Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/347

 were despatched at noon, daily in the summer months, but only three times a week during winter. Mr. Cook, an American, was the originator of the post, which he commenced some time before by having the letters carried to Kirkham three times a week during the season. At that day the arrival of the letter-bag was made known to the anxious public by exposing a board on which was written or painted, "The post is arrived." This ingenious device proclaimed, on reversing the board, "The post is not yet arrived;" so that by a proper use of the signal the postmaster was enabled to save himself much trouble in answering the frequent inquiries of expectant visitors. Mr. Cook, who is described as having been the "Beau Nash" of Blackpool, died in 1820, and was buried at Bispham. The charges at the best hotels were 6s. per day in private and 5s. in public, with an addition of 1s. each night for a front, or 6d. for a back, bedroom. At Bonny's the price was 4s. 6d. per day; and at Nickson's and the Yorkshire House 3s. 6d. per day at the first table, and 2s. 6d. at the second, subject to an additional charge for extra attendance if required.

The census returns of 1831 showed that the population of the township had increased to 943 persons since 1821, when, the reader may be reminded, the total amounted to 749.

In 1835, a Wesleyan chapel, calculated to hold between 250 and 300 persons, was erected and opened in Bank Hey Street. This building, having in the course of time become inadequate for the accommodation of its increasing congregation, was pulled down, and the corner stone of the present edifice laid by W. Heap, esq., of Halifax, on Friday, November 1st., 1861. The chapel, which occupies a site near the old one, was opened for service on the 4th of July, 1862, and is capable of seating 760 persons. The total expenditure for the erection and other incidental expenses connected with it, amounted to £3,500. An organ, built by Mr. E. Wadsworth, of Manchester, at a cost of £320, was obtained in 1872.

During 1836 great improvements were made in the appearance of the town; shops were beautified and increased in number; many of the cottages were rendered more ornamental, whilst others were constructed on modern principles, and on a moderate calculation it may be estimated that two hundred beds were added to the existing accommodation. Sir Benjamin