2021. Welcome!
Blackpool Civic Trust promoting excellence since 1975
Founded in 1975, Blackpool Civic Trust seeks to promote excellence and community spirit in Blackpool for people of all ages. We are interested in all things Blackpool, particularly its heritage and future for people. We have monthly meetings, visits to places of interest, and community activities such as Civic Week. We'd love you to join us.
Become a Corporate Member find out more, click here
The next Monthly Meeting will be held on
Monday 20th September 2021 - Guest Speaker to be confirmed
The meeting will be held on Zoom with joining instructions distributed by email.
Join Blackpool Civic Trust
Please use the forms below to renew or become a member of Blackpool Civic Trust.
At the AGM the committee was elected and the accounts agreed. See the committee list on our About us page, click here.
Download our membership form for renewals or new members:
Please forward the form to the person named on the form and the payment as stated, thankyou.
The Civic Trust has won national recognition for Blackpool’s seaside heritage in North Shore.
Historic England has awarded Grade 2 status to Middle and Lower Walk colonnades. The 5 Middle Walk colonnades and retaining wall , which is included in the listing, start at Cocker Square and finish at Gynn slipway. The national listing for the single Lower Walk colonnade includes 2 massive pillars at Gynn Square, which are the only surviving parts of what was formerly a very grand entrance to the colonnades.
The colonnades were constructed between 1923 and 1925.
Blackpool Civic Trust has also won national recognition for the 8 larger seaside shelters in Bispham and Norbreck, which have been listed as Grade 2. They join a select group of
8 previously listed, smaller shelters from the Edwardian period, most of which are located near Princess Parade.
The newly-listed shelters were constructed in the early part of the twentieth century.
Our Chair, Joan, said how pleased she was that Historic England has recognised the importance of the larger seaside shelters and very impressive colonnades. Awarding them Grade 2 status is a wonderful accolade.
Joan added that the Trust welcomes new members to work with us on behalf of Blackpool. Further information and membership forms can be found on our website. Alternatively, you may contact our Membership Secretary, Walter. (wgcairns@hotmail.co.uk).
Historic England, ‘Seaside Gems of Blackpool’. Grade 2 national listing:
(1) Middle & Lower Walk colonnades, including associated retaining walls and 2 pillars located in Gynn Square
‘The Middle and Lower Walk colonnades are reinforced-concrete structures that run for around one kilometre along Blackpool’s sea front. They were designed by the Borough Surveyor’s chief architectural assistant John Charles Robinson (who later became the Borough Architect).
Following Blackpool’s growth as an important leisure destination in the second half of the 19th century, the early-20th century saw further improvement and extension of the town’s three-level promenades. The Lower Walk colonnade was built in 1923 as a link between the upper and lower levels, and a gateway to the middle level. From 1923 to 1925 the Middle Walk colonnade was built as a strengthening structure and a way of vertically stacking the upper walk over the middle walk. This allowed the tram tracks to be moved to free up road space for cars.
Both are major seafront structures in Blackpool’s North Promenade Conservation Area. They are also important examples of inter-war seafront improvements in one of the world’s largest seaside resorts, reflect the growth in the leisure industry and motor transport, and highlight the higher standards of amenity expected by visitors by the early-20th century. Architecturally, they demonstrate good neo-Classical detailing and technically sophisticated cantilevering.’ (Historic England briefing, ‘Seaside Gems of Blackpool’, August 2021)
(2) Eight Seaside Shelters in Bispham & Norbreck
‘Blackpool’s seafront is lined with promenade shelters, most of which have stood for more than 100 years as civic features intended to enhance the street scene. Eight shelters are already listed at Grade II and the list entries of these are being updated …at the same time as the listing of a further eight shelters.
Most of the shelters were made between 1903 and 1904 by renowned iron-founders Walter MacFarlane and Co (MacFarlanes), of Glasgow and the Lion Foundry Company, of Kirkintilloch. They were commissioned by Blackpool Corporation, some especially for the ‘new promenade’ at South Shore. They stand as a symbol of the archetypal British seaside town, visited by so many holiday-goers since the 1800s.
The shelters are rare survivals of good-quality Edwardian cast-iron street shelters, particularly redolent of the seaside, and retain many of their original design features. Six of the listed shelters were relocated around 2005 to stand within the Town Centre Conservation Area, while the others stand to the north of the recently designated North Promenade Conservation Area.’ (Historic England briefing, ‘Seaside Gems of Blackpool, August 2021)
Blackpool Civic Trust Art and Photographic Competition 2021 - Entries by 20th September 2021
This year Blackpool Civic Trust is holding an art and photographic competition with prizes and awards in the Stanley Park Visitor Centre in Autumn..
The theme is 'Celebrating our Seaside Heritage'.
Blackpool Civic Trust is holding an art competition open to artists and photographers who are professional or amateur and junior or senior, culminating in an Exhibition at Stanley Park Visitor centre during September/October this year. There are prizes for the winners in each category and there will be a grand opening day for all entrants with refreshments provided.
The aim is to show aspects of our wonderful seaside heritage from humble beginnings in the early 1800’s to the present day. From seaside postcards and theatre bills, artistes and attractions, buildings and tram shelters, the piers and sideshows, Town Hall and Raikes Hall.
For full details please contact Gill using the details on the poster below.
The Exhibition is to be held in Stanley Park Visitor Centre between 22nd September and 26th October 2021.
Blackpool: Historic England Grade 2 listing of The Colonnades and 8 more Promenade Shelters on North Shore - 27th August 2021
The Civic Trust has won national recognition for Blackpool’s seaside heritage in North Shore.
Historic England has awarded Grade 2 status to Middle and Lower Walk Colonnades and for 8 more Promenade Shelters at Bispham and Norbreck.
More information to follow.
Joan Humble presents The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service to Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours, 15th July 2021
Joan Humble, who is a member of the Lancashire Queen's Awards for Voluntary Service Panel, presented volunteers and representatives of Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours with their award for 2020.
The presentation was unavoidably delayed by the pandemic. Normally, the presentation would have taken place at County Hall, Preston, but had to be relocated. The Rigby Road depot proved to be a very appropriate alternative and the sun shone brightly for the occasion.
To see the photographs click here
Covid-19 Information
We have gathered some local Covid-19 information on our website, please click here.
Call of the Sea, Public Art in Talbot Square Blackpool unveiled 10th June 2021
'Call of the Sea’ evokes the richness of the sea and is full of references to the many creatures and things associated with the sea in its more benign aspects'. Read more here
Laurence Payot with her work 'Call of the Sea' in Talbot Square Blackpool:
Princess Parade Crazy Golf Course Re-Opens, near North Pier
Friday 28th May 2021
A derelict crazy golf course has been given a new lease of life by local charities, and volunteers from the community experiencing multiple disadvantage in Blackpool.
Blackpool Civic Trust participated in the voluntary work.
Read more on our news page click here
Please check opening days and opening hours on the Princess Parade crazy golf course Facebook page.
Richard Gottfried, a champion of Crazy Golf, on Blackpool's re-opened crazy golf course near North Pier:
Joan Humble on one of the new Tram Benches in Talbot Square, Blackpool
Please note the Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony planned for Friday 27th March 2020 has been postponed until after the pandemic.
Blackpool Civic Trust Seaside Memorabilia Collection
Over the years Blackpool Civic Trust has collected a large amount of Blackpool related Seaside Memorabia. We have photographed the items and created an on-line catalogue. Please click on this link to view it.
Item 5
Direct Links to what we do and other items of interest:
AwardsMembershipCorporate MembersPlanning
BuildingsBlue PlaquesHeritage Open DaysFavourites
LostWar MemorialsBlackpool Heritage TramsBlackpool Air Show
Blackpool contains many buildings and areas of importance:
Over 30 listed buildings
Over 50 blue plaques
One listed park
Four Conservation Areas
Local list of important buildings
Assets of Community Value
Blackpool Heritage Open Days click here
Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours click here
Blackpool Illuminations
See our news page for information of what we've done and what we're doing.
If you wish to speak at one of our meetings please contact our speakers secretary listed on the About Us page.
Contact us: Click here
Charity Reg. No. 504075 R
Become a Corporate Member, see our list, click here