Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/335

 accommodation they offered had improved in quality and increased in extent, so that it was no longer possible to subsist on the daily expenditure of a few pence as in former times. In hotels of the first class 3s. 4d. per day, exclusive of liquors, was the charge for board and lodging; dinner and supper being charged 1s. each to the casual visitor, and tea or breakfast 8d. In those of the second-class and some of the lodging-houses, 2s. 6d. per day covered everything with the exception of tea, coffee, sugar, and liquors; whilst the smaller lodging-houses, generally crowded with visitors who were either willing or compelled to content themselves with the more frugal fare provided, charged only 1s. 6d. per day for each guest.

A promenade, six yards wide, carpeted with grass and separated from the road by white wooden railings, ran along the verge of the sea bank for a distance of two hundred yards, and was ornamented at one end with an alcove, whilst the other terminated abruptly at a rough clayey excavation, afterwards used as a brick croft. "Here," says the topographer already quoted, "is a full display of beauty and of fashion. Here the eye faithful to its trust, conveys intelligence from the heart of one sex to that of the other; gentle tumults rise in the breast; intercourse opens in tender language; the softer passions are called into action; Hymen approaches, kindles his torch, and cements that union which continues for life. Here may be seen folly flushed with money, shoe-strings, and a phæton and four. Keen envy sparkles in the eye at the display of a new bonnet. The heiress of eighteen trimmed in black, and a hundred thousand pounds, plentifully squanders her looks of disdain, or the stale Belle, who has outstood her market, offers her fading charms upon easy terms."

This parade was extended some years later by means of a bridge thrown from its south extremity over the road leading down to the shore, and on to the cliffs of the opposite side. Riding or walking, for those who were not fortunate enough to possess a horse or equipage, on the sands or promenade, and excursions into the country as far as the "Number 3 Hotel," where many of the company amused themselves with drinking "fine ale," were the favourite pastimes during the day, varied, however, with an occasional practice at the butts for bow and arrow shooting, the diurnal bathe, and contests on the bowling greens, to which we