Lytham Road - Sixty Years Ago

John Woodman

The almost dead straight road running from Manchester Square and the Promenade south to Squires Gate Lane was forever busy in the 1960s when I chased up and down on my bike recording scenes featuring Blackpool Corporations trams - and buses.

We see Burlingham bodied 304 on the 11A service to Lytham followed by the previous generation of Burlingham buses for Blackpool. Number 304 arrived in 1957 as one of five examples (301-305). Well tended shop fronts offering all manner of household goods are in evidence, with a sampling of cigarette advertising. Two well dressed ladies are considering the respective merits of the stepladder display as 304 passes them.

Below : A Squires Gate bound rail coach in its amended cream fronted livery adopted in the 1960s - almost at the same point.

No yellow parking lines in view and only light traffic. Lytham Road was a thriving business thoroughfare as far as Station Road, where it then became entirely residential with stylish properties lining it on both sides to the town boundary. The tram service ended in October 1961 to be replaced by Bus Service 12 from Blackpool Town Centre to Squires Gate and Airport.

Both images by John Woodman