guest houses.
Religion Edit
The parish church for South Shore is Holy Trinity Church. The current structure was built in 1895, replacing a church that was originally built in 1836.[9] Other Anglican churches include St Christopher’s; St Peter’s, Holy Cross and St Mary’s. The Catholic churches are St Cuthbert’s and Our Lady of the Assumption. Other places of worship include Seventh Day Adventist Church, Bible Pattern Church, The Gatehouse Pentecostal Church, South Shore Methodist Church, Blackpool Unitarian Church and Victory Baptist Church.
Education Edit
There are seven primary schools in South Shore: Gateway Academy; St Cuthbert’s; Hawes Side Academy; Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School; Roseacre Primary Academy; Waterloo Primary Academy and Thames Primary Academy, which opened in 1903 as South Shore Board School. High schools are: Highfield Leadership Academy and South Shore Academy, formerly named Knowle High School and Palatine High School. Armfield Academy is a combined school for pupils aged 2-16, built on the site of the former independent Arnold School, established in 1896, and retaining some of the original building.
Leisure Edit
South Shore includes two miles of beaches and several parks – Watson Road Park, Louie Horrocks Park, Bancroft Park and Highfield Road Memorial Park.
Palatine Library and Palatine Leisure Centre are both Blackpool Council-run facilities situated on St Anne’s Road. Leisure facilities include a gym, racquet sports courts, a multipurpose sports hall, swimming pool, a 1km outdoor enclosed cycle track and cafe.
The two main high streets in South Shore are Highfield Road and Waterloo Road. Highfield Road is home to Highfield Road Memorial Park, the former Highfield Road library, now repurposed as The Hub at South Shore, as well as several independent shops, bars and eateries. Waterloo Road is home to Blackpool’s Notarianni's ice cream parlour, which has been run by four generations of Italian ice cream makers since 1937,[10] and Brooks Collectables and Museum – a family-run business open since 1949.[11]
Longstanding pubs in the area include The Bloomfield Brew House, The Sun Hotel, The Halfway House, The Dunes, The Manchester, The New Albert, The Dog and Partridge, The Royal Oak, The Farmers’ Arms, The Bull, The Dutton Arms and The Bridge. The Waterloo Music Bar, which opened in 1900, was formerly known for its crown green bowling[12] and is now a popular independent music venue, regularly hosting local and touring bands with a focus on the punk, rock and metal genres, since its reinvention in 2015.[13]
Transport Edit
The Blackpool Tramway has 14 stops in South Shore between Manchester Square and its terminus at Starr Gate.
Blackpool Airport, formerly known as Squires Gate Airport and Blackpool International Airport, offers executive flights and private aircraft facilities including for offshore oil and gas facilities in the Irish Sea.[14] Aviation pioneer Amy Johnson's last complete flight was a ferry flight for the ATA from Squires Gate to Oxford.[15] In March 2015, the government announced that a new enterprise zone would be created at Blackpool Airport, using some airport land and adjoining land.[16]
South Shore has two railway stations – Squires Gate and Blackpool South. South Shore railway station on Lytham Road, was the area's first station in 1863.[17] Burlington Road Halt also served the area from 1913 to 1939,[18] replaced by Blackpool Pleasure Beach railway station[19] on the same site in 1987. Waterloo Road railway station opened in 1903,[20] later renamed Blackpool South.
Sport Edit
Bloomfield Road, the home of Blackpool F.C., is located in South Shore. South Shore also has a Tennis Club, Cricket and Squash Club and Bowling Club.
Politics Edit
South Shore covers several Blackpool Council wards fully or partially. These include Stanley, Squires Gate, Hawes Side, Highfield, Waterloo, Victoria and Bloomfield.
South Shore is in the Parliamentary Constituency of Blackpool South, represented in the House of Commons since 2019 by Scott Benton, who was elected as a Conservative, but who sits as an independent after he had the Conservative Party whip suspended in April 2023.[21]
References Edit
- ^ Lancashire Archives Document: DDCL/694, Act for the Enclosing of Layton Hawes. (printed) - 1767
- ^ "South shore area of special local character". Blackpool Council. 26 January 2023.
- ^ Parkinson, Shelagh (6 June 2023). "Blackpool's South Shore to get special heritage status in boost to historical buildings". Lancs Live.
- ^ Float, Sharon (1993). From Welcome Visitors to Vagabonds: The history of the gypsy encampment on Blackpool's South Shore. University of London.
- ^ "A South Shore Gipsy: Century-long tenancy to be ended". Burnley Gazette. 16 February 1910.
- ^ "King of the Gypsies", Wikipedia, 25 August 2023, retrieved 5 September 2023
- ^ "A South Shore Gypsy - Century-Long Tenancy To Be Ended". Burnley Gazette. 16 February 1910.
- ^ "Blackpool Herald". 7 April 1893.
- ^ Parry, Keith (1983). The Resorts of the Lancashire Coast. David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-8304-3.
- ^ Charlesworth, Antonia (30 June 2020). "Cold Ices, Warm Hearts". Blackpool Social Club.
- ^ Suffield, Alice (17 March 2023). "The 73-year-old Blackpool shop with hidden museum stuffed with treasures you can visit for just £1".
- ^ "The Waterloo". bowls.co.uk. 5 September 2023.
- ^ Griffiths, Claire (25 November 2020). "Save Our Music Venues – The Waterloo Music Bar". Blackpool Social Club.
- ^ "Blackpool Airport", Wikipedia, 13 August 2023, retrieved 5 September 2023
- ^ "Blackpool Airport", Wikipedia, 13 August 2023, retrieved 5 September 2023
- ^ Parkinson, Shelagh (28 December 2022). "Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone among best in country as investment ramps up". Blackpool Gazette.
- ^ "South Shore railway station", Wikipedia, 31 March 2023, retrieved 5 September 2023
- ^ Welch, M.S. (2004). Lancashire Steam Finale. Runpast Publishing, Cheltenham. p. 31. ISBN 1-870754-61-1.
- ^ Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 36. ISBN 1-85260-508-1.
- ^ "Blackpool South railway station", Wikipedia, 23 August 2023, retrieved 5 September 2023
- ^ "Scott Benton suspended as Tory MP after lobbying sting". BBC News. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.