Winter Gardens, Marine Road Central, Morecambe, Lancashire
The Winter Gardens began in 1878 as the People's Palace and included baths, entertainment and an aquarium. The building later became a ballroom. In 1987 it was doubled in size with the construction of the Victoria Pavilion alongside it. The two buildings were known as the Victoria Pavilion and the Oriental Ballroom. After the death of Queen Victoria they were renamed the Kings Pavilion & the Empress Ballroom. The Winter Gardens were very popular throughout the 20th century and in the 1930s they were extensively refurbished. However in the late 1960s/70s they fell into decline and the whole complex was closed in 1977. In 1982 the Ballroom was demolished. The Pavilion building was bought in 2006 and a charitable trust was formed. Grade II status was declared by English Heritage in 1987 on the grounds of ‘outstanding architectural and historical interest’. This was upgraded to Grade II* in 1992. In 2014 the trust is maintaining and improving the building. They are looking for funding to set up a major restoration.
