Poulton-le-Fylde_Historical_anNbanner
 
The Society holds a large archive of photographs and slides of Poulton and the surrounding area. These have been collected since the Society was formed in 1981.  The collection has been made possible through the generosity of people who have allowed us to make copies of their old photographs.  The archive is well used:  slide shows are given to a variety of organisations, photographs are lent to local schools for course work, and exhibitions are displayed throughout the year in various venues.
 
 
THE MARKET PLACE ABOUT 1870
 
oldmarketwest
 
 
The cobbled Market Place is home to an unusual collection of street furniture - the cross which advertised the fact that a market was held here; stocks and whipping post where wrongdoers were punished; the fish slab where fresh produce was sold.  Property on the west side (the left) was burned to the ground in March 1752 and rebuilt after a nationwide collection which raised the £1000 needed. On the right is a mix of two up two down cottages and imposing three storey town houses  In the distance, in Church Street can be seen some of the  remaining whitewashed thatched roofed cottages which would have provided housing for the poorer inhabitants. 
 
 
CHURCH STREET ABOUT 1910
 
oldChurchSt
 
 
There were always a good number of inns, pubs and beer sellers in Poulton as it was not only a market town but also provided temporary accommodation for the farm labourers and their families who came to Poulton to work in the fields at harvest time.
In the distance is the Golden Ball, once one of Poulton's three coaching inns.  The petty sessions court was held there and it also served as  the town's reading room where national and regional newspapers were delivered.  On the left is the Bay Horse pub which was later turned into the Council offices. It is now a pub again - the Old Town Hall.
On the right is a lodging house known as Twenty Steps.  This property and several others backed onto the churchyard of St Chad's.  All these properties were demolished in 1910.

 

QUEENS SQUARE AND THE GREEN ABOUT 1900

 
Tiggy

 

A view from Queens Square looking towards The Green - now known as Higher Green and Lower Green.  Whitewashed thatched cottages are seen in the distance.   This road probably lead to Poulton's village green or common land.  Queens Square was once known as  Workhouse Square as a Mrs Harrison, whose house stood here, was paid to take in poor people from neighbouring areas during the late  18th century.

These are a small sample of the photographs held in the Society's archives.