Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/363

 *marleigh. The town was profusely decorated with bunting of every hue; triumphal arches of evergreens and ensigns spanned many of the thoroughfares, notably Talbot Road and along the front; whilst an immense procession, consisting of the Artillery Volunteers, Yeomanry in uniform, trades with their emblems, friendly societies, schools, etc., headed by a band, and comprising in its ranks no less than twelve mayors from important towns of Lancashire, conducted Colonel Wilson-Patten to that portion of the promenade opposite Talbot Square, where the ceremony of declaring the walk accessible for public traffic was gone through. During the evening the watering-place was illuminated, and the eventful day closed with a large ball, held in honour of the occasion.

The wisdom of the authorities in having Blackpool provided with a marine promenade and a frontage unrivalled by any on the coasts of England was soon evinced by the increase in the stream of visitors poured into the place during the summer months. Fresh houses for their accommodation were being rapidly erected in many parts of the town, and everywhere there were ample evidences that prosperity was dealing liberally with the town. The wooden railings, which heretofore had been deemed sufficiently ornamental fences for the residences facing the sea, were removed, and elegant iron ones substituted, apportioning to each habitation its own plot of sward or garden. The proprietor of Bailey's Hotel hastened to follow the example which had been set by those who were interested in the Clifton Arms and Lane Ends Hotels, and commenced a series of levellings and rebuildings, under the superintendence and according to the designs of Messrs. Speakman and Charlesworth, architects, of Manchester, which extended over several years, and have now rendered the hotel one of the most imposing and handsome edifices in the watering-place. Further alterations, consisting in the erection of shops on a vacant piece of land lying on the north side of the hotel, in the same style of architecture, and continuous with it, were carried out in 1876.

In 1871 a project was launched for purchasing Raikes Hall with the estate belonging thereto, situated on the east aspect of Blackpool, and converting the latter into a park and pleasure gardens. In that year a company was formed, entitled