Lytham St.Annes Coat of Arms

 
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Lytham St.Annes, Lancashire, England
 

 

  Laying out the Gardens, 1915-16

Porritt's Building Yard

This portion of the gardens lies alongside Clifton Drive North; since 1877 it had been the site of Porritt's Building Yard. When Lord Ashton purchased the gardens from the Porritt family he also bought the building yard in order to enlarge the gardens (see below).  

The yard had a caretakers lodge, known as "The Cottage" over to the left which was demolished in February 1916.

The yard was cleared away and the area landscaped; the old caretakers lodge, known as "The Cottage" over to the left was demolished in February 1916.

The "new park" was formally opened as "Ashton Gardens" by Coun. Richard Leigh on 22 August 1916. It is seen here shortly after being laid out.

The "new park" was formally opened as "Ashton Gardens" by Coun. Richard Leigh on 22 August 1916. It is seen here shortly after being laid out.

 

The gift of Lord Ashton, relieved the Council of a big financial responsibility and enabled them to undertake at once the laying-out of the Gardens, which it had been intended to develop slowly with the growth of the town. Before Lord Ashton’s gift was announced the Council proposed to spend £1,500 on preliminary laying-out, but Lord Ashton enabled the Council to proceed at once with developments which it was expected would take a decade to accomplish.

In addition to laying out the Gardens it was proposed to erect a handsome pavilion worthy of the Gardens at a cost of £20,000 but on the outbreak of war this portion of the scheme was postponed.

The Council, however, proceeded with the other portions of the scheme and laid-out tennis courts—six grass and three en-tout-cas—and a bowling green. The original design submitted by Mr. Fred Harrison was altered as the grounds were laid-out, improvements being made from time to time.

 
Lytham St.Annes Express, 1916