The Meanderthals: FLEETWOOD

SINGING the BLUES 3 Miles

GAINSBOROUGH GUYS :- Anthony, Danny, Mike, John.

Arriving in Fleetwood, Mike neatly pulled into a parking spot right next to your writer's favourite work of sculptural art.

A young mum with the kids waving to Dad as he leaves or returns from the sea.

The dog also looks eagerly towards the distant boat.

All kitted up against the cold blustery wind we set off to follow the fishy trail to our first BLUE PLAQUE.

Mike had done his homework well and explained how the three lights (see blue plaque) guided boats safely into the harbour.

Here's Mike pointing out the buoys and lights leading into the Wyre.

Just across the road was the North Euston Hotel the site of our next BLUE PLAQUE.

Danny taking a close look at the plaque and other information plates on the hotel walls.

Many years ago Queen Victoria boarded a train in London (Euston ?) Here, from Fleetwood, she boarded a ship which took her to Ardrossan in Scotland and then onwards by train to Glasgow and Edinburgh. Danny rightly suggested that Ardrossan was in the Clyde estuary making the sea trip quite lengthy.

These letters and symbols carved into the stone would suggest that the War Office had some dealings with the NORTH EUSTON HOTEL (?)

Leaving the North Euston behind we could see not far ahead of us the next recipient of a Blue Plaque. The PHAROS. Nothing to do with Egyptian Royalty but named after the Greek Island of Pharos on which the first lighthouse was built. It became one of Seven Wonders of the ancient world and the name now simply means a lighthouse.

And there it is but before reaching we crossed the tram tracks another iconic feature of this corner of the Fylde coastline.

Here's one passing us as we walk through the town.

Back to the Pharos.

As we examined the Pharos Danny marvelled at the huge number of Sandstone blocks which had been carved on a "curve".

No longer in use but this shelter is still an attractive piece of historical architectural structure.

And so.... on to our next Blue Plaque....

Your writer (JW) was standing virtually underneath this lamp post when he asked " Where's the Museum ?"

His chuckling companions chorused " Look up John" " OH !"

A large, round, tubby object. No John ............ not you.... the mine.

"DECIMUS" whose name kept cropping up as we explored Fleetwood. We wondered if he was, perhaps, the tenth child of a large family

There was little evidence, through the town, of the real, historical, importance of the fishing industry. Strangely this anchor was almost hidden away in a small, car park, garden.
BUT WHERE'S THE BOAT ???

Mike was quite saddened that the bustling town where he worked through his apprenticeship and beyond was now, by comparison, almost a Ghost Town.

At this point Mike confessed that there was only one "Hostelry" in the town he had not visited in his earlier years. Yes ....well..... NO COMMENT

Well here's a sea. A sea of lavender and the lads seem to be drowning in it. No worries there's a lifeboat close by as you will see in a moment.

Lunchtime and we settled for a sheltered, sunny spot in Euston Gardens across the road on one side from the North Euston and on the other side the parked car.

The Sandstone "Blocks upon which we were sitting were in fact a dedication to the town's lifeboats,

The words in the stone were from a popular, relevant well loved hymn.

"Oh hear us when we cry to Thee

for those in peril on the sea"

A close look at the carvings on the stone will reveal an early form of lifeboat with a team of men rowing out to sea.

Peter Hesketh

On a plinth in Euston gardens is a statue of one of the Hesketh family (Very much local bigwigs)

Between his feet is a RABBIT ! He is pointing down at it as if , like a dog, he is saying "Down Bunnikins down"

I think he must have scared the fluffy creature as it has soiled the plinth.

After a cursory glance at some of the information boards in the gardens we continued to our next blue plaque.

The market became well known during the 70's and 80's and drew shoppers from a wide area of Lancashire and beyond.

Our search for blue plaques continues as we headed towards the "Mount". but before getting there we passed what Mike referred to as

"The Four Faced Liar" A clock that didn't always tell the correct time .😒

It was correct as we passed it today 😊

As we paused by this church a passer by told us he was a retired "Brickie" and that the stonework on this church was superb......so there.

On the end of a terrace we passed was this wonderful picture. Just like

Vera Duckworth , the Coronation Street character, I do love a good "Muriel".... Don't you ?

The Mural, "The Wake of Generations", was created by artist Christian Fenn and Hayley Garner as part of the "Big Heart Project".

We approached this church down a side street, The windows appeared blacked out and it had an air of dereliction about. On turning the corner to the front of the church, What a surprise to find this beautiful well maintained church,