Blackpool is a seaside town on the coast of the Irish Sea in Lancashire, England. It rose to prominence as a seaside resort during the 19th century for the workers and their families from the northern mill towns.
Blackpool first became popular with the trend of the wealthier classes of bathing in the sea to cure diseases, which saw many visitors making the difficult trip. 1846 saw the introduction of the railway which resulted in a influx of visitors. This in turn led to the construction of accommodation and new attractions in the town, which then resulted in more visitors and rapid growth in the 1850s and 1860s.
A common practice by the owners of the cotton mills in Lancashire would be to close the mills for a week each year in order for their machinery to undergo services and repairs. These became known as wakes weeks and each town would close for a different week. The workers and their families would often spend this time in Blackpool, which meant that it had a steady stream of visitors during the summer.
In 1801, the population of Blackpool was recorded in the census as 473. By 1851, it was 2,500 and by the 1890s, it has a population of 35,000 and could accommodate 250,000 holidaymakers. It has been estimated that the number of annual visitors was approximately three million.
Vintage photomechanical print of the promenade in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, which was taken towards the end of the 19th century. The photograph shows a historic view of this seaside resort taken with a view of the tower and promenade. Photograph courtesy of LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsc-08014).
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