Albert Eden

Albert Eden was an amateur photographer working in Blackpool around the turn of the 20th Century. His candid photographs present a unique view of Blackpool at a time of intense development.

Piers

Crowds on beach watching smoke over Blackpool North Pier — Watching the North Pier fire, 1921

View of Blackpool seafront from North Pier — Sea Front from North Pier

View of Blackpool seafront from North Pier — Prom from North Pier Pavilion, 1897

View of a steam boat next to a jetty — North Pier Jetty and steamboat

People on the beach in front of Blackpool North Pier — North Pier from the beach

View of Blackpool North Pier — North Pier from near the entrance, 1904

Crowds in front of the entrance of Blackpool North Pier — North Pier entrance, 1904

People on a jetty with steam boat in the background — Steamboat off North Pier Jetty

People on the beach with Blackpool North Pier in the background — Beach and North Pier

Crowds on beach in front of Blackpool North Pier — Beach and North Pier

People dancing on the a pier, with advertisement for 'OXO' — Dancing on a pier

damage to Blackpool North Pier after a shipwreck — Damage to North Pier from the Sirene

Entrance to Blackpool Central Pier — Central Pier entrance

Two men walking on Blackpool Central Pier — Duo on Central Pier

Crowds on Blackpool Central Pier — Central Pier entrance, 1906

View of Blackpool Tower from under Central Pier — Blackpool Tower through Central Pier

View of Blackpool Tower under construction from the beach — Central Pier and unfinished Tower

People walking into the entrance of Blackpool North Pier — Victoria Pier entrance

Crowds at the entrance of Blackpool North Pier — Victoria Pier entrance, 1904

Seaside Scenes

Wooden shed on cliffs overlooking sea — Wolstenholmes Photography Booth, North Shore, 8 April 1892

Two children playing on the beach — Two children on beach

People shopping at stalls on the beach — Traders on Beach

Crowds on the beach — South Shore, 1894

Ariel view of Blackpool — View south from Tower, 1901

Boats on foreshore with Blackpool Tower in background — View south from Baileys Hotel

Crowds on Promenade with unfinished Blackpool Tower in background — South Beach looking north,1893

People on the sea defences and beach — Slade and groyne, 8 June 1892

Sea defences under construction — Sea defence work at the Gynn

Two sailing boats on the sea — Sailing boats

Two sailing boats and a horse and cart on the beach — Sailing boats and cart

Two sailing boats on the sea — Sailing boat Ann, 1906

Crowds sat at a seafront shelter on the seafront — Shelter at Gynn Square

Crowds walking on Blackpool seafront — Princess Parade looking south

Crowds on a fairground ride on the beach — Maxims Flying Machine, Pleasure Beach, 1906

Crowds and fairground ride on beach — Maxims Flying Machine, 1904

Crowds on a helter-skelter on the beach — Helter-skelter at Pleasure Beach, 1906

People riding donkeys on the beach — People on donkeys opposite South Beach

View of Blackpool seafront — North Shore sea defences from Gynn

Arial view of Blackpool from the Tower — North Shore and Bispham from Tower

Construction work on the seafront — North Shore Boating Pool, 1922

Construction on Blackpool seafront — North Shore Boating Pool construction, 1922

Ariel view of Blackpool from the Tower — View north from Tower

Crowds on the beach — Lady on sands

Girl and ice cream cart on the beach — Ice Cream cart on beach

A fortune tellers tent on the beach — Gypsy Fortune Tellers tent

People walking on Blackpool seafront — Gynn Slade looking south

Children watching a Punch and Judy show — Group watching Punch and Judy

Woman and children building sandcastles, with advertisements on the pier for 'Kovah Jellies, Diamond Star, Weekly Dispatch and Whittakers Jams.' — Sandcastle building near Victoria Pier

People on the beach — Golden Mile from the beach

Children paddling in the sea — Children paddling on South Beach

Children and sailing boat on the beach — Children on the beach

Children riding donkeys on the beach — Children on donkeys

Children playing on the beach — Children on South Shore beach

Children and bathing machines on the beach, with advertisements for 'J. Singleton & Co' and 'Hovis Bread: the best of all breads.' — Children and bathing vans on beach

Man and camels on the beach — Camels on the beach

Boys and donkey on beach

Boys playing on the beach — Boys on beach

People boating with Blackpool Central Pier in the background — Boating near Central Pier

Girl riding a donkey on the beach — Beach towards South Shore

Crowds on the beach — Beach scene south of Central Pier

Crowds on the beach — Beach scene near Central Pier, 1906

Crowds on the beach — Beach scene and Tower, 1906

Crowds on the beach watching boats — Beach Scene with boats, 1906

People on the beach — Beach opposite South Beach

People playing on the beach — Beach opposite Baileys Hotel

Boats and people on the beach — Beach north of North Pier, 20 Aug 1892

Children digging on the beach — Beach and Prince of Wales Theatre

People paddling in the sea — Beach sea with steam boat, 1906

People on the beach with rough seas — Baileys Hotel and rough sea

People and bathing machines on the beach — Baileys Hotel from North Pier

People and bathing machines on the beach — Baileys Hotel from North Pier

Distorted image of the Metropole Hotel — Metropole Hotel distorted

Ariel view of Blackpool from the Tower — View of Bispham from Tower

Passengers sat on deck of a paddle steamer — On a paddle steamer

Blackpool Tower

Workmen on a building site — Demolition on Tower site, 11 May 1892

Building foundations and steel girder on a building site — Tower site towards Bank Hey Street, Sept 1892

Horse and cart on a building site — Tower site towards Bank Hey Street, May 1892

Piles of metalwork on a building site — Tower site from Beach Hotel, 4 April 1892

Men working on a building site — Tower site, 10 May 1892

Building site with girder structure — Tower site, 8 Sept 1892

Two men on street outside building site, with a sign reading 'No admittance except on business - Commit no nuisance.' — Tower site, 7 Sept 1892

A man on a building site — Tower site from Beach Hotel, 4 May 1892

Foundations and girder structure under construction — Tower under construction, 1892

Girder structure and foundations. — Tower under construction, 7 Sept 1892

Foundation and base of Blackpool Tower under construction — Tower under construction, 1893

Unfinished Blackpool Tower viewed from beach — Tower under construction, 1893

Woman and child playing on beach with Blackpool Tower in background — Tower and Central Pier from beach

Camels on the beach in front of Blackpool Tower — Blackpool Tower Camels

Blackpool Tower and carts on the beach — Tower from the beach, 1894

Reflection of Blackpool Tower in a pool on the beach — Tower reflected in pool

People on the beach in front of Blackpool Tower — Tower from the beach

Entrance to the Blackpool Tower building with signs for 'Pavilion, Concerts, Dancing & Variety Shows.' — Tower entrance canopy

Venues

Entrance to the Winter Gardens — Winter Gardens Victoria St Entrance, 1928

Entrance and dome of Winter Gardens — Winter Gardens from Victoria Street

Entrance to Winter Gardens and Ferris wheel — Winter Gardens entrance, 1904

Street entrance to Winter Gardens — Winter Gardens Coronation Street, 3 June 1892

Ferris wheel under construction — Big Wheel under construction

Ferris wheel under construction — Big Wheel under construction, 4 June 1896

Ferris wheel and rooves of buildings — Big Wheel from Coffee Palace

Ferris wheel and rooves of buildings — Big Wheel from Central Drive

Railway station with Ferris wheel in background — Big Wheel from Central Drive station

People on cliff tops in front of wooden cabin buildings — Uncle Toms Cabin

Crowds in front of wooden cabin buildings — Uncle Toms Cabin

People around lake with grandstand and other buildings — Raikes Hall Lake

Entrance gates to pleasure gardens — Raikes Hall Hornby Road entrance

Crowds in front of octagonal shaped wooden building — Niagara Raikes Hall

People on street outside of building — Hippodrome wrestling poster

Art gallery building — Grundy Art Gallery

Street view of gardens entrance — Belle Vue Gardens Whitegate Lane

Entrance to gardens — Belle Vue Gardens entrance

Entrance to aquarium building. — Aquarium frontage, 22 April 1892

People entering aquarium building with elephant in background. — Aquarium entrance, 6 May 1892

Boy being chased by an elephant — Boy chased by Elephant, 15 June 1892

Shipwrecks and Lifeboats

Crew sat in Lifeboat on carriage — Crew on the Watson Lifeboat by boathouse

Crowds on beach watching Lifeboat — Crowds watching trialed Watson Lifeboat, 1893

Crowds on beach watching lifeboat — South Beach Lifeboat trial, 1893

Lifeboat on wagon — Trialed Watson Lifeboat by Boat House, 1893

Crowds on beach in front of shipwreck — Sirene from beach, 1892

Crowds on beach in front of shipwreck — Crowds view Sirene Shipwreck, 1892

Crowds on beach in front of shipwreck — Sirene and North Pier from Prom, 1892

Crowds on beach in front of shipwreck — Sirene and North Pier, 1892

Crew in front of Lifeboat on wagon — Lifeboat Samuel Fletcher 1 on Lytham Road, 1893

Crew in front of Lifeboat on wagon — Blackpool Lifeboat Samuel Fletcher 1, 1893

Crew launching Lifeboat into waves — Samuel Fletcher 2 launch

Shipwreck on beach — Abana shipwreck at Anchorsholme, 1894

Sailing ship in stormy seas — Foudroyant in storm and North Shore, 1897

Sailing ship in stormy seas — Foudroyant aground in storm, 1897

Sailing ship in stormy seas — Foudroyant in the storm, 1897

Sailing ship wrecked on beach with 'England Expects...' graffiti. — Foudroyant with England Expects graffiti, 1897

Crowds in front of shipwreck — Foudroyant with crowds, 1897

Sailing ship wrecked on beach — Foudroyant on beach, 1897

Sailing ship wrecked on beach — Foudroyant from the north west, 1897

Sailing ship wrecked on beach — Foudroyant from west, 1897

Crowds in front of shipwreck on beach — Foudroyant and crowds, 1897

Streets and Town Centre

Street scene with shops — West Street South side, 19 May 1892

A street scene — West street looking east, 3 March 1892

A woman pushing a pram down the street — West Street, 1892

Man in a street standing in front of advert 'To the New Grand Circus'. — Corner of Victoria St and Ann St, 8 Jan 1892

Street scene — Victoria Music Hall, 1892

Street scene with windmill — Vicarage Lane, Marton

Street scene looking over rooves — Tyldesley Road looking south

Street scene with carriages — Tyldesley Road from Princess Street

Yard behind some buildings — Town Yard

Street scene — Town Hall Street, 12 May 1892

Looking over rooves — Towards rear of St Ann Street

Street scene with Blackpool Tower in background — The Strand

Street scene in snow — Temple Street in snow, 1892

Street scene — Temple Street looking south, 28 March 1892

Street scene — Temple Street, 1892

Trams and crowds in street — Talbot Square with trams

Railway bridge over road — St Annes Road bridge

Street scene — St Ann Street, 22 March 1892

Street scene with horse and cart — St Ann Street, 14 May 1892

Railway bridge and tents on a campsite — Squires Gate bridge

Crowds in street — Simpson Street Crowd

Street scene with parade including placard reading 'Royal Palace Gardens.' — Royal Palace Gardens parade, 9 June 1892

Street scene with parade, on a building is an advert for 'Royal palace Gardens, Only 300yds higher up, Biggest Show in England, Entertainments all day, Dancing, Fireworks, Admission 6D All Day.' — Placards up Church Street, 1892

Crowds on street — Parade at corner of Princess St and Tyldesley Road

Street scene with buildings including signs for 'Town Hall' and 'John's Market.' — Old Town Hall, Market Street, 12 May 1892

Street scene — Old St Johns Market, 12 May 1892

Street scene — Old School, Adelaide Street, 10 May 1892

Street scene — Old Post Office window ,1892

Street scene with people outside Post Office — Old Post Office, Coronation St, 8 July 1892

Street scene outside of Post Office — Old Post Office

Street scene with sign above building reading 'John Boyd & Co.' — Oak Street

Man standing in alley — New Post Office from Oak Street, 1892

Men carrying placards in street, signs read 'Luna' and 'On the Frontier.' Shop advert in background reads 'Home made boots and shoes.' — Men with placards, July 1892

Street scene — Lytham Street

Street scene with shops including 'R. Jackson.' — Corner of Lytham St and Church, St 28 March 1892

Street scene — Layton Rakes cottages

Crowds in street scene, shop sign reads 'Clarke & Heap - Beef Department.' — Hounds Hill

Street scene — Great Marton from Whitegate Lane

Street scene — Fumblers Hill, 8 April 1892

Crowds in street scene, with sign for 'Princess Hotel'. Visible adverts on wall for 'Whittaker's Marmalade' and 'Wheatleys'. — Foxhall Road procession

Children playing in field — Field west of Marton Church

Street scene — Dale Street and Bairstow Street

Street scene with cottage — Cottage, Victoria Street, 19 May 1892

Street scene — Coronation St looking east, 9 June 1892

Street scene with horse and carriage — Corner of Bank Hey and Victoria streets

Street scene with shops including 'Parkers Boot Depot' and a sign for 'Boys and Girls School Boots.' — Church Street north side

Crowds in street scene, including a placard for 'Royal Palace Gardens.' — Church St Lytham St Royal Palace Gardens, 15 June 1892

People riding horse and cart in street — Church Street North Side, 8 July 1892

Street scene with close up of lamps — Cheapside

Street scene — Chapel St rear of Wylies 24 June 1892

Yard outside of house — Chalgrove House rear, 31 May 1892

Railway platform and view over rooves to Ferris wheel — Central Station from Coffee Palace

Children in fields alongside road with town in distance — Central Drive from Bloomfield Rd

Street scene — Central Drive from Bethesda Road

Woman on horse and carriage in street — Carriage on Church Street, 8 July 1892

Street scene — Birley Street

Street scene — Birley Street

Street scene with shops — Corner of Bank Hey St and Victoria St, 14 May 1892

Street scene with people outside shop window with signs reading 'Noblett Confectioners.' — Bairstow Street from prom

Street scene — Back Victoria Street

Street scene including shop window for 'Shuttleworth's China Rooms.' — Back Church Street, 8 April 1892

Men carrying advertising signs in street reading 'Royal Palace Gardens- Fireworks, Illuminations.' — Admen on Bank Hey Street, 8 June 1892

Women in street outside a shop with sign reading 'Alpine Hall, School.' — Alpine Hall Victoria Street, 9 May 1892

Building site next to road with large hotels in background — Work near the Gynn

Building site next to road with large hotels in background — Work at the Gynn

Street scene with hotel forecourt — Beach Hotel forecourt

Street scene with advertising hoardings including adverts or 'Rossley's Paraffin Dry Soap' and 'Rev S.J. Balmer and Rev J. Ellis, Sermons.' — Beach Hotel hoardings, 19 May 1892

Churches

A church building from the street — Victoria St Congregational Church, 4 Jan 1892

A church building viewed from the street — St Johns Church

Street scene with church and school building, shop sign reads 'Halden. China' — Sacred Heart Church School

Church building and open land — Holy Trinity Church

Church building from the sreet — Great Marton Church

Font and stained glass window inside a church — Church interior

Inns and Public Houses

Street scene in front of inn with sign reading 'Welcome Inn' — Welcome Inn, Bank Hey Street, 10 May 1892

A pub building with large sign reading 'Revoe Inn.' — Revoe Inn

Street scene with inn with sign reading 'New Inn and Central Hotel, Vaults.' — New Inn, 9 May 1892

Inn building viewed across street, with signs reading 'New Inn and Central Hotel,' and 'To the Central Station.' — New Inn north side, 4 May 1892

Inn building viewed across the street, sign reads 'James Archer: Foreign and British Wines and Spirits, Ale, Porter, Cigars.' — Mill Inn, Hoo Hill

Inn building viewed from across street with 'Gynn Inn' painted on side and 'Closed' sign on door. — Gynn Inn, 1921

Barrels outside of Inn building with 'Gynn Inn' painted on walls and a sign reading 'James Ashworth, Ale, Porter, Tobacco & Foreign and English Wines.' — Gynn Inn

Hotel building viewed from across the street with signs reading 'Foxhall Concert Room, Seeds Fine Ales.' — Foxhall north side

People walking in front of hotel building with signs reading 'Seeds Foxhall Hotel' and 'Fine Ales and Stout, Spring Lane Brewery, Radcliffe.' — Foxhall Hotel frontage

Man standing outside of inn with sign reading 'Dog and Partridge, Family Hotel.' — Dog and Partridge Hotel

Street scene with 'Brewers Arms' pub in background — Brewers Arms Warbreck Road, 11 July 1892

People and events

Man standing on seafront — Young Man, 27 May 1892

Mayor and dignitaries greeting Prince outside Town Hall — Visit of Prince of Wales, 8 July 1921

Old man with beard standing in street — 'Old Delhi' James Sugden, 8 Sept 1892

protest march being watched by crowds in street, advertisement on wall reads '6D. Winter Gardens, Visit the Empress Ballroom, the Grandest Sight in the World. Admission 6D.' — Miners Demonstration, Church St

Two women on bench with young girl — Members of Eden family on bench

Woman with hand cart selling newspapers, advertisement on cart reads 'The Handy Library. Forget-Me-Not, the Engaged Girls very own paper. I'm coming to try for the £10 Prize.' — Magazine seller Susannah Hirst at 7 Blundell St

Man in carriage outside house — Laundau at 7 Blundell Street

Woman and carriage outside of house — Lady arriving at 7 Blundell Street

Two women standing outside of 'J. Hirst, Newsagent & Stationer.' Newspaper Headlines read 'Courier: Peace! Boer Surrender, Universal Rejoicing', 'Dispatch: Peace Declared, Official Dispatches', 'Echo: Peace Arranged, Official', Chronicle: End of the War'. — Hirst Newsagent, 2 York St, 1902

Man standing with horse drawn carriage — W Armstrong with Hansom Cab

Three women and two children outside of house — Group on doorstep Blundell Street

Mayor and dignitaries in front of crowds — Foundation laying for Police Courts, 17 Jul 1892

Portrait of middle aged woman — Elizabeth Eden

Portrait of and old man with beard — Thomas Eden

Portrait of a young man leaning on a couch — Alfred Eden

Man and woman standing in street — Couple on doorstep possibly Blundell Street

Soldiers standing to attention in field — Brigade at Squires Gate

Family group posing outside of house, above door sign reads 'M. Eden, 9' — 9 Bairstow Street

Crowds on the seafront — People at the Gynn

Crowds on beach celebrating Coronation — Coronation festivities on beach, 1902

Crowds in street outside of Town Hall — Coronation celebrations, Town Hall, 1902

Carnival

Crowds watching carnival procession — Carnival spectators, Talbot Square, 1923

Women and children in costume in street procession outside building with sign for 'Tramway garage.' — Carnival Procession Rigby Road, 1923

People in costume on carnival float — Carnival Float outside Tram Depot, 1923

Two men dressed as knights, one on horse, outside building with sign for 'Tramway garage.' — Carnival Procession on Rigby Road, 1923

People in costume on carnival float — Carnival Float on Blundell Street, 1923

People in costume on carnival float, outside building with sign for 'Tramway garage.' — Carnival Float 39 Rigby Road, 1923

People in costume on carnival float — Carnival float, 1923

Car decorated with carnival flowers — Carnival Car at Station Road, 1923

Car decorated in carnival flowers — Car in Carnival, 1923

Miscellaneous

Vintage car in a yard — Voiturette car

Damaged photograph of people in vintage car — Early car

Portrait painting of a bearded young man — Portrait of young man

Man reflected in mirror over mantlepiece — Mantlepiece Mirror

Stairs and hallway of a house — Hallway of House

People standing outside of memorial clock tower in park — Cocker Memorial Clock

Rooves and a bell tower — Braithwaites bell, Fire Station Tower, 1892