History of the Fylde of LancashirePorter, John (Writer on the Fylde of Lancashire)
History
History of the Fylde of Lancashire
Porter, John (Writer on the Fylde of Lancashire)
Lancashire (England) -- History
shore for a time, the youthful multitude formed a huge pic-nic party on
the warren. This was without doubt the largest single excursion which
ever visited these shores, and on its return, the enormous train of
two engines and fifty-six carriages, many of which were cattle trucks
provided with forms and covered in with canvas, was divided, each engine
taking half, for fear of accidents and delays. In later times it was
no uncommon circumstance to see the spacious wharf opposite the Upper
and Lower Queen’s Terraces, crowded with cheap trains during Easter
and Whit-weeks. Hourly trips in the small steam tug-boats or pleasure
yachts, pony and donkey rides, bathing, and mussel gathering on the bank
opposite the Mount Terrace were the chief amusements of the day visitors,
and innumerable were the exclamations of wonder and delight uttered by
thousands, who for the first time beheld
“The broad and bursting wave”
at Fleetwood, for our readers may be reminded that at the date of which
we are writing, railway fares, except on special occasions, were beyond
the compass of the labouring populations of our manufacturing and
agricultural districts, and consequently a visit to the, in many cases
unknown, sea, was an event eagerly anticipated and long remembered.
In January, 1845, a general meeting of those who were interested in
Fleetwood, or wished to testify their respect and admiration for the
noble efforts of the founder of the town, was held at the North Euston
Hotel, to determine upon the most suitable public testimonial to be
erected in honour of Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood. Doctor Ramsay proposed
that day schools for 200 children of the labouring classes, with a house
for a master and mistress, having the name of the “Fleetwood Testimonial
Schools,” open to all denominations of Christians and connected with the
National Society, should be erected. This resolution was carried without
a dissentient; subscription lists were opened; and on Wednesday, the 26th
of August, 1846, the foundation stone of the building was laid by Charles
Swainson, esq., of Preston. Large numbers arrived early in the morning to
be present at the ceremony. The town, shipping, and river craft, decked
out in bunting, presented quite a gala appearance as the officials and
guests proceeded to the site in West Street. The procession marched as
stated below:—
The Beadle.
Band.
The Wesleyan Sunday School Children.
The Independent Sunday School Children.
The Church Sunday School Children.
The Architect holding the Mallet and Trowel.
The Contractors.
The Clergy.
Charles Swainson, esq.
The Treasurer and Mr. Swainson’s Friends.
Rossall School.
The Gentry and Visitors.
The Tradesmen.
Independent Order of Oddfellows.
The Rechabites.
In the cavity beneath the foundation stone were enclosed a bottle
containing coins of the present reign, a copy of the _Fleetwood
Chronicle_ of that date, printed on parchment, and another sheet of
parchment inscribed thus:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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