Clifton Park Racecourse

Over the past few centuries, this part of Blackpool has been a very busy area !  Links to various uses have been highlighted

The Clifton family were major landowners in the district, mainly Lytham.

In 1609 Cuthbert Clifton, on the 26th of September, ordered the marking out of a border with Lytham and Layton Hawes and Marton, with a ditch. This ditch later became Squires Gate Lane.

In 1873 the road from St Annes to Squires Gate was beginning to be built. It was later named Clifton Drive.

Then a year later in 1898 The Manchester and Salford Wood Street Mission annual holiday camp first opened on Clifton  Drive on the 15th of April. It was then held annually until 1922, when a permanent camp was erected at Squires Gate to replace the temporary corrugated iron sheds on the beach. 

In 1909 Blackpool’s first Aviation Week was held at Squires Gate, from the 18th to the 23rd of October. 

Then in 1911 Squires Gate airfield was leased to the Clifton Park Racecourse syndicate, who demolished Layton Hawes Farm, laid out the course and paddock, and built a grandstand. The Coronation Gold Cup was run on the opening day, the 1st of August and annually thereafter, attracting over 20,000 spectators

Hurdle Racing at Clifton Park – 1912

Photograph by Lord of Poulton

When war was declared on the 4th Aug 1914 the government began looking at land for military use

Racecourses had predominantly flat and open land which made them ideal for developing military training camps.  Squires gate was utilised for medical and training purposes and so the closed on 26th Aug 1915

After World War One in 1920 The King’s Lancashire Convalescent Home at Squires Gate, for the treatment and training of disabled soldiers, was formally opened on the 27th of February

In 1924 The Racecourse and Military Hospital site at Squires Gate was given back to Clifton Estates

An excellent site which details the growth of Blackpool Airport at Squires Gate can be found here

Plan from the Air Ministry – September 1945