Building Name

St George’s Gardens and North Esplanade, St Anne’s (Architectural Competition)

Date
1913
Street
North Esplanade
District/Town
St Anne's-on-the-Sea
County/Country
GMCA, England
Work
Archirectural Competition
Status
Second premium

1st premium    Fred Harrison of Lytham and Accrington
2nd premium    W R Sharp

The schemes for enhancing the attraction of St Anne’s as a residential and visiting resort came before a special meeting of St. Anne’s Council on Monday afternoon. Competitive designs were invited for laying out St. George's Gardens, for which premiums of £50 and £25 were offered; and designs were also invited for laying, out the North Esplanade and foreshore, for which similar premiums were offered. Competitors were limited to an expenditure of £10,000 on each of the two schemes. The members of the Council spent the afternoon in discussing the merits of the schemes and plans submitted, and awarded the first two prizes to Mr Fred Harrison, of Lytham and Accrington, and the two second prizes to Mr W. R. Sharp, of St. Anne’s.  …..

Mr W. R. Sharp's scheme for St. George's Gardens was with the idea of making the gardens a place of recreation for young people, and a central place of attraction for visitors and residents. The main entrance would be from Clifton Drive, with a supplementary entrance from Beach Road. The pavilion would be on the main promenade and accommodate 600, being capable of extension to seat 1,000. There would be eleven tennis courts, a croquet lawn and bowling green, with shelters in different parts of the gardens. A feature would be a natural and rustic section. The estimated cost was £10,000, but the scheme could be taken in parts.  On the shore Mr Sharp proposed a marine lake, half a mile long and 250 feet wide, close to the inner Promenade, from Fairhaven Road to the Pier. A bridge over the lake was shown at Eastbank Road, and an outer Promenade, 30feet wide. There would also be an open air swimming bath, 250ft. by 120ft., with every accommodation for bathers and spectators. The cost was estimated at £10,000.  At the meeting of the Council, on Monday,  Councillor Cooper said it was not intended to carry out the whole of the plans immediately, even if they got the powers were seeking. The scheme simply indicated the general lines on which, in future they proposed to develop the gardens, but were unanimously of the opinion that could be done gradually, and as the finances permitted.