Blackpool Central railway station

Last updated

Blackpool Central
Blackpool central railway station1818598 f45c256b.jpg
Blackpool Central railway station and Blackpool Tower in 1959
General information
Other namesHounds Hill (formerly)
Location Blackpool, Blackpool
England
Coordinates 53°48′51″N3°03′15″W / 53.8141°N 3.0542°W / 53.8141; -3.0542
Platforms14
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original company Blackpool and Lytham Railway
Pre-grouping Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway / London and North Western Railway
Post-grouping London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
6 April 1863Opened as Hounds Hill
June 1878Renamed Blackpool Central
1901Enlarged to 14 platforms
2 November 1964Closed

Blackpool Central was the largest railway station in the town of Blackpool in the county of Lancashire, England. It contained 14 platforms; at its closure in 1964, it became the station with the highest number of platforms ever to close. [1] Principal railway services to Blackpool now terminate at Blackpool North.

Contents

History

The station opened on 6 April 1863 as "Hounds Hill" and was renamed "Blackpool Central" in 1878. [2] Initially, it was a relatively small town centre terminus for an isolated line running along the south Fylde coast from Lytham. In 1874 this line was connected to another branch from Lytham to Kirkham, allowing through trains from Preston and beyond. In 1901, the station was enlarged to include 14 platforms—the same number of platforms as London's busy Paddington terminus in 2006. A further development came in 1903 when an additional "Marton Line" was added, routed directly from Preston and considerably shorter and quicker. [3] [4] This arrangement made for very convenient and direct access to Blackpool's town centre, particularly the sea front and Blackpool Tower.

Central station was the focus of Blackpool's worst incident during the Second World War. Blackpool was home base for a major flight training centre and a fighter squadron during the war. On 27 August 1941, two aircraft—a Blackburn Botha trainer and a Boulton Paul Defiant fighter—collided in midair over the sea, just off Blackpool's central seafront. The debris from the collision was strewn over a large area; a large part of it struck Central station, causing severe damage and killing twelve people. [5]

The station remained in service just long enough to see its centenary before its closure on 2 November 1964, [6] against the original recommendation of the 1963 Beeching Plan, which had proposed the closure of Blackpool North station instead. [7] Blackpool Corporation had successfully lobbied British Railways for Central to be closed instead, in order that it might buy the land for potentially lucrative redevelopment. [7]

Part of the site was used as a bingo hall until 1973, at which time all the station buildings were demolished. The direct "Marton" line from Preston (which also passed through Blackpool South station) was closed in 1965, leaving a large tract of wasteland along with disused embankments and bridges.

Current use of the site

The site of the former station in 2009. The station building and platforms occupied almost all of the area in the bottom half of the picture, and the route of the dismantled tracks can be seen heading towards the top right of the picture. Site of Blackpool Central railway station.jpg
The site of the former station in 2009. The station building and platforms occupied almost all of the area in the bottom half of the picture, and the route of the dismantled tracks can be seen heading towards the top right of the picture.

The land reclaimed from the station buildings became the location of some seafront amusement arcades (Coral Island), a new police station and a multi-storey car park with some residual spare land used as additional flat car parking space. In the late 1980s, the derelict track bed of the central railway line was adapted into a road, Yeadon Way, connecting the town centre with the M55 motorway. This road terminates at Blackpool Central Car Park, based at the site of the former platform ends and approach tracks. This area is where the Blackpool Illuminations are ceremonially switched on, with a large party and often local and national radio coverage. The very outer wall of the car park is the last visible remnant of the 1900 building. Traces of the infilled platforms can be seen in the ground of the Central car park.

A large part of the sidings and other land formerly belonging to British Rail were converted into a car park at about the same time as the road was completed. The toilets at the end near the promenade along with the aforementioned wall were all that remained of the station. The toilet block was demolished and replaced in 2009. An adjacent building, formerly used as a railwaymen's hostel, remains and has been converted into flats and shops.

In 2019, plans to develop a leisure-led development on the Central Car Park site were announced. [8]

In 2021, Nikal Ltd and Media Invest Entertainment consulted on plans to redevelop the site into a £300m new leisure destination. [9]

A planning application for the scheme has been submitted to Blackpool Council, which includes proposals to deliver a multistorey car park, Heritage Quarter, public square, three indoor entertainment centres, hotel, restaurants and additional leisure and hospitality space [10]

Notes

Maps showing
Blackpool Central Station
Old OS Maps (estimated 1925 to 1945)
NPE Maps (1947)
Vision of Britain  
OS 1:2500 Map on MARIO (about 1892)
Other maps

53°48′51″N3°03′15″W / 53.8141°N 3.0542°W / 53.8141; -3.0542

  1. ↑ Jones 2012, p. 16.
  2. ↑ Welch 2004, p. 32.
  3. ↑ Suggitt 2004, p. 44.
  4. ↑ Welch 2004, p. 26.
  5. ↑ "Blackpool, County Borough". Civilian War Dead Register. Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
  6. ↑ Suggitt 2004, p. 46.
  7. 1 2 Bairstow 2001, p. 84.
  8. ↑ "Blackpool revives supercasino site for £300m masterplan". Place North West. 7 December 2018.
  9. ↑ Cunnington, Phil (4 May 2021). "Public urged to have their say as initial plans for £300m Blackpool Central entertainment complex are revealed". Blackpool Gazette.
  10. ↑ Parkinson, Shelagh (16 June 2021). "Plans submitted for £300m new Blackpool leisure destination". Blackpool Gazette.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirkham, Lancashire</span> Human settlement in England

Kirkham aka Kirkam-in-Amounderness is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Fylde in Lancashire, England, midway between Blackpool and Preston and adjacent to the town of Wesham. It owes its existence to Carr Hill upon which it was built and which was the location of a Roman fort. At the census of 2011, it had a population 3,304 plus 3,890, giving a total of 7,194. By the census of 2021 the total had risen to 3,217 plus 4,666, giving a total of 7,883.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lytham St Annes</span> Human settlement in England

Lytham St Annes is a seaside town in the Borough of Fylde in Lancashire, England. It is on the Fylde coast, directly south of Blackpool on the Ribble Estuary. The population of the built-up area at the 2021 census was 42,695. The town is made up of the four areas of Lytham, Ansdell, Fairhaven and St Annes-on-the-Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackpool Tramway</span> Light rail transit system in Lancashire, England

The Blackpool Tramway runs from Blackpool to Fleetwood on The Fylde in Lancashire, England. The line dates back to 1885 and is one of the oldest electric tramways in the world. It is operated by Blackpool Transport Services (BTS) and runs for 18 km. It carried 4.9 million passengers in 2022/23.

The Preston and Wyre Railway was promoted to open up agricultural land in the Fylde in Lancashire, access a new port at what became Fleetwood and the Lancaster Canal at Preston: it opened in 1840. An associated company built the dock leading to the company changing its name to the Preston and Wyre Railway, Harbour and Dock Company. Passenger business was more buoyant than expected, and the company built branch lines to the nascent resort of Blackpool and Lytham that opened in 1846. At that time the line was leased by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway and later the London and North Western Railway took a share in the lease which was later converted to outright ownership. The Preston and Wyre Railway continued to be jointly owned as the Preston and Wyre Joint Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salwick railway station</span> Railway station in Fylde, Lancashire, England

Salwick railway station is situated on the Blackpool South branch line in England, 5+1⁄4 miles (8.4 km) west of Preston, and is managed by Northern. The station lies between Preston and Kirkham, near the village of Clifton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poulton-le-Fylde railway station</span> Railway station in Lancashire, England

Poulton-le-Fylde railway station serves the town of Poulton-le-Fylde in Lancashire, England. It is managed by Northern Trains, but also served by Avanti West Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moss Side railway station</span> Railway station in England

Moss Side railway station is on the Blackpool South-to-Preston line, in Lancashire, England. It is located in Moss Side, a hamlet where the B5259 road crosses the railway at a level crossing. It is managed by Northern, which operates all passenger services that call there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ansdell and Fairhaven railway station</span> Railway station in Lancashire, England

Ansdell and Fairhaven railway station is on the Blackpool South to Preston railway line in Lancashire, England. In the past, it has also been known as Ansdell Station, Ansdell's Gate station and Ansdell's Halt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lytham railway station</span> Railway station in Lancashire, England

Lytham railway station serves the Lytham area within Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England, on the Blackpool South to Preston railway line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Annes-on-the-Sea railway station</span> Railway station in St Annes-on-the-Sea, Lancashire, England

St Annes-on-the-Sea railway station serves the town of St Annes-on-the Sea, commonly known as St Annes, which is part of the conurbation of Lytham St Annes in Lancashire, England. It is located on the Blackpool South to Preston railway line 3+1⁄4 miles (5.2 km) south-southeast of Blackpool South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackpool South railway station</span> Railway station in the seaside resort of Blackpool, Lancashire, England

Blackpool South railway station serves the suburban south of Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It is the terminus of the South Fylde Line, around 12 miles (19 km) west of Kirkham and Wesham by rail, though all services run through from Preston. The station is managed by Northern Trains, which operates all trains serving it. Blackpool South is located around 500 metres (1,600 ft) from Waterloo Road tram stop on the Blackpool Tramway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirkham and Wesham railway station</span> Station in Lancashire, England

Kirkham and Wesham railway station serves the Lancashire towns of Kirkham and Wesham, in England. It is managed by Northern Trains, who operate most of the passenger services that call there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squires Gate railway station</span> Railway Station located in St Annes-on-the-Sea, Lancashire, England

Squires Gate railway station serves the Squires Gate area of the popular seaside resort of Blackpool, Lancashire, England, although it is located just outside the borough boundary. It lies on the Blackpool South to Preston line and is the nearest station to Blackpool Airport. Squires Gate is located about 400 metres (1,300 ft) from Starr Gate tram stop on the Blackpool Tramway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackpool branch lines</span> Railway lines in Lancashire, England

The Blackpool branch lines are two railway lines running from the West Coast Main Line at Preston to Blackpool. The main branch, which is double-tracked and electrified, runs to Blackpool North station via Poulton-le-Fylde. A second branch, which is single-tracked and non-electrified, diverges from the main branch at Kirkham and Wesham junction, running on a southerly route to Blackpool South station via Lytham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleetwood railway station</span> Station in Lancashire, UK (1840–1966)

There have been three locations for Fleetwood railway station in Fleetwood, Lancashire, England. The first, from 1840 to 1883, was in Dock Street, opposite Church Street. The second, from 1883 to 1966, was in Queen's Terrace. From 1966 to 1970, the station previously known as Wyre Dock railway station was renamed "Fleetwood".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A583 road</span> Preston to Blackpool road in England

The A583 is a primary road from Preston to Blackpool in England, via Kirkham. It runs a distance of 17 miles (27.4 km), and was previously the main route into Blackpool until the construction of the M55 motorway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Shore, Blackpool</span> Human settlement in England

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medlar-with-Wesham</span> Human settlement in England

Medlar-with-Wesham is a civil parish and an electoral ward on the Fylde in Lancashire, England, which contains the town of Wesham. It lies within the Borough of Fylde, and had a population of 3,245 in 1,294 households recorded in the 2001 census rising to 3,584 in 1,511 households, at the 2021 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poulton Curve Halt railway station</span> Station in Lancashire, UK (1909–52)

Poulton Curve was a halt on the Fleetwood-to-Blackpool railway line in Lancashire, England.

Public transport in the Fylde is available for three modes of transport—bus, rail and tram—assisting residents of and visitors to the Fylde, a coastal plain in western Lancashire, England, to travel around much of the area's 64 square miles (170 km2).

References

Preceding station Disused railways Following station
Terminus  Preston and Wyre Joint Railway
Marton Line (from 1903)		  Blackpool South
Terminus  Blackpool and Lytham Railway   Blackpool South
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.