We’re talking quirky buildings in this post about the Fylde Boat Angling Club House. It’s a small building which you’ll have passed if you walk along the promenade in the Bispham/Anchorsholme area of North Blackpool.
For some years it’s only been accessible when you walk northwards along the promenade from the direction of Bispham/Blackpool. The usual access point at the junction of Queens Promenade/Princes Way has been closed off for some time. It’s been an access point for beach works for both the new Anchorsholme sea wall and the United Utilities beach works.
Early History of the Fylde Boat Angling Club House
The Fylde Boat Angling Club House was built on the lower promenade in the mid 1930’s, at the same time as the the underground car park.
It originally housed seven beach chalets. They were hired out by the council for day use, very like beach huts in other resorts. Thanks to Dave Hutchinson for these photos of it in the early days.
In the next photo you can clearly see the entrance to what was the underground car park, with the then new beach chalets in the background.
Closure of the Underground Boat Store
After being used for many years as an underground boat store by the Fylde Boat Angling Club, the underground car park finally closed in early 2015.
Visit Fylde Coast suggested that the Club held an open day for the public to look inside the boat store before it was filled in. So on 1 November 2014, the Angling Club opened the doors, and also the doors of their clubhouse. We obviously went along to have a look and take photos!
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Inside the Fylde Boat Angling Club House
What an interesting building! I’m not quite sure what we expected to see, but I don’t think we expected this. It’s a cosy, comfortable meeting place.
New Home for the Tractors
Ironically, the underground boat store wasn’t actually used for storing boats, because it was still very prone to flooding.
Instead, club members used it as a place to store their small fleet of tractors. They’re used to transport their fishing boats across the beach to the edge of the tide.
Of course once the underground cavern was filled in, there would be nowhere to put the tractors. So an extension was added to the side of the Fylde Boat Angling Club House.
Anything to add?
There’s history all around us if you just look for it. Have you got anything to add to the story of this local landmark?
Please leave a comment below. If you’ve got any photos to add you can email them to jane@theRabbitPatch.co.uk
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Lovely to see this as going with my dad and his best friend n family for years and them storing there boats under ground I rember the bonfire night events, the many happy times singing and helping my dad get the boat out, loved this place as a child
A good read about the boat club, i had no idea there was an underground car park.
Ive spent a few nights in the boat club with my late husband, he loved his fishing, and took part in lots of fishing matches.
As usual Jane and Chrissy, a very interesting read. Thank you. Erica McNaughton
Thanks Erica, glad you enjoyed it 🙂