Euston Gardens at Fleetwood Seafront

You’ll find the Euston Gardens at Fleetwood seafront in the Victorian quarter, near two of the towns three lighthouses. It’s between the seafront and the landmark North Euston Hotel – use postcode FY7 6BN to find it.

We went for a walk around on a beautiful 1 September 2020 –

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Visit the Euston Gardens

This small park gardens is just off the seafront at The Esplanade. It’s a very nice spot and the small park frames the seafront views.

There’s sheltered seating, a water fountain and planting that’s attractive all year round. Take a walk through the gardens and you’ll find a number of interesting historic artefacts and monuments. Look carefully – some are hiding among the plants!

Euston Gardens is, and always has been, a place where community events take place. It’s the place for large and small gatherings, events like Tram Sunday and many more.

A local convergence point

When the hotel was first built it was a convergence point for Victorian travellers journeying to the Lake District. The railway line ended here and those early tourists caught steamer boats to the Lakes.

It’s still a convergence point for today’s modern methods of transport.

• There’s a stop and waiting point for the Blackpool to Fleetwood tramway at the side of the Gardens.
• It’s also a terminus for service buses for your onward journey.
  Blackpool Transport operates both the tramway and bus services.
• Just across the road is the Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry for the short journey across the River Wyre. More about the Ferry here.

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Improvements To Euston Gardens

In 2015 works were carried out to improve Euston Gardens and turn it into the attractive gateway to Fleetwood it is today. It was always well looked before, but the improvements certainly made a big difference.

The work included removal of overgrown shrubs, laying new paths and adding new planting for year round colour. These progress photos were taken during the works –

Building Repairs

The original seafront shelters date to 1915 and were also repaired as part of the building works. They form part of the boundary to the park, providing a sheltered view over the seafront and Morecambe Bay.

And here’s one of the finished shelters, offering a glorious view across Morecambe Bay –

Memorials and Monuments in Fleetwood Euston Gardens

With such a long heritage, Fleetwood is a town full of memories and landmark events. Some are happy, some are tragic. Many of them are marked with memorials and tributes across the town. Euston Gardens is home to a number of them.

Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood

When the park was first laid out, it was intended that it should include a statue to the town’s founder, Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood. But it never materialised at the time of the parks construction, despite some money being raised. However, a team of people from Fleetwood Civic Society, Fleetwood Museum and Fleetwood Rotary put that right in 2018.

• More about the Statue of Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood here.

The Obelisk

The Obelisk is perhaps the most obvious of the memorials. Standing tall at the centre of the park it bears a plaque with the following inscription:

‘Erected by public subscription to the memory of James Abram and George Greenall who lost their lives in the storm of November 1890 whilst heroically endeavouring to save others’.

In front of the Obelisk is a more recent memorial stone with another plaque. This stone also bears tribute to people who lost their lives at sea. It reads:

‘In memory of all those who have lost their lives at sea. Dedicated on 19^th May 1985 by Admiral Sir Desmond Cassidi GCB’.

This stone shows the Land and Sea Operations of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company at Fleetwood circa 1875. (Presented to Fleetwood by Fleetwood Civic Society in 1976).

First Train to Fleetwood

In 1987 Fleetwood Civic Society found and recovered the first boundary stone, remembering the first railway journey to the town in 1840. It’s now on display in Euston Gardens, remembering the beginnings of the town. It also bears an inscription which reads:

‘The Preston and Wyre Railway boundary stone commemorating the first train from Preston to Fleetwood on 15^th July 1840. Recovered by Fleetwood Civic Society March 1987′.

Drinking Fountain

The Grade II listed, cast iron drinking fountain had seen better days after many decades on the seafront. Listed in 1978, it was originally erected in memory of two fishermen who lost their lives in 1890 trying to save others.

You can see that it needed it renovating in the next photo! Before its restoration it does look in a sorry state! It’s appearance was transformed during the park renovation project.

And look what a difference the restoration made! This is the ‘after’ photo, taken in 2018, with it back in its rightful home. It’s an interesting piece in its own right. Find out more about the drinking fountain including where it was made and the history of the piece.

Anchors

Dating to the 1870’s, the two anchors were hauled onto the Jubilee Quay at Fleetwood Dock by James Robertson and Son. For their preservation, they were moved to Euston Gardens in the 1980’s. The next photo of the anchors dates to before the renovation of the gardens in 2015.

Canon

Did you know that The North Euston Hotel was a School of Musketry from 1861-1867? It was later converted into the Euston Barracks, becoming a hotel from 1898. We thought the Canon, sited in the Euston Gardens is related to that time in its history. But Maureen Blair got in touch to tell us a different reason. She believes it’s the only remaining one from the Canon salute given when Queen Victoria visited – the others being scrapped for the War Effort.

You can also see them lined up along the seafront on this picture which dates back to around 1895. It’s been suggested there were 21 canons.

A new, nearby stone bench also bears an inscription in memory of a Royal visit to Fleetwood on September 20th 1847. Here’s a close-up of the Canon, taken prior to the redevelopment of the gardens in 2015.

History of the Euston Gardens

The park features in Decimus Burton’s original plan for the town. You can see it in the original lithographic illustrations in the prospectus to potential investors in the new town of Fleetwood. The prospectus dates way back to 1837.

Thanks to local historian Dick Gillingham for adding facts to this page about the history of the Euston Gardens.

Early photos

In the early years of the North Euston Hotel there was a paved walkway from the porticoed entrance of the hotel. The walkway took you through the park to a private jetty on the River Wyre. This old photograph shows the view looking across the front of the Hotel to the Pharos Lighthouse. Euston Gardens is at the left and the obelisk is clearly visible.

Euston Gardens featured heavily in the early big events in the new town of Fleetwood. For example, the early Fleetwood Regatta and various Coronation celebrations.

In the next aerial photo below from October 1933, you can see the curve of the North Euston Hotel clearly. Euston Gardens is just going off the bottom of the picture but you can see the footpath and the obelisk. The football pitch to the rear of the hotel is where the law courts are today. This pitch was once used by Fleetwood Town Football Club.

On 4 October 1933 HRH Prince George visited Fleetwood during Charter Week. The fourth son of King George V and Queen Mary, he was killed in a military air crash on 25 August 1942.

When you visit Fleetwood Museum you’ll be able to find out much more about the area’s Victorian heritage.

Anything to add?

If you know anything else about Euston Gardens, or have any photos to share, please get in touch. We’ll give you full credit for anything you contribute. Just email jane@theRabbitPatch.co.uk