Inside Illuminations factory where the magic is made

For 145 years, the illuminations have been a staple part of Blackpool's seafront.

Once described as "artificial sunshine", the display - first staged in 1879 - is one of the biggest and longest-running light-based festivals in the world.

But what many people do not know is that the complex tableaus and dazzling fixtures are created just two miles from the promenade in the Lightworks Illuminations Depot.

In an unassuming industrial unit behind Blackpool airport, an army of people work year-round to create and make the town's famous lights.

Illuminations manager Richard Williams said he has done nearly every job at the factory

The project is overseen by Blackpool Illuminations manager Richard Williams, who has been part of the operation for more than 30 years.

"A lot of people think we just buy illuminations but they're all made here at Lightworks.

"We turn concept into reality, we start with an initial design and end up with a real feature that we can put on the promenade.

"It's a proper artform from raw materials and involves a lot of disciplines.

"I'm just about sleeping every night in the run up to the switch on," he says.

This year's display features a donkey-themed showpiece, designed by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

The features are made using a mixture of methods, including modern 3D printing and traditional metal and wood work.

Production laminator Gary Arnold said the job is very fulfilling

Production laminator Gary Arnold works primarily with the fibreglass moulds the illuminations are cast in, but is able to turn his hand to nearly every element of the production process.

"Anything that's large and illuminated, I've probably made a lot of it," he says.

"I'm also a trained carpenter and joiner so I help in the joinery department. I'm a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, I can apply myself to other jobs."

He says the work is very fulfilling and people's eyes always light up when he mentions where he works.

A Spitfire display featuring three of the aircraft was installed on Gynn Square as part of the 2023 Illuminations.

"I'm proud of working here, yeah," he says. "Last year we did the Spitfires on Gynn Roundabout, I was on that right from the start to when it was finished and it was really enjoyable.

"I go home along the prom everyday and I can say, 'I worked on that'. It's very fulfilling.

"I used to do Airfix kits when I was little, so building them in the workshop was just like doing a big Airfix kit."

Design engineer Dominic Strange says he never gets tired of seeing his projects in real life

The origin illuminations depot was based in Blackpool's Rigby Road, but the whole operation moved to the Lightworks depot in 2010.

Away from the bustle of the factory floor, design engineer Dominic Strange turns artists' drawings into manufacturable pieces.

"I'll be given a sketch by an artist and I'll work with everyone to come up with a way to turn it into a practical, mechanical solution," he says.

"I always think my main job is to look at a tableau from the back rather than the front, seeing all the metal work and thinking how can we support all the design features and make them a reality."

Dominic says he never gets tired of seeing his projects in real life and is looking forward to showing his family this year.

"It's a massive deal to work here, I grew up in Lancaster and it was always a big part of the year coming to see the illuminations," he said.

"It's kind of a 'pinch me' moment every time I drive along the prom and see something I've worked on. And I've got a new little one to show it to this year."

Designs from as far back as the 1930s are housed in a temperature-controlled archive room

On the ground floor of the building, heritage assistant Tom Carter stands guard over the archive room, which houses the historic designs for the illuminations, some of which date back to the 1930s.

Tom, who also works at Blackpool's Showtown Museum, says it is a privilege and a responsibility to look after the Illuminations collection.

"It's about preservation, trying to make sure everything's stored properly so it will last for as long as possible.

"We're trying to record everything and make it accessible so in the future, when people are researching, they'll be able to get their hands on it.

"It's about enhancing people's appreciation of it, hopefully."

This year the lights will shine from 30 August until 5 January 2025.