Ramps at Cleveleys

Now this page has been the subject of some debate. Are there still ramps at Cleveleys – or aren’t there? The jury is still out – read the evidence and see what you think…

What and Where are Ramps at Cleveleys?

Today you’ll probably think of disabled access, or bits of wood for kids to make skateboard jumps. But these ramps at Cleveleys were the original sea defences. Built many years ago, long before the days of concrete, and a quarter of a mile inland.

The ramps were built in the 1800’s – most likely by the Hesketh family, aiming to protect their Thornton Estate from high tides. There’s much more about their origins further down on this page.

Thanks go to Mike Pollard, other intrepid local historians and Visit Cleveleys readers for this information. Mike has researched the past of these unassuming piles of soil. His initial investigations led to a false start. But it did lead him to the right thing in the end, a little bit further north.

What Mike found out, and where other readers have filled in some of the gaps, is on this page. If you can add anything please get in touch – email jane@theRabbitPatch.co.uk

We went for a look in Spring 2021 – see what we found –

Enjoyed this video? Why don’t you subscribe to our Visit Fylde Coast YouTube channel – make sure you don’t miss out!

Where are the Ramps at Cleveleys?

These are the old sea defence ramps at Cleveleys. Find them at the tramway end of Thornton Gate, just past the sub-station and ‘Welcome to Cleveleys’ sign, heading towards Fleetwood. See them at the right-hand side of the tram tracks – in the above photo at College Farm and another close up of it, below.

The amazing thing is how far inland they are. These early-day sea defences are a quarter-of-a-mile or more from the actual coast. Todays Wyre Beach Management Scheme, with its new rock groynes, has visually changed the appearance of the beach. But this intervention, and hard sea walls, protects such a lot of houses and streets against flooding. Without todays modern engineering, high tides would travel as far as they liked.

Look-a-like Ramps…

As we said, Mike started with a false lead. He says: “Adjacent to the tram tracks at Thornton Gate, Cleveleys, at the side of Dorset Avenue, is what I originally thought appeared to be the last complete section of “Ramp”.

The vertical long sausage shape in the centre of the picture suggests there may be a ramp on Dorset Avenue, with the tramway to the left.  Note that this aerial view dates back to 2010. In it you can see the green huts of the temporary compound created there during the tramway upgrade works.

The fenced off mound appears to fall within the restricted area of a tramway electrical substation / yard. Presumably why it hadn’t been flattened before.

Mike then got in touch with Blackpool Transport who confirmed that the mounds of earth at the Thornton Gate yard are actually spoil from tramway works. That’s despite it being in the right position for the rampart.

This dead-end wasn’t a complete waste of time though. It led Mike to explore further north along Rossall Road, towards Rossall School where the remainder of a rampart is visible at College Farm.

Evidence in old maps

The 1912 O.S. map of the area (below) shows the full size of the ramp from Rossall to Thornton. But the remaining area which we see adjacent to the tram substation looks identical in both size and position.

The original ramp was about 2 miles long, running from nearly as far East as Meadows Ave. Thornton, (Rowland Farm) up to Rossall Road and then North as far as Rossall School. Mike says “I can just remember seeing some of it as a kid in the field where the A585 crosses Victoria Road now.

“The 1912 map shows it running alongside the tram track, but initially I wasn’t sure which was there first. It also looks redundant on this map as there are a number of gaps in it where roads have been built. Substantial concrete sea defences were added in 1927, but there must have been something before that.”

The Real Ramps – at College Farm

Mike says “I visited the ramparts at College Farm and they’re made of a different material to the tram yard. They’re a very sandy soil – and they’re in the same position as the 1912 O.S. map. I also spoke with the owner of College Farm who confirmed they’d been there ‘a long time’ and were there for ‘the tide’.

“It’s reasonable to assume that the ramparts at College Farm are part of the original scheme. The lady I spoke with saw no reason why earth would be put there other than for this reason. And the last section finishes at exactly the same spot as it does on the map.”

Although the ramps at Cleveleys aren’t of any archaeological interest it is of local historical interest. Designed to protect the early urbanisation of Cleveleys, some road names today are still named after it. Namely Thornton Gate, Carr Gate, Ramper Gate, Way Gate.

The remaining section/s at College Farm aren’t going anywhere. But the absence of local knowledge as to it’s probable origins affords it no protection from being flattened!

Evidence in Road Names

Ramper Road was built from the shore to Thornton, under the Marsh Act Award of 1805. It had been a thoroughfare for many years, thought to be named after the earth mounds or ramps/ramparts.

Nick Moore’s fascinating History of Blackpool cites evidence of the embankments at an early date. At Christmas 1852 there was a fierce storm, reported in the local newspaper of the time.

“Mr Peter Sykes, of Carr House Farm near Rossall Hall, suffered to the extent of some hundred pounds. The sea broke through the embankment opposite his farm. It swept away with irresistible fury a great part of his corn stacks, drowned all his sheep, pigs, poultry etc. And in his house destroyed all his furniture, actually breaking it into splinters. The horses, cows etc were got off, but narrowly escaped the same fate.“

Changing Names

Ramper Road had a name change to Victoria Road in 1897 for Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. Ramper Gate in Cleveleys would have been a slope at either side of the ramp to allow carts across – what was effectively a gate.

Thornton Gate near Cumberland Avenue would have been the same, and no doubt others. It looks like Thornton Gate on the 1912 map, the Google earth pics show the remaining ramp at Dorset Avenue and a smaller section in front of stables slightly further North along Rossall Road, after Milnthorpe Avenue.

The ramp can be clearly seen on the 1912 map and would probably have been present at the time of the 1906 Cottage Exhibition. The Exhibition was at the western flank of the Thornton Estate, which the rampart was designed to protect.

Before this, the ramps would have protected the farms from high tides. By 1890 there were over 50 farms in the area, so there was a lot to protect.

Railways and Ramps

The Preston to Wyre railway dates to 1840. The first station built at Thornton in 1842 was called Ramper Station – it closed in April 1943 due to lack of use.

Was it called Ramper Station because it’s near to Ramper Road? If so then the Ramps must have already been there. Then refer back to the Thornton Cleveleys 1910 maps (Lancashire sheet 42.12 and 43.09). According to those maps:

• an earlier railway station called ‘Ramper Road’ and later ‘Ramper’ opened in 1842 and closed in 1843.
• Victoria Road was originally Ramper Road, presumably after the earth mounds or ramparts that served as boundaries and flood defences to the Thornton Estate. They’re still seen on the north side of the road on sheet 43.09.

OR

• Was Ramper from another area of Thornton near Underbank Road where we still have Ramper Pot off Underbank?
• Apparently there is/was a Ramper Cottage near Underbank Road. Does Ramper Road pre-date construction of the ramps?
• The History of Blackpool tells us that Ramper Road is named after Ramper Pot – the small channel which runs into the River Wyre between Skippool and Wardleys. Deep and tidal, it’s ideal for wicker trapping baskets known as Ramper Pots. And a ‘ramper’ is a northern name for a lamprey eel.

It’s all food for thought.

What you think about Ramps in Cleveleys

Visit Cleveleys has shared this article several times over the years. Quite a few of you have contributed your own memories and knowledge on the subject.

Garden City

John Davies-Allen shared this photo of ‘Garden City’. You can see the ramps near the end of Westbourne Road/College Farm. This view is believed to be from the collection of the late Phil Barker.

Local historian Richard Gillingham says “I remember in the early fifties, looking from the tram window. The embankments seemed more prominent and I seem to recall seeing large concrete kerb stones around the foot of the banks about a hundred yards north of the farm. There were clear tracks within them. There was severe damaging coastal flooding around that time. Had they been re built/ strengthened? They come to an end near Rossall Lane where the old tramway sidings were. Across the road an embankment – formerly carrying the tramway –  is clearly visible going across Rossall School fields towards Rossall Hospital. That may also have served as a sea defence.

Wartime Rifle Range

Richard adds “The tram sidings and the original tramway embankment were, I think to do with troop movement. They used the shooting range at the North end of Rossall School grounds for practice. There are references to training camps in 1914-15. Men were tented between the Hutment Barracks nr. the Queens Hotel and Rossall and used shooting ranges at both, for practice.”

Dave Hutchinson adds “Rossall School still has plenty of Ramp(ed) sea defences, some still define the original route of the tram system, which took passengers virtually to the school gates. This was modified in 1925 to today’s track layout, I think to eliminate the steep curve of the original. There is still a long stretch at College Farm, which looks like all there is remaining of local ramps.

Bill Moorcroft comments “I think the enclosure of Thornton Marsh in 1805 must come into it somewhere, as Ramper Road was laid straight across it.”

Before Health & Safety!

Jenny Stocker emailed to explain “My parents built a house on Kendal Ave in 1950/51. I can’t remember exactly how many houses there were on the road but if you look at the aerial view it was just the houses with the red roofs.

“There was nothing but farmer’s field beyond that and the berm (ramp) ran all the way along the side of the tram track up to the last house. I imagine they took down the berm to build Kendal Ave. I used to walk to the farm to get cream in the summer.

“Kids had built dens inside the berm. It really was rather dangerous as it was very sandy and could have collapsed at any time. We had a lot of fun playing there. I assumed it was built to protect the farming land from salt water until it became redundant when they improved the sea defences at Rossall. They could not have farmed successfully there without protection.”

Interesting Information

Maxine Blundell added “We live on Thornton Gate; this is really interesting. Thanks Mike. Our house, number 5, was built around 1909, along with number 1, number 3 (originally Wittscot) and number 7 (known as Windsor House). We think our house was known as Berkley House. I would love to find out more, hopefully I’ll have the time one day. Thanks again.”

Lizzy Stokes answers “Maxine. No 1 Thornton Gate was called Rosscot. We lived there from 1987 to 2000. Our neighbour at No 3 told us the houses were built for the Corporation of Rossall School. They will definitely have some stuff in the archive if you contact them.”

Amazing the things that people know. Have you got anything to add? Drop an email to jane@theRabbitPatch.co.uk