Before the zoo opened in 1972, the land was used as an airport called Municipal Airport which opened in 1931 by Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.
When World War 2 (WWII) on 3 September 1939, the airport was taken over by the RAF and was used as a training centre. It was then re-named Stanley Park Aerodrome. Addition aircraft building (Hangars) were built where Wellington Bombers were put together and where then flown off to other RAF sites. When the war finished in 1945 the RAF stopped using the site and aircrafts were never to be flown from the site again.
Blackpool Borough Council took over the sight and used it as one of its main storage resources between 1953 and 1972. The site then became home to the Royal Lancashire Show.
In 1969 when the Blackpool Tower Zoo closed, the council was addiment that Blackpool still had a zoo. Proposals for a zoo to be build on the site was approved and the zoo opened on 6th July 1972. Other plans for the site were offered but they were rejected and they included: Formula One Racing Circuit, Racecourse, Speedway and Disney
Blackpool Zoo was opened by Johnny Morris (TV Presenter) and Blackpool's Mayor. Over the years the zoo has expanded. Its offices and educational classrooms were situated in the original air traffic control building and several hangers became home to the animals such as the elephants, and also used for storage of food and equipment.
Haunted
The Hooded Man - A man wearing a dark robe and he looked like a monk with a large stick and his hood over its head. He has been seen walking down a pathway leading into the gardens closed to the zoo entrance.
The man has also been seen inside the zoo in one of the hangers. He had been seen in a photo which a visitor took and his face was partially covered by his hood and hand and he looed as though he was laughing.
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In 1784, the Metropole Hotel opened but under the name Baileyâs Hotel as it was built by Layton farmer Lawrence Bailey. It is one of the oldest hotels in Blackpool. It is the only hotel on the west side of the tram tracks. Over the years it has had several renovations and extensions.
When the hotel first opened it had three dining rooms, a coffee lounge, thirty four bedrooms and a bathing machine.
In 1826, Rossallâs Dickson brought the hotel and renamed it the Higher Royal Hotel. Then in 1852 it became the Rossallâs Dickson Hotel after it was taken over by Robert Rossall. By the end of 1867in went back to being called the Baileyâs Hotel, when it was own by Lawrence Bailey. In August 1893 Metropole Hotel Ltd brought the hotel and was then taken over by the government between 1939 and 1947. The hotel was own by Butlins April 1955 and 1998. It later became the Grand Metropole until it was sold to Britannia Hotels in 2004.
Central Station opened in 6 April 1863 and was called Hounds Hill Station at the end of the Blackpool & Lytham Railway Line when it opened. It was renamed Central Station in 1878. By 1901 it had 14 platform. Even though it was Blackpool's busiest railway it closed on 2 November 1964. It closed down mainly because of the development potential of the land that the station was situated on as it was near the Tower and the Promenade. The railway was moved to the south.
On 27 August 1941 there was a major disaster at central station where server people died. (Full story below)
Part of the building was used as a Bingo Hall until 1973 as the building was then demolished, although the toilet block serviced until 2009. Coral Island Arcade now stands on the site of the ticket hall and there are/was plans to redevelop the old station are between New Bonny Street and Chapel Street. This will include demolishing the police building after it moved the new âFylde HQâ on Clifton Road in 2018.
Railway Disaster
On 27 August 1941, the familiar sound of aircraft engines could be heard overhead. A Blackburn Botha N1745 training aircraft and four 256 Squadron's Boulton Paul Defiant N1745 fighter planes where doing a training exercise near the Tower disaster struck. One of the Fighter Planes hit Botha in midriff of dipping its wing and did not see Botha underneath it. Botha split into two and the Fighter Plane lost its wing in the accident. It happened around 3pm and was seen by tens of thousands of people who were visiting Blackpool that day.
Debris fell from the planes hitting the near by town centre. The Bothaâs fuselage crashed into the entrance hall of the Central Train Station. The whole area got covered in fuel which inevitably caught fire and the smoke could been seen from miles away.
18 people died from the incident and a further 39 people were injured.
Debris fell all over the south of the town centre. The tail section of Botha fell into the sea and and missed hitting the promenade by inches. The engine landed onto 97 Reads Avenue where the people living there survived but the house didnât. The crew fell into the sea and only 1 body was found and was brought back for burial.
The 3 people who where on Bortha died and the rest of the casualties were at the station. Most were treated straight away and then they all went to Victoria Hospital. Some of the staff from the train station lost their lives in the incident.
The mayor of Blackpool and other local well known people visited some of the 27 people who were admitted to the hospital.
In the aftermath the town worked to rebuild itself. Coral Island Arcade now lies on the site of the entrance hall of the train station. Also the house that got destroyed never got rebuilt and is now part of Black and the Fylde College.
A plaque stands in Blackpool North Station as a tribute to the memory of those lost and the people who helped out in the disaster. The plaque reads:
âIn memory of those who died at Blackpool Central Station on August 27 1941 and the brave efforts of PC Thomas Beaton (LMS Railway Police), Public Citizens and Rescue Services who did all they could to save lives.â
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In the late 1970's the site that Coral Island is on was developed to create the arcade.
Coral now sits on what was the entrance to Blackpool Central Train Station.
Present Day
Coral Island is a Pirate Theme Arcade. Captain Jack is the mascot for the arcade. It has 3 area's where you can go and eat a CafĂŠ, Bar and Fish & Chip shop where you can get food and drink. Also kids get to eat free there. The arcade is free to enter.
It has many well known arcade games there like the 2p machines, claw machine and fruit machines. It also has a Ghost Train and a Pirate Flyer Ride to go with the theme of the arcade. It also like many arcades have games where you can win tickets on which then you can swap for prizes. Also they have a Camel Derby which is popular to go on and play.
The arcade has a large Casino Area for the over 18's so you can have some fun in the arcade away from children if you prefer that option. Also Captain Jack has a walk around the Arcade at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm with a loot bag of chocolate coins to give to the kids if you spot him on his walk around the arcade.
The hospital opened on 25th August 1894 and it was named after Queen Victoria (Queen From 1837-1901) in 1897. It was originally located on Whitegate Lane (Drive) where the new health centre is now. It was maintained by voluntary subscription.
When it opened it had four wards which was capable of holding 12 beds and 3 cots. The first matron was called Miss A. Peel. On the 9th June 1933 Lord Derby laid the foundation stone of the new hospital at Whinney Heys. It moved there when two new wings were added and it opened in September 1936. Miss Elsie Maclean was the matron of the hospital from 1935 until she retired in 1957.
The Whitegate Drive site became the Municipal Health Centre and then after being redeveloped it became the Whitegate Health Centre which opened in 16th November 2009. The original gateposts and wall have been largely retained.
The hospital is now the main hospital for Blackpool and the Fylde Coast and is part of the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Haunted
While walking a particular ward, a worker felt a tug at her tunic, as if a small child was trying to attract her attention. She turned around but no-one was there. Several staff have shared the same experience at the hospital, including a cleaner who was so unnerved they ran off, leaving their floor polisher running.
In a basement storage area, two staff independently witnessed a man in a white coat who vanished shortly after being briefly spotted.
The building had finished being built in June 1887 by Blackpool Land and Building Co. on the North Promenade in an area which was formally know as the Claremont Park Estate. An additional wing was added in 1875. The building is built using red brick in a French Renaissance Style. It's a 4 star hotel which over looks the Irish Sea.
In 1901 a ballroom was added which could hold up to 400 people. During the 1970's the ballroom was used for concerts to bands such as Joy Division, Judas Priest, UFO and Racing Cars.
In the 1970's and 80's the basement of the hotel housed Trader Jacks which was a Polynesian Themed Night Club. Also the billiard room was converted into what is now the No. 10 bar which is named after 9 former Prime Ministers who have stayed at the hotel.
Famous People
The hotel has had many well know people staying their as guest which include:
The Queen (Elizabeth II)
The Queens Mother
Charles Dickens
Many Former Prime Ministers
Fred Astaire
Errol Flynn
Gracie Fields
The Beatles
Hunted
One former staff member has reported that some members of staff who have stayed at the hotel doing night shift have said to have heard a child crying on a fire escape situated at the back of the hotel. When they went to check who was there, they found out that nobody was there.
In the basement area which used to be a livery, the care, feeding and stables for horses when the hotel originally opened. The sound of horses hooves have been heard and the smell of damp hay have been smelt in the area which use to be the stables.
Also in the base which now being used for the hotels laundry, offices and leisure centre, but during the two world wars it was used as an infirmary. Faint moans and the sound of foot steps crossing a stone floor have been heard in this area and when people have gone to chock if anybody is there, they find out that they are alone.
On the 22nd May 2017 (10:31pm) at the Manchester Arena, a bomb was set off.A shrapnel-laden homemade nail bomb was set off as people were leaving a Ariana Grande Concert. (American Singer) 22 people where killed excluding the suicide bomber Salman Ramadan Abedi and over 800 people were injured including psychological damage. After suspecting it to be a terror attack the motive was an Islamic Extremism. The bomber Salman was believed to be working alone but others had be aware of his plans.
14,200 people attended the Ariana Grande concert. Many exited concert goers and waiting parents where in the foyer at the time of the explosion.Â
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Fidget Spinners are a type of distraction and stress-relieving toy. Created in the 1990âs but became very popular in 2017. Suitable for people who have trouble focusing and/or fidgeting (Like Me!). This includes those with ADHD, Autism or Anxiety, by acting as a release mechanism for nervousness or stress.
Designed to relieve stress, Fidget spinners usually consist of a three-pronged design with a bearing in its circular pad. The individual holds the centre pad while the toy spins. Additionally, the design of the fidgets give the user a unique sensory feelings. This happens when the fidget is spinning because of the vibration and noise that it makes.
Kids and teenagers have used fidget spinners and cubes in school. For some of the school kids they have been useful to help them concentrate in lessons more especially with kids who have ADHD or Autism. Sadly some schools have banned them due to some kids being more interested in playing with them rather than doing their school work.
Made from various materials designs including brass, stainless steel, titanium, copper, aluminium and 3D printed plastic. Fidgets come in a range of colours and you can even buy ones with patterns, glow in the dark and flash. The spinners have between two and seven prongs but the most popular one are the spinners with three-pronged.
Some people like to trade their fidget spinners with other people but I donât fully understand why, as itâs not like if they are trading cards or anything like that.
I am someone who has mental health issues. I hear voices, have hallucinations, paranoia, depression and anxiety. Also on a few occasions I have had suicidal thoughts. I have experienced these issues for many years now and I believe I have had depression for longer than I realise as I believe I have had it since school but didn't know I had it until several years later.
 The cause of my mental health problems started from a young age for me. After finding out I have learning difficulties, people didn't have much hope for my future because of it but I am more than capable of doing what everyone else can do but it just takes me a little bit longer to get there with the right help and support.
When I got to primary school things didn't get any better. The teachers at the school didn't like the fact that I had learning difficulties and it took me longer to learn stuff to others. Also because I wasn't getting the grades that my older brother was getting as he was getting really good grades they wanted to chuck me out and let me go to a different school so that I wouldn't affect there high achievers. As the only thing they seemed to care about is that everyone got top grades.
When I was at secondary school the teachers where alright most of them but it was the students who where the problem this time. I was always an outsider at school and never really fitted in to a particular group of people so I ended up spending a lot of time during break and lunch by myself, and it wasn't until my GCSE years when some people started to try and get to know the real me instead of listening to the rumours that where going around my year group about me as well as being bullied. It was when I was in year 11 when I remember most about spotting early signs of depression but I didn't realise it at the time. Also I wasn't aware of it at the time as we never cover mental health at school so I didn't know that these things could happen to you.
At college things where better in the way that I got on well with the tutor and I got on well will all but 1 of my class mates so in general college was good. In college the only thing which happened was the usual student drama which you get now and then so my depression held off most of the time.
I do feel that the education system did let me down when it came to my mental health and making sure that the teachers treating everybody the same and making that I got the right support that I needed.
My life have contributed to me having mental health problems but school and what happened when I went made a big part in what I experience today. While I was at school they didnât have anyone who you could go to, to talk about any problems that you have or just someone to talk to when you want to get something off your chest. Even at the best of times I find it hard to open up about how I am feeling and not having anyone to turn to while growing up didnât help and wasnât made aware of who I could turn to if I wanted to talk too someone other than family and friends.Â
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Pointless websites to go on when you are bored, or just to look at for fun!
Random Things To Do! - Give you ideaâs in what you can do.
Bullshit Generator! - Turns words and phrases in to crap that doesnât make sense or just a load of nonsense. Â
Do Nothing! - Web pages that spyâs on your every move and tells you what you are doing while you are on that web page. Also you can click the button in the middle of the page.
The Useless Website - takes you to another useless and pointless website.
Hacker Typer - Makes your web page look like it is being hacked when you type.
Cookie Clicker - Â Click on the cookie.
Habitica -Â A habit building app that treats your life like a game.
You Are Listening To -Â Syncs police scanners from different cities with ambient music.
Free Rice -Â Each questions answered correctly translates to 10 grains of rice donated to a hunger charity.
Draw A Stickman -Â Remember the time when you drew a stickman on your school notebooks? Now you have the unique chance to get that time back. You can draw a stickman with your mouse and even take part in short adventures.
Mary Dâs is open all year from from 12 till 12 daily. The bar is opposite Manchester City Football Club (Etihad Stadium) and it very popular with City fans on match days.Â
On match days the bar naturally gets busy with city fans before and after the game for pre-match drink and game result celebrations whether City win, lose or draw. The bar has door staff who search everyoneâs bags on entry to the bar on match days so when you go in youâll know that you will be safe.
Also on match day the bar has a Disco Room which they open up to City Fans on match days where they have a DJ who play music and City Songs before and after the game. The Disco Room also has a cafe where you can get food and hot drinks.Â
Bluebells Supporters Branch
The Bluebells base themselves at Mary Dâs a like to gather up before and after matches in âBluebell Cornerâ located in the beer garden around the back of the bar. It is mostly a female supporters branch and has some male supports too. The Branch is one of many Manchester City Supporters Branches. The Branch became official in April 2014.
The Bluebells created there name in two parts:
Part 1 - âBlueâ As Manchester City are also knows as âThe Bluesâ they took this on as part of the branch name.
Part 2 - âBellsâ Was chosen as a remembrance of a well known city fan Helen Turner and her Bell. Helen was a season ticket hold for Manchester City in North Stand for over 30 years and she always rang her bell when she watched City through good and bad times, but sadly died in 2005 at the age of 85 years old.
The Bluebells use the flower of a bluebell as there branch logo since both parts of there branch name put together happens to be âBluebellâ and it also makes sense calling themselves Bluebells since that makes most sense out of all the variations that they could of made with âBlueâ and âBellsâ.Â
Some of the Bluebellâs pictured below and some of their opinions on Mary Dâs.
Julie Whitehead:Â Love Mary D's - Great atmosphere and watering hole for true blues - The only place to be on match days.
Mags Burke:Â It's a place where you feel at one with your fellow Blues. Whatever the result there is always a good vibe after the games. True blue humour.
Bev Davies:Â Our favourite football day pub, meeting up with like minded fans for a great day experience and top company xx
Pat Roberts:Â Mary Ds is my favourite pub in Manchester, a place to go and meet up with other Manchester City fans before or after the match. On match days there's a DJ and lots of TVs to watch the game if you haven't got a ticket, fantastic place!
John Quigley:Â Â The best pub in the land and all the world.
