How the Palace dazzled, declined and finally gave way to the Grand

We're looking back on Blackpool as a showtown 120 years ago. The Grand Theatre, the Winter Gardens/ Opera House, the Tower and the Palace.

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Erm, where was the Palace? What went on there?

The previous article located the Palace on the Promenade block immediately north of the Tower.

It was huge - a variety theatre, ballroom, circus and other amusements - named the Alhambra.

But it went bust in 1902. The balance sheet on September 30 gave the cost of the site, the buildings, furnishings and machinery as £382,000-which is somewhat north of £30 million today.

The Official Receiver kept the building open under Thomas Barrasford, a well known manager appointed by Worthington's, the brewers, in the hope of selling it as a going concern.

But it failed to sell at auction in February, 1903, after which the Tower Company bought the assets for a bargain £140,000.