Monday, 17th November, at The Imperial Hotel Blackpool, it’s our November meeting. It will be the annual Robert Evan Mills lecture. This year the lecture is by Bev Carroll and titled. ‘Raikes Hall and the Royal Palace Gardens’.
Starting at 7pm. Non-members are welcome for a small donation £2. Please note the venue.
Saturday 8th November 2025
On Saturday 8th November there was a good turn out to see the Blue Plaque for Layton Cemetery unveiled by the Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor Kim Critchley, with the Friends of Layton Cemetery and Blackpool Civic Trust. The plaque was sponsored by the Friends of Layton Cemetery and Layton Councillors and is in recognition of the cemetery’s historical and cultural significance.
Below: Pam Isherwood who worked hard to get the plaque for the Friends of Layton Cemetery, The Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor Kim Critchley and Elaine Smith MBE Chair of Blackpool Civic Trust.
Saturday 1st November 2025
A celebration event to unveil the Blue Plaque for Charlie Cairoli. Where else but The Blackpool Tower Circus where Charlie starred in the ring from 1939 to 1979. The plaque was unveiled by Charlie Cairoli Jnr in front of an audience of admirers.
The plaque was presented by Steve Richley and the Charlie Cairoli Appreciation Society. It will be mounted in the Tower front entrance.
Saturday’s event at the Tower was part of a busy weekend including dining at the Imperial Hotel and a celebration of his life at Showtown. There are many photographs of the event, a small selection is below and links to other notable records of events are at the end of the page.
A wonderful video of events by Bev Carroll, local historian Link to Bev Carroll’s video on Facebook
The story of the creation of the Blue Plaque by Nigel Male of the Charlie Cairoli Appreciation Society Link Nigel Male’s Blue Plaque story on Facebook
Curtis Tappenden was invited to sketch events, great work Link to sketches of the circus and some of the event on Facebook
Friday 31st Octbober 2025
Today Blackpool Civic Trust visited The Robinson, Blackpool’s new business hub, based in the Stanley buildings, Church street, following its £8m renovation.
In August we had a talk on the restoration of this fine building and today’s visit gave us a chance to see the finished article for ourselves.
Thank you to Peter Legg and the team at The Robinson for giving the civic trust a preview of the office and co-working space prior to opening.
For more information about available space and membership of The Robinson, or for businesses to book a private viewing, click here: https://blackpoolunlimited.com/the-robinson/
Monday 20th October 2025 at 7pm
There was a good turn out for our October meeting in the Holiday Inn Blackpool. A number of proposals were discussed and agreed before the guest speaker, Alistair Baines presented his talk ‘The Life and Times of a Sandgrown Architect’.
From building Sandcastles at Cleveleys to designing Council buildings, Schools, Colleges, Banks and more. With explanations of features and form. Building works such as the new Stanley Building transformation, Glasdon Innovation Centre and Knott End Golf Clubhouse.
The meeting was held at the Holiday Inn Blackpool on Monday 20th October 2025. Photo of Elaine our Chairman thanking Alistair, standing, for the talk.
October Monthly Meeting at the Holiday Inn, Talbot Road, Blackpool.
The guest speaker is Alistair Baines of Cassidy & Ashton, Architects, Building Surveyors & Town Planners. Speaking of ‘The life and times of a sand grown architect’.
Non-members are welcome for a small donation, £2 is suggested. We’ll see you soon.
The agenda will be business and raffle followed by the guest speaker.
A day out in the mills of Lancashire. Our coach tour took us from Blackpool to East Lancashire: Helmshore Mill near Rawtenstall and Queen Street Mill at Harle Syke in Burnley to visit the former cotton mills now being operated as museums by Lancashire County Council.
Our group outside Helmshore Mill. The multi-storey mill has full size cotton and wool factory equipment in two mills set out as it was and with additional displays, such as Arkwright’s Water Frame and spinning wheels, plus a waterwheel and an attractive stone former railway bridge adjoining the factory.
Soon some of our group were weaving, warping and carding on looms and mules ready for a shift at 7.30am in the morning, in a different life.
Lunch makes you jolly. Both mills have cafes.
Queen Street Mill weaving shed with dozens of looms and the belts powered by a large steam engine with a tall factory chimney. Quite a sight and very noisy when in operation.
These are impressive museums that were operating up to the 1980s and now mark the significance of the textile industry to the development of the region. The processing machinery looks complex and it tended to be built locally.
Our next meeting will be held on Monday 15th September 2025 in the Holiday Inn, Talbot Road, Blackpool at 7pm.
The guest speaker will be
Carl Carrington, the Head of Planning and Conservation at Blackpool Council.
The talk will be ‘Key Developments in Blackpool 2023 and 2024’.
Non-members are welcome for a small donation of £2.
On Saturday 30th August 2025 Blackpool Civic Trust attended the unveiling of the Blue Plaque representing the activities of the Seasiders Independent Supporters Association.
‘In 2013 the movement brought Blackpool Football Club back into the heart of the community and led to the introduction of independent regulation by the government.
The Armfield Club, the independent supporters club, opened in 2020 and is a lasting legacy for all Blackpool fans past and present who played a role in re-claiming our club.’
Elaine Smith MBE, Chair of Blackpool Civic Trust with John Armfield, son of Jimmy Armfield, next to the blue plaque (lower).
Elaine Smith with Judi Brown a member of the Blackpool Civic Trust.
Enjoy this tour of the Town Hall showing off the Mayor’s Parlour, the silverware,
stained glass windows and other artefacts. The highlight of the tour will be the impressive Council Chamber with its many points of interest, such as the Wragg Window, history wall paintings and the four windows representing the activities for which Blackpool was known.
Sat 20 Sept 10.30am-3pm
Enter through the front door of the Town Hall and be greeted for the tour.
