Blackpool History and Heritage
Blackpool has long been the UK’s foremost seaside destination with millions of visitors heading to the Fylde coast each year, however what is often overlooked is that the town has a fascinating history stretching back many years.
How Blackpool became the exciting seaside resort of today
Before the advent of mass tourism, Blackpool was little more than a seaside village with a population numbering little more than a couple of hundred. This all changed however in the wake of the start of the industrial revolution, workers from the big industrial centres of Lancashire such as Manchester, Burnley, Blackburn, Bolton and Preston using the new railways to travel to the seaside. This allowed Blackpool to prosper and within a couple of decades the small village had been completely transformed into something resembling the busy town that it is today.
Hotels sprang up to cater for the increased number of holidaymakers visiting the town and the railway station was expanded so that it could cope with the greater demands placed upon it. Indeed, in the 1950s, Blackpool central railway station was the busiest in the world although the advent and increased use of motor vehicles and improved road connections resulted in the closure of this transport hub in the late 1960s.
The increased availability and affordability of foreign holidays hit Blackpool hard in the 1970s and 1980s, however the resort has hit back and has enjoyed a big growth in visitor numbers over the past few years. Today, Blackpool offers something for everyone with some excellent attractions, hotels and restaurants as well as some hugely popular events throughout the year.