GROWTH OF BLACKPOOL AS A HEALTH AND HOLIDAY RESORT 81 



Blackpool Pier Company, with a capital of £12,000, and the original North 

 Pier, little more than an oversea promenade, was opened on May 21st, 1863, 

 at a cost of £13,540. A Jetty for pleasure steamer traffic was constructed in 

 1 866, and in 1 874 two wings were added. On one was built the Indian Pavilion, 

 since replaced by a larger one after its destruction by fire, and now the home 

 of Lawrence Wright's annual * On With the Show.' On the other were an 

 open bandstand and shops. The Pier has since been widened and a pavilion 

 and arcade added. 



The Central Pier was opened on May 30th, 1868, and soon became known 

 as ' The People's Pier,' because of the popularity of the dancing and roller 

 skating. The White Pavilion was erected in 1907, and ever since has been 

 famous for its pierrot shows. 



The Victoria Pier, which was opened on Good Friday, 1 893, attracts crowds 

 to its orchestral concerts and its pierrots. 



The Raikes Hall. 



The most ambitious and successful venture in entertainment until about 

 1890 was the Royal Palace Gardens, or the Raikes Hall. The Hall, together 

 with the estate of 40 acres, which included the Number 3 Hotel, was purchased 

 for £14,000 by a syndicate, the Raikes Hall Park, Gardens and Aquarium 

 Company. The grounds were opened in 1 872, with the main entrance where 

 the Grammar School now stands, and were laid out with a terrace, promenade 

 and flower-beds, and, in 1875, a lake for boating. A large ballroom, an outside 

 dancing platform, a conservatory encircling a skating-rink, an aviary and 

 monkey-houses were added, and a music hall pavilion introduced to Blackpool 

 many of the stars of the day. Elaborate fireworks at night gave representations 

 of historic battles. 



In the early 'nineties, the Raikes Hall declined in popularity after the opening 

 of the Tower. What was left of the estate came under the hammer in 1 896, 

 and 1 4 acres realised £80,000. The remainder, including the Number 3 Hotel, 

 had already been sold. The blame for the loss to the ratepayers of a splendid 

 opportunity is still a matter of some argument since the townspeople vetoed 

 a proposal that the estate should be acquired by the Corporation and retained 

 as an open space. 



The Theatre Royal. 



The Theatre Royal, built on the site of the present Tivoli and Yates's Wine 

 Lodge, was originally the Arcade and Assembly Rooms. These were opened 

 in 1 868, and were described as containing ' a basement and arcade of very 

 elegant shops, a restaurant, together with a handsome and spacious saloon 

 surrounded with a gallery and fitted with a neat stage for theatrical representa- 

 tions.' The Theatre Royal, once the most important in the town, also declined 

 in popularity, and the entire block was offered to the Corporation for £16,000, 

 but refused. This, again, is the subject of occasional argument when the 

 suggested sites for the proposed Town Hall are being discussed. 



The Winter Gardens and Big Wheel. 



The Blackpool Winter Gardens and Pavilion Company was registered on 

 August 7th, 1875, with a capital of £50,000, and purchased for £23,000 



