Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/461

 corner lying north of and between Kirkham and Wrea was cut off. The rails were also doubled.

Reverting to the town itself, we find that the day which gave the small coast communication between Blackpool and Lytham to the public use, also witnessed another event—the opening of the Baths and Assembly Rooms, situated on the beach, about midway between the Clifton Arms and the Neptune Hotels. The building is of brick, with stone dressings, and presents an elegant and rather imposing appearance. It comprises private and swimming baths for both sexes; dressing-rooms, retiring-rooms, news and general reading-room, and a capacious saloon, able to contain 350 persons, used for concerts, balls, and other entertainments. Early in the same year a Congregational Church was completed in Bannister Street, the corner stone of which had been laid on the 17th of October, 1861, by Sir James Watts, of Manchester. The edifice is formed of Longridge stone, in the ornamental Gothic style of architecture, with a spire, and will hold about 500 worshippers. Within the enclosure wall surrounding the church are the Sunday schools connected with it. The first pile of the marine pier, extending into the estuary of the Ribble from the promenade, was screwed into the ground on the 8th of June, 1864. The structure was designed by E. Birch, esq., C.E., and is supported on hollow cylindrical columns, arranged in clusters. The length of the deck is 914 feet, the whole of which is encircled by a continuous line of side seats, whilst a lounging or waiting-room is stationed on the head. The entrance is protected by gates and toll-houses. Easter Monday, the 17th of April, 1865, was the day set apart for the ceremonious opening of the new erection. The town was gaily decorated with the bunting, and no efforts were spared to do full justice to the importance of so auspicious an event. Immense confluences of people arrived in excursion trains, running at greatly reduced fares, from the business centres of Lancashire and Yorkshire, and the streets and esplanade were literally inundated with spectators from all grades of society. To Lady Eleanor Cecily Clifton was delegated the honourable duty of declaring the pier accessible to promenaders, and at the selected time, that lady, accompanied by her son, T. H. Clifton, esq., proceeded to the spot, where the necessary form was gone through; a large pro