Ainsdale
Several years ago one of my original Flickr contacts - also called Dave - posted a photo of these buildings which were derelict. Such a long time has elapsed, that I thought that they must have been demolished by now. Far from it. A few days ago we were in the vicinity and in search of ice cream and as i looked on the map, I saw that Ainsdale Beach was only 10 minutes away, so we decided to check it out.
Firstly we drove past the derelict Sands pub which is a bit of an eyesore. Then past a Holiday Camp, which I incorrectly assumed wasn't still a going concern. Back in the late 1980s Mrs K and I stayed for a weekend at one of their other holiday parks and it seemed a bit "down market" ( and bloody freezing) even then. Peering over the walls, the standard and type of accommodation still look the same. Using the wonders of mobile internet, Mrs K accessed their booking site, so its still possible to spend some time there. Not that we are thinking of doing so, I hasten to add.
Then, lo and behold we found "Toad Hall" as this is called. The exterior in 2021 was treated to a huge piece of street art which I think is absolutely amazing. The artist is Paul Curtis and the mural is of Sand Lizards. Real Sand Lizards can apparently be found in the dunes opposite the building.
I'm not sure why these buildings haven't been demolished - maybe they are "listed"? They were built in 1911 and I read somewhere that they were the start of a "Prom" at Ainsdale-On-Sea, but the rest never got built. There was a railway line which became disused in the 1950s.
So in a nutshell there is a disused pub, some derelict buildings and a old style Holiday Camp there. Situated between the lovely areas of Birkdale and Formby, it was somewhat of a surprise.
It seems a bit odd that they've gone to all that trouble to make the frontage of Toad Hall look fantastic and they've "spoiled the ship for an Ha'porth of tar", so to speak by just putting up those temporary fences, which makes it look unfinished.
All very interesting, but slightly sad at the same time.
Ainsdale
Several years ago one of my original Flickr contacts - also called Dave - posted a photo of these buildings which were derelict. Such a long time has elapsed, that I thought that they must have been demolished by now. Far from it. A few days ago we were in the vicinity and in search of ice cream and as i looked on the map, I saw that Ainsdale Beach was only 10 minutes away, so we decided to check it out.
Firstly we drove past the derelict Sands pub which is a bit of an eyesore. Then past a Holiday Camp, which I incorrectly assumed wasn't still a going concern. Back in the late 1980s Mrs K and I stayed for a weekend at one of their other holiday parks and it seemed a bit "down market" ( and bloody freezing) even then. Peering over the walls, the standard and type of accommodation still look the same. Using the wonders of mobile internet, Mrs K accessed their booking site, so its still possible to spend some time there. Not that we are thinking of doing so, I hasten to add.
Then, lo and behold we found "Toad Hall" as this is called. The exterior in 2021 was treated to a huge piece of street art which I think is absolutely amazing. The artist is Paul Curtis and the mural is of Sand Lizards. Real Sand Lizards can apparently be found in the dunes opposite the building.
I'm not sure why these buildings haven't been demolished - maybe they are "listed"? They were built in 1911 and I read somewhere that they were the start of a "Prom" at Ainsdale-On-Sea, but the rest never got built. There was a railway line which became disused in the 1950s.
So in a nutshell there is a disused pub, some derelict buildings and a old style Holiday Camp there. Situated between the lovely areas of Birkdale and Formby, it was somewhat of a surprise.
It seems a bit odd that they've gone to all that trouble to make the frontage of Toad Hall look fantastic and they've "spoiled the ship for an Ha'porth of tar", so to speak by just putting up those temporary fences, which makes it look unfinished.
All very interesting, but slightly sad at the same time.