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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: lyntonita on Sunday 12 July 09 13:47 BST (UK)

Title: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: lyntonita on Sunday 12 July 09 13:47 BST (UK)
I don't think the Ivy Leaf holiday site, Blackpool exists anymore but someone told me it was probably one of the first in the area and the former proprietors hold records going back to when it started.  Had a look on the internet but haven't found anything yet.  Would be grateful to hear if anyone knows about this. 
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: CaroleW on Sunday 12 July 09 13:50 BST (UK)
Hi

What year(s) are involved
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: emmsthheight on Sunday 12 July 09 14:28 BST (UK)

Hi

I don't know if what you want is on here, but I've just found it in the Resources and it's an amazing site for Blackpool and the who;e area.

Emms

http://www.rossallbeach.co.uk/
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: Duck on Sunday 12 July 09 16:39 BST (UK)
Emms

What a tremendous website, I've just spent ages viewing the great postcards and photographs, a pictorial history of the Fylde

Well done

Simon
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: CaroleW on Sunday 12 July 09 17:00 BST (UK)
Quote
What year(s) are involved


In a pm - Lyn has said it was the mid 1920's - 1940's
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: emmsthheight on Sunday 12 July 09 17:13 BST (UK)
Hi Carole and Simon

Thank you for the extra info Carole.

I'll rack my brains again!

Simon, yes, there's so much stuff on there, I've got to go back again later.

Emms

Ps Thank you Simon.  It's really Well Done Dinky and
Rootdchat Lancashire Resources though - and the web-builders! 
(Click the Resources tab above).
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: Glenpenny on Monday 13 July 09 08:45 BST (UK)
I have a dim memory telling me that the Ivy Leaf was on Common Edge Road in Blackpool.  Close to the intersection with Squires Gate Lane.  If my memory is correct (and I'm going back 50 years or so) it was next to a small cottage with a blue plaque on it which I think was supposed to be the oldest surviving cottage in the area.
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: Duck on Monday 13 July 09 12:24 BST (UK)
Hi

There is an Ivy House Holiday Camp at 196 Common Edge Road, Blackpool (South Shore) in the 1951 Telephone Directory

In the 1963 Directory, besides the Holiday Camp, there is also an Ivy Leaf Club on Common Edge Road along with Ivy House Holiday Chalets and Ivy House Service Station.

In the 1971 Directory, the Holiday Chalets, Service Station and Ivy Leaf Club are still there, but no Holiday Camp

Simon

Modified

I can't find any reference to an Ivy Leaf holiday site  ??? ???

The Ivy House Holiday Camp was opened in 1935 by Fred & Bertha Wood

Bertha's younger cousin was the jet engine inventor Frank Whittle
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: Duck on Monday 13 July 09 17:39 BST (UK)
There is a book about The Ivy House Holiday Camp

Fresh Air and Fun: The Story of a Blackpool Holiday Camp by Bertha Wood

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fresh-Air-Fun-Blackpool-Holiday/dp/1874181365

Regards

Simon

Modified

Bertha Wood is the worlds oldest first-time author, she was aged 100 when she wrote the above book
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: lesleyhannah on Monday 13 July 09 17:44 BST (UK)
When we were kids in the early 1950s we went for a week to a holiday camp just outside Blackpool called Squires Gate - I think it was near to St Anne's. I wonder if it was a 'continuation' of the Ivy House camp?
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: Glenpenny on Monday 13 July 09 19:15 BST (UK)
Memories are stirring again!  Fred Wood was a portrait artist.  I remember he painted  a portrait of my old headmistress and it hung (quite menacingly as she was not an attractive lady) in the assembly hall.

I've just found this - http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2007/mar/16/obituaries.mainsection
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: HarvestMoon007 on Friday 28 August 09 14:54 BST (UK)
The Ivy Leaf was, indeed, on Common Edge Road.  The little old house is still there but, alas, it's now on the extremely busy junction of Common Edge Road and Squires Gate Lane  >:( 

I was born in Blackpool and remember my best friends Mum used to work at the Ivy Leaf as a cleaner.  That was in the 1970's.  Blackpool has changed dramatically since I left in 1991 and much of the change is for the worse.  I hate to say this but I'm actually ashamed of being born there!!  My son, who was also born in Blackpool, now tells people he's from St Annes   :'(
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: lyntonita on Saturday 19 September 09 13:16 BST (UK)
Hi Jaqy, thanks for your reply.  Haven't logged in for a while and couldn't remember my log-in details.  I got hold of a book written by Bertha Wood.  She and her husband started up the Ivy House Camp Site and eventually opened the Ivy Leaf Club, which as you say was at Squires Gate.  I believe it was where the new housing now stands.   I was able to contact a friend of Bertha's son who asked some older members of the family if they knew of the person I was searching for but was unable to tell me anything. Apparently they don't have any written records from that period, only memories.   I'm looking for a William/Kenneth Harrison who was last seen around 1947 playing the piano at a holiday site club in or near Blackpool.  He was from Salford and worked on a circuit of clubs.  I live in the Fylde so I know what you mean about present day Blackpool.  Nothing like the town where I spent holidays as a child from Salford!
Regards, Lynne 
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: vmt100 on Sunday 13 June 10 22:11 BST (UK)
my name is Val and i used to live on Ivy House holiday camp on the residential caravan site, i used to go to St Nicholas school, my mum doreen used to be a cleaner in the Ivy House club.. i lived there between being born in 1964 and we left when the residential site was due to close about 1973/4.. i remember the man who lived in the cottage, we called him uncle Sid, i remember him having a long beard, we used to buy chrysanthemums from his small market garden at christmas for my nannas and he used to sell the most delicious tomatoes in the summer..  :D my auntie and uncle still live on Common Edge Rd, i used to swim with my cousins in the pool next to the club in the summer time..  i moved away from Blackpool in 1986 but when i go back to visit my family it grieves me to see part of my childhood has totally disappeared under a housing estate and large road junction
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: captain caff on Wednesday 20 October 10 01:25 BST (UK)
We had quite a few holidays at Ivy house holiday camp,in the late 60's- early 70's-happy holidays,remember it as being pretty well-appointed.A shilling meter in the chalet,a 1kw radiant heater,a fairly well stocked camp shop,swimming pool,& amusement arcade--completely "self catering",a less expensive version of Pontin's! there was also the"Ivy Leaf" camp social club-if my memory serves me correctly,the resident compere was Freddie Bent-a dead ringer for that bloke who Benny Hill used to smack on the head! And you could rent a b&w portable television from the reception,for a guinea a week (£1.05,in today's money!).We also bought tomatoes from the farm next door to the camp-great stuff! On one holiday, there was a Lancaster bomber parked at nearby Blackpool airport,that you could go and crawl around in,for a small fee.Changing tack slightly,there was also a great stall on Central pier-the owner had themed it as a ship/submarine,and it was bristling with high magnification ex-Navy binoculars,even a periscope-we spent ages in there! :D
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: Gracie2017 on Wednesday 03 January 18 21:41 GMT (UK)
Hi Emms
Would you have the link that you were telling Simon about had the information of the ivy leaf please?
Thank you
Grace
Title: Re: Ivy Leaf Holiday Site, Blackpool
Post by: lancsann on Thursday 04 January 18 14:01 GMT (UK)
The Ivy Leaf was, indeed, on Common Edge Road.  The little old house is still there but, alas, it's now on the extremely busy junction of Common Edge Road and Squires Gate Lane  >:( 



Just as a point of interest the cottage is still lived in today. Its name is Blowing Sands Cottage and it has the Blue Plaque on its wall