Bus stop from 1920s found in overgrown park garden

The cast iron bus shelter, from 1926, was found when overgrown bushes were cleared during renovations

A rare piece of Blackpool's transport heritage has been uncovered on the edge of Stanley Park.

When chartered surveyors James Scott Associates set up their office in the park's Grade II-listed gatehouse, by the entrance off West Park Drive, they decided to tidy the surrounding gardens.

When overgrown bushes were cleared, a cast iron bus shelter from 1926 was discovered, which had been obscured from view when a wall was built in front of it and it became engulfed by the surrounding foliage.

The firm said it planned to restore the historical bus shelter, which deserved "to be seen and celebrated", and transform it into a central feature of the garden.

The old bus stop could just be seen in bushes close to its modern replacement

The business acquired the gatehouse, one of two matching stone structures at the park entrance, in May 2024, when it was in a highly dilapidated condition.

The building had been the target of vandalism and arson, with an internal fire causing extensive damage, penetrating damp issues, and boarded windows.

Since taking possession, the firm has undertaken a programme of restoration, including cleaning the original slate roof tiles, a full internal refurbishment, and external redecoration.

When the firm turned their attention to the gardens and landscaping, the redevelopment revealed the 1920s bus stop, which stands on the opposite side of the wall to its modern replacement.

Stanley Park was officially opened on 2 October 1926

Company director Scott Leadbetter said: "We've always known the building had history, but uncovering an Edwardian-style bus stop in our grounds was incredible.

"We're proud to be playing a part in preserving Blackpool's heritage - this cast iron structure deserves to be seen and celebrated."

The team plan to preserve and sympathetically restore the bus stop as a feature within the landscaped grounds, with the aim of re-connecting it visually and historically to the surrounding public area, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Stanley Park was designed and built in the 1920s, under the eye of noted landscape architect and town planner Thomas Mawson, and officially opened on 2 October 1926 by the 17th Earl of Derby.