Collapse

In the late 1870s and early 1880s there was a trade slump, nationally, and for the young town of St.Annes this meant fewer houses being built and fewer visitors.

About 1883, the Public Accommodation (Gardens) Company went into liquidation and was taken over by the St.Annes Land & Building Company; the gardens were managed by them for several years.

A Mr. Wilde then leased the Gardens, and he was followed by Mr. John Ferguson, nurseryman, of Whitegate Drive, Blackpool (brother of Coun. T. Ferguson), who revived many of its beauties and attempted to popularize it as an attraction of the town. Eventually a portion of it was used as a nursery, by Mr. Wm. Cartmell.

LEFT: An area known as "The Pool" in St.George's Gardens c1904. This was replaced by the lake in 1916.