We hope you enjoy these old Fleetwood photos. Have a look back through the past of this planned Victorian seaside town.
Did you know? The land that’s now called Fleetwood is mentioned in the Domesday book.
It’s sparsely inhabited over the years, like most of Britain through the ages. That’s until the days of Peter Hesketh’s development in the 1830’s.
Very Old Fleetwood Photos
From the 1800’s, the layout and landscape of Fleetwood has changed and grown to create the place that we know so well now. It’s interesting to see the alterations made over the years. Do you know of, or even remember, any of the old buildings, events and people of the past?
This amazing map of Fleetwood is from 1890.
The next photo, taken in 1910, features people on board ‘The Lady Moyra’ paddle steamer bound for Barrow. The only way to get to the Lakes in those days was to take a train to Fleetwood and then a boat onwards. And that’s how the town of Fleetwood grew – as a stopping off point.
In the next postcard below is the Lady Moyra paddle steamer, which these passengers were sailing on.
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On the reverse of this card it reads: THE FURNESS RAILWAY STEAMERS RUN DAILY BETWEEN BARROW AND FLEETWOOD (FOR BLACKPOOL) DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, FORMING AN IMPORTANT CONNECTING LINK BETWEEN BLACKPOOL AND BARROW AND THE ENGLISH LAKES
The advent of modern photography was first an expensive treat, then later a hobby which ordinary people could enjoy. These old photos have documented the changing face of the country.
More Old Fleetwood Photos
Like scenes of a lot of bygone England, many of the old scenes of Fleetwood are from postcards.
Old Fleetwood Photos of the Open Air Baths
Do you remember Fleetwood Open Air Swimming Baths?
Was this where the Leisure Centre is now?
This old video from YouTube features a beauty pageant at the open air baths. Plus views of the Pier and Esplanade.
Walk down Memory Lane
Here’s some old Fleetwood footage that we’ve found on YouTube. Any ideas when it dates from? Recognise anyone? Leave a comment below!
Old Fleetwood Photos of Fishing
Fleetwood is famous for its fishing industry. Many years ago, hundreds of boats used the docks every day to land their fishing catch.
The next photo is the Harriet Fishing Smack, being built by Singleton Brothers. This boat’s now on display at Fleetwood Museum where you can see around and inside it. Imagine what it must have been like going to sea in a ship like this.
Bringing the Fish Docks to Life
This video, another one found on YouTube, was filmed in 1968 at the Ice Factory and dockside. Fascinating!
Look Around with Old Fleetwood Photos
There’s such a lot of history that you can still see everyday in Fleetwood.
Thankfully, a lot of the old buildings still remain and are preserved for the future. Do you look at them and wonder what life must have been like when they were built? These old images give us some idea –
Below is an aerial view of the North Euston Hotel. See the football pitch to the side of it. That’s where Fleetwood Town played their first games!
You can also see Fleetwood Pier in the top of the shot along with the Lower Lighthouse and lifeboat house at the right.
Next up is The Mount Hotel. Any ideas what the faint landmark might be in the distance to its right? And notice the Victorian shelter, front right in Mount Gardens. It was recently restored and put back to its original glory.
Explore More on Pinterest
We love to look at your old photos of Fleetwood and we’re growing a collection on our Pinterest Board ‘Old Fleetwood’ Take a look!
Tuck Postcards
We’ve picked out these interesting Tuck Postcards for you to look at below.
There’s MUCH MORE to explore in our History of Fleetwood category. From Roman coin mysteries to Royal visits, floodings and fishing. Take a look here
Old Fleetwood Photos from More Recent Times
We’ve been here since 1999 and sadly I didn’t have the presence of mind to take lots of photos of Fleetwood as it was back then. These few old Fleetwood photos are from the Visit Fylde Coast family archive.
This photo of The Esplanade dates from 1990, and it overlooks the boat launch. It’s Blackpool and Fylde College training station, on its own before the new RNLI was built. See the ferry coming into the docks. And look how sandy the beach is!
These photos were all taken on a Fleetwood docks open day, about 1979.
On the same open day, that’s your editor in the pink dress – I’m about 10! Who knew I’d be back all these years later!
Rossall Coastwatch Tower
It’s amazing how quickly you forget things! This is the former, small tower at Rossall Point. It was only recently demolished to make way for the new one, in 2012.
See how Rossall Tower has been redeveloped. Including photos of the old building, artists impressions and the building of the new Tower.
Links to External Sites
- Are you a member of the Fleetwood’s Past Facebook Group? It’s a mine of fascinating information and if you’re not in it you should be!
- Explore the history of Tuck Postcards here
- Have you got anything to add? Email your photos, questions and information to jane@theRabbitPatch.co.uk
While you’re here…
Have a look at the homepage of the Visit Fleetwood website for more of the latest updates.
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Healds cafe, my wife Joyce Morley use to work there for about 2years, the owner was known as Mr Fred, The manager S” was Miss barber.
Fleetwood was once such a lovely thriving town, its sad to see it in such a mess, what has happened to our beautiful town ?
Could anyone tell me the name of fancy restaurant on North Albert Street along from old post office
I used to work at the Quayside Restaurant in the 1970s for Bobbie Dewhirst it was a thriving holiday town then. Many memories . Also sailed to the I O M many times from there.
It’s a shame, looking at Fleetwood in the past you can see a town that had pride in it industries people wanted to work and had to work and when people said I am from Fleetwood and you could see they were bloody proud of that and for good reason.
Now when people think of Fleetwood it’s closed shops no fishing industry no jobs, no real future a forgotten town, now being filled with deprivation, drugs, alcohol, criminals the lowest of the low.
Then you have the small minority of people like us working hard trying to make it work but hitting a wall, WHY because we have been forgotten, just a dumping ground just Fleetwood
The fifth picture down is the 1950,s not 1900. The twelfth picture is not the Docks but the Jubilee Quay, with the Transport Police Station, next to the FFVOA Offices, in the back ground.
Brilliant photographs the fifth one is saying the prom in 1900,s and you can see a Standard Vanguard Estate, just passing the Icecream Caravan, that is parked on the ferry beach side of the Lower Lighthouse, so I guess Mid fifties to late fifties.
What was the flats used to be before on dock street fleetwood
great place for everyone to visit
I lived in Fleetwood up to my early 30s love old pictures and I never knew we had a football pitch next to the north Euston hotel. wow, thank you
We live right there on there corner of there North Church and Bold Streets where their old pitch used to be and it is mind blowing that prime location spot was used, well wasted really, on the plod station that is about to be closed down now anyway. It’s almost like Fleetwood can never win! Madness!
The picture of the Mount Hotel from the top of the Mount, you ask what the distant landmark on the right might be. I think it could be the HM Coastguard look out station, when Fleetwood had a resident Coastguard officer. It was knocked when Fleetwood relied on Auxiliary Coastguards and then the odd shape thing was built almost on the same site.
Well that’s fascinating. So that’s where the Rossall Point Tower is then.