Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/353

 From 1858 to the completion of the chapel the Baptists worshipped in the room formerly used by the Roman Catholics in Talbot Road.

In 1861, the progress and improvement of the town was well shown by three events which occurred at that date—the first sod of the Lytham and Blackpool coast line was cut at Lytham Park, on the 4th of September; a large Market Hall, raised on South Beach, by Mr. W. Read, for the sale of useful and fancy articles was completed; and the original Christ Church was opened on Sunday the 23rd of June, by the Rev. C. H. Wainwright, M.A. This church, which stood until the erection of the present one, was built of iron by Mr. Hemming, of London, at a cost of £1,000, which was advanced by eight gentlemen, who were subsequently reimbursed by contributions from the public and collections from the congregation at various times.

The population of Layton-with-Warbreck in 1861 amounted to 3,907 persons, of which number Blackpool contributed 3,506.

The passenger traffic on the Blackpool and Lytham Railway commenced on the 6th of April, 1862, and between that date and the 30th of June over 35,000 persons had taken advantage of the line and been conveyed between the two watering-places. In 1862 a handsome Police Station and Court-House sprang into being in Abingdon street, including residences, lock-ups, offices, magistrates' room, etc.

The streets of Blackpool no longer presented the meagre and broken lines of earlier days, but were in most instances well filled on each side with compact blocks of houses. In December, 1861, a few of the townpeople assembled at the Clifton Arms Hotel to consider the advisability of erecting a pier, to extend westward from the promenade opposite Talbot square; and on the 22nd of January, 1862, the memorandum of association was signed with a capital of £12,000, being immediately registered. Plans were examined on the 10th of February, and the design of E. Birch, esq., C.E., selected, that gentleman being also appointed engineer. In April, the tender of Messrs. Laidlaw, of Glasgow, to construct the pier for £11,540 was accepted; and a grant of the foreshore required for the undertaking having been obtained from the Duchy of Lancaster for £120, and £7 paid to the Crown for the portion beyond low-water mark, the first pile of the North Pier