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Source: Skegness Herald 24th August 1983

This article is a great insight into the entertainment on offer in Skegness in 1883.

The ‘Baths’ referred to are, of course, the Scarbrough Avenue Turkish Baths. These, as we know were attacked by bombs during World War 2 and demolished in the 1950s.

Swimming Entertainment Pier Head

On Saturday evening last Professor Ellingworth, who is giving swimming lessons daily at the Baths, gave a grand display of ornamental swimming at the Pier Head in the presence of a large and fashionable audience, and on Monday afternoon last he gave an entertainment at the Baths, consisting of fancy swimming with feet and hands tied, and smoking under the water, dressing and undressing while swimming etc.
There was a large attendance and the feats preformed by the Professor were greatly admired.

A detailed description of the Scarbrough Avenue Baths coming soon!

Source: Skegness Herald 1st June 1983 The Herald offices began in the basement of the reading rooms on the corner of Lumley Road and Rutland Road (the present day National Westminster Bank building). The article gives account of the Herald moving premises. The reason for the move was given as ‘inadequate lighting’, illustrating the spartan lighting in Skegness in the 1880s.

Herald Offices Moved The offices if this journal have been removed to more suitable premises on th Roman Bank, near the Lion Hotel, and very near the railway station. Although the premises previously occupied by the Herald Company, in Lumley Road were commodious and the stituation convenient, yet being on the basement and partially underground, the light was inadequate. The present offices are convenient in every respect.

Source: Skegness Herald 6th April 1883

Demolition of an Old Building

One of the oldest buildings in this town known as “Skegness House” and situate in Drummond Road, was sold by auction by Mr GH Cash on Monday afternoon last, and in the course of the next few days will be razed to the ground.
It may not generally be known that Alfred Tennyson, the present poet-laureate, once stayed in this house.
This was some years ago and long before Skegness occupied the prominent position it now does as one of the favourite watering-places of our coast.

Source: Skegness Herald 13th July 1883

What an insight into Skegness life! Close your eyes and you can almost feel the hustle and bustle scene described below.

In this letter to the editor, one can almost hear the spoken word of an old Skegnessian. Look at the first phrase of the letter “It nearly time that something was done to stay …”.

Dear Sir,
It nearly time that something was done to stay the ‘Touting System’ as practised upon the visitors upon their arrival at our railway station.
The disgraceful scenes as witnessed there and in Lumley Road and High Street, plainly prove that such a system does exist among the lower class of lodging house keepers.
One day upon the arrival of a certain train a visiting party were besieged by numbers of the said “Touters”.
One at length succeeded in walking off with his prey, and had even got a part of luggage inside the premises, when lo and behold, up comes “Touter” No 2 (a woman) and literally drags luggage and party to her own lodgings.
Such proceedings as these cause visitors to our little seaside resort to look upon us with displeasure, and their report upon their return home cannot be in our favour and gain us the good name, and respect we should have.
I trust the hint will be taken and the practise discontinued, and beg to remain
A Well Wisher.

Source: Skegness Herald 2nd February 1883

A short but revealing article in the Skegness Herald about the first street lamps in Skegness.

The ‘new church’ is obviously St Matthew’s, but look, the article refers to what is now Lumley Avenue merely as ‘Avenue’. Obviously at the time of going to press in February 1883, Lumley Avenue had not been so named.

A number of lamps have been erected both sides of the Avenue, the new road leading from Lumley Road to the new church.
They were lighted for the first time on Sunday evening last, and are found to be a great convenience to persons going to, and coming from, church, especially on Sunday evenings.
Other lamps are also to be erected in other parts of the town, and the number of new ones will be about thirteen.