Special delivery as elephant arrives at Blackpool's Showtown museum

Construction halted briefly at the multi-million pound Sands venue as the fibreglass elephant was manouvred onto the first floor of the hotel taking shape on Central Promenade.

The specially made elephant is the first prop to arrive at Showtown and will be part of the Roll Up! Roll Up! circus-themed feature.

Its size meant it had to be put in place while building work was still underway, because it would be too big to carry up the stairs once the hotel is nearing completion.

Jill Carruthers, exhibitions coordinator from Showtown, said: “Elephants have a long history at the circus in Blackpool.

"From 1894 when the Tower first opened its doors, throughout the two world wars, until the end of performing animals in 1990.

"They’ve got a fond place in a lot of people’s hearts, many even remember the elephants being exercised on the beach."

The elephant was hand-crafted by 3D artists, RAE models based in Chertsey, and took the specialist team of model makers over 12 weeks to create their first ever Indian elephant - which also needs a name.

Jill added: "She is going to be on site for a year while the rest of the museum is finished off and we will be installing the rest of the Showtown exhibitions next year.

“Our elephant currently needs a name, and we’re looking forward to hearing what the residents of Blackpool and visitors to our seaside town would like to call her.”

It was the first time Jill had seen the space within the hotel earmarked for the museum - on the footprint of the old Palace nightclub and Sands cabaret venue.

She said: "It's nice to see it progressing and I can start to see where things are going to be, the different sections and where the entrance is going to be so it's really exciting.

"The position means we're right on the high street, right on the Promenade and just two doors down from the Tower.

"It's a fantastic new venture for Blackpool to have such a high class hotel resort and we're going to be part of that offer."

The next step is to bring more of the exhibits to Blackpool, which will make up a total of six different themes - Seaside, magic, shows, Illuminations and dance as well as circus.

Jill said: "Various different objects for display are being conserved, being brought to Blackpool and put into storage.

"We're also working with scriptwriters on the narratives for the space and with audio-visual people to develop the interactives.

"So it's going to be a real family space, very interactive and with lots of things for children to do and great fun."

Eventually there will be around 800 objects on display including comedian Tommy Cooper’s magic tricks, costumes worn by comedy stars Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise and a rare signed black bowler hat which was owned by film and comedy star Stan Laurel.

Showtown is due to open in June next year inside the 91-room Sands Resort Hotel which is being built round an atrium and will boast facilities including a luxury spa.

Richard Kenworthy, managing director at Kirkham-based Warden Construction which is building the hotel, said: "This is definitely first of a kind for our site team.

"We’re more used to seeing deliveries of building materials rather than this special delivery today.

"As main contractor for the Sands Venue Resort Hotel, which incorporates Showtown, we’re expecting to see many more unusual items on site.”

Mike Thomson, project director for Warden Construction, said the shell and core of the hotel are now completed with glazing and cladding being the next stages of construction.

He added: "There has been extensive structural alterations made to the former Sands venue including partial demolition, all done on Blackpool Promenade right in the heart of the town.

"It's been exciting for everyone to be involved today in the arrival of the first prop for the museum."

Funding for the £13m Showtown includes £4.4m from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £1.75m from the Coastal Communities Fund, £4m from the Northern Cultural Fund, £1.5m from the Lancashire Economic Partnership Growth Deal and £1m from Blackpool Council.