The (North) Crescent, St.Annes.

Shops now numbered 15-30, The Crescent, also known as North Crescent.
These are on the inland side of the railway.

The Crescent railway bridge was built about 1876, soon after the foundation (1875) of the new town of St Annes-on-the-Sea. At the time it was the highest point for miles around and from the crest of the bridge there was a good view of the flat, low-lying Fylde countryside.

A few shops were built on the seaward side of the railway bridge in the 1880s, but North Crescent remained undeveloped until the late 1890s.

Changing Times

The shops on the inland side of the Crescent railway bridge, were built c1898-1900. Today they are numbered 15-30 "The Crescent" but in the early 1900s this was 15-30 "North Crescent".

North Crescent c1905, looking inland with the Catholic Church (opened 1890), in St David's Road South.

High street shops have changed along with our tastes and needs over the years. Below are some photos and adverts concentrating on this row of 15 shops. The name of previous occupants are taken from directories, census returns and adverts with the dates shown in brackets.

15 The Crescent.

15 North Crescent: This is near the crest of the bridge, by the railway line and probably the first occupant was John Allen. He had opened Kilgrimol School for Boys (now the District Club) amongst the sandhills in the same year the town was founded, 1875. He was principal of the school until about 1892 when he sold it and opened a toy and fancy goods shop in Park Road. His shop was twice flooded (from the ?Conservative? club on the first floor). 

He moved his toy and fancy goods shop into the newly built row of shops on North Crescent about 1899. He is listed there in the 1901 Census but his occupation given as a phrenologist because he studied and lectured on the subject. By 1904 he had moved to a new shop at 14 Park Road. By Christmas 1904 no.15 North Crescent was occupied by Alban Vincent Worden.

Advert for Worden's Fancy Goods Emporium, 15 North Crescent, Christmas 1904.

Edwardian advert for Worden's.

A V Worden moved to newly built premises in Whitehall, Park Road, about 1910. In the 1920s Hartley Mitchell was the occupant of no.15. Since 1978 this has been Semple's "Artshop Newsagent", still selling some games and toys.

No.15 North Crescent, near the crest of the bridge c1920. No.16 is to the left.

16 The Crescent

16 North Crescent: Mrs Blackbourn, ladies' & childrens' outfitter (1905). Samuel Davies, confectioner and tobacconist (1920). More recently the Peking Inn and now Blessing House Chinese Noodle Bar (2019).

Advert for Mrs Blackbourn, ladies' & children's outfitter, 1905.	no.16, North Crescent in the 1920s
Advert for Davies' confectioner and tobacconist, 1926

17 The Crescent

17 North Crescent: Obadiah Shields' Grocer & florist shop (1901, 1908). Isaac E Lievesley, draper, Bolton House (1924). This has been Ward's Carpet shop since about 1945.

Obadiah Shields' grocer & florist shop, 17 North Crescent c1905.

Advert for Isaac E Lievesley, draper, Bolton House, 17 North Crescent in 1926.

Advert for Isaac E Lievesley, draper, Bolton House, 17 North Crescent in the 1920s.

Lievesley's "Bolton House", 17 North Crescent, c1920.
To the left is Rothwell's Butcher at no.18, previously Watson Shields' fish & game shop.

 18 The Crescent

18 North Crescent: W. Shields' fish & game shop (1908). Watson Shields was a fish & game dealer, half-brother of Obadiah Shields in the neighbouring grocers shop. By 1916 this was Rothwell's, a beef & pork butcher (1920). It is now (2019) Genesis - designed  fitted kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms & fitted furniture.

Potted shrimps were amongst the items sold by Watson Shields.

Rothwell's butcher opened sometime between 1911 and 1916.

"Once we were seven" a wartime advert for Rothwell's butcher, 1916.

Advert for Rothwell's butcher, 1920.

 19 The Crescent

19 North Crescent: E. Howarth, tea dealer (1901) E. Howarth, house furnisher (1908), Grundy & Son, house furnishers (1924). Now (2019) The Palace Chinese Take-Away.

Advert for H. Grundy & Son, house furnisher, 1920.

Advert for Roy Firth's Pet Store, undated but probably 1950s.

20 The Crescent

20 North Crescent: J. Warburton (1903), F. Dewhirst, hairdresser and tobacconist (1908). Solomon Bulos Karmy, fancy goods dealer (1924). Solomon was Turkish but born in Palestine. Ernest Flower (1982). The shop is now (2019) St Annes Music & Guitar Shop.

Nos. 20-30 North Crescent c1920, the Catholic Church in the distance.
The canopies protected the products and shoppers from the elements but could be hazardous in strong winds.

21 The Crescent

21 North Crescent: A. Trickett, boot and shoe maker, (1908), Sterlings, Ltd., boot dealers (1934). Darbyshire, ironmonger (1970s), Barnes Brothers Electrical Contractors (1982). Now (2019) Bizzie Fingers fabric shop.

Advert for Trickett's, 21 North Crescent, 1905.

Advert for Sterlings Footwear, 21 North Crescent, 1925.

Advert for Oswald Darbyshire, ironmonger, 21 North Crescent, early 1970s.

Nos. 21 & 22 in 1982: 'Barnes Brothers  Electrical Contractors' and 'Kathleen Barnes'.

22 The Crescent

22 North crescent: Boothby, ironmonger (1901), Mrs Hargreaves, milliner, (1908),  Miss Catherine Walsh, draper (1934). Now (2019) vacant.

Advert for Edwin Boothby's Ironmongers, 1900. The shop was in Willow Bank, a row of shops next to the Catholic Church in St David's Road South. By April 1901 he had removed to no.22 North Crescent, one of the newly built shops by the railway, but the business had problems and he only lasted for a few weeks. In 1902 this became Mrs Wilson's Millinery Emporium.

Advert for Mrs Wilson's Millinery Emporium & Fancy Goods Depot, 1902.

23 The Crescent

23 North crescent: James Duckworth Ltd., grocers, (1908 & 1924). Now (2019) Cats in Care charity shop.

24 The Crescent

24 North crescent: George Thompson, tailor and outfitter (1908); his business thrived and had removed to West Crescent by the 1920s. M. & E. Ogden, confectioners (1934). Now (2019) vacant.

25 The Crescent

25 North Crescent: Samuel Cheetham & Son (Frank), butchers (1908 & 1934). Now (2019) vacant.

Advert for Cheetham, butcher, 25 North Crescent, St Annes, 1905.

 26 The Crescent

East End Pharmacy

26 North Crescent: Frederick J. Evans, pharmacist and optician, East End Pharmacy (1904, 1924). Emily Evans (1934). Now (2019) vacant. 

Advert for the East End Pharmacy, 26 North Crescent, 1905.

27 The Crescent

27 North Crescent: Gregory & Son, drapers (1906, 1908), William Elvet Jenkins, draper and ladies' outfitter, (1924, 1934). Now (2019)  Star Nails and Beauty Salon.

Advert for Gregory & Son, cash drapers, 1906.

 28 The Crescent

28 North Crescent: The Misses Grime, ladies' and children's outfitters (1908, 1924,1934). Now (2019) The Barbers Shop.

29 The Crescent

29 North Crescent: L. Nicholson, confectioner (1908). Swift's Cafe & confectioners (1924 & 1934). Now (2019) Crescent Beds.

 30 The Crescent

North Crescent c1960, with St David's Road South to the left. The Wineries (no.30) is on the corner and no.26 to the far right.

Advert for The Wineries, 30, North Crescent, 1904.

Advert for The Wineries, Christmas, 1904.

North Crescent c1920, looking seaward from St David's Road South.
The Wineries is on the corner with Swift's Cafe & Confectioner alongside.

At the junction with St David's Road South is no. 30, North Crescent. There is a datestone "1898". It opened as a wine & spirit merchants known as "The Wineries" about 1899. For many years it was run by the Giller family but it more recently became "Bargain Booze" which closed about 2017. In 2019 the shop re-opened as Lytham Wines.