86 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF BLACKPOOL AND DISTRICT 



The boundaries of the borough have been extended on four occasions, 

 namely : in 1879, by the addition of part of the township of Marton at the 

 south-east end and part of the township of Bispham-with-Norbreck on the 

 north ; in 1918, by the inclusion of the urban district of Bispham-with- 

 Norbreck and part of the township of Carleton on the north and north-east 

 respectively ; in 1920, by the addition of a large strip of the foreshore, co- 

 extensive with the western boundary of the borough, extending below low-water 

 mark ; and lastly, in 1 934, the borough was further extended to include other 

 parts of the townships of Marton and Carleton and a part of the township of 

 Hardhorn-with-Newton. The area is now 10,580 acres (including foreshore). 

 The number of the Council at date of incorporation was 24. To-day it is 56. 

 The borough has a separate police force and Commission of the Peace. 



Blackpool was raised to the status of a county borough on the 1 st October, 

 1904. For Parliamentary representation Blackpool forms with the adjoining 

 borough of Lytham St. Annes the Blackpool Parliamentary Borough. The 

 electorate is over 100,000 and a redistribution of seats is evidently much 

 overdue. In spite of such an abnormal electorate it is only a single-member 

 constituency. 



Some indication of the growing activities of the municipality may be gathered 

 from the number of Acts of Parliament and Provisional and other Orders 

 obtained since 1 853 — 1 7 Acts and 33 Orders. 



In several important matters Blackpool, in obtaining Parliamentary powers 

 for the good government of the borough, has been in advance of Parliament's 

 general legislation. One outstanding instance in this respect is the power 

 obtained by the Blackpool Improvement Act of 1 879 to expend an amount not 

 exceeding twopence in the £ on the borough's rateable value in advertising 

 the attractions and amenities of the town. The amount expended under this 

 heading by the Council last year was £15,854. 



Blackpool's principal asset is unquestionably its fine Promenade. 



As the erosion of the coast was becoming serious, Parliamentary powers were 

 sought in the early Sixties to protect the sea front. The first Bill promoted in 

 Parliament by the then Local Board was unsuccessful on financial grounds, as 

 it was proposed to levy a rate equally over the district, whereas the Lords 

 Committee in Parliament decided that the cost should be borne only by those 

 having property on the front who would be directly benefited by the improve- 

 ment. In 1 865 a Local Act was obtained in which was a clause providing that 

 a special parade rate should be levied on all frontagers, and the period for 

 payment of this special rate has still 1 3 years to run. Under the powers of the 

 1865 Act and a supplementary Act (1868) increasing the borrowing powers of 

 the Board, the sea defence works and promenade extending from Carlton 

 Terrace (just north of the Hotel Metropole) to the South Shore end (near 

 Victoria Pier), a distance of about two miles along the sea front, were completed 

 and opened on Easter Monday, April 18th, 1870. 



In 1 876 that part of the sea front extending northwards from Carlton Terrace 

 to the Gynn, a distance of about 1 ,267 lineal yards, the property of the Clare- 

 mont Estate Company, was sloped and stone pitched, and a broad marine 

 parade and drive made, all at the cost of the Company. The erosion on this 

 part was, however, so constant and serious that in 1893 the Corporation 



