Milestones, Boundary Markers, Historical Artifacts, Street Furniture, lost roads and buildings.

There are many traces of our ancestors scattered around our landscape. Mile Markers and Boundary stones are there too. The Milestone Society believes that there are approximately 9000 left in the United Kingdom. Some are cherished but others are hidden in hedgerows, some have been unwittingly destroyed by crashes, road equipment or even stolen. Roads have been straightened to make them safer. There are old gateposts still left in place, old buildings, and place names that declare an evocative past. The aim is to capture some of this information at least photographically before it disappears.

Although the Fylde Coast does not have ancient history, the Romans apparently struggled to Kirkham. There have been huge changes in the last two centuries from literally a a few fishermans' and agricultural dwellings, to a full blown tourist and light engineering industry.

More historical information can be found here about the Fylde coast.

It also seems that time has marched on and left what appears to be some very respectable buildings... which just should be used, but seem to have no worth.

Links from this Blog

Nearly-Midnight The genealogy website relating to the family. A tangled web of people all related to one another, explore!
Memorials Website dedicated to War Memorials - The majority in the North of England. Visits to churches, but also memorials in out of the way places.
Robert Clark The Father of Henry Martyn-Clark - A missionary out in the North-West Frontier of India. One of the first Europeans to set foot in Afganistan
Affetside Census
A small village north of Bury, Lancashire, I can trace many of my immediate ancesters from there. On the Roman Road, Watling Street
Andrew Martyn-Clark My Father and his part in my World. Also my mother and his parents too.
Henry Martyn-Clark My Great Grandfather, his roots and his achievements. Discusses malaria but also his confrontations with Islam.

Sunday 8 May 2011

Blackpool Horse Troughs

Love them or hate them, Blackpool still has horse driven Landaus. There are two horse troughs on the promenade and they are used by the landau owners.
Chapel Street facing South
They date back to the 1890's and early 20th. century. Having worked in Blackpool for many years, I am convinced that they have moved around over the years. The first trough is at the junction of Chapel Street and the Promenade. This is directly opposite Central pier. Although the landaus do go all the way up the prom, it's rare they travel past Gynn Square.

This horse trough has the following inscription "BE MERCIFUL TO ALL GOD'S CREATURES"

"THE GIFT OF MRS BRAYBROOKE 1809" and "CATTLE TROUGH ASSOCIATION, VICTORIA STREET, SW"
Research shows that Mrs Braybrooke was an anti-vivisectionist. There is more information here.

Simpson Street looking south
The second horse trough in Blackpool is at the southern end of the promenade, almost opposite the Sandcastle but set one road back on Simpson Street. I am almost sure this Horse trough has been moved in the past. This is approximately 2 miles from the other. Again the landaus do not tend to go much further than the pleasure beach. It is also opposite the new Travel Lodge hotel, which is on the site of the Balmoral hotel. This trough is older than the other. The inscription reads "BE KIND AND MERCIFUL TO ALL GOD'S CREATURES"     "METROPOLITAN DRINKING FOUNTAIN AND CATTLE TROUGH ASSOCIATION"   "THE GIFT OF A. LLOYD 1893" (I believe this to be the date. I can not find any references to A Lloyd anywhere. This is the location of the trough.

Both Troughs appear to be of granite, there is a catchment area underneath which also has water in in. Both horse troughs are in working order and are well used during the summer by horses. They are a sense of endless amusement to holidaymakers who do all sorts of unspeakable things to them too.
There is a link to the Water Fountain Association here. There is also an extended collection of photos of the Blackpool troughs here. Its hard to think that both these troughs have been in Blackpool for over 100 years.