Wow! I was brought up in central Blackpool and left when I was 18. I never knew any of this history. You have done such a fantastic job of unveiling one of Blackpool's hidden secrets. I always loved the buildings of Raikes Parade but I think next time I visit I will drive around here with a different mindset. Thank you so much and well done- a lot of thought and preparation has clearly gone into this.
The fade in and and out really does punch me in the gut, as I mourn the loss of what once was ! There is not much in the present that I’d feel the same sense of loss 🤷🏻♂️
another fantastic video showing the strange world that seemed to have gone. The people, memories, buildings all replaced by houses 🤔. A brilliant video - fantastic work - well done.
Those fantastic photo fades get me every time 😊 Never even heard of this part of Blackpool so was extra fascinating... It's a highlight of my Sunday afternoon when these come out 😃... love 'em
Fantastic. I used to work on Hornby Road but was unaware of the area's history and the entrance gate at Fleetwood which I passed by many times. I'm hoping to get a visit next year so I can revisit my old stamping ground with a lot more insight on it's past history. Thank you.
Fascinating. I've known Blackpool since the mid 50s but had no idea until this video of how it all fitted together. In the early 70s, The Raikes Hotel as it was then called, was hotbed of student culture of the time and thorn in the side of Lancs Constabulary for its drugs scene. The "Colosseum" is probably far better known as the site of the vast Ribble/Standerwick Express Coach station which on a Wakes Week Saturday would be swamped by several hundred coaches making their way into Blackpool, worthy a video of its own on which I would be happy to work with you.
Excellent vid Darren . Great work on the picture fade to put some perspective on what was once there , impossible to look at it now and have any idea what was once there .
I've long been fascinated by the history of Raikes Hall Royal Palace Gardens, on which so little source material is available. You've done a wonderful job here with the fade ins and additional material I've never seen before. Some years ago, expressing my interest to the then pub manager at Raikes Hall, he took me to a meeting room where within was a fabulous lithograph/linen colour print of the gardens in its heyday. Congratulations on an excellent piece of work.
Yet again Darren great history photo fades and drone shots. Your vlogs are always full of info and history you do some great research and put a lot of thought into your videos. Great work.
What a beautiful place that was in the heart of Lancaster. Really is such a shame to hear that such a beautiful garden and park was demolished for houses.
What a terrific documentary. Absolutely fabulous. Even the info about the football team. The before and after photos outstanding. Thank you for another masterpiece.
Thanks for an another amazing video full of quirky and interesting things that fascinate. Love the then and now photos… they are so perfectly placed and timed!! Had to watch it all twice in case I missed anything, lol
What a great piece of work this is Darren, well done!! The music really draws you in, the title, Wander, is quite apt!! Thanks to your friend Kye for taking you to see the Grand Entrance in Fleetwood, it looks the same until you see the obvious difference. On the old picture of the entrance there is a poster advertising an event at the Alhambra. Quite by chance only two days ago I was wandering through the woods that surround the Alhambra (in Granada) and came across a similar styled entrance gate (much older though) that had been moved in order to allow development. I expect this happens in a lot of places. It would be great to think that the statues from Raikes Hall have survived. Good luck from Spain!!
Superb video. I used to live on Lincoln Road in the 70’s (part of the boating lake) and although I was aware that the house was built on the site of the gardens , I knew little about the history of the area. This has brought it all to life for me and the photo fades are simply fascinating. Thank you.
My great great grandfather John Fish was the first manager of Raikes Hall Gardens and his brother, Alderman James Fish was one of the first mayor's of Blackpool. Many thanks for making the video, I really enjoyed watching it and have since been for a walk round the area 🙂
Great video as always Darren and some brilliant photo fades, its always amazes me how many landmarks we have lost over the years and how the landscape changes so much.
Brilliant Darren👍 so informative and interesting 👏👏👏 I could watch those fade ins and outs all day. So much work and planning goes into your blogs👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
as usual.. fab video.. so so sad things have to change..im sure things will have been so lovely and pieceful in them days.. soon everything will be replaced with houses..sad..
Hey Darren Another superb video. I love your enthusiasm for the subject. Your detailed knowledge and the great overlays, especially the use of old photos and modern locations are top notch! The idea of Raikes Hall being the Crystal Palace of the north probably isn’t as far fetched as it sounds. The success of the Crystal Palace must have been seen as a good way to make money, but also to educate and entertain the local populous? So many features resonate with the glass cathedral in Penge. I’m really not convinced those gates are the same ones. Many of the features of the originals are present, but there’s also a number of inconsistencies. Maybe when they were reconstructed it was found the originals had been too damaged when they were demolished to be used again? That has, from what I’ve read, been the problem with the Euston Arch! Thanks for another fun and entertaining video! 👍
I agree with the stone gate entrance situation. I've paused this video at around 5:54 and compared this with 'Street View' image of the Fleetwood Memorial Park. I'm not convinced they are the same 🤔. I'd imagine moving one without causing catastrophic damage would be possible, and it would probably be easier to build a new one. I suppose we would never know unless there was some plans / blueprints or original information about this. It's not really that long ago in the scheme of things. 👍
Brilliant just brilliant video with a lots amazing information I do love these history video of blackpool every time i go to Blackpool i will check it out and have a look around the areas I can't wait for next video of Blackpool I hope you and your family and friends are well and safe
I’ve read about The Royal Palace Gardens in Blackpool, so interesting once again Darren and your morphing between shots from today to yesterday are second to none with the accompanying atmospheric music well done.
A great history of a very little know former tourist attraction in Blackpool.Great visuals as always your always one who can be relied on to up his game when it comes to the slides.The Memorial park in Fleetwood holds the distiction of being one of only a few parks in the UK that is a dedicated war memorial hence the name.I intend to visit it next year when on holiday in the resort,Im staying on Hornby Road coincidentally.
There again Darren! Knew about the Raikes Hall pleasure Gardens, but didn't realise it was so extensive, lived on church street back in the late 70s not far from this.
Blackpool Rock always comes to mind! Especially when I got chased there for one!! This has been a really interesting series Darren. Not my favourite seaside but it does have some lovely places to see within it. 🍭🏖🗼
Another amazing video Darren, so much amazing research and that garden statue really looks like its original. We went to Blackpool last ween and called in at Crosby "blitz" beach Liverpool. Have you thought of trying to relate any of the architecture that lying on there to actual buildings or just doing a general video?;
Thanks for that video, I have always been fascinated about Raikes Hall and what was there, such a shame that it went. Infact the whole of Blackpools history prior to 1900 is interesting.
Fantastic video, I currently live on one of those streets where the football ground used to be, which I never knew until now, we obviously knew about the Raikes Estate, but have never seen pics like yours before, just a fab video.
Wow amazing video !!! Have you ever looked at the old miners home and uncle Tom's cabin in Bispham both have rich history's. I was always told the miners home was haunted as a kid 👻 back in the day it was stunning ! I was always shipped off from Salford to Blackpool as a child because of my breathing apparently the Sea Air is the cure. Its flats now !
Fleetwood Memorial Park (National Heritage List for England reference 1402219) was developed from Warrenhurst Park, an early C20 park designed by Thomas Lumb of Blackpool for the Fleetwood Estate Company (FEC), on land formerly belonging to Warrenhurst House. This gateway was originally built for Warrenhurst Park, which opened in 1902. Raikes Hall in Blackpool (NHLE 1072009) had a similar but larger gateway, but it did not close until 1904. This from the official listing of the Fleetwood Park gates
Well done on putting this together so engagingly. I think I knew most of it, from having lived in Blackpool for decades, but I definitely didn't know that the entrance gateway to the Raikes gardens was relocated & rebuilt in Fleetwood! I presume you know that what you called the Salvation Army was the old Boys' Grammar School?
Hi Darren,I really enjoyed the video of Raikes Hall Royal Palace Garden in Blackpool,I found it very intresting.I never knew it stood where the salvation army stands today.I am a regular visitor to Blackpool.
Thank you. I really enjoyed watching this. Live down south but always loved Blackpool and now I know a bit more of its history. I wonder if the people in those houses realise exactly where their house was built, ie the Monkey House or Lake? Thanks again.
That was an amazing piece of research and video production. Your presentation skills are second to none as are your methods of super imposing historical photos onto current video photos. I found it thoroughly absorbing and full of historical facts. Congratulations on a first class production!👏 PS Whereabouts is the entrance to the Memorial Park in Fleetwood, say in relation to where the Knott End ferry is located?
That is a brilliant show of what used 2 b and I thought I new Blackpool really well, the building that is still being used as a pub ect was built back In the day when places were made 2 last and that 1 has definitely stood the test of time, it is said progress but it might b an 💡 idea 2 go back 2 the proper way of building places that will last, I've seen places being demolished that r a lot younger than that building shame. Thanx for that really enjoyed it 👍 look forward to next 1.
Amazing history Darren. Do you do all your own research? Love Blackpool. Had a good few nights out there in my youth. Chps n gravy man. People down here in the south are heathens man. HA HA HA. Superb vid man, fantastic well done.
Heyas Darren, I'm glad you introduced Kai as I thought you were being stalked 😎 My ex missis had an Aunt living somewhere near the old central station who let rooms to theatricals only. I wish I had gotten to know her more as I can guess she had many a tale to tell as a Blackpool landlady!!! You have excelled again with this vid. Cheers matey DougT in Mancs
I love when you do the fades to show how a scene used to look. Another fascinating vlog, thanks Darren 👍🏻
Wow! I was brought up in central Blackpool and left when I was 18. I never knew any of this history. You have done such a fantastic job of unveiling one of Blackpool's hidden secrets. I always loved the buildings of Raikes Parade but I think next time I visit I will drive around here with a different mindset. Thank you so much and well done- a lot of thought and preparation has clearly gone into this.
The fade in and and out really does punch me in the gut, as I mourn the loss of what once was !
There is not much in the present that I’d feel the same sense of loss 🤷🏻♂️
I agree completely. Those old buildings were fantastic. Buildings nowadays aren’t a patch on them!
another fantastic video showing the strange world that seemed to have gone. The people, memories, buildings all replaced by houses 🤔. A brilliant video - fantastic work - well done.
Those fantastic photo fades get me every time 😊
Never even heard of this part of Blackpool so was extra fascinating... It's a highlight of my Sunday afternoon when these come out 😃... love 'em
I imagine it would've been quite an experience to visit the gardens and buildings. Love the fade ins as the area has changed so much. Great video.
Fantastic video, such a shame it’s all gone, really sad. x
Brilliant film, as always. Many thanks AdventureMe.
Fantastic. I used to work on Hornby Road but was unaware of the area's history and the entrance gate at Fleetwood which I passed by many times. I'm hoping to get a visit next year so I can revisit my old stamping ground with a lot more insight on it's past history. Thank you.
Excellent video again! Love hearing about the history of the places you visit.
M8 you describe everything so well and make the graphics of the past ie now to then so interesting keep up the good work 👍👍👍👍
Thanks for this. I absolutely loved it. I love the photo fades especially. Really appreciate all the work.
Another fantastic video! Can’t believe what used to be there! The houses that are there now looks old so it’s amazing how for back you can go x
It’s a shame Blackpool lost such a wonderful attraction. An amazing video, you’ve gained another subscriber 👍
Thanks Joe
As always really interesting and well presented, thank you Darren
Yet another exceptional piece of work!
Thanks John
Superb stuff Darren. Amazing to think what was there over 100 years ago, and all what's left is the pub .I really enjoy your fading photos.
Thanks for showing this in so much detail. I had no idea it was so extensive.
Fascinating. I've known Blackpool since the mid 50s but had no idea until this video of how it all fitted together. In the early 70s, The Raikes Hotel as it was then called, was hotbed of student culture of the time and thorn in the side of Lancs Constabulary for its drugs scene.
The "Colosseum" is probably far better known as the site of the vast Ribble/Standerwick Express Coach station which on a Wakes Week Saturday would be swamped by several hundred coaches making their way into Blackpool, worthy a video of its own on which I would be happy to work with you.
Brilliant as always Darren ……a fine production….👀👍👍
Excellent vid Darren .
Great work on the picture fade to put some perspective on what was once there , impossible to look at it now and have any idea what was once there .
Great video and love the overlays, really helpful picturing the then and now. Interesting to know some of the statue’s moved to Garstang! Thank you.
I've long been fascinated by the history of Raikes Hall Royal Palace Gardens, on which so little source material is available. You've done a wonderful job here with the fade ins and additional material I've never seen before. Some years ago, expressing my interest to the then pub manager at Raikes Hall, he took me to a meeting room where within was a fabulous lithograph/linen colour print of the gardens in its heyday. Congratulations on an excellent piece of work.
Thanks Keith. Yeah he showed us that. It's proudly displayed inside the pub now.
Yet again Darren great history photo fades and drone shots. Your vlogs are always full of info and history you do some great research and put a lot of thought into your videos. Great work.
Another fantastic presentation...thank you.
Thank you darren, had no idea of this and i am a Blackpool lass. 🐾🐾🐾🤗
What a beautiful place that was in the heart of Lancaster.
Really is such a shame to hear that such a beautiful garden and park was demolished for houses.
What a terrific documentary. Absolutely fabulous. Even the info about the football team. The before and after photos outstanding. Thank you for another masterpiece.
Thanks for an another amazing video full of quirky and interesting things that fascinate. Love the then and now photos… they are so perfectly placed and timed!! Had to watch it all twice in case I missed anything, lol
What a great piece of work this is Darren, well done!! The music really draws you in, the title, Wander, is quite apt!!
Thanks to your friend Kye for taking you to see the Grand Entrance in Fleetwood, it looks the same until you see the obvious difference. On the old picture of the entrance there is a poster advertising an event at the Alhambra. Quite by chance only two days ago I was wandering through the woods that surround the Alhambra (in Granada) and came across a similar styled entrance gate (much older though) that had been moved in order to allow development. I expect this happens in a lot of places. It would be great to think that the statues from Raikes Hall have survived.
Good luck from Spain!!
I was aware of it's existence & the fact the pub was the only remaining part, but that was a fantastic presentation. Well done.
Superb video. I used to live on Lincoln Road in the 70’s (part of the boating lake) and although I was aware that the house was built on the site of the gardens , I knew little about the history of the area. This has brought it all to life for me and the photo fades are simply fascinating. Thank you.
Thanks for the info and love the fade in and out of the old photos, all these old treasures gone.
My great great grandfather John Fish was the first manager of Raikes Hall Gardens and his brother, Alderman James Fish was one of the first mayor's of Blackpool.
Many thanks for making the video, I really enjoyed watching it and have since been for a walk round the area 🙂
Great video as always Darren and some brilliant photo fades, its always amazes me how many landmarks we have lost over the years and how the landscape changes so much.
Thank you for the blast from the past.
Brilliant Darren👍 so informative and interesting 👏👏👏 I could watch those fade ins and outs all day. So much work and planning goes into your blogs👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
as usual.. fab video.. so so sad things have to change..im sure things will have been so lovely and pieceful in them days.. soon everything will be replaced with houses..sad..
great vid darren of another lost part of blackpool
Thanks for another interesting video. XX
This is excellent! Thanks Darren. Knew little of Raikes Hall Gardens
Very informative and enjoyable. Never realised the Gardens were that big, and had so many forms of entertainment. Thank you.
Thanks mate
Brilliant and very very interesting. Thanks a lot 🌝
Hey Darren
Another superb video. I love your enthusiasm for the subject. Your detailed knowledge and the great overlays, especially the use of old photos and modern locations are top notch!
The idea of Raikes Hall being the Crystal Palace of the north probably isn’t as far fetched as it sounds. The success of the Crystal Palace must have been seen as a good way to make money, but also to educate and entertain the local populous? So many features resonate with the glass cathedral in Penge.
I’m really not convinced those gates are the same ones. Many of the features of the originals are present, but there’s also a number of inconsistencies. Maybe when they were reconstructed it was found the originals had been too damaged when they were demolished to be used again? That has, from what I’ve read, been the problem with the Euston Arch!
Thanks for another fun and entertaining video! 👍
I agree with the stone gate entrance situation. I've paused this video at around 5:54 and compared this with 'Street View' image of the Fleetwood Memorial Park. I'm not convinced they are the same 🤔. I'd imagine moving one without causing catastrophic damage would be possible, and it would probably be easier to build a new one. I suppose we would never know unless there was some plans / blueprints or original information about this. It's not really that long ago in the scheme of things. 👍
Agreed!
Thank you for the tour today. Amazing travel back in time. Thanks Darren. Cheers mate!
Brilliant just brilliant video with a lots amazing information I do love these history video of blackpool every time i go to Blackpool i will check it out and have a look around the areas I can't wait for next video of Blackpool I hope you and your family and friends are well and safe
I’ve read about The Royal Palace Gardens in Blackpool, so interesting once again Darren and your morphing between shots from today to yesterday are second to none with the accompanying atmospheric music well done.
Thanks David
Amazing step back in time, thanks
another fantastic video! love your photo fades!
Well you’ve managed teach me something I didn’t know about Blackpool. Well done! 😆
May call for a pint in the raikes hall pub whilst I'm here this week lol.. great video 👍
16 minutes of entertainment cheers Darren 🍻
Very interesting Darren.
A great history of a very little know former tourist attraction in Blackpool.Great visuals as always your always one who can be relied on to up his game when it comes to the slides.The Memorial park in Fleetwood holds the distiction of being one of only a few parks in the UK that is a dedicated war memorial hence the name.I intend to visit it next year when on holiday in the resort,Im staying on Hornby Road coincidentally.
Thanks for another cracking vlog very interesting story 🎉
Fantastic series all of them extremely interesting and factual keep up the good work 👍
excellent put together video, really interesting 👍 used to live on Hornby Rd and never knew how much the area had changed.
Quality stuff in Blackpool good thing's too see
There again Darren! Knew about the Raikes Hall pleasure Gardens, but didn't realise it was so extensive, lived on church street back in the late 70s not far from this.
Masterful fade ins. Well done.
Blackpool Rock always comes to mind! Especially when I got chased there for one!! This has been a really interesting series Darren. Not my favourite seaside but it does have some lovely places to see within it. 🍭🏖🗼
Another amazing video Darren, so much amazing research and that garden statue really looks like its original.
We went to Blackpool last ween and called in at Crosby "blitz" beach Liverpool. Have you thought of trying to relate any of the architecture that lying on there to actual buildings or just doing a general video?;
Amazing as always 👍
Thanks for that video, I have always been fascinated about Raikes Hall and what was there, such a shame that it went. Infact the whole of Blackpools history prior to 1900 is interesting.
That's really interesting. Memorial Gardens is a memorial to the War, but I've never heard mention of the gates being from Raikes Hall.
Brilliant
Fantastic video 👍
Reciently moved to area and had no idea of the local history!
Another superb video 👍
Many thanks!
Damn. You did it again, I never knew any of that and I grew up around the corner lol cheers bruv
Great video Darren, even without being from the area you make it so interesting, the fades are excellent.
Loving this ❤
Fascinating stuff another part of Blackpool history lost 😞
That is just incredible! Brilliant
Thank you
Fantastic video, I currently live on one of those streets where the football ground used to be, which I never knew until now, we obviously knew about the Raikes Estate, but have never seen pics like yours before, just a fab video.
Glad you enjoyed it
Wow amazing video !!! Have you ever looked at the old miners home and uncle Tom's cabin in Bispham both have rich history's. I was always told the miners home was haunted as a kid 👻 back in the day it was stunning ! I was always shipped off from Salford to Blackpool as a child because of my breathing apparently the Sea Air is the cure. Its flats now !
Just amazing thank you so many facts I didn’t know. My home town I knew nothing about
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is just mind blowing amazing ❤
Great video Darren, loved it.
Great video and research! Many thanks. Much appreciated.
Glad it was helpful!
Fleetwood Memorial Park (National Heritage List for England reference 1402219) was developed from Warrenhurst Park, an early C20 park designed by Thomas Lumb of Blackpool for the Fleetwood Estate Company (FEC), on land formerly belonging to Warrenhurst House. This gateway was originally built for Warrenhurst Park, which opened in 1902. Raikes Hall in Blackpool (NHLE 1072009) had a similar but larger gateway, but it did not close until 1904.
This from the official listing of the Fleetwood Park gates
thanks for this, i live at liverpool house and its interesting to see what once stood at where we now live.
No problem 👍
Wow
superb
awesome
Thanks for this video.👍 I used it to explore the area and get a better understanding of the long gone Raikes park. 🤔🙂
You are welcome!
When I hear "Blackpool" I think of Darren and a great AdventureMe video....
Brilliant video 👍
Well done on putting this together so engagingly. I think I knew most of it, from having lived in Blackpool for decades, but I definitely didn't know that the entrance gateway to the Raikes gardens was relocated & rebuilt in Fleetwood!
I presume you know that what you called the Salvation Army was the old Boys' Grammar School?
Hi Darren,I really enjoyed the video of Raikes Hall Royal Palace Garden in Blackpool,I found it very intresting.I never knew it stood where the salvation army stands today.I am a regular visitor to Blackpool.
Thanks Andrew
Darren your very welcome.
Thank you. I really enjoyed watching this. Live down south but always loved Blackpool and now I know a bit more of its history. I wonder if the people in those houses realise exactly where their house was built, ie the Monkey House or Lake? Thanks again.
That was an amazing piece of research and video production. Your presentation skills are second to none as are your methods of super imposing historical photos onto current video photos. I found it thoroughly absorbing and full of historical facts. Congratulations on a first class production!👏
PS
Whereabouts is the entrance to the Memorial Park in Fleetwood, say in relation to where the Knott End ferry is located?
Thanks Kenneth. Much appreciated. Use this link for the exact location.
maps.app.goo.gl/c8rRYgXtB14PWxECA
I love these videos it's answered alot of questions. 😊
Thanx
Superb vid 😊
That is a brilliant show of what used 2 b and I thought I new Blackpool really well, the building that is still being used as a pub ect was built back In the day when places were made 2 last and that 1 has definitely stood the test of time, it is said progress but it might b an 💡 idea 2 go back 2 the proper way of building places that will last, I've seen places being demolished that r a lot younger than that building shame. Thanx for that really enjoyed it 👍 look forward to next 1.
Sad that the giant Mon 🗝 house at Raikes Hall has gone but there's another one in London, right next to the Thames!
Thats insulting to monkeys 😂
I wonder how many more residential areas are hiding things?? Great video x
To an American when you say Blackpool they are thinking about comics lol.
Amazing history Darren. Do you do all your own research? Love Blackpool. Had a good few nights out there in my youth. Chps n gravy man. People down here in the south are heathens man. HA HA HA. Superb vid man, fantastic well done.
Great vid
Heyas Darren, I'm glad you introduced Kai as I thought you were being stalked 😎 My ex missis had an Aunt living somewhere near the old central station who let rooms to theatricals only. I wish I had gotten to know her more as I can guess she had many a tale to tell as a Blackpool landlady!!! You have excelled again with this vid. Cheers matey DougT in Mancs