Wednesday, 14 October 2015

Blackpool - War Memorial

Blackpool War Memorial is located on the Promenade adjacent to the Metropole Hotel, near the North Pier and the Blackpool Tower.

Blackpool North Pier with War Memorial near Metropole Hotel
View from Blackpool Tower
Blackpool War Memorial & Metropole Hotel
View from Blackpool Tower
 The memorial is a granite obelisk with relief panels of servicemen, women and children, The names of the fallen are recorded on bronze tablets on top of two freestanding chest tombs. The tablets record 907 names by Regiment.

Blackpool War Memorial & Blackpool Tower

Blackpool War Memorial & Metropole Hotel
 The memorial was dedicated, and unveiled by Brigadier General T E Topping 10th November 1923.
Unveiling of Blackpool War Memorial 10th November 1923

Blackpool War Memorial & North Pier
The first modern display of electric lights which bore resemblance to the modern Blackpool Illuminations occurred in 1912 as part of the first ever royal visit to Blackpool. Princess Louise opened a new part of the promenade, and a display of 10,000 electric lights was arranged to garland the location. This proved popular and it was decided to stage an annual display, however the First World War meant the annual event was short lived. It was revived in 1925, and expanded in 1932 to cover the North Cliffs and Bispham.

In 2015 there are over 500 different designs, 200 miles of cable, and 1 million light bulbs. The lights near the War Memorial remember the fallen of Blackpool.