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SOUTHPORT
recognised as a leading British seaside resort is
also famous for the internationally acclaimed Lord
Street - a mile-long tree lined canopied boulevard
renowned for the quality of its shopping. There are
miles of golden sands on the beach for holidaymakers to
enjoy as well as excellent resort facilities such as a
pier, baths, bowling greens, amusement park, marine
lake, civic theatres, arts centre, and art gallery.
Another of Southport's claims is to be the golf centre
of Europe with its many famous courses, with Royal
Birkdale being the best known as the host of many an
Open Championship. Other championship courses in the
resort include Hillside, Southport and Ainsdale, and
Hesketh.
Also to the north of Southport lies the Horse Bank,
today the Horse Bank provides high quality molding sand,
which is extracted for foundry work, some of it having
been sent to Saudi Arabia.
Southport's seven miles of golden sands also enabled Sir
Henry Seagrave to raise the world kilometre record to
152.308 mph in 1926 in his 33hp 4.5l Sunbeam Ladybird on
Birkdale sands. On September 8th, 1936 Billy Cotton, who
was in the resort appearing at the Palais, clocked up
121.57 mph in Sir Donald Campbell's Bluebird.
Southport is also the home of the West Lancashire Yacht
Clubs 24-hour dinghy race, which is held each September
on the Marine Lake, and is a Le Mans style endurance
race attracting dinghy sailors from all over the UK. In
addition every August sees the Southport Flower Show,
one of England's premier horticultural shows.
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St. George's
Gardens (above) and
War Memorial (Centre, right).
The Royal Clifton Hotel &
Spa on The
Promenade
(above, top)
Ref.
Southport by air (above,
centre left) |
Diana Memorial
Gardens in
Southport. Situated in front
of the town hall, the fountain and cafe area, above. |