He was a lad who liked a party and once wrote in his diary: "We drank the house drye."

That was in 1712 and his diary is now being restored by the British Library, where it unfortunately suffered damage after being loaned to them in 1994 by one of Sir Thomas's descendants, Devon solicitor Peter Tyldesley.

As an investigation continues as to the cause of the damage, Mr Tyldesley, who has sent the two postcard pictures, says: ""It is just so upsetting, ironically the text would have been safer with me at home."

Mr Tyldesley is working with conservation staff at the library to repair the damage but he is doubtful it will be fully restored.

Mr Tyldesley can trace his ancestors back to the 16th century and his family roots are firmly fixed in Lancashire.

He says: "I don't know for sure but I expect the family were drawn to Blackpool because it was so quiet and a perfect place for them whilst they were plotting the Jacobite rebellion."

In more recent times, successive generations of holidymakers and locals alike have tried to follow the old squire's example at the Foxhall pub that stands on the site.

The original hall survived largely intact until the 1860s and the popular pub was replaced by the current red brick watering hole - still retaining the Foxhall name - opened in July 1991.

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