Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/351

 requisite comforts and conveniences for such a mixture of classes as visited it during the summer. Acting under this necessity and for the welfare of the resort a Local Board was formed, composed of gentlemen elected from amongst inhabitants, into whose hands was entrusted the government and regulation of all matters connected with the place. An accession of power was sought in 1853, and on Tuesday, the 14th of June, the Blackpool Improvement Act received the royal assent. The Board originally consisted of nine members, but in 1871 the number was increased to eighteen.

One of the earliest acts of the new commissioners of 1853 was to provide for the proper lighting of the town by the erection of Gas Works, which they accomplished in their first year of office; for some time it had been evident that the season was seriously curtailed by the absence of any illumination along the promenade and thoroughfares during the autumn evenings, but private speculation had for some reason held aloof from so important an undertaking, although the question had been much discussed amongst the inhabitants. Here it may be stated, in order to avoid reverting to the subject again, that in 1863 there were 650 consumers of gas; in 1869, 1270; and in 1875, no less than 2,000; the miles of mains in those years being respectively 5, 7, and 12.

In 1856, the promenade, which had suffered much injury from frequent attacks of the sea, and perhaps from some amount of negligence in not bestowing due attention to its proper maintenance, was put in better order and extended from its northern extremity, opposite Talbot Square, along the front of Albert Terrace as far as Rossall's, formerly Dickson's Hotel. Four years later a portion of this walk opposite Central Beach was asphalted and sprinkled over with fine white spar. The Infant School-house in Bank Hey Street, was opened in 1856.

The Roman Catholic Church, situated in Talbot Road, was erected in 1857, from the design of Edwin W. Pugin, Esq., and at the sole expense of Miss M. Tempest, sister to Sir Charles Tempest, Bart., of Broughton Hall, Yorkshire. It is in the Gothic style, the exterior being built with Yorkshire flag in narrow courses, hammer dressed and tuck pointed. The church comprises a chancel, north and south transepts, two sacristies, confessionals, nave, aisles, south porch, and central western tower. The chancel,