Beach Road

Once the main high street, Beach Road is North of Victoria Road West, joining the promenade with Rossall Road. With a few shops still remaining, come and take a look at Beach Road Cleveleys. How it was then and today. (Pictured above, Beach Road at Cleveleys before the current sea defences were built).

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

Beach Road

Today, Beach Road is another residential street, with a wide spread of property types. A few quirky, original houses and bungalows are set between brand new apartments. The few remaining stores are the remnants of what was once a bustling high street. It seems pretty obvious why this long straight thoroughfare is called Beach Road!

Travel along Beach Road from Rossall Road…

Travelling along Rossall Road, the main road between Cleveleys and Fleetwood, it would be easy to miss Beach Road. One of those innocuous tiny roundabouts marks the junction of the two roads. A mound of white paint where an old-fashioned T-junction would work just as well. Turn here and head seawards and this is Beach Road. Once the main, bustling high street of this small town.

The Victoria Maternity Home was on the corner of Rossall Road and Beach Road in 1920, later becoming a nursing home. It’s now an apartment block.

Beach Road Co-op

By 1928 the Co-op had a store on Beach Road in Cleveleys. Then in 1938 opened a new large branch on the corner of Beach Road and Beach Avenue, which had a Co-operative Hall above it. After closing in 1970 it was later made into apartments.

Directly opposite, Dearden’s Grocers were at 12 Beach Road in 1954. They didn’t just sell fresh fruit and vegetables, but their own freshly-ground coffee. Mr Albert John White later owned the store; he passed away in 1964. Wife Lily died in 1990. It’s now been converted back into a private house.

This postcard owned by Ken Leech is postmarked 1934. The cars are all Wolseleys of the type produced from 1930 to 36. So that dates the actual photo between 1930 and 34, when the card was posted. The shop on the left is a traditional “Sweets and Tobacconist” shop with a hairdresser/barbers above. From a time when cigarettes, pipe tobacco and all things smoking related were usually bought from a Tobacconist’s shop.

On the right as you head to the beach, E.Sutcliffe was a self employed joiner/ carpenter who made doors and window frames. The pair of houses is still standing, although the castellated details no longer remain, the bay windows retain their shape. Julia Naylor’s photo was taken by a relative who lived on Beach Road at the time.

Cleveleys Congregational Church once occupied the corner plot at the corner of Kensington and Beach Roads. After it was demolished, Kensington Garage traded there for some years. Now it’s Pebble Court flats, a social housing development.

School to Community Centre

Beach Road Council School was opened in 1906, founded by Sir William Hodgson. By 1998 it was known as Beach Road Junior School and closed in August that year, merging with Manor Drive County Infants of the 1950’s. Manor Beach Primary School at Manor Drive has operated there ever since, with infants and junior classes.

The old Beach Road Council School now has another life, becoming the Frank Townend Community Centre in 1991. From the year 2000 it was called Cleveleys Community Centre, becoming Cleveleys Community Church in 2010. It’s still often referred to as the ‘Frank Townend’.

Hospitality Venues

In 1962, 87-89 Beach Road was the premises of Robert Ratcliffe and Sons undertakers. Le Bistro restaurant later ran there, operated successfully for many years by Richard and Helen Crampton.

The Probus Club of the North Fylde formed on 5 March 1970 at the Hazel Grove Hotel, 90 Beach Road, Cleveleys. We know the building today as the Travellers Rest public house. But the Hazel Grove was built in the 1950’s and run by Mr H France. Advertising itself as ‘the hotel that never closes’ it later became the Musketeer. Then it was the Hazel Grove again, with ‘The Contemporary’ public lounge bar. Another name change in the 1980’s saw it briefly renamed Follies, then back to the Musketeer – before becoming the Travellers Rest of today.

In December 1958, high tides caused the sea wall to collapse. 128 patients were rescued from Rossall Hospital.

The Beautiful Beach of Beach Road

Cross the main road and the whole of Cleveleys seafront is laid out for you to explore and Beach Road’s namesake golden sands. Complete with huge views, stunning sunsets, amazing seafront walks and of course the Mythic Art Trail.