Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/255

 it. Its decadence as a summer resort had been too pronounced to allow of any hope being entertained that a revulsion was probable, or even possible, in the feelings and tastes of the multitude, which would again people its shores, during the warm months, with a heterogeneous crowd of valetudinarians and pleasure-seekers. The noble hotel which had been erected by Sir P. H. Fleetwood on the northern margin of the shore, in a style of architecture and at an expense which bore witness to the firm confidence of the baronet in the brilliant future awaiting the infant town, had been sold to Government, as previously stated, in 1859, but it was not until two years afterwards that the first detachment of officers took up their quarters in the newly-established School of Musketry, and Fleetwood awoke to the novel sound of martial music and the reputation of being a military centre. Rumour, also, had for several months been active in circulating a report that the sward lying between the Landmark and the cemetery, and a field at the corner of Cemetery Road, had attracted the eye of Government as a suitable locality whereon to place barracks and lay out a rifle-practice ground; and in February, 1861, doubt on the subject was no longer admissible, for the contract to carry out the fresh project was let during that month to the gentleman who had been engaged in the necessary alterations at the North Euston Hotel. The scheme involved the creation of residential accommodation in the field just indicated for a small force of 220 men and 12 officers, some of the quarters being specially designed for married soldiers, in addition to which lavatories, a canteen, mess-room, magazine, and guard-house, were to be erected. The work was entered on without delay, and at no long interval, about ten months, or rather more, the whole of the buildings were completed, and soon afterwards occupied. The practice-ground was marked out for range firing, and butts provided, where the targets were shortly stationed. A spacious hospital, it should be mentioned, was constructed almost contemporaneously with the main portion of the barrack buildings.

On Monday, the 20th of May, 1861, a mass meeting was convened to ascertain the opinion of the inhabitants with regard to a claim of exclusive use of the road over the Mount-hill, which had recently been set up by Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood, who in order to establish his right had caused a cobble wall to be erected