12: John Bonny & the Blackpool holiday trade

In its early days, bed and board could be had at Old Margery's for tenpence (10d) a night, which meant it was a higher grade of hostelry than the one operated at the Ginn, which cost 8d.  (12 pence = 1 shilling, & 20 shillings = £1)

When John Bonny took over Old Margery's on his marriage to Jennet Bickerstaffe, he couldn't compete with Mr Bailey for the genteel trade because Old Margery's wasn't on the sea front – which is why it became known as Bonny's-i'th'-Fields.  Instead he enlarged it with a view to moving into the middle-class family market, serving people who would probably arrive behind their own horses.  In 1787 he advertised his new hotel in the Manchester press:

Manchester Mercury, 22 May 1787 

Blackpool, May 1, 1787

John Bonney,

Begs Leave to inform his Friends and the Public,

That he has built a very large Dining Room, with Lodging Rooms for 20 Beds, in Addition to the House lately occupied by his Father-in-law, Mr Bickerstaff, which he has fitted up in a neat and commodious Manner, for the Reception of Families during the Bathing Season.  Every possible Attention will be paid to those who honour him with their Company.

His Terms are,

Ladies and Gentlemen 2s 2d per Day each )

Children                 1s 6d ditto )   Table Beer included

Servants          1s 6d ditto )

Horses Hay and Grass per Night 8d

This was at a time when a poor clergyman might have an income of £100, and a poorer curate might only have £30 to £50.  The flat annual salary of a Naval Surgeon Fifth Rate was £60 and, in London, 6 guineas (£6 6s) could buy you either an ordinary 2nd hand square piano or a mahogany bureau.

Unfortunately, the only picture we have of Bonny's Hotel is a photograph taken at the end of its life, long after it had stopped being a hotel and just before its demolition in 1902.  The wide, low buildings on the right of the photograph were the original buildings – John Bonny's new three-storeyed, two-bayed extension is on the left.

In August 1788, the year that Alice Bonny was born, a Unitarian poet, writer and successful businessman called William Hutton (1723-1815) brought his wife and their 32 year old daughter Catherine from Birmingham to Blackpool to see if spending two or three months there would improve Mrs Hutton's health.  

William Hutton was a most unusual man, generally held to be the first person in modern times to walk the length of Hadrian's Wall (starting from Birmingham – a distance of 600 miles).  Miss Catherine Hutton, a intelligent and remarkable woman, expressed her views on Blackpool in letters to a friend (collected in Reminiscences of a Gentlewoman of the Last Century, Letters of Catherine Hutton 1891, which is available as an ebook and in print – don't miss the account of her meeting at the end of her life with the Ioway tribe, in whom she took a very kind interest, and the farewell bidden to her by their old war chief).  

Her father published A Description of Blackpool in Lancashire, Frequented for Sea Bathing the following year.  He sold his booklets at cost to the two major landlords – Mr Bailey and Mr Hudson, I suspect – to invest the profits in improving the resort and helping the needy.  They may have done this; four years later they still hadn't paid him for the copies he gave them.

William Hutton c1780

This is what William Hutton saw:

• a village of about 50 houses, scattered over a distance of a mile – only about 6 of them faced the sea (the inhabitants had always built their cottages facing south) 

• among them were recently-built hotels – he thought the "superior houses for the reception of company" were not more than 7 years old

• a sea coast forming a straight line for many miles, with crumbling cliffs that rose from 3 feet to 60 feet above the high water mark

• coastal erosion – the road from Blackpool to Bispham had narrowed to a width that he felt was only safe for one person to walk along, and he was amazed to see a waggon navigating the lane beside a drop of 60 feet

• land that rose gradually from the sea so that the only views were of the sea and shore – in the distance, the Northern fells and the mountains of Wales – out to sea, perhaps half a dozen vessels – around sunset there might be a glimpse of the Isle of Man

• "the air is probably as pure as air can be"

• The village had only spring for water and some families had to carry water from half a mile off, but he thought it the most pleasant he had ever tasted

• "I think there is neither hedge or tree in the whole neighbourhood.  This want may arise from two causes: wind and idleness" – a bank and a ditch were the usual boundary

• he often visited the local farmers for information "and found the people extremely civil and very communicative"

• "the approach to Blackpool is through good roads, which are safe and easy for the traveller"

Regrettably, this was not always the case – this happened less than 10 miles from Blackpool while Mrs and Miss Hutton were staying there

Leeds Intelligencer, 23 September 1788

Friday se'nnight died, near Kirkham, on her way to Blackpool, owing to a bruise she received, in being thrown out of a one horse chaise, Mrs Travis, wife of Mr John Travis of Manchester.

Unlike Scarborough, Brighton, Liverpool or Margate, Blackpool was still undeveloped as a resort and there wasn't much available for entertainment.  William Hutton suggested tennis, shuttlecock, cricket, shuffleboard and billiards could easily be added to the facilities.  He had found

• the chief amusement was riding or walking on the sands  

• "the sea at Blackpool retreats nearly half a mile at low water, leaving a bed of most beautiful and solid sand, perfectly adapted for a gentleman to sport an equipage.  This extensive ride continues near twenty miles.  Here the gentry, of both sexes, display their horsemanship"

• at low water, the beach would be full of people walking about and the curious gathering shells, while the local netters were out shrimping for the visitors' dinners, the carters gathering stones to make roads and walls, and the builders looking for pebbles to burn into lime

• next in popularity was "to figure on the parade" – this was a "pretty grass-walk on the verge of the sea bank, divided from the road with white rails".  The Parade was often crowded, being only 6 yards wide and 200 yards long, with an alcove at one end and "a vile pit" at the other.  (He suggested extending it to a mile long, replacing the pit with another alcove, and adding benches)

• however crowded the Parade might be, it was only acceptable to speak to people who were staying in the same boarding house as yourself – this was usual in other watering-places and was something that Mr Hutton deplored

• there were about 400 visitors when the Huttons arrived and the resort attracted not only the wealthy ("here is a full display of beauty, and of fashion ... folly flushed with money") but also the poor 

• he met a shoemaker of nearly 70 on his way down to the sea with a mug to get some sea water – he had come from Lancaster and had cured his blindness by drinking the water,  bathing his eyes and sometimes bathing

• the point of drinking the sea water was to vomit – the purging was held to be beneficial

• bathing was generally at the flood when there was nobody on the beach "and the sting-fish, which lurk in the sand at low water" could be avoided

• "A bell rings at the time of bathing, as a signal for the ladies.  Some use machines drawn by one horse, a few travel from their apartments in their water dress; but the majority clothe in the boxes which stand on the beach for their use.  If a gentleman is seen upon the parade, he forfeits a bottle of wine.  When the ladies retire, the bell rings for the gentlemen, who act a second part in the same scene"

Richard Ayton, who visited Blackpool in 1813 on his Voyage round Great Britain with the renowned artist William Daniell, was surprised to find that the "Bathers" who helped the ladies into the water were men – but "sober, discreet men" – because the "boisterousness" of the sea made their strength necessary to prevent accidents

• and bathing wasn't always safe – in September 1786 a Mr W Tidd had been swept out into a stormy sea and there was considerable delay in launching a boat.  At first they couldn't find a fisherman willing to take on the dangerous waters even for a purse of 30 guineas, and when 3 men launched a boat and brought him to shore, he had been in the water a good while and was thought to be dead.  He was revived after 40 minutes' work with hot brandy, warm flannels and volatiles to the nose and temples by the celebrated Manchester surgeon Richard Hall 

• "diminutive" bowling-greens 

• some archery butts 

• a little white cottage which was now a "newshouse"

• some sailing – as much as a flat shore would allow – but wading out in the shallow water was off-putting 

• "many of the company amuse themselves with 'fine ale at number three'" and some hotels offered dances to their guests

• a theatre – that is to say, the threshing floor of a barn had been cleared and rows of benches put out.  The more expensive benches were called the "pit" and a seat cost 2 shillings; the cheaper benches, the "gallery", cost 1 shilling.  He saw the travelling players arrive in their cart, and play to a half-full house – a full house was said to make £6

• in bad weather, cards and backgammon in the lodging house

As to the food, Mr Hutton said

• the highest price for boarding was: dinner and supper a shilling each, eight-pence for breakfast and tea, making 3s. 4d a day, exclusive of liquors (four meals) – I think this will have been Mr Bailey's establishment 

• another house charged half a crown (2s 6d, ie. 2 shillings and sixpence) for eating, people bringing their own tea, coffee, sugar, and liquors

• a third charged eighteen-pence (1s 6d) – its market was "very decent people, who wish retirement, and are unwilling to lose those advantages at night which they draw from the sea in the day.  There are also other boarding houses, much inferior, such as that occupied by my friend the shoemaker, whose prices I did not examine; lodging is included." 

• it looks as though Bonny's Hotel is slightly cheaper than the second one mentioned by Mr Hutton

He noted that visitors were mostly from Lancashire, and above all Manchester, and he thought the "accommodations, the civility, the easy price, and, above all, the fair prospect of health" would draw company – especially as "the inhabitants are remarkable for longevity".  This was often cited as a selling point for Blackpool, but sometimes even the famous Blackpool air could not help

Manchester Mercury, 7 September 1790

Thursday died, at Blackpool, much respected by her acquaintance, Mrs Susanna Collier, wife of Mr John Collier, Grocer, of Stockport, and one of those people called Quakers

Miss Hutton
1799

Miss Catherine Hutton was rather less keen on Blackpool.  She wrote to her friend Mrs André from the house called Lane Ends.  It had recently been taken over by Mr Hudson, who had been a waiter at the Hall at Buxton

Blackpool is situated on a level, dreary, moorish coast; the cliffs are of earth, and not very high.  It consists of a few houses, ranged in a line with the sea, and four of these are for the reception of company; one accommodating 30, one 60, one 80, and the other 100 persons

Her list includes Mr Bailey's, Mr Hull's, Mr Hudson's and Mr Forshaw's houses but not John Bonny's, which in 1787 had only 20 beds.

The company now consisted of about 70, and I never found myself in such a mob.  The people sat down to table behind their knives and forks, to be ready for their dinner; while my father, my mother, and myself, who did not choose to scramble, stood behind, till some one, more considerate than the rest, made room for us.  

These people are, in general, of a species called Boltoners; that is, rich, rough, honest manufacturers of the town of Bolton, whose coarseness of manners is proverbial even among their countrymen.  The other houses are frequented by better company; that is, Lancashire gentry, Liverpool merchants, and Manchester manufacturers.  I find that I have no equals but the lawyers; for those who are my equals in fortune are distinguished by their vulgarity, and those who are my equals in manners are above me in situation.  Fortunately for me, there is no lack of lawyers in Lancashire, Preston alone containing fifty; and there are always at Blackpool some whom I like, and with these I laugh at the rest ...

The general observations I have been enabled to make on the Lancastrians are that the Boltoners are sincere, good-humoured, and noisy; the Manchestrians reserved and purse-proud; the Liverpoolians free and open as the ocean on which they get their riches.  i know little of the gentry, but I believe them to be generous, hospitable, and rather given to intemperance.  All ranks and both sexes are more robust than the people of the south.

Catherine and her mother stayed in Blackpool for three months, and Mr Hutton collected them in October.  The stay hadn't helped her mother.  Instead of sea breezes, the wind came off the land bringing with it the smoke from turf fires, and her mother had to keep her room with a feverish cold.  And Mr Hutton found Blackpool a very different place in October – few people were to be seen, "except its solitary inhabitants, and few sounds heard, except from the winds and the sea."

So this was where Alice Bonny grew up.  For nine months of the year, the village was a quiet and isolated place – and then suddenly it was time for the Parade to be made ready for visitors, the barn cleared out for the actors, the coaches would begin to arrive with the summer's visitors and Blackpool would be engulfed in crowds of strangers.  It must have been very exciting for the local children.  

An enthusiastic rhyme about Blackpool extols the resort and its many health benefits

Of all the gay places of public resort,

At Chatham, or Scarbro', at Bath, or at Court,

There's none like sweet Blackpool, of which I can boast,

So charming the sands, so healthful the coast;-

Rheumatics, scorbutics, and scrofulous kind,

Hysterics and vapours, disorders of mind,

By drinking and bathing you're made quite anew,

As thousands have proved, and know to be true ...

The houses are many, and all of them stor'd,

Not one but is able to spread a good board.

At Bonny's, and Hull's, there's plenty of meat,

Their rooms, and their beds, are both cleanly and neat;

My friend, Mr Hudson, stands next in the row,

From Buxton he came, I would have you to know. 

The next house is Forshaw's, a building enlarg'd.

Good doings, no doubt, but you're sure to be charg'd.

The next house is Bailey's, so new and so neat,

Much pains he has taken to make it complete ...

Bailey's Hotel

See English Heritage's online booklet Blackpool's Seaside Heritage by Allan Brodie and Matthew Whitfield for much more information on Blackpool's history

Next:  13: Alice Bonny in Blackpool: the early 19th century