This collection of photos from our archives focus on Central Drive which cuts through Blackpool from Bank Hey Street and Albert Road to Waterloo Road.
Historically it was the area where the steam trains pulled in to Central Station – the first place holidaymakers saw when they stepped out of the station including the anticipated sight of the Tower rising from above the rooftops. It’s also where many of the guest houses and smaller hotels stand on the edge of the main town centre and shopping area. It’s traditionally home to souvenir shops, joke shops, fish and chips and the main central car park. As decades rolled by the area sadly declined and now has some of the worst pockets of deprivation in England. Nevertheless there is still a strong community spirit.
7. Central Drive Retro Scenes
Ready for flattening in 1997 - the multi-storey car park at the junction of Central Drive and Rigby Road Photo: Dawn Castle
8. Central Drive Retro Scenes
This was Central Drive in 2002 - does it look smarter than it does today? Photo: Rob Lock
9. Central Drive Retro Scenes
Central Drive looking towards Blackpool Tower in 2006 Photo: Rob Lock
10. Central Drive Retro Scenes
This was the Blackpool we knew back in the day. The caption on the back of this photo from October 1986 said that whilst every other seaside resort was closed for the season, Blackpool nearly came to a standstill as crowds and traffic piled into the town Photo: National World
11. Central Drive Retro Scenes
There was a diversion in place in this photo where Central Drive meets Bank Hey Street and Albert Road. Central car park to the right Photo: National World