Area of Special Local Character

Blackpool’s Waterloo Road and Bond Street might look neglected today but there’s some fine architecture in these main roads. Now they’ve been designated together as an Area of Special Local Character. Historic England describes Areas of Special Local Character as ‘historically important areas that fail to meet the criteria for Conservation Area designation’. 

Now, Planners aim to preserve the heritage of the area after warning that commercial pressure and poor development management in the past have resulted in the loss of historic shop fronts and architectural features. Consequently, today you’ll see high levels of vacancy and disrepair.

Join us for a look around on a bright and sunny summer’s day –

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Area of Special Local Character

MANY THANKS to Nick Moore and his fascinating History of Blackpool for some of the historical information used in this page. You can read it here

Waterloo Road runs at right angles to the promenade. Bond Street joins it, parallel with the seafront at South Shore. Both of these roads are much longer than the area covered by this designation, which extends East to Lytham Road and South to Station Road.

Did you know? Named after Holy Trinity Church, Church Street was the original name for Bond Street. Later changed to avoid confusion with Church Street in the town centre. The 1838 tithe map shows Waterloo Road is one of the first east-west streets laid out at South Shore.

It was Mr Thomas Moore who’s said to have built the first property here in 1819. Originally known as New Blackpool it can be traced back to the early 1800’s. A separate community rivalling the central resort. By 1838 it had grown to include about 50 properties and by 1893 had merged to become one with Blackpool. For many years it was the main commercial and retail area of South Shore.

Today, Waterloo Road especially is still a busy shopping street. With a wide range of shops it’s well used by local people and the many visitors to Blackpool.

Designated and Undesignated Heritage Assets

Walk along Waterloo Road and Bond Street and raise your eyes above street level. Beyond the tatty cobbled-together shop fronts is some fine and attractive architecture. There’s gable ends and decorative stonework galore, evidence of Victorian developers trying to outdo each other. Some are preserved and maintained, others are not so lucky. They stand tall and proud between their shabbier neighbours – like Mrs Johnsons Emporium and The Last Resort Public House. Grade II listed, Holy Trinity Church is known locally as ‘Blackpool Cathedral’. It’s easy to see why when you stand against it’s huge imposing walls.

The buildings around here are generally a mix of brick and stone, with red brick used for earlier buildings. Roofs are mostly Welsh slate, with some clay and concrete tile. Almost all of them have replacement uPVC windows. Some timber sashes or leaded casements have managed to survive on upper floors. Upper floors generally retain historic character and features. Sadly, there aren’t any historic shop fronts.

As the area has declined, the original use of these properties has changed. At least three of the former banks are now pubs or shops – like this one pictured below.

Holy Trinity, Bond Street/Dean Street (grade II)

Holy Trinity Church stands tall and proud at the corner of Bond and Dean Streets. Built to serve the hamlet of South Shore, Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood endowed it with a tithe of £35 per year from Layton Hawes.

In 1878 it was enlarged, finally consecrated on 23 September 1889. Sadly, irrevocable damage in a storm in 1886 meant it needed rebuilding. The current church opened on 27 November 1895. Dean Street is named after Rev CK Dean of the Church. It’s a striking building, built of coursed, pitch faced yellow sandstone with red sandstone dressings.

Holy Trinity School, Dean Street (adjacent to church)

Harte’s Store, 7 – 11 Bond Street

Harte’s Christmas store originally opened on 17 March 1928 as Blackpool’s second Woolworths. Empty since January 2019, the building has become increasingly derelict. In September 2024 Blackpool Council served the owner with a demolition notice due to it being unsafe.

Mrs Johnson’s Emporium – Former bank at 29 – 31 Bond Street

The Last Resort – Former bank at 46 Bond Street

The Last Resort is a corner property. These tend to have more architectural prominence with corner features and more elaborate entrances. It has a rusticated ground floor of sandstone ashlar and brick to the upper floors. And sandstone ‘Gibbs’ surrounds to the windows and sandstone details. 

Former assembly rooms, 98 – 100 Bond Street/Station Road

Former villa and bank, 87 Bond Street/22 Dean Street

Dutton Arms, Waterloo Road/441 Promenade

Bull Inn, Waterloo Road

Locally Listed Talbot Court, 5 – 9 Waterloo Road/Promenade

Former Post Office, 20 – 32 Waterloo Road

Former bank, 44 Waterloo Road/St Bedes Avenue 

Other Buildings to Mention…

Number 35 Waterloo Road was formerly a car showroom, more recently an indoor market. It’s striking white faience façade is a good early 20th century example of its use.

Edwardian stepped gables of 16-22 Bond Street, a former bank, are a strong townscape feature in bright red brick and moulded terracotta.

Permanently closed, Itzabitz at 66 Bond Street has a striking red brick frontage above the modern fascia.

Still interested in learning more? Follow this link to the Blackpool Council website.