The North Pier, Blackpool

Blackpool's North Pier

Blackpool has three piers, built in Victorian days. The earliest was the North Pier, built opposite the road from the railway station so that early visitors could naturally progress down towards the sea and then straight onto the pier.

It was built with a distinctive sloping entrance, which still exists on one side today. This was because a mound had been built on the site of the entrance in 1846. The mound vanished when work was carried out subsequently on the promenade and sea wall.

The pier was opened on 23 May 1863 as the "Blackpool Pier". It had been estimated that 200,000 visitors would walk along the decking each year, but 247,000 visited in the pier's first year with twice the annual target being met the following year.

There was little commercialism on the pier, with only two sales kiosks apart from the entrance toll to tempt money from the public. Despite this, the pier earned its shareholders dividends inplenty.

The entrance to the pier in 1998. An amusement arcade now stands at the entrance to the pier, though access to the decking can be gained directly down the slope, under the yellow half-moon signboard towards the left of the photograph.

This leads visitors past the ticket sales office for the pier end theatre and also through a conservatory seating area for a bar, where several shops and kiosks can tempt them.

An electric tram can be ridden to the far end of the pier, for those unable or unwilling to walk.

Children are always fascinated by the sight of the sea as seen through the gaps between the decking planks beneath their feet, whilst for many years a favourite joke of comics at seaside pier theatres has been an impression of a young lady wearing stilleto heels who suddenly finds that her heel has become wedged down these same gaps!

Mind you, in this view it looks like it may take something a little wider than a stiletto heel to become wedged in the gaps!

This was taken in 1991 when the rails for the electric tram were being laid.

At the far end of the pier is a two-storey carousel, seen here shortly after being erected in 1991.

In this recent photograph the carousel has been shielded from the weather if needs be by glass partitions.

Despite these attractions, the North Pier remains the least commercialised of the three piers and the decking still allows an uninterrupted walk in a straight line from one end of the pier to the other.

Opposite the theatre is the sun deck. Raymond Wallbank was a regular for many years, playing the mighty Wurlitzer organ here. He readily agreed to pose for a photograph when I asked, the photo being taken at a Miss Blackpool heat in 1982.

Ah yes - the lads' ears pricked up there! Skater Robin Cousins was the judge and picked No.5, Wendy Phizacklea.

I can't remember any of the fellas falling asleep but as you see, left, not everyone was rivetted!

The North Pier seen from the top of Blackpool Tower, 11 August 1998.

The appearance of the North Pier has remained unchanged over the years except for one or two additions.

This photograph was taken in 1977.