Showtown History Centre

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Latest news on heritage collections and engagement from the Showtown History Centre.

08/10/2026

A wonderful opportunity to learn about the significance of caricature within Blackpool's illumination history from one of Showtown Blackpools own published local illustrators and to learn to create your own caricature worthy of being up in lights! Don't miss out on this intimate creative workshop! If you're looking to do something different with your Sunday Afternoon during Lightpool, take a friend, have a glass of w**e, and get painting! See below post for a link to buy your ticket! Happy Portraiting!

25/09/2026

🌈 THERE IS A RAINBOW OVER BLACKPOOL TOWER — WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Back in 2005, There Is A Rainbow Over Blackpool Tower project brought together stories, memories and people connected with Blackpool’s LGBTQ+ history.
Now, 21 years on, as we curate a new exhibition exploring LGBTQ+ history in Blackpool, we’d love to reconnect with the people who helped make it happen. ❤️

We are working in partnership with to curate a new exhibition opening in at Showtown Museum in 2027. As part of this new exhibition, we would like to include the archive material and memories of people who contributed to the There is a Rainbow Over Blackpool Tower project in 2005.

Were you involved in the project?
Did you contribute an object, photograph, story or memory to the exhibition?
Were you part of the team, a volunteer, performer or organiser — or simply someone who visited and remembers it?

🌈 Where are you now? What are you doing? And what do you remember about There Is A Rainbow Over Blackpool Tower?
We'd love to hear from you.
Tag someone you remember being involved, share this post, or get in touch with Showtown History Centre.
Let's reconnect some of the people behind this important part of Blackpool's history — and make sure those memories aren't lost.
Please share — you never know who might see this! 🌈

WSH! Is an supported by

19/09/2026

🌾 STUCK FOR SOMETHING TO DO THIS WEEKEND?

Struggling to entertain the kids? Or just looking for something a little different to do?

It’s not too late to absorb some heritage this weekend! 🙌

Head to Little Marton Windmill this Sunday and step inside one of Blackpool’s fascinating historic landmarks.

Take a guided tour, discover how windmills worked, explore the different floors filled with mill models and pictures – and, if you’re feeling adventurous, climb all the way to the top! 🌬️

And the best bit? No booking required and it’s FREE! 🎉

📅 Sunday 20 September
⏰ 11am–4pm
📍 Little Marton Windmill, Langdale Road, Blackpool, FY4 4PH
🎟️ No pre-booking required – just turn up!

The last tour starts at 3.30pm, so there’s still plenty of time to squeeze in a little history, a little adventure and a lot of curiosity!

✨ Make a day of it. Discover somewhere you might have driven past a hundred times – and see what’s inside.

18/09/2026

🏛️ IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO ENJOY HERITAGE OPEN DAYS! 🎉

Missed out on a ticket for one of the sold-out tours? Don’t worry — there’s still plenty to discover this weekend!

There are FREE drop-in events and places to explore all weekend, with no pre-booking required. So you can still discover fascinating buildings, local stories, hidden history and some of the places that have helped make Blackpool the town we know and love. ❤️

From historic buildings and exhibitions to unexpected discoveries — there’s plenty still waiting to be explored, including the Regent Cinema, and The Grand Theatre.
So why not make a day of it? Grab your family or friends and see what you can discover.

🔎 Looking for something you can just turn up to?
Find the events with no pre-booking required here:
See the Heritage Open Days events programme by picking one up from Showtown Museum or search online at https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Don’t let the sold-out tours stop you — there’s still heritage to discover! 🌊🏛️✨

12/09/2026

Rediscovering The Regent, as part of 🎬

A message from our friends at The Regent:

For one weekend only, The Regent Cinema will be opening its doors for a very special Heritage Open Weekend – giving you the chance to wander through our beautiful 1921 picture house, soak up the atmosphere and discover some of the history, memories and stories hidden within these walls.

Come and see the original features, beautiful plasterwork, historic seating and details that have survived for generations, and find out more about the work that goes into keeping this wonderful old building alive.

Come and see our Restoration display, completed with the historical finds discovered when restoring the building.

🎞️ Our Restoration Reel will be shown on the big screen, taking you through The Regent’s restoration journey and showing how this much-loved cinema has been brought back to life.

Plus, a bonus… sit back and enjoy a little piece of cinema history with Charlie Chaplin’s classic silent comedy 20 Minutes of Love.

There’s something rather special about experiencing a silent film inside a cinema that has been telling stories for over 100 years. ❤️

📅 Friday 18th & Saturday 19th September
⏰ 10am – 3pm | FREE ENTRY

🎬 Film & Restoration Reel Showings:
11am & 1pm – FREE

📍 THE REGENT
Church Street, Blackpool
FY1 3NY

🔗 Visit https://theregentblackpool.co.uk/ for more details or scan the QR code.

11/09/2026

What a lovely piece of film to start the day! Thankyou for sharing it with us Adele :)

10/09/2026

THINK YOU KNOW BLACKPOOL? 👀

Whitegate Drive — perhaps just part of your normal commute to work?

But did you know that this was home to one of the town’s earliest and most popular entertainment venues?

🍓 Belle Vue Strawberry Gardens opened in 1863 — a place to see and be seen, and a fascinating part of the story of how Blackpool became an entertainment wonderland.

This Heritage Open Days, discover one of Blackpool’s hidden histories and explore the role Belle Vue played in shaping the town we know today.

🎟️ Book your tour and talk now — simply scan the QR code to reserve your place or follow the link here

https://www.showtownblackpool.co.uk/whats-on/activities/belle-vue-strawberry-gardens

08/09/2026

🎟️ HERITAGE OPEN DAYS – BALLOT UPDATE! 🎟️
🎉 ALL TICKETS HAVE NOW BEEN ALLOCATED!

If you entered one of the Heritage Open Day Ballots, please check your inbox! 📧
⚠️ Haven’t received an email?
👉 Please check your JUNK / SPAM folder.
⏰ IMPORTANT:
Please confirm by 12 noon GMT today by return email.

❓ FAQs

🎟️ WHAT IF A BALLOT WINNER DROPS OUT?
There is no waiting list for balloted tours.
If a ballot winner tells us they can’t attend, a number will be drawn at random and we will contact them accordingly. 🎲
🙏 If you already know you cannot attend, please let us know as soon as possible:
📧 [email protected]
That way, someone else won’t miss out! 💜

🎫 WON A TICKET BUT CAN’T FIND IT?
Don’t panic! 😅
We know tickets have a habit of being:
📄 Dropped
🖨️ Printers run out of ink
📱 Screenshots become impossible to retrieve when your phone battery dies!
We are paperless, so there’s no need to worry.
Simply give your name on the day to the Heritage Open Day volunteer taking registration at your event location. ✅

📍 THINGS TO REMEMBER ON THE DAY

Be mindful that the location of your event will be the meeting point on the day. For example, if you are attending the Winter Gardens Tour, your meeting point will be the Winter Gardens.

🚗 We know how stressful it can be getting around Blackpool in the height of the season, so be sure to allow yourself enough travel time to ensure you do not miss your tour.

♿ Those with any access requirements, please contact your event location directly.

💜 We look forward to welcoming you!

19/08/2026

🎉 Bookings for Blackpool's Heritage Open Days are NOW OPEN! 🏛️ Explore special access & events at iconic venues. Limited spaces available! 🎟️ Book now: Blackpool Heritage Open Days – bookings & information

15/08/2026

Meet Charlie 🎩
We’re delighted to welcome Charlie, a ventriloquist doll believed to be over 100 years old, to the Showtown History Centre.
Charlie belonged to the late Ernest Radford, known as ‘Myster-E’ — an illusionist, ventriloquist, manipulator and magician who performed regularly in Blackpool, including alongside Harry Corbett, creator of Sooty, at South Pier and the Queen’s Theatre.
Thanks to sisters Sandra and Tracey, Charlie has travelled from Bradford, across the Pennines, to join us alongside a fascinating collection of Mr Radford’s performance ephemera.
We’re delighted to be entrusted with Charlie and to help preserve this remarkable piece of Blackpool’s entertainment history. ❤️

Address

Showtown History Centre, First Floor Of Central Library, Queen Street
Blackpool
FY11PX

Website

http://www.showtownblackpool.co.uk/

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