Memories Of Morecambe

MEMORIES OF MORECAMBE

MEMORIES OF MORECAMBE: 

Due to length restrictions in the Journal, I could not include everything I learned from my original research into the 2004 tragedy of the Chinese cocklers, or about the geological development of Morecambe Bay during the last Ice Age. 

The following paragraphs also come with acknowledgements for some of Peter Wade's information, published on Wikipedia.

Morecambe is a seaside town nestling on the edge of Morecambe Bay, where the waters of (the Bay roll to shore. Morecambe Bay was born in the last Ice Age, when retreating glaciers dumped soft sediments, which formed expanses of sand; these are now up to 80m deep. Sea levels rose, and the area was flooded; the Bay is now broad and shallow, but with a tidal range of 10.5m at spring tides, and an ebbing tide that can retreat as far as 12km. This means not much of the Bay stayed the same for very long.  

At low tide, the Morecambe Sands are revealed, stretching for miles away from the shore. It is possible to walk across the sands, but visitors would be wise to arrange help from an experienced guide, who know precisely the safe places and times to cross, on any given day. The sands are dangerous for unwary visitors, or for those who do not know how swiftly the tide can turn. Spring tides can rush in at 10 miles an hour, sweeping away everything in its path. 

Tragedy struck in Morecambe Bay on the evening on 5 February, 2004, when at least 21 Chinese immigrants were drowned by the incoming tide. The group had been hired to harvest cockles, and during the investigation and trial that followed, it was shown that the labourers were inexperienced, spoke little or no English, and were unfamiliar with the area. Only fifteen members of the group managed to get back to shore. The Gangmaster who had organised the trip, and two of his associates, were found guilty of manslaughter, breaking immigration laws, and sentenced to several years in prison.

A folk song composed by folk artist Kevin Littlewood, "On Morecambe Bay," tells the story of the events; the song was later covered by folk musician Christy Moore. 

Morecambe takes its name from the bay which provides a foreground to its famous view of the Lake District hills. 

From the med-nineteenth century onwards, Morecambe grew around the village of Poulton-le-Sands, when a railway line, the Little North Western, was pushing through from Leeds and Bradford, to a new harbour on the shore of Morecambe Bay. The present-day Stone Jetty formed the harbour's western wall.

The railway brought not only goods and passengers for further north and west, but also visitors to the seaside, in need of refreshment, entertainment and accommodation. through the second half of the nineteenth century, Morecambe grew in response to these requirements; as a result, it still has a rich and varied collection of Victorian buildings, including the Winter Gardens, (1897). Schools and churches (several by the Lancaster architects Sharpe, Paley and Austin) indicate the growth of Morecambe's resident population during this era. 

During the 1930s, Morecambe enjoyed a second period of growth; at the end of the decade, and after the Depression, working people were becoming more affluent and seaside holidays became a viable possibility. At the end of the 1930s, paid holidays were enshrined in law, and Morecambe experienced a boom, with the new Midland Hotel built in 1933, the Lido (the Super Swimming Stadium of 1936) and pier pavilions, cinemas, shops and private housing all built in the Art Deco style.   

During the 1950s and 1960s, visitors still flocked to Morecambe, but with the advent of new package holidays being on offer, with guaranteed sunshine abroad, the cracks were beginning to show.  I was living in East Africa at that time, but I remember reading about restrictions on the amount of money holidaymakers were allowed to take abroad. If memory serves me correctly, I think the maximum amount allowed was only £50.00, which meant the option of paying the total cost of travel, hotel accommodation and food before leaving the UK, was very attractive; the chance to sample the delights of Spain encouraged people to travel abroad more than they had ever done before. The traditional British seaside holiday looked second-best, and boarding and guest house owners looked for other ways to attract visitors.  

As a result Morecambe, like many other seaside towns, fell into decline. Day trippers began to replace the week or fortnight long holiday-makers that encouraged Morecambe to flourish; attractions were neglected, seaside shows struggled to find audiences, and were closed and many of the places that were once frequented by visitors, became wastelands as buildings were demolished.

Morecambe still has many things to offer, especially of nature and history, the natural beauty of the bay and its sunsets. It continues to be a regular delight for bird watchers, including the late, inimitable comedian, Eric Morecambe, who was not only a keen "twitcher" himself, but also ensured the name "Morecambe" would resound through future generations of people who watch his shows on t.v., who still love and appreciate his talent, his humour, and his ability to lift people into a happy mood. 

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