Blue plaque unveiled at key building in history of St Annes

A blue plaque is unveiled at St Annes Public Offices by Richard Stanley, the grandson of councillor who opened the building in 1902

The public offices in Clifton Drive South were home to St Annes District Council from 1902 until the formation of Lytham St Annes UDC 20 years later.

That council then acquired the former Southdown Hotel opposite the pier as its headquarters and that remains in use as Fylde Council’s town hall to this day.

The red brick Clifton Drive South buildling has long bene used as public offices but has been for sale for the last four years. Only last week, a fund-rasing drive was announced with a view to it possibly being purchased for use as a theatre.

The plaque, arranged by Lytham St Annes Civic Society and funded by St Annes-on-the-Sea Town Council, was unveiled by Richard Stanley, grandson of Coun Louis Stott, who originally opened the building, now Grade II-listed, on January 22, 1902.

The ceremony took place 114 years later to the day and Marion Coupe, chairman of Lytham St Annes Civic Society, said: “Peter Shakeshaft, a local historian and author, has described it as ‘the most important building in the development of the planned garden town of St Annes-on-the-Sea. We agree with him and hope that it will remain in community use..”

The ceremony was part of the Civic Society’s ongoing project to erect blue plaques on key local buildings and Marion added: “Many people stop to read blue plaques as it helps them to understand the history of the town.”