With a price tag of £5m, Houndshill was one of Britain’s most streamlined and modern shopping centres. It was built by John Laings and at the time comprised 40 shops, a restaurant and a coffee bar.
Work was on schedule when these photos were taken. The ground floor was progressing and well over half the service level was completed. Construction of the car park, which was a major development of the scheme, was also underway. Of course there have been many changes since to upgrade the shopping centre, but this is how it was when it all began.
In case you missed them: 12 pictures of Texstyle World - Blackpool's favourite soft furnishing store of the 1980s which ended up in flames
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In case you missed them: 12 pictures of Texstyle World - Blackpool's favourite soft furnishing store of the 1980s which ended up in flames
![Just before the opening in 1980](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjAwMzVlZWQyLTZkMjctNDZlMC05YWUzLWJjNTczNDc1NDVlODo0M2YzNjUwNy03ZGY2LTQxODAtYmI3Ny0xYTA5N2MwMzhhZDk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. How Houndshill reshaped the town centre
Just before the opening in 1980 Photo: National World
![Work progresses at the central area of the redevelopment scheme. This was where Goldbergs was sited](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjU5NDVmOTcwLTYxNzItNDZkZi05NDAyLTIwZjQxODEwOWIzMTo3ZTNmYmQ4YS0yZTgxLTRjYTktYTdkNS03YzVhZjNhOGE3NTc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. How Houndshill reshaped the town centre
Work progresses at the central area of the redevelopment scheme. This was where Goldbergs was sited Photo: National World
![This was taken a few years later when cosmetic changes to the tune of £1.5 gave the shopping centre a facelift](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjEzNzhlMDE4LTY2NGEtNDk0Mi1iZWIwLWQ4YTMxNzBmOTgzZDpjNTA4YmVlMi00ZDkyLTRhNDMtYjRiNC1jOGE2MmZkMzJmMTA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
9. How Houndshill changed the landscape
This was taken a few years later when cosmetic changes to the tune of £1.5 gave the shopping centre a facelift Photo: National World
![Looking down Victoria Street as work got underway to block pave the pavement](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmYxNWJmYTliLTM3OTMtNDUzNS1iNzE5LThjMWI0ZjExMDg2NjpjOTAyOGU3ZC1lYmRhLTRjYjctYWVlOC1jZTZmNjRhZmMzOWI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
10. How Houndshill reshaped the town centre
Looking down Victoria Street as work got underway to block pave the pavement Photo: National World
![This photo shows the car park, it looks like the building phase was completed. Boots the Chemist is to the right](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmIzOTJkNjI2LThmNjUtNGE0ZC1hMzMzLTBjMTQzNjkwY2UxYzoxYjkxY2I2MS1iNjllLTRjM2YtYTU4MC1lOGQ4ZTM3ZjQzNzU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
11. How Houndshill changed the landscape
This photo shows the car park, it looks like the building phase was completed. Boots the Chemist is to the right Photo: National World
![The sweeping curves of the ornate casting supporting the canopy over the Houndshill Centre’s Victoria Street entrance beneath the Tower](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjgyYWI3NGUxLTY5YzItNGYxNC1iZDliLTQ3M2FjMWQ1NTM3YzpkN2Y2YTg4OS1hMTE2LTQ3YjgtYjI0NS03ZWViNmFjNmIwZGE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
12. How Houndshill changed the landscape
The sweeping curves of the ornate casting supporting the canopy over the Houndshill Centre’s Victoria Street entrance beneath the Tower Photo: National World