trevnhil
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Post by trevnhil on Oct 14, 2009 15:57:10 GMT
Hi All. I have just read this sad news in the Morecambe Visitor on line. Published Date: 08 October 2009 It's all over at Elms as doors finally shut MORECAMBE'S much-loved Elms Hotel has closed its doors to the public for the last time. On Monday, September 30, the hotel where countless people had wedding receptions, funerals, parties, functions and meals out, shut for good. Planners from the city council have recommended that the hotel be demolished to make way for sheltered flats for the elderly. After owners Mitchell's Brewery re-issued plans – which were initially turned down last summer – to demolish the Elms and build apartments, officers said the project should go ahead. Lancaster City Council refused Mitchell's proposed scheme in 2008 because, they said, the area already had an over-supply of new housing developments. Despite some protests from residents and local organisations, councillors have given the development the green light. According to Mitchell's, the Elms had been losing money "hand over fist". See next week's Visitor for a feature on the history of The Elms. A sad story but what can you do when a building is trading at a loss. No doubt a difficult decision to make. Trev.. |
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andrewirvine
Full Member
'Faith is taking the first step when you don't see the whole staircase' Martin Luther King (29 - 68)
Posts: 75
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Post by andrewirvine on Oct 21, 2009 16:22:25 GMT
I always remember it as being the place Noel Edmonds confronted Lancaster City Council during Blobbygate at a public meeting, and I was there, Well, he would have confronted them had they the nerve to turn up!
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Post by WillowTheWhisp on Oct 21, 2009 16:50:43 GMT
I never really fully understood Blobbygate. What actually happened?
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trevnhil
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Post by trevnhil on Oct 21, 2009 17:02:08 GMT
The council went into a sort of partnership with Noel Edmond's company, to stage a 'Crinkly Bottom' with Mr Blobby in Happy Mount park.
When it turned out to be losing money the council pulled out ( closed it down).
BUT... It turned out that the council had signed a 'guarantee document' but said they hadn't. It went to court and the council lost a lot of money.
Hopefully someone will put some flesh on these bones, so to speak.
Trev..
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Post by WillowTheWhisp on Oct 21, 2009 17:03:58 GMT
How quickly was it closed down? Did they give it much of a chance to get popularised?
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trevnhil
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Posts: 2,768
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Post by trevnhil on Oct 21, 2009 17:32:38 GMT
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Post by Bondee on Oct 24, 2009 15:54:22 GMT
My grandad says he remembers The Elms' gardens stretching from the front of the hotel right down to the prom when he was living there.
The current layout of that particular area confused him a bit when we were up there about 3 years ago. Poor sod was looking for the gardens but saw nothing but houses.
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mpprh
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Post by mpprh on Oct 24, 2009 20:29:31 GMT
My grandad says he remembers The Elms' gardens stretching from the front of the hotel right down to the prom when he was living there. The current layout of that particular area confused him a bit when we were up there about 3 years ago. Poor sod was looking for the gardens but saw nothing but houses. I think he may be confused. I lived on Elms Rd (No 18 with long drive back to Lansdown Rd) and also had friends living on Lansdown Rd. Those houses were built pre 1931 as shown on maps from 1931 : libweb.lancs.ac.uk/maps/os6in1931mor.jpgIn fact there were quite a few buildings between the Elms Hotel and the beach in 1919 : libweb.lancs.ac.uk/maps/os6in1919mor.jpgPeter |
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trevnhil
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Post by trevnhil on Oct 25, 2009 8:02:55 GMT
I have to agree with Peter, that in 1919 as his map shows, there were a number of buildings between the Elms and the sea. One of them being an old Tithe Barn which I believe is still there. If you go back earlier to the 1890s then it is a possibility that you could see the sea without buildings (barn excepted) being in the way.  1890 Regards. Trev.. |
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Post by Bondee on Oct 25, 2009 16:14:29 GMT
Hmmm... I'll show him the maps and ask him about that next time he's near the computer while I'm online.
The maps may jog his memory. Even if they don't, I'm sure they'll inspire a few stories about his childhood.
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Post by gnasher on Oct 25, 2009 17:17:11 GMT
If you're in Bare, the Owls Nest at the entrance to the Elms is still open and, since Mitchells stopped brewing beer, serves a decent pint.
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Post by WillowTheWhisp on Oct 30, 2009 13:54:53 GMT
That old map is really interesting Trev. Any idea what Morecambe Bay Villas was/is?
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trevnhil
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Post by trevnhil on Oct 30, 2009 16:38:16 GMT
Well in answer to your question Will, about what Morecambe Bay Villas was.... No I don't really know. I have worked on them many years ago and they were two separate villas then. On the map it looks like they have always been two dwellings, hence 'villas' in the plural I suppose.  But they are still there even now, looking slightly out of place and dated. But that is NOT to say that they aren't kept in good repair.  Maybe others may know a little more of there history. Trev.. |
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Post by WillowTheWhisp on Oct 30, 2009 19:54:31 GMT
So, is it that white building? Two semis?
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Post by accykeef on Oct 30, 2009 20:10:32 GMT
It is surprising what history we walk past when out and about.
What was the building in the corner of The Parks?
It is an old people's home now but what was it then?
Is the small park on Prince's Crescent the remains of the big park?
It is possible the Bondee's Grandad did remember a garden reaching the sea. Were both sides of Lansdowne Road built on at that time?
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I had been telling my hubby about the time I was in Morecombe when the Moby Dick and Hotel was hit by lightening and burnt down. My parents, sister and myself had just come off the Moby Dick when lightening stuck