History 2

1820
Owing to the sea erosion, the old Ross Hall and its accompanying building had to be abandoned. A new Ross Hall was built further inland; this is now part of Rossall College.

1821
In this year a ship called "The Fanny" was wrecked off the coast, she was laden with red and black flannel. The same fate happened to this cargo as happened to the lace and peas of previous wrecks. Fanny Petticoats were prevalent for years in Blackpool from this date.

1826
The first Nonconformist Chapel was built in Kent Road, then out in the fields.

1828
A building named the Grand Promenade was erected at the North East Corner of Victoria Street and Bank Hey Street. This was the first building to be erected in Blackpool as an Entertainment Theatre, it is now shops on the ground floor and a restaurant above.

1833
There was a wreck at The Gynn, the crew being saved by steering for a light in one of the windows of The Old Gynn Inn, this Inn stood in the centre of what is now Gynn Square and was very old, reported about 1700.

1835
The First Wesleyan Chapel erected in Adelaide Street.

1836
South Shore Parish Church (Holy Trinity) erected.
First house built in Fleetwood.

1837
Ascension of Queen Victoria.
Opening of New Promenade.
The Reverend William Thornber published the first history of Blackpool.

1839

A ship called "The Crusader" was wrecked at South Shore, and a few Marton men were sent to Prison having been caught taking silk from the wreck.

1840
The Preston Railway was extended to Poulton.
The Population of Blackpool was now two thousand one hundred and sixty eight. (2168).

1843
The Brig "Aristocrat" was wrecked opposite the Imperial Hydro. Two passengers were drowned.

1844
The Old St. John's Market opened. British Home Stores now stands on the site.

1846
The Railway was extended from Poulton to Talbot Road Station (now Blackpool North).

1851
The Wellington Hotel was built.

1852
Gas Works built and Blackpool has its first street lighting by gas.

1859
Theatre Royal opened.

1860
The Union Baptist Chapel was built in Abingdon Street, the site is now occupied by the general Post Office.

1861

The Schooner "William Henry" with a cargo of flour and lard was wrecked at South Shore. There were plenty of cheap tubs of lard for the South Shore people.
The Wesleyan Chapel in Adelaide Street Rebuilt.
Christ Church Mission built and consecrated 1870.

1862
First Pier Company and Blackpool and Lytham Railways opened.

1863
North Pier opened.
Lytham Railway extended to Blackpool Central.

1864
Blackpool gets its first Lifeboat. July 14th.
Wreck of the St. Michael (September 18th) the Lifeboat saved the crew of fourteen.
United Methodist Church, Adelaide Street built.
Fylde Water Works opened. First piped water.

1865
Blackpool Parade Act for Promenade Development passed through Parliament.
The Barque "Lexington" wrecked, crew of fourteen saved by new lifeboat.

1866
Assembly and Concert Rooms Company

1868
Central Pier opened

1869
(April 21st) Charles Dickens visited Blackpool and stayed at the Beach Hotel, which stood where the Tower Vaults and Cafe now stand.
Late 1860s, Prince of Wales Arcade opened.

1870
Grand opening of new Promenade. Population of Blackpool, seven thousand, nine hundred and two. (7,902)

1872
Raikes Hall Gardens. Derelict by 1898.

1873
Blackpool Cemetery opened. Talbot Bowling Tournament began.

1874
The Aquarium, (now incorporated in the Tower) opened. At that time it ran along Bank Hey Street, and the space in front was an amusement park. This was built, owned, and run by Dr. Cocker the first Mayor of Blackpool, and was the real start of the Blackpool Tower.

1875
Winter Gardens opened. Primitive Methodist Chapel in Chapel Street opened. Unitarian Church, Dixon Road, opened.

1876
Blackpool received its Charter of Incorporation and became a Municipal Borough. William Cocker became first mayor of the Borough.

1879
Start of Electric lighting.
The new Pleasure Steamer "The Bickerstaffe" commenced sailing on pleasure trips from the North Pier.

1880
The Aquarium was floated by Dr.Cocker (the owner) into a Company under the Title of Blackpool Central Property Company and in 1889 acquired by the Standard Debenture Corporation Limited, who formed the Blackpool Tower Company in 1891. A ship, the "Bessie Jones", was wrecked; four men were rescued from the rigging, one youth swept away and lost. Free Public Library opened in the Octagon Room, Talbot Road, now part of Yates Wine Lodge.

1881
Hoo Hill Windmill in Layton (now demolished) struck by Lightning in a July thunderstorm.

1882
Wreck of the "Arethusa", ten saved.

1885
Blackpool became a Parliamentary Division. Blackpool Tramway Company established. Electric trams started. Company bought by Corporation in 1892.

1886
Wreck of the "Mexico" off Lytham. Twelve persons rescued by the Lytham Lifeboat. The Southport and St. Anne's Lifeboat capsized with loss of life.

1887
The Blackpool Borough Police Force established.

1888
Rawcliffe Street Wesleyan Church opened. South Shore Church rebuilt.

1889
The Opera House, Church Street, opened June 10th with Gilbert & Sullivan's The Yeomen of the Guard.
1890
Proposed South Pier