The Parish of Blackpool in the County of -- Lancashire --

Growth of the County Borough of Blackpool
from 1500 to 1799

In the year 1500 the West District of the Fylde was very sparsely populated, the two centres of Poulton and Bispham being the principal centres.

There was St. Cuthbert's Priory, situated where Lytham Hall now stands. Waddam Thorp, on the coast, a mile out from the present Squires Gate. Singleton Thorpe, just beyond the Pennistone rock at Bispham. Ross Hall, a Gentlemans Residence and accompaning building out towards the coast beyond the present Rossall College. At that time there was no mention of Blackpool other than the Pool, so far the geography of Blackpool and District.

Now for the principal dates in the development of Blackpool and District.

1532
In the year 1532 there was a large inundation by the sea which swept inland for two miles covering all the land from about the present Bloomfield Road, right down to the Ribble Estuary and inland to near Hawes Side Lane. Waddam Thorp was washed away and there is no record of any of the residents surviving.
This land was covered by the sea for years and then it receded to the present coast line, causing a strip of land about one mile wide and useless for years.

1555
Another sea inundation further North in which Singleton Thorp was destroyed but the inhabitants or the bulk of them escaped and traced inland and settled in what is now Singleton Village.

1602
The first mention of Blackpool is found in the Register of Bispham Parish Church in the year 1602 in which is recorded the Christinary on September 22nd of that year of a Child belonging to a Couple who reside on the Bank of the Black Pool.

1643
This is one of the years of the Civil War between the King (Charles 1) and Parliament led by Oliver Cromwell. The gentry of the District were mainly Royalists and an Army was raised in the district to fight on the side of the King.
This Army was commanded by Sir Walter Tyldesley of Mains Hall near Poulton, with a son of the Rigbys of Layton Hall as his second in command, they clashed with the Parliamentarians in the Battle of Wigan Lain and Sir Walter was killed and the Army defeated.
In 1643 a Spanish Vessel came ashore at Rossall Beach. Both armies were after the prize, but as Cromwells army had to go round by Garstang and over Wyre where his supporters were, and Lord Derby being amongst friends was able to march right up to Layton Hawes and alongside the Fylde coast without any interference, therefore securing the Prize for the Royalists.

1650
After the death of Cromwell and the Restoration of the Monarchy, Charles the Second was very lavish with his promise to families who had suffered in the support of his father. Edward Tyldesley was one of these, for his fathers death at Wigan Lane Battle. Unfortunately for them, the King, although a good promiser was a very bad fulfiller of said promises. Edward Tyldesley of Mains Hall, having his eye on Layton Hawes which was now drying out, built a small hall at the very South of the then Blackpool as a seaside residence and called it Fox Hall, here he entertained the Gentry of the district, including horse racing on the Hawes. Unfortunately for Edward Tyldesley he was one to whom the King did not fulfill
his promise, and after continuing as a private residence for several years, eventually became a farm house and as Blackpool developed, finished up as Licensed Premises, the present Foxall Hotel.

1735
Ernest Whiteside living in a two bedroomed house at Fumblers Hill (bottom of present Cocker Street) added two more bedrooms to his house and became the first Company House Keeper as a business.

1750
In this year it is recorded that there were two dozen cottages in Blackpool, and a small Inn near where now stands the Clifton.

1751
Bowans Map of Lancashire.

1755
The Fylde Coast had its share of Shipwrecks in the old days, and being sparsely populated it was a common thing for the inhabitants to help themselves before the Coast Guards or Excise Officers could get to the wreck. In the year 1755 a ship named "The Travers" was wrecked on the coast, it had a cargo of Lace, and there was "Travers Lace" in homes all over the Fylde for years after.

1779
In 1779 owing to there being a bad Summer and poor crops, food was scarce.
During the Autumn a ship was wrecked on the Coast, which among other articles was carrying a cargo of Peas, this was raided and helped out the food supply, the wreck became known as "The Pea Soup Wreck".

1783
First mention of Coaches being run between Manchester and Blackpool for the Conveyance of Passengers.

1785
In this year Baylies Hotel, now the Metropole commenced advertising for visitors, in the Manchester Mercury.

1786
Bonnies Hotel and the Lane Ends Hotel, afterwards called the County, now demolished to make room for Lewises Stores, both commenced advertising for visitors.
At this date there were Fifty Houses in Blackpool, a Theatre in a Barn in Lane Ends Street now Church Street and two Bowling Greens.

1788
A Gentleman named George Cook started Blackpool's first Post Office and Lending Library.

1789
"William Hutton a Gentleman from Birmingham, published a small book entitled "A description of Blackpool". The population of Blackpool at that time was four hundred. (400)

1800 -1850