Developed as a collection over more than 20 years, Pleasure Beach Postcards the website grew from a conversation about what South Shore Blackpool was like before the Amusement Park which so many of us cherish became established, and how the site, which has remained the same size throughout its history, was developed.

The conversation took place between myself and my youngest daughter, then 7, who saw the excellent John Hinde card reproduced here, which piqued her curiosity.

As the original idea sprang from a postcard, it seemed sensible to investigate that medium as a research source, as the Pleasure Beach developed during the 'Golden Age' of postcards, the 'instant messaging' of the day!

Suffice to say that over the intervening years, many happy hours have been spent in the company of other deltiologists (postcard collectors) as well as endless days of e-baying in order to create a considerable collection which covers the years from 1896 well into the millenium!

I never cease to be amazed at the grit and tenacity of the Thompson Family, who have guided this National Treasure through good and bad times, and still retain ownership of something which is unique to England, Long may it continue!

Neither should we forget the producers of these ephemeral postcards - amongst them John Hinde and Company, Valentines, Dennis, Bamforths, Tucks, and all the smaller companies and individuals, particularly local Doctors, Chemists, and amateur photographers who took and printed the photographs from which the postcards were made. We are eternally in their debt!

The webmaster and guardian-in-chief of this quite remarkable collection (according to Antiques Roadshow in 2004) is an ageing but happily retired Freelance IT consultant, living in the wilds of The Wirral, still enjoying his 'cardboard archaeology' !

We hope that you enjoy this whimsical journey through time, and that it conjours up memories for individuals and families of this remarkable place, where, as the late great Geoffrey Thompson said 'makes adults feel like children again'

We may, from time to time offer original and genuine postcards for sale, if we find duplicates already in our collection. Fellow PB Deltiologists are welcome to enquire through out contact page. We will do our best to respond promptly! If you have any postcards which you may be of interest to us, please use the contact form to get in touch!

Les Tomkinson

Webmaster

Pleasure Beach Postcards

our Journey began with this postcard!