promoting excellence in Blackpool since 1975
Our next monthly meeting is on Monday 21st July 2025 at 7pm at the Holiday Inn Talbot Road Blackpool. The guest speaker is Claire Walmsley Griffiths a Heritage Spaces and Performance photographer from Blackpool.
Non-members are welcome for a small donation of £2.
There was a good turn out for the tour of Lightworks, the home of Blackpool Illuminations. We were treated to a guided tour by the manager, Richard Williams, who gave a lighthearted and knowledgeable account of what it takes to put on several miles of illuminations in the open sea air. Creating the amazing ideas of some of the best designers, such as Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and with celebrity Leigh Francis, better known as Keith Lemon, who designs tableaux.
The entrance to Lightworks:
Richard Williams in yellow and Blackpool Civic Trust and friends in pink:
Sooty who often sits near the top of lamp posts and has a tabeaux of its own:
The Lightworks makes the tabeaux and illuminated displays using modern shaping technoloty such as 3D printing and has to ensure light it evenly transmitted through the display.
The Galleon from the tableaux way up north, Bispham way:
Disco Donkey Cavalcade by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, was on the prom opposite the Blackpool Tower in last years display. A joyful display well appreciated by everyone who saw it. We look forward to seeing it again.
Madhatter’s tea party. Which tea would it be? Quite large aren’t they.
Another display by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on the promenade, 11th July 2025. These are bigger than they look.
Blackpool Illuminations run from 30th August 2025 to 5th January 2026. 2
6th August 2025 brings a preview and fun night out with a closed Promenade for cycling in ‘Ride the Lights’.
From 15th October to 1st November 2025 the Lightpool Festival will display.
Plus the World Fireworks Championship adds to the excitement in September and October.
During the Lightpool festival tours on two illuminated trams, the Western Train and the Frigate, as well as the Balloon tram will run and the Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours will continue to the end of the illuminations season.
A splendid time is guaranteed for all.
Richard Williams will be offering us tours of the Illuminations depot on Friday 11 July at 1:30.
We will meet outside the Lightworks, Shorebury Point, Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool, FY4 2RL. Time 13.20 on Friday 11th July 2025.
For those who haven’t been it’s a great way of seeing the working of the Illuminations department and to see what they have planned for the Illumination in 2025 season.
To book email -rachelsykes@hotmail.co.uk
We now have a coach reserved for Thursday 4 September to visit Queen Street and Helmshore Textile Mill Museums. They’re both large mill museums in former mills operated by Lancashire County Council.
Details of pick up times and points are to confirmed.
Itinerary of the day:
Arrival – 11:00am at Helmshore, tour, then leaving for Queen Street at 12:45
Arrival at Queen Street around 13:15 then tour starting at 14:00 and finishing at 15:30, ready for our departure at 16:00
Drop off approximately 17:00
Refreshment: There are two cafes at both sites, although they are unable to accommodate us as a group. We encourage you to bring a sandwich and just have drinks in the cafes, although if you do choose to eat in the café please be patient with the staff as Thursdays is their busiest day. Refreshments are not included in the price
£20 per person, includes coach and tours of both mills.
To sign up for this trip please email rachelsykes@hotmail.co.uk or call on 07205 314218
Payment can be made on Monday 21st July at the Civic Trust Meeting or contact Rachel for more payment options.
Please extend this trip to friends and family as we will be using it to attract new members.
Non-members are welcome.
A number of our members are volunteers at Tramtown. Those with green or high vis jackets in the photo below.
Our visit began with photos firstly at the gate with the Blackpool Illuminations figures reminding us of our upcoming visit to the Illuminations Depot. Then the next photo in front of Boat Tram ‘Duchess of Cornwall’. Group Photos courtesy of Gary Mitchell.
We climbed on board the Boat Tram while a guide explained its history. Built in the 1930s at English Electric Preston for Blackpool Corporation Transport. Ever popular on a sunny day they attract attention and help enliven the Blackpool Prom.
The exhibits include three trams and the underfloor, or tram chassis, shown below. This a 1933 English Electric Ltd design for the Blackpool ‘Balloon’ trams. The underfloor shown was built at the tram depot for Princess Alice the double deck open top tram.
Also below is the old Bolton tram number 66.
Below is the Illuminated Trawler tram. Its LED covered hull is a more recent modification.
Tramtown is being improved all the time. There are a number of special exhibits, a cafe and a shop. The building has been tidied up with green pathways for visitors.
Opening times in summer 2025 are 10am to 2pm: Saturday, Monday, Wednesday. From August there is an extra day: Thursday. Keep up to date with Blackpool Tramtown on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackpoolTramtown
As part of Civic Week 2025, Blackpool Civic Trust visited the newly opened Showtown History Centre, situatated upstairs in Blackpool Central Library. We were treated to a rare viewing of the Blackpool Charter establishing the incorporation of the town. In addition, we had a wonderful tour of the collection stores. We would like to thank the Showtown Heritage Assistants for an informative morning and for sharing details of Blackpool Council collections.
We hope you will join us at the next members monthly meeting at 7pm on Monday 16th June at the Holiday Inn, Talbot Road.
We will discuss our activities and plans, followed by our guest speaker.
The guest speaker is Local Historian, Anne Charlesworth, talking about the early development of South Shore starting from 1819
Non-members are welcome for the small contribution of £2.
Membership is £10 a year and you can join by filling in the membership form and paying the fee. Please read the page linked below and download the application form. We look forward to meeting you.
Join Us please click here for details
In December 2017 the Civic Trust were given the opportunity to help restore one of the famous open-top “Boat” trams. A group of members started work on the interior by removal of the seats and several trips were made to Preston to have them dipped to remove all the layers of different paint that had been applied since 1934. Interior panels and flooring were repainted and new varnish applied to the cleaned seats and wooden areas. We were not allowed to touch the exterior which was repainted by the Blackpool Transport Services painter, all by hand, no spray cans involved!
On 25th of October 2018 Andy Mitchell interviewed the Blackpool Civic Trust volunteers enroute to the spare track by Festival House where it was officially unveiled, branded as the Charlie Cairoli tram by Charlie Jnr. (There were plenty of red noses to be seen due to the chilly wind).
A small plaque was also added inside the tram to record the work carried out by the Civic Trust members.
The tram has been very popular and was the leading tram for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee tram Parade in 2022 and second in the parade for the Kings Coronation.
Blackpool Civic Trust workers were:
John Garnham (project leader) , John Odenwalder, Phil Goymer, Carol Ward , David Evans, Stan Harrison, Alan Thompson, Ross Hewitt
Written by John Garnham, Blackpool Civic Trust and Blackpool Heritage Tram volunteer
On 25th of October 2018 Andy Mitchell interviewed the Blackpool Civic Trust volunteers enroute to the spare track by Festival House where it was officially unveiled, branded as the Charlie Cairoli tram by Charlie Jnr. (There were plenty of red noses to be seen due to the chilly wind ).
A small plaque was also added inside the tram to record the work carried out by the Civic Trust members.
The tram has been very popular and was the leading tram for the Queens Platinum Jubilee tram Parade in 2022 and second in the parade for the Kings Coronation.
11th July Visit to the Illuminations Depot
4th September Visit to Helmshore and Queen Street Mills
Tuesday 10 June at 11am
Talbot Room, Blackpool Central Library, Queens Street.
In celebration of Civic Week, the Heritage Team are delighted to offer tours of the newly opened History Centre at Central Library. Small groups will be taken around the stores and will also have a chance to see the Blackpool Charter.
In support of the conservation of the Blackpool Charter, there will be a collection bucket for the conservation of the wax seal which is in a poor state. The Heritage Team will share with us on the day details of the conservation needed to maintain it for the future.
In addition, we will have cake and drinks in the Talbot room.
Please book your place by emailing me on Rachelsykes@hotmail.co.uk
During Civic Week
New to 2025, visitors will be able to walk round the Engineering works as part of an exhibition hall experience. Visitors will be able to see a number of Heritage Trams, as well as the machinery that looks after them as well as a history of Blackpool Tram system and its future. All money raised will go in to the restoration fund of the Tram Shed and engineering works.
Cllr Paul Galley will be delivering a tour in Tram Works, the workshop with new displays and hopefully a café.
Details:
Monday 16 June 2pm
To book please email me at rachelsykes@hotmail.co.uk
Entrance fee: £5 per person- if you are able to drop the money off, please email me for my address or, as many of you prefer to pay into the bank, the bank details are below. Please drop me an email if you have paid through the bank.
Blackpool Civic Trust account: details from Rachel.
The team have been working hard to continue their passion for Blackpool Heritage trams and their continued fundraising efforts, so if you are unable to go on our tour, please do book on a separate tour.
Adrian Page has kindly invited BCT members to try bell ringing at St Cuthberts Church in Lytham. St Cuthberts Church • The Parish of JC Lytham
St Cuthbert’s church is the western church in the Parish of JC Lytham.
Details are:
Wednesday 25 June at 7pm
To book please email: Rachelsykes@hotmail.co.uk
People who have previous booked onto this event have been transferred over onto the new date. Please let me know if you are unable to attend.
Cllr Adrian Hoyle kindly mentioned the talk on the Blackpool Regiment at Showtown by Mike Coyle.
The Blackpool Regiment was short-lived. The story of its fight for survival at the Fall of Singapore is compelling and tragic, but it forms a part of Blackpool’s heritage. This talk will explore the formation of the Regiment and some of its untold stories.
Details:
Thursday 26 June at 2pm
Tickets available at £5 each by following the link below
Showtown Blackpool
Richard Williams will be offering us tours of the Illuminations depot on Friday 11 July at 1:30.
For those who haven’t been it’s a great way of seeing the working of the Illuminations department and to see what they have planned for the Illumination in 2025 season.
To book email -rachelsykes@hotmail.co.uk
I look forward to receiving your emails stating which trip you would like to attend and how many places you would like.
For more information about our Civic Week see our page linked here
Great news! We now have a coach reserved for Thursday 4 September to visit Queen Street and Helmshore Mills.
Details of pick up times and points are to confirmed.
Itinerary of the day:
Arrival – 11:00am at Helmshore, tour, then leaving for Queen Street at 12:45
Arrival at Queen Street around 13:15 then tour starting at 14:00 and finishing at 15:30, ready for our departure at 16:00
Drop off approximately 17:00
Refreshment: There are two cafes at both sites, although they are unable to accommodate us as a group. We encourage you to bring a sandwich and just have drinks in the cafes, although if you do choose to eat in the café please be patient with the staff as Thursdays is their busiest day. Refreshments are not included in the price
£20 per person, includes coach and two tours of the mills.
To sign up for this trip please email me on rachelsykes@hotmail.co.uk Or call on 07205314218
Payment can be made on Monday 21st July at the Civic Trust Meeting.
Or
Blackpool Civic Trust account, details from Rachel.
Please use Mills as the reference, to help Heather track the payments on the banking statements
Access info-queen-street-mill-access-statement-2023.pdf sorry the info for Helmshore Mill is unavailable.
Please extend this trip to friends and family.
Late June at St Stephen’s on the Cliffs, North Shore, Blackpool – Solstice Arts Festival. Musical Concerts from the Capricorn Singers, Stephen Austin – Concert Organist, Lytham St Anne’s Shanty Crew, Blackpool Brass. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday – June 24, 25, 27, 28 – 2025. See the leaflet below for full details and tickets.
