Figure 1.--This photograph was taken in Fleetwood right after World War II in 1946. Fleetwood is located on the Atlantic (Irish Sea) coast of England about 80 km north of Liverpool. Notice Pharos Lighthouse in the background. We see a mother with her two children. They are well clothed but with bare feet. This was not usual in UK. Moreover we can assume by the people clothing, that the weather could be a little cold. The children are wearing their school uniforms. It may be right after school. But it is likely that the children didn't have a lot of other good outfits. Notice the great old red mail box in the background.

Fleetwood in Lancashire was a new town created in the 19th century to become a major fishing port. It was the brain child of a man nammed Rossal. A school is named after him. Fleetwood is one of several beaches along the Fylde coast. The other beaches include: Blackpool, Cleveleys, Fleetwood, Flyde, Poulton, Rossal, Thornton, ans Wyre. Vacationers from Liverppol traveled via Bispham, Norbreck, and Cleveleys, a senic journey along Alantic (Irish Sea) coast cliffs. There was also a tram from Blackpool. The attractions at Fleetwood itself included the Promenade, Espplanade, Marine Walk, and Pier. There was also a Marine Garden. The principal street was Bold Street. The most prominant part feature of the beach front was Pharos Lighthouse designed by Sir Decimus Burton. The largest hotel was the North Euston Hotel. A good view of the sea could be had at The Mount and surrounding gardens. There was also a steamboat ferry, Mona's Queen to the Isle of Man. The sailing was coordinated with the arrival of the 2:15 pm train. There were ships to Scotland and Ireland,Fleetwood was not just a beach resort, it was also a busy port, with freigters arriving from all over the world. There was also an active fishing fleet. There was a white monument to honor the fishermen Abram and Greenall, who lost their lives trying to save another fisherman.

Location

Fleetwood in Lancashire. Fleetwood is one of several beaches along the Fylde coast. The other beaches include: Blackpool, Cleveleys, Fleetwood, Flyde, Poulton, Rossal, Thornton, and Wyre.

Town History

Fleetwood was a new town created in the 19th century to become a major fishing port. It was the brain child of a man nammed Rossal. A school is named after him.

Attractions

Vacationers from Liverppol traveled via Bispham, Norbreck, and Cleveleys, a senic journey along Alantic (Irish Sea) coast cliffs. There was also a tram from Blackpool. The attractions at Fleetwood itself included the Promenade, Espplanade, Marine Walk, and Pier. There was also a Marine Garden. The principal street was Bold Street. The most prominant part feature of the beach front was Pharos Lighthouse designed by Sir Decimus Burton. The largest hotel was the North Euston Hotel. A good view of the sea could be had at The Mount and surrounding gardens. There was also a steamboat ferry, Mona's Queen to the Isle of Man. The sailing was coordinated with the arrival of the 2:15 pm train. There were ships to Scotland and Ireland.

Port

Fleetwood was not just a beach resort, it was also a busy port, with freigters arriving from all over the world. There was also an active fishing fleet. There was a white monument to honor the fishermen Abram and Greenall, who lost their lives trying to save another fisherman.

Seasonality

England's beach resorts were particularly popular during July and August. The weather can be pleasant in June, but school generally does not let out until July for summer vacation. It's not quite clear when the photograph above was taken (figure 1). A reader thought perhaps July because the children are barefoot. HBC tends to think May or June are mokre likely because school is still in session and the adults are all bundled out. It may well be vefore the tourist session. Note that the promenade does not seem very crowded. A reader writes, "It is an odd picture. Mum has a heavy overcoat on but her children are barefooted. Could only think that there was a cold wind blowing and the children would have been moving about, but mum might have been sitting all the day in deck chair. I recall it being cold in Fleetwood when I was in line for the of ferry to the Isle of Man. Certainly the photographs taken then show people bundled up, but the children barefooted."

Clothing

Most adults in the photograph here are wearing heavy coats (figure 1). This is in contrast to the children. They have been paddling in the sea. Note the girls foot caked in wet sand. The brother has also been walking along the sand. Both are bare foot. The boy wears a school blazer and short trousers. The girl has a school uniform dress and a what looks like a thin cardigan which is not even buttoned up. The children look happy, warm and contented suggesting a warm day. The adults seem to be the ones well wrapped and their clothing suggests that there is a coldness about the day.

Postbox

Notice the great old red mail box in the background. It is the verical structure at the right that the mam is walking toward. ritish reader tells us, "That's not an old box. That is the general design. It was a George the VI post box erected between 1938 and 1947, which fits in well with the date of the photograph. The similar style would be a Queen Elizabeth Post Box erected from 1953 to the present day. Really old post boxes date back to Queen Victoria. From the 1980 to current date other designs are in existance. They are often red in colour."

Reader Experieces

A British reader remembers Fleetwood fondly, " As a child in the 1950s, not to long after the photograph here was taken, I went to Fleetwood many times. We would enjoy the pleasure features at Blackpool and then catch the tram to Fleetwood and have, of course, a fish and chip dinner in a restaurant near the Pharus lighthouse. Then we would take walk along the sea front. There is not much of a beach at Fleetwood, but the large expence of grass opposite was good for running about games (football, cricket, and on a windy day kite flying). I recall a visit in 1959 when I was a little older. We went there on the boat-train from Blackburn to travel on the Isle of Man ferry. It was a rainy Saturday morning as we waited in line to board, but once aboard the weather cleared and the journey across the Irish Sea took about 4 hours. We were on deck as the island came into view. It was the start of a wonderful holiday. I was dressed in a suit, white shirt and tie. I had grey long stockings and new black shoes. I wore a pocket plastic mac and a beach hat to keep the sun off. I was a bad traveller then and I was dosed up with travel pills to stop being travel sick. I had also to sit on a sheet of brown wrapping paper. This and the pills must have worked because I travelled without getting sick. Memories. Even today, Fleetwood is still a place I go to for a tram ride and a meal at the restaurant. It is all still there, even the Lighthouse. I only recall sunny days when thinking of Fleetwood."

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Created: 12:13 AM 1/11/2007
Last updated: 8:04 PM 1/14/2007