13 Jul 2010

Old Blackpool

The ABC Cinema, where The Beatles once played


Noah's Ark, the oldest ride at The Pleasure Beach



Blackpool Central Train Station, now a car park

The bottom of my street! It actually still looks like this minus the tram


My hometown doesn't really look like this, it's lost a lot of its charm. Faded seaside glamour at its best. When I was a teenager I did used to hate it but somehow I have grown to love it again. It's tacky but it knows it is. The thing that really ruins it is the train loads of "party people" every week.


Has your home town passed the test of time?

20 comments:

  1. ooo this has inspired me to find a bit more about my street. gonna do some googling

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  2. sometimes I think i live in the wrong time...

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  3. Confession: I have never, ever been to Blackpool. Second confession: I really want to go for a tacktastic weekend. Is that wrong? AM I the kind of person who has ruined this beautiful town above?

    I'll get my coat!

    www.curveinthemode.blogspot.com

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  4. Anonymous11:16

    I'm from Liverpool but have lived away for about 10 years. It's a great place and seems to be constantly changing - for the better I might add! But I call Sheffield my home now, compared to Liverpool it seems like a village!

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  5. I grow more & more resentful that I was born in Bristol so I can't move here & instead feel like I have to flee. It would be a lovely place to move too...

    I'm sure Blackpool is different though as it has such a 'cliche' reputation.

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  6. I've been to blackpool so many times growing up. Sometimes it was ok to go paddling but other times you have to avoid the manky foam stuff haha

    I havent been in aaaaages though, gotta go get me some rock or some chips and egg sweets! :)

    Paddy

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  7. wow what great pictures. I live in London so yeah it never stop's changing. I love the amount of history in every street, my dad know's heaps and is always telling me something new. I love seeing the war museum and all the photos of my area and how pubs and streets once were. All the pubs have gone, its really sad ...once there was a tight community, now people just ignore one another. I hope one day it will spark back. Great post Matt :)

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  8. I love vintage pics of old towns like these, amazing, xoxo

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  9. Love these pictures! It's one of the few things that makes me like Wetherspoons, as they often have local old pictures... Embarrassing confession!

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  10. Such neat pictures - I love the train!

    http://jammer10am.blogspot.com/

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  11. my hometown has been destroyed twice by tornados. Everytime I go back there is so much new construction, that I hardly recognize it. But I still get the feeling of nostalgia everytime I pass over the train tracks.

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  12. Ahh the old ABC! Stupid Syndicate turning it into a big grey box...grrr.

    holliereid.wordpress

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  13. Beautiful photos - maybe I can get a copy of the ABC one? Also your mailing address as I would like to invite you + guest to my exhibition launch on the 30th July :)

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  14. What great photos! You should post one of how your street looks now, minus the train. I love a bit of faded seaside glamour, hence why I love Brighton and when I lived in the North East used to go to Redcar (which was slightly heavier on the "faded" aspect!)

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  15. Aaah Blackpool has it's rep, but I'm sure you know so nice places to hang out? You'll have to do some sort of mini city guide. My home town is Grantham, birthplace of Maggie Thatcher, and the town that time forgot. It's a typical market town, which means fruit and veg galore on Saturdays... but not much else. ♥ Claire @ Jazzpad

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  16. Looks a delight, I still need to visit...

    tweet tweet tweet

    x

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  17. I love old pics... :)

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  18. Ahh this brings back memories - the old ABC - I wish it was back instead of the Syndiciate! The week before it shut I was so desperate to see it before it was massacred I went to see Kev & Perry Go Large - ha ha. You could even get a drink in the 70's smokers lounge upstairs - true retro chic!

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  19. I hope the tram lines have been left to retire in all its rusty glory.

    Blackpool is kitsche it doesn't pretend or want to be anything it isn't and thats why I love it - plus you do a mean chippy and who doesnt lust after a "kiss me quick" hat.

    Yours Truly

    WE SPY WITH MY LITTLE i

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  20. i hope you and your girlfriend both had a wonderful day yesterday! i certainly did :)

    i love the term you used 'faded seaside glamour at its best', i think that is a charm in itself! i'd love to vist blackpool, i've never been before. when was the last time you came down to london?

    jazzabelle. xxx

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