Embedded Files
The race cousre was a huge success in its first year and the gold cup ran every Aug attracting 20,000 people. However, the number of vistors each year dropped and the course failed to gain its flat racing license. As war was declared on the 4th Aug 1914 the government began looking at land for military use. Racecourses had predominantly flat and open land which made them ideal for developing military training camps. Squires gate was utilised for medical and training purposes and so the racecourse closed on 26th Aug 1915. The military set about transforming the grandstand into a hospital and became the headquarters for the Royal Army Medical Corp. The hospital was renamed The King’s Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital, and was used until 1924. 4600 beds were created and the hospital treated some 38000 troops.
LOOKING SOUTH EAST
GRANDSTAND/HOSPITAL VIEWS
Important dates
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1911 Government creates the first independent air force (Air battalion of the Royal Engineers)
1912 The Royal flying corps formed and instructed by Churchill to defend the east coast.
1914 Austrian heir to the throne is assassinated and by Aug the whole of northern Europe was in conflict.
1915 U-boats start sinking ships, the newly formed Royal Naval Air Service was tasked with stopping them.
1916 A continental Ambulance train arrives in Blackpool raising funds for the war, some carriages were used as camping coaches on Squires Gate.
1916 On the 25th Sept a German airship dropped bombs on Lancashire towns
1918 YMCA place a Hut for wounded soldiers at Squires Gate, Blackburn Hut was opened on May 4th by Colonel Netherville Barron. The hut was part of the military hospital.
1918 JRR Tolkein was treated in Blackpool for gastritis whilst working on his book the Lord of the rings.
LOOKING SOUTH WEST
The top picture was drawn using Googles Sketchup from the original shot above. It is looking South East from the grandstand and shows another hospital wing and accommodation huts. The small box in the bottom right hand corner was the starting box from the race course days. In the distance the refuse destructor chimney is just visible.
This shot, again taken from the grandstand is looking South West towards the sand hills. Lytham Rd runs across the picture with military tents pitched in the far ground. The climbing frame suggests this area of the camp was used for training
This is the overall layout of Squires Gate during the 1st World War, constructed using very old photos
Whilst Squires Gate grew for medical and training purposes air defence stations were set up predominantly on the south east and south west coasts of England. Aviation in the north west focused on Airship production from the Vickers ship yard in Barrow. The first craft left the factory in March 1917. As the USA entered the war supplies began to be targeted in the Irish sea and the Government set up airship stations (every 60 miles apart). Walney island was used as an Airship base and was attacked on a regular basis, it was planned to be moved to Flookburgh but funds and building materials ran out! The war ended on November 11th 1918 and flying machines came back, eventually - not without more uncertainty.
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