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Posted By: uptoncx New Brighton Palace - 3rd Jun 2009 8:53pm
In June 1876 a new company was formed, it was called The New Brighton Palace Co and it had a share capital of £100,000. The aims of the company were to build a new entertainment centre in the up and coming resort of New Brighton.

Land alongside the beach was acquired and work started on laying the foundations for the buildings, however work soon came to a stop and it seemed unlikely that the project would be completed. A local resident, Mr Laurence Connolly saw the possibilities and bought the site, he completed the buildings and the Palace opened in 1880.

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In the winter of 1880 a new salt water bathing pool was added. During the 1882 season, the Palace averaged 10,000 visitors per week

Major changes were made for the 1883 season. The Liverpool Mercury for 22nd March 1883 described it as follows:

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The Palace, Winter Gardens and Grotto, which have been built by Councillor Connolly, promise to prove a highly popular place of recreation amongst the many holiday makers who visit New Brighton in the summer months. Extensive alterations and improvements have been carried out during the past winter, and every effort has been made to render the Palace and its accessories a thoroughly attractive pleasure resort. The whole covers an area of about three acres, a portion of this space being occupied by splendid sea water baths. In the Palace proper, the “great hall” which has an area of 22,000 square feet, has been completely re-decorated since last season, and has been converted into a charming salon for music and dancing. The walls have been painted by Mr T.W.Grieve, of London, who has depicted a succession of picturesque views of English and Irish scenery from Kildare to Richmond. The ceiling has also been elegantly decorated, and the columns and pilasters have been adorned with mirrors. In the Winter Gardens the greenhouses have been plentifully stocked with tropical and other plants, and they already look bright and beautiful with a variety of blossoms. A spacious open air skating rink has been constructed on the roof of the concert hall, and there also have been provided a recreation ground for children, a well stocked aviary and monkey house, and a smaller concert hall. The most attractive addition, however, is an agreeable grotto, which will afford a cool and refreshing retreat in warm weather. It has been constructed by Mr James Cross of Southport and Manchester, and measures 140 feet by 120 feet. The grotto contains a large waterfall, extending from end to end, a distance of 131 feet, and several cascades intertwined with enarchments. Between the archways play fairy fountains of Swiss design. In the centre is a recess constructed of coral and other grotesque formations, and in the middle of the recess a fairy fountain showers crystallised sprays of water. Rugged rock work, relieved with rich ferns, gives the grotto a charming aspect, and the effect is enhanced by the water-jets from many fountains of varied designs erected at different elevations. The crypt is supported by over forty iron columns, all richly embellished in rustic fashion to represent trees, and these have been surrounded with hardy ferns and mosses of various kinds, whilst the fountains and artificial rivulets have been abundantly supplied with mosses, lichens and aquatic plants, numbering altogether over 12,000.


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Two advertisements were placed in The Era, a London based weekly paper covering theatrical matters, in January 1883, the first offering for rent 1,600 square yards at the Palace for a Circus or similar; the second advert was looking for “New and Sensational Entertainments and Side Shows” for1883 the season.

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The opening on Good Friday 1883 was marked by a grand concert and a variety show. This was the pattern followed for many years with entertainment of all types being provided, from classical music to variety. As the reputation of the Palace rose, due in no small part to the quality of the sacred music concerts on Sunday afternoons, many famous classical musicians and singers; and many popular variety acts appeared.

In order to perform a play in those days, a licence was required. The Palace applied for a licence in 1887, but the request was turned down.

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In 1896 the building was bought by a Manchester syndicate who planned to build a giant Ferris wheel on the roof. The wheel would have had 42 carriages, each of which would have held 40 passengers. This was never built.

When the tower theatre opened in 1898, business at the Palace was drastically affected but the theatre managed to keep going, in 1903 to increase the number of patrons, it became the first hall in Wallasey to show animated pictures.

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In 1907, Wallasey Corporation used its powers under the Tramways and Improvement Act to buy the notorious ‘Ham and Egg Parade’ and most of the other properties, including the Palace, which fronted onto the river. A new, wider, parade and sea wall were built.

The newly formed Tivoli Company took control in 1913, their plan was to rebuild the Palace and build a new arcade and hotel, however these plans were abandoned when problems arose over the building of the Tivoli theatre. The next tenant was Mr Ludwig Blattner who renamed the building the Gaeity and carried out many improvements.

Posted By: uptoncx Re: New Brighton Palace - 3rd Jun 2009 9:07pm
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, a Birkenhead rope maker named George Wilkie joined a travelling fairground. After 12 years with the fair, he leased at least part of the Palace site and set up a fairground.

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A Joy Wheel was located next to the theatre, Joy Wheels were a popular, though short-lived, novelty ride in the early part of the twentieth century. Riders sat on a low, conical disk in the centre of the enclosure, the disk rotated at increasing speed, gradually throwing the riders off. The wheel was surrounded by tiered seating to enable spectators to watch.

In 1916 much of the site was destroyed in a disastrous fire, only the theatre and the skating rink were saved.

There is little information on the Palace complex at this time, but it seems likely that the site was split up into a least two parts, the theatre being rum by Mr Blattner and rest of the site by Mr Wilkie.

There are also very few records as to what was in the fairground, although it is known that Mr Wilkie bought a second hand Burrell Traction Engine after the first World War.

The cinema, which by now had a separate entrance in Virginia Road, closed at the end of 1926.

In 1936 Mr Wilkie demolished what remained of the old Palace complex and put up a new building to house an indoor fairground. The building was called the New Palace and was completed in 1939.

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While a new roundabout was being built on the promenade, workmen discovered some unmapped caves, Mr W Wilkie had the caves dug out and constructed blast proof rooms in the caves. A munitions factory was set up and production started in March 1942. The weekly output of the small factory under the promenade was 250,000 machine gun bullets, 25,000 shells and 1,400 press button switches for aircraft radios.

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After the second world war, the indoor fairground prospered, and in 1949 the Wilkies opened a circus on a piece of land next to the New Palace (the area which would later be occupied by the Bright Spot amusement arcade).

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Some of the rides remained in the New Palace for many years, one of the best known of these was ‘The Jets’. The Jets were an early example of a 'rider-controlled' machine, the rider used a lever to control a pressure valve which raised and lowered the arm. The machine in the New Palace was the third one built, and was bought new in 1955.

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The Jets remained in the New Palace until 1995 when it was sold. Over the years the ride was ‘modernised’, the original ‘jet planes’ were replaced with ‘space ships’, and the lattice arms were panelled.

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Another long standing ride was the Waltzer, this was originally built in 1938 and was bought second-hand by Mr Wilki, in 1950. This was the last Waltzer built before the second world war

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The Waltzer was sold in 1997.

Both these rides are now in preservation, and it is a testament to the care given to these machines that they, and many other rides owned by Wilkie, are still in existence.

Other rides didn’t stay as long in the fairground, Wilkie bought his 1959 Autodrome second-hand in 1985 and it only remained until 1990.

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In the 1960s, as with everywhere else in New Brighton, trade at the New Palace fell off. The fair struggled on for many years but by the 1980s things were getting desperate. In the late 1980s David Wilkie took over running the New Palace and much of the fairground was cleared out to make space for a go-cart track to be built. This brought in new customers and improved the situation.

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The go-cart track was closed in 2001, and David Wilkie had the Bright Spot arcade and much of the New Palace demolished. The facade and the shops at the front remained.

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The New Palace, now an outdoor fairground, continues still under the control of the Wilkie family.

Posted By: diggingdeeper Re: New Brighton Palace - 3rd Jun 2009 9:30pm
Brilliant stuff, as always, Upton - well done mate!
Posted By: topofthepops Re: New Brighton Palace - 3rd Jun 2009 9:31pm
Fantastic write up uptoncx on New Brighton Palace. Sounds like the grotto was an amazing place, it's a pity we can't have something like that nowadays happy
Posted By: bert1 Re: New Brighton Palace - 3rd Jun 2009 9:49pm
Excellent Upton,
Posted By: 8HBob Re: New Brighton Palace - 3rd Jun 2009 10:31pm
I believe that the Gallopers which were located just inside the entrance nearest to the Floral Pavilion were also sold for preservation. These still had the original steam centre engine & organ, althogh being electrically driven when inside the building.
Does anybody know where the ride is now ?

Bob.
Posted By: uptoncx Re: New Brighton Palace - 3rd Jun 2009 11:00pm

You're correct about the Gallopers, but see below:

From Preston Services site:

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We are currently in the process of restoring our Thomas Walker 3 abreast steam gallopers to full working glory.
However...

In 1989, just before we bought our set (the ex. Joseph Smith/Bartletts/Chipperfields 3 abreast gallopers, made by Thomas Walker of Tewkesbuy in 1911) from George Wilkie at the New Palace in New Brighton, Merseyside; several items of irreplaceable carve-work were stolen.

And despite the best attempts of the Merseyside police at the time, nothing was ever recovered, although a casual employee at the New Palace was convicted of theft.

It's a long time ago, but presumably the items have all ended up in private collections, purchased quite legitimately through various dealers, etc. We would very much like the opportunity to buy any of the items back, so they can be reinstated on our gallopers. The items include:

1) A superb Gavioili style organ front figure of a girl diaphanously clad, about 36" high.

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2) Another Gavioli organ figure of a male, savage-like figure, partially clad, about 36" high.

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3) 2 Galloper horses, carved by Arthur Anderson of Bristol. Middle row and each approx. 65" long. May have ears pointing either forwards of backwards.

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4) 3 inside row "dobby" style early horses. Each approx. 50" long. Very plain and earlier than the rest of the Walker ride - so presumably they came from Joseph Smith's first machine.

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5) 9 carved wooden eagles, approx 25" wingspan. These were mounted on top of the domes, after abt. 1935, and came from the Bartletts earlier set.

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6) 6 large carved, standing eagles, about 24" - fitted to the tops of bottom shutters. Like the smaller eagles, these were from Bartletts earlier set.

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Posted By: Anonymous Re: New Brighton Palace - 4th Jun 2009 1:30am
Anyone wanting to know the full history of all the Wallasey Theatres then please visit my history site.

Link in my signature.
Posted By: KevinFinity Re: New Brighton Palace - 4th Jun 2009 9:41pm
Excellent report. I used to love going on the Jets and the Waltzer. I also remember hanging on for dear life on the easyrider.
Does anyone remember a ride there in the late 80s called the Concorde?. It was mostly orange and was adorned with pictures of glamorous women in spangly swim suites. It spun round really fast and the cars would fly outwads as it got up to speed. I heard that it got taken away because one of the cars flew off. It may not have been true though.
Posted By: bert1 Re: New Brighton Palace - 4th Jun 2009 10:07pm
I don't want to take the thread away from New Brighton but you may be thinking of a young girl who was killed on a ride at a traveling fair at Moreton. The fair i think used the field opposite the Apollo club.
Posted By: peodude Re: New Brighton Palace - 9th Jun 2009 2:59pm
The go kart track can't have been built in the 80's, i was born in '86, and i remember the old rides that used to be there, before the go kart track was built. It may have been the early 90's that it was done.

I remember both the Waltzers and the Carousel being there, along with the (still standing, now outside) dodgems.
Posted By: uptoncx Re: New Brighton Palace - 9th Jun 2009 3:55pm
Wilkie's own website says that that the go cart track was built in the late 1980s.

Some of the rides remained after the go cart track was built, these definitely included the Jets (sold in 1995) and the Waltzer (sold in 1997).

Posted By: MerseyMan Re: New Brighton Palace - 10th Jun 2009 9:08am
I was more of a golden goose man, because of those 2 pence machince with the moving shelf. Though I loved the viking boat style swings where two people would sit either side and pull their rope to the the swing going as high as possible, even though my big sister always went one step further and made it go too high for me frown
Posted By: bri445 Re: New Brighton Palace - 4th Jul 2009 9:48am
I was into fair organs in the '50s and I remember hearing one there, so it must have been the one in the Gallopers. The only other ones I recall were in the travelling fairs, like Silcocks, who used to visit the Show Grounds in Bebington Road.
Bri
Posted By: RUDEBOX Re: New Brighton Palace - 4th Jul 2009 10:49am
Originally Posted by KevinFinity
Excellent report. I used to love going on the Jets and the Waltzer. I also remember hanging on for dear life on the easyrider.
Does anyone remember a ride there in the late 80s called the Concorde?. It was mostly orange and was adorned with pictures of glamorous women in spangly swim suites. It spun round really fast and the cars would fly outwads as it got up to speed. I heard that it got taken away because one of the cars flew off. It may not have been true though.
i can recall that ride! Think the accident story is an urban myth though. I too heard it but dont know where and when.
Posted By: uptoncx Re: New Brighton Palace - 4th Jul 2009 12:58pm

There was indeed an accident involving a 'Concorde Flyer', but not the one at New Brighton.

From the accident report:

"On 26 December 1978 one arm of a fairground machine known as the ‘Concorde Flyer’ installed at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, fractured due to fatigue. The car attached to the arm overturned, killing two passengers."



Attached picture cordeflyer.jpg
Posted By: Anonymous Re: New Brighton Palace - 5th Jul 2009 8:58pm
Excellent write up & Pics upton camera


me pops use to work on them waltzers laugh
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Thanks For Sharing thumbsup
Posted By: RUDEBOX Re: New Brighton Palace - 5th Jul 2009 9:38pm
Forgot how 'majestic' looking the waltzers were. Cheers.
Posted By: Brocks Re: New Brighton Palace - 6th Jul 2009 12:04pm
I hadn't realised those rides in the 80s were so old....

IMO that is what we should be doing with New Brighton now. Not another supermarket! Lets have a Tower and outdoor pool and so on back!
Posted By: MattLFC Re: New Brighton Palace - 8th Jul 2009 2:46pm
Originally Posted by KevinFinity
It spun round really fast and the cars would fly outwads as it got up to speed. I heard that it got taken away because one of the cars flew off. It may not have been true though.

Haha it is very likely given the lack of H&S in days gone by, these incidents even happen on expensive modern rides; one of the cars on "Enterprise" in Alton Towers flew off in pre-season testing this year, though fortunately nobody was on the ride (presumably why they have rigourous pre-season testing lol).

Fortunately for Alton (money-wise), it flew off in the direction of the tree's and was only on a slow setting, had it been going fast and hit Oblivion or Submission, the X-Sector would have been out of action for much of the 2009 season!

So it certainly would'nt surprise me if an incident like this had happened at New Brighton at some point in the past.
Posted By: DavidLittleboy Re: New Brighton Palace - 17th Aug 2009 6:19pm
I now own the waltzer from New Brighton and am busy restoring the machine. I attach a photo of how the machine looked when new.

Does anyone else have any photos of the Waltzer?

If so I would love to hear from you

Thanks

David



New Palace - Wilkies Wonder Waltzer Click Me



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Posted By: _Ste_ Re: New Brighton Palace - 20th Aug 2009 5:42pm
Good look david smile

Upton, may i say, what an exellent report! clap

Thanks for sharing, i remember the jets! laugh i loved that ride, and those waltzers are a part of everyones memory i think.

I`d love it if they rebuilt the new brighton tower and ballroom, my god, i didn`t realise the scale of the place omg it looks gigantic, would of loved to have seen it smile

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Posted By: bert1 Re: New Brighton Palace - 20th Aug 2009 6:03pm
couple more pics for the thread, New Brighton tower 1960 and the illuminated pier

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Posted By: Doctor_Frick Re: New Brighton Palace - 20th Aug 2009 9:44pm
Unbelievable that welost something so good.. That would draw some serious crowds in the summer now days
Posted By: tjc79uk Re: New Brighton Palace - 5th Mar 2010 10:31pm
I ran a shop in the palace for nearly 6 years and also helped out the maintenance crew during the winter.
The forman of the maintenance crew recorded hours of footage when the rides were removed.
I've got loads of footage of the redevelopment/ part demolishion of the palace some years ago, I'll try to get them on to my pc someday.
Posted By: Helles Re: New Brighton Palace - 25th Jun 2010 9:43pm
Originally Posted by RUDEBOX
Originally Posted by KevinFinity
Excellent report. I used to love going on the Jets and the Waltzer. I also remember hanging on for dear life on the easyrider.
Does anyone remember a ride there in the late 80s called the Concorde?. It was mostly orange and was adorned with pictures of glamorous women in spangly swim suites. It spun round really fast and the cars would fly outwads as it got up to speed. I heard that it got taken away because one of the cars flew off. It may not have been true though.
i can recall that ride! Think the accident story is an urban myth though. I too heard it but dont know where and when.


Not a myth at all. It happened in Moreton in the early sixties I think? Couple on honeymoon and she was thrown off the ride and into the gear mechanism in the middle. Decapitated her. A former work colleague of mine was a special policeman involved with it but wasn't told what he was going to. He puked! I would have too!
Posted By: chev_chelios Re: New Brighton Palace - 26th Jun 2010 12:16am
Originally Posted by uptoncx

There was indeed an accident involving a 'Concorde Flyer', but not the one at New Brighton.

From the accident report:

"On 26 December 1978 one arm of a fairground machine known as the ‘Concorde Flyer’ installed at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, fractured due to fatigue. The car attached to the arm overturned, killing two passengers."

what was the ride in the far corner? Was that concorde? Went on it when they did the sunday market in the 80s. Cheap sweets and rides. And a sick feeling lol
Posted By: marty99fred Re: New Brighton Palace - 27th Jun 2010 9:53pm
Originally Posted by uptoncx

In 1896 the building was bought by a Manchester syndicate who planned to build a giant Ferris wheel on the roof. The wheel would have had 42 carriages, each of which would have held 40 passengers. This was never built.


From the Birkenhead and Cheshire Advertiser 28th November 1896:



Attached picture New Brighton Wheel BCA 28-11-1896a.JPG
Attached picture New Brighton Wheel BCA 28-11-1896b.JPG
Attached picture New Brighton Wheel BCA 28-11-1896c.JPG
Posted By: Wheels Re: New Brighton Palace - 28th Jun 2010 3:34am
Originally Posted by tjc79uk
I ran a shop in the palace for nearly 6 years and also helped out the maintenance crew during the winter.
The forman of the maintenance crew recorded hours of footage when the rides were removed.
I've got loads of footage of the redevelopment/ part demolishion of the palace some years ago, I'll try to get them on to my pc someday.


now!!! grin

wow that wheel is huuuuge.. I wish they did built it frown
Posted By: KevinFinity Re: New Brighton Palace - 28th Jun 2010 8:00pm
Originally Posted by stephen1972

what was the ride in the far corner? Was that concorde? Went on it when they did the sunday market in the 80s. Cheap sweets and rides. And a sick feeling lol


It was not the jets ride that was in the corner. It was along the back wall between the ghost train and the location of the 'Easy rider' carousel that is on one of the previous photos in this thread. It was mostly orange and surrounded by hoardings with pictures of glamorous women with white feathers in their hair and diamonds etc. It was very like a 'Matterhorn' type ride like this except I think the cars where suspended by a single arm in the middle of the car. It was only there a short time during the 80s. I only saw it on 2 occasions.

The story about a car flying off could easily have been utter tosh.

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Posted By: RUDEBOX Re: New Brighton Palace - 28th Jun 2010 11:21pm
Johnny says it was the 'Easy rider'?

Posted By: RUDEBOX Re: New Brighton Palace - 28th Jun 2010 11:34pm
he was one of the 'fanny magnets' (85- 86)- ie- an operator!!!!and the description is not verbatim!!!


(he will go mad if he sees this post- i just like taking the proverbial.....):r:
Posted By: diggingdeeper Re: New Brighton Palace - 29th Jun 2010 12:10am
Originally Posted by RUDEBOX
he was one of the 'fanny magnets' (85- 86)- ie- an operator!!!!
Does he remember a girl called Gail (blonde who wasn't averse to wearing short skirts and long boots)? Bet he would answer no either way
Posted By: bucky Re: New Brighton Palace - 15th Jan 2011 1:48pm
hi all as to the car comeing off it did it came off on the back part of the ride with a man and his son in the car it happend due to a round arm going into a square box and the weld gave way as the ride had spent many years out doors in all weathers befor mr wilike bought it
Posted By: bucky Re: New Brighton Palace - 15th Jan 2011 1:54pm
sorry all not tosh i was there when it happend and it was new brighton
Posted By: Kingmaker Re: New Brighton Palace - 11th Feb 2011 11:14am
There was an accident there, my Uncle & Cousin were in a car that flew off and were both injured - as I remember they got some compo off Wilkie.
Posted By: Martin1943 Re: New Brighton Palace - 31st May 2011 6:39pm
If you look on YouTube there is a walk through tour by David Wilkie of the underground tunnels where the munitions were made.
A small correction, the tunnels were open into the New Palace in 1959, long before the roundabout was built.
Posted By: pablo42 Re: New Brighton Fair - 1st Jun 2011 4:50pm

Indoor fair

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Posted By: pablo42 Re: New Brighton Palace - 17th Nov 2011 10:36am

Just seen this thread and thought I'd add this photo of the indoor fair. Taken in 1982

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Posted By: gypsyjune Re: New Brighton Palace - 17th Nov 2011 12:52pm
Just seen this thread and thought I'd add this photo of the indoor fair. Taken in 1982 [/quote]Hi Pablo2 that`s great have you got any more ? smile
Posted By: KevinFinity Re: New Brighton Palace - 17th Nov 2011 6:24pm
Excellent. Thats just how I remember it. I used to love those cars and when I got a bit older, the Jets behind them.
Posted By: 2005wireman Re: New Brighton Palace - 17th Nov 2011 6:55pm
Happy days used to love the jets and the big slide that was outside
Posted By: TRANCENTRAL Re: New Brighton Palace - 17th Nov 2011 7:02pm
sound pic that mate them were the days smile
Posted By: Martin1943 Re: New Brighton Palace - 2nd Dec 2011 12:58pm
I used to work at Wilkies New Palace in the late 1950's. I gave change from a leather pouch to customers who needed pennies for the slot machines in the Arcade. It was packed in those days, took five or ten minutes to cross from the Palace to the boating lake because of the crush of the crowds (no cars then).
There was a very short man (we would have called him a dwarf in those days). He worked in the Arcade too. He used to disappear for long periods; turned out he was lying inside the Juke Box which had a large perspex dome over the mechanism. From there he could admire all the girls who used to stand around the Juke box. He had to get his fum where he could, I guess!
Posted By: _Ste_ Re: New Brighton Palace - 2nd Dec 2011 1:52pm
Hup hup laugh
Posted By: pablo42 Palace Theatre - 10th Jul 2012 10:51am

This is down as the Palace Theatre in New Brighton. It doesn't ring a bell with me, and I'm unsure if it is New Brighton

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Posted By: derekdwc Re: Palace Theatre - 10th Jul 2012 11:02am
1910 street directory

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Posted By: pablo42 Re: Palace Theatre - 10th Jul 2012 11:16am
Nice one Derek. I still can't place the background
Posted By: Helles Re: Palace Theatre - 11th Jul 2012 9:20am
Originally Posted by pablo42
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This is down as the Palace Theatre in New Brighton. It doesn't ring a bell with me, and I'm unsure if it is New Brighton


It would only ring a bell if you were over a hundred years old. It is New Brighton and has been published many times. The palace fairground was later on this site.
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Palace Theatre - 11th Jul 2012 10:13am
"Latest Electric Piano" ....... How could one resist ???
Posted By: carcol2006 Re: New Brighton Palace - 23rd Aug 2012 8:17am
I believe the Dive Bomber which used to be at the bottom of the steps at the side of the ghost train
broke in two and I have heard that it had happened previously as well .
Posted By: Helles Re: New Brighton Palace - 23rd Aug 2012 12:38pm
Originally Posted by carcol2006
I believe the Dive Bomber which used to be at the bottom of the steps at the side of the ghost train
broke in two and I have heard that it had happened previously as well .


Broke three times to my knowledge. Must have been fun if you were a passenger!
Posted By: petethebike Re: New Brighton Palace - 23rd Aug 2012 2:24pm
Good job they didn't have McDonalds in those days as it wouldn't have survived the first bout of metal fatigue!
Posted By: marty99fred Re: Palace Theatre - 24th Aug 2012 8:55am
The buildings in the photo occupied what is now the car park for the Bowling Alley. The old brick wall at the west end of the car park is actually the remains of the tall gabled building in the centre.
Posted By: TriciaM Re: Palace Theatre - 24th Sep 2012 7:41am
AS there's no colour pictures on this thread of The Palace, I thought I'd share this old postcard that's been in our family for donkeys years.

[Linked Image]

And a few weeks ago, we went to New Brighton with our son, daughter-in-law and granson, who's almost 3. As we were walking to the New Palace from the direction of Perch Rock, he pointed and exclaimed "birthday house" he was all excited about getting there and going in. Yet, he's never been there before. Odd, maybe an inherited memory? There's more to this world than we understand. My great grandmother was born in Fort Perch Rock in 1844 and lived her life in Wallasey, till she died in 1925.
Posted By: davew3 Re: Palace Theatre - 24th Sep 2012 8:43am
Why didn't you pop into Fort Perch Rock and tell Dougy about your GG Gran being born there, Dougy the owner is always looking for history and stories of people who were at the fort.
Posted By: TriciaM Re: Palace Theatre - 24th Sep 2012 9:12am
It was the first time I've been back to New Brighton for years, I didn't know if anyone would be there, or even interested smile

My great great grandfather was a soldier, and stationed there with his wife who came from Shropshire. They had 4 or 5 children there, then moved to a house in Liscard and had the rest of their 9 children. I have no contact with any other descendants of them, even though at least one had a huge family.
Posted By: DeanoBirko Re: New Brighton Palace - 30th Jul 2013 12:13pm
11,000,000 PASSENGERS!! CHRIST!
Posted By: barrybrown Re: New Brighton Palace - 3rd Aug 2013 1:20pm
Some great memorabilia...brings back fond memories of being a kid going to New Brighton for a day out with my parents.

I wish the council would consider spending money and developing New Brighton a lot more including another fair ground a pier for the ferry boats to come back to and another tower...Im sure it would be more popular than Blackpool which I think is a dump Its so run down now.
Posted By: Druid Re: New Brighton Palace - 4th Aug 2013 9:30pm
Fab thread.

Question if I may. I seem to recall being told that my parents met in the Palace Ballroom. This would be late 50's.

If I recall right, while the tower was gone due to an earlier fire, the ballroom was a relic of the original construction.

Is that right?

I vaguely recall being taken to what I think was what was left of the Palace fairground some time in the early 60's and then another fire happening after that such, that only the New Palace was left? Can anyone set me straight about that general era?
Posted By: taylorn72 Re: New Brighton Palace - 30th Sep 2015 6:42pm
Hi David,

I used to be the ride manager of your Waltzer for about 3 years 91-94. I'd love to see it. Is it viewable in a museum?

Thanks

Neil
Posted By: taylorn72 Re: New Brighton Palace - 30th Sep 2015 6:45pm
I used to work there and also do seasonal maintenance. Who are you may I ask.

I'm Neil and worked there in 1989 then 91-94.
Posted By: taylorn72 Re: New Brighton Palace - 30th Sep 2015 6:54pm
I worked there for 4 years and was ride manager for Wilkies Wonder Waltzer for 3 years and did a lot of maintenance on it.

Where is it in preservation as I would love to see it?

Neil
Posted By: taylorn72 Re: New Brighton Palace - 30th Sep 2015 6:56pm
I left in 93 and waltzer was still there.
Posted By: taylorn72 Re: New Brighton Palace - 30th Sep 2015 7:01pm
I was the ride manager on the waltzer from 91-93/4 and was spinning some cars when car number 7 (green) came off owing to the shearing of a tungsten locking bolt.

It landed on the flat back and wedged between the platform and the barrier and stayed where it was. 4 or 5 people in the car but no injuries sustained to any person.
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