Blackpool, Bailey's Hotel

Dublin Core

Title

Blackpool, Bailey's Hotel

Subject

View of a leading Blackpool hotel, with bathing machines on the beach.

Description

This hotel was founded in 1776 by a farmer, Lawrence Bailey, and opened to the public in 1785 with 34 bedrooms, three dining rooms and a coffee lounge. It stands at the northern end of Blackpool’s promenade. It is one of only a few hotels in Blackpool which stand on the seaward side of the promenade, giving guests access to views across the Irish Sea.
The building has been through various changes of ownership and associated renamings, but at the time of this photograph it was known by its original name, which had been reinstituted in 1867. In 1896 the hotel changed its name again and became the Hotel Metropole, very close to the name 'Grand Metropole Hotel Blackpool' which has been in use since a change of ownership in 1998.
Comparison with the contemporary building shows that a number of changes have taken place - and this process of adaption and expansion reflects the previous history of the building. An east wing was added in 1873 and in 1876 a number of shop units were added to the building on the landward side.
A further substantial renovation took place at the start of the twentieth century when it was sold to Spiers and Pond Ltd. The hotel expanded to twice the previous size. Today the Metropole has a total of 223 bedrooms, two restaurants and a café.

Date

1890

Rights

This image is reproduced by kind permission of the Francis Frith Collection. No further reproduction is permitted without prior written authorisation.

Coverage

Nineteenth century

Comments

Files

22885 Blackpool, Bailey's Hotel 1890.jpg

Citation

“Blackpool, Bailey's Hotel,” Local History Resources for Schools, accessed March 28, 2024, https://regionalheritage.omeka.net/items/show/63.