Sunday, August 3, 2008

Blueberries, Blackpool


Blueberries, BlackpoolThe signs on the upper storey of one of these buildings in Blackpool read Blueberries which I believe is a menswear store. I don't know if they were the original occupants in the same way that Burton's the Tailors adopted the deco style for may of their buildings.

The surface is completed in a cream faience or terra cotta finish with a bright blue design just below the roofline.

In a similar manner to the Ahlwyn flats in South Yarra, the central decorated sections stand out from the red bricks of the rest of the structure.

The shops are obviously a pair but with a with differences.

For instance, the near building has inset columns on the corners with simple deco capitals sitting up against the blue Blackpool sky. Even the seagull seems to be admiring their charm.

Blueberries, Blackpool


Posted by David Thompson
Place: ,

4 comments:

  1. Jelly JimDecember 9, 2009 at 9:27 AM

    Blueberries are the building's recent tenants. I'm not sure that it would have been occupied by Burton's, as there appear to be a series of Art Deco buildings in that area (the Music Hall Tavern building, formerly the British Gas showroom, is directly opposite the corner of Topping Street).

    Diagonally opposite the Blueberries building is an Art Deco building with three or four levels, similar in design, although from memory it has cream and green faience - more in keeping with the traditional colours of the local 'corporation' (if you haven't already seen his work, have a look in to JC Robinson, who was the borough architect for the 1920s-1940s period. The Derby Baths, Blackpool, is probably the building most associated with him - http://www.btinternet.com/~stephen.yarwood/Derby_Baths.jpg), although I think this will just be coincidence.

    I think that the building adjoining Blueberries to the right of the photo (Gillespie's pub) could also be from the same era. I remember that the windows at ground floor level appear to be original - distinct, simple metal frames and single pane glazing.

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  2. David ThompsonDecember 9, 2009 at 10:08 AM

    Thanks for the additional information James. I snap pictures of buildings in far off cities and then later (sometimes a few years later) put them on my blog with very little to go on other that what is actually in the photos themselves.
    Thanks for filling in a bit of the geography and history. The Derby Baths in Blackpool look fantastic I'll certainly see what else I can find out about JC Robinson.
    Cheers,
    David

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  3. Jelly JimDecember 11, 2009 at 7:41 AM

    Hi David,

    Yeh, I realised that after reading the side column of the blog, shortly after posting the comment! I guess Blackpool's maybe a bit too far away for you to check out easily!

    The good news is (depending on your outlook), Google Street View should have Blackpool online some time next year.

    If I can get some pics of the other buildings next time I'm in town, I'll forward them on.

    In the meantime, you may also be interested in the Pleasure Beach Casino Building in Blackpool - a Moderne building, designed by Joesph Emberton (who also designed elements of the rest of the Pleasure Beach), meant to recreate the outline of a boat.

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  4. David ThompsonDecember 11, 2009 at 9:59 AM

    Thanks for the pointers James and I look forward to seeing your photos.

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