11 emotive pictures of Blackpool North Shore Boating Pool when it was left wrecked in the 1980s
Claire Lark
·2-min read
This was in April 1983 and the boating pool had been described by local hoteliers as 'intolerable'. No wonder. (Photo: library)
Built in 1921, it was supposed to have been an open air baths but was instead turned into a leisure pool with motorboats, canoes, deckchairs and refreshments. It was a success until the 1970s but these photos show, sadly, how desperate it had become in the 1980s when it had been left abandoned. By 1983 it was a dumping ground for old cars, twisted metal, the remaining boats and even industrial machinery. A year later it was part of a multi-million pound redevelopment of the area and the pool was eventually cleared up for the summer season of the 1986. It didn’t last though and became obsolete until the area was filled in for a go-karting run.
Such a mess - plant machinery had somehow ended up in there, old tyres and vehicles... (Photo: library)
By 1983, the boating pool was derelict with abandoned cars, twisted metal and debris. It was a sad sight (Photo: library)
The caption on this picture from May 1985 reads: 'The picture everyone has been waiting for... the spotless scenes at North Shore Boating Pool. The site dubbed a disgrace by angry hoteliers only a few months ago, has been transformed by Blackpool Council in time for the Bank holiday. The dramatic facelift has been welcome by Mr Ray Lawrence, secretary of the Blackpool Hotel and Guesthouse Association' (Photo: library)
A shadow of it's former glory. Advertising hot and cold snacks and ice-cream provides a glimpse into it's past (Photo: library)
This was in 1986. Short mat bowling, table tennis, a mini car racing track, a children's play area and boating were among the attractions being suggested for the revamped North Shore boating pool (Photo: library)
This was the boating pool in 1964. Waves crashing over with the boats in the foreground (Photo: library)
In this photo from 1984, the pool was being raised and refurbished as part of a multi-million redevelopment scheme. But by 1985 it had fallen into disrepair (Photo: library)
The area was littered with debris and was an unsafe environment (Photo: library)
North Shore Boating Pool enjoying brisk business in this view from the 1950s (Photo: Historical)
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