Showtown History Centre

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Latest news on heritage collections and engagement from the Showtown History Centre.

19/08/2026

🎉 Bookings for Blackpool's Heritage Open Days are NOW OPEN! 🏛️ Explore special access & events at iconic venues. Limited spaces available! 🎟️ Book now: Blackpool Heritage Open Days – bookings & information

15/08/2026

Meet Charlie 🎩
We’re delighted to welcome Charlie, a ventriloquist doll believed to be over 100 years old, to the Showtown History Centre.
Charlie belonged to the late Ernest Radford, known as ‘Myster-E’ — an illusionist, ventriloquist, manipulator and magician who performed regularly in Blackpool, including alongside Harry Corbett, creator of Sooty, at South Pier and the Queen’s Theatre.
Thanks to sisters Sandra and Tracey, Charlie has travelled from Bradford, across the Pennines, to join us alongside a fascinating collection of Mr Radford’s performance ephemera.
We’re delighted to be entrusted with Charlie and to help preserve this remarkable piece of Blackpool’s entertainment history. ❤️

14/08/2026

Have you got your Heritage Open Days flyer yet? 👀📖

There’s a fantastic programme of events happening across Blackpool from 17th until 20th September— and you won’t want to miss what’s on!

📅 Planning to visit? Take a look through the Blackpool listings and find your must-see events.

🎟️ Booking is essential for some activities, so don’t leave it too late! Check the individual event details for booking information and how to secure your place.

👉 Find the full Blackpool programme and booking details here:
Heritage Open Days – Blackpool or scan the QR code

Grab your flyer, circle your favourites and start planning! 🎉

29/06/2026

✨June Highlights✨

We are delighted to introduce you to Belinda Scarlett our new Collections Manager and Paul Richardson our new Heritage Assistant Maternity Cover who will be based at the Showtown History Centre.

Both Belinda and Paul are very excited to have joined the team this June!!

29/05/2026

✨May Highlights✨

We have welcomed local, national and international visitors this month - all looking at different aspects of Blackpool's history including:

- Blackpool Dance Festival
- Lawrence Wright
- Pleasure Beach
- Winter Gardens
- Blackpool Central Library

Our amazing collection of event programmes have proved to be the most popular items this month!

📸 Winter Gardens Bound Programmes for 1920 - includes the very first Blackpool Dance Festival!

23/05/2026

💃The 100th Blackpool Dance Festival is in full swing and we just wanted to share a wonderful new addition to the collection with you...

We have recently acquired a 1st Prize Class Style medal from the 1937 Blackpool Dance Festival!

If you are a researcher or general enthusiast and want to see the archives (including this medal) that we have on the Dance Festival, then please get in touch. Email: [email protected] or call 01253 478090 to book an appointment.

You can also see the amazing dance gallery at our sister venue, Showtown Blackpool museum, including the original 1920 Challenge Trophy currently on display!

01/05/2026

✨ April Highlights ✨

Last month flew by! It was a pleasure welcoming visitors interested in researching all sorts of themes, including:

- Blackpool Musical Festival
- Swimming
- Aviation
- Performers
- Railways

Our volunteers have also been busy on a number of projects, including cataloguing the photographs in our Local History Collection.

📸 Corner of Queen Street before Central Library and Central Library in 1953, taken from the Local History Collection.

23/04/2026

🎤 Talk: Blackpool in 1876 🎤

1876 wasn’t just another year in Blackpool’s history - it was the moment the town truly came into its own. This was the year Blackpool became an incorporated borough: a self‑governing town with the power to shape its own future, elect its own council and appoint its very first mayor.

Join Showtown as we mark the 150th anniversary of incorporation and uncover how this pivotal moment transformed Blackpool from a fast‑growing seaside escape into a confident, ambitious resort with big plans and even bigger personality.

A Rare Opportunity:
The event will feature the original Charter of Incorporation, a remarkable piece of Blackpool’s civic history. This is a unique chance to see the document that changed everything, the moment Blackpool stepped onto the national stage with confidence and ambition.

📅 Thursday 7th May, 6pm–7pm
📍 Showtown, Bank Hey Street
🎟 £5

Book now: https://www.showtownblackpool.co.uk/whats-on/events/blackpool-in-1876

📸 Dr W. H. Cocker, Mayor of Blackpool in 1876 (Gazette News 23rd March 1906)

01/04/2026

✨ Don't miss out! ✨

Join Showtown Blackpool tomorrow for:

🎤 TALK: Little People Towns in the Tower
📅Thursday, 2nd April, 6-7pm
📍Showtown, Bank Hey Street

High up in the Tower once stood a fully built model town, created for a community of talented little people who performed there. It wasn’t hidden away, it was a headline attraction, widely advertised and hugely popular in its day.

Join a Showtown curator for 'Little People Towns in the Tower', a fascinating deep dive into this extraordinary attraction in the sky. Discover how this model town came to be, meet the performers who brought it to life and explore Blackpool’s pioneering role in shaping this form of entertainment.

⚠️ Please note: This talk includes sensitive historical material and reflects on how language and attitudes have changed over time.

🎟️ Only £5 a ticket
Book now: https://bit.ly/townsinthetower

27/03/2026

✨ March Highlights ✨

Our collection of Holiday Guides have proved to be very popular this month.

They have been viewed by visitors looking to:

- Find hotels in the numerous accommodation advertisements.

- See what attractions were available in particular years.

- Take a closer look at the design and photographs used.

You can view some of the other Holiday Guide front covers on our website: https://www.showtownblackpool.co.uk/collections/galleries/publicity-department

📸 1949 Holiday Guide front cover and information page

Address

Showtown History Centre, First Floor Of Central Library, Queen Street
Blackpool
FY11PX

Website

http://www.showtownblackpool.co.uk/

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