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Butlin House, a landmark on the corner of Lumley Road and Grand Parade, Skegness for over 75 years is no more. The photo shows the demolition almost complete at the end of last week.

Once known as Osbert House, it was the most southerly of the imposing dwellings which formed Frederica Terrace on Grand Parade.
It was taken over by Billy Butlin as offices when he ran an amusement park on the site now occupied by Bottons and has been empty for the last three years.
It was owned by the late J A Tansley of 6 North Foreland Drive.
In its place will rise four walk-round shops with a 300 seat restaurant above, ready to serve holidaymakers in the coming season.

The Skegness Standard 19th January 1972
Photograph by Norman Beckett

More about Butlin House:

Butlin House was formerly named Osbert House, and formed part of Frederica Terrace on Grand Parade Skegness. The terrace was the first set of buildings to be erected on Skegness seafront and was completed by 1879. The restaurant mentioned in the old newspaper story above was May Lee’s Chinese Restaurant; today the building is the LA Cafe.

Most of Frederica Terrace, later known as the Parade Complex, was destroyed by the Skegness Fire in August 2007.

THOUSANDS of regular visitors to Skegness recall the original entrance to the Pier and are also familiar with the transformation which has been effected. Here is a photograph which shows the between stage, taken just after the Christmas holidays of 1935.

The photograph shows how the old pay-box, Pier manager’s office turnstiles, and the kiosks which flanked the entrance had been demolished and a considerable section of the Pier deck taken up.
An article in the local newspaper reported: “The new entrance will have an imposing elevation, and the improvements include seven shops and a refreshment room, with a fine glass-covered arcade leading up to the turnstiles. Below the structure, public conveniences are being constructed and other improvements carried out. The architect is Mr W. F. Wills, of Skegness. and the work is being carried out under the supervision of Mr Percy E. Cash, the Pier Company secretary and manager.”
Many residents and visitors suggested that the concert hall should have been transferred to the landward end of the Pier.

Photo of Skegness Pier in 1903

Photo of Skegness Pier after the rebuilding in 1936

February 1935

Conversion of the Lawn Theatre Skegness
The Lawn Theatre on High Street, Skegness, was assimilated into the Hildred’s Hotel ( the building to the right) in February, 1935.
The church is St Paul’s on Beresford Avenue, Skegness.

Thompsons’ Pleasureland Removal from Skegness North Foreshore October 1927

The series of attractions known as “Pleasureland,” which for four years have occupied a considerable section of the North Parade frontage, are being removed from the resort. The decision has arisen out of the agreement made between the Skegness Council and Lord Scarbrough, when the authority purchased the foreshore and parades from his Lordship, coupled with the fact that the Council have decided that they are unable to prepare the site which has been allocated as a permanent “Joy City” in readiness for the coming season.
The picture, taken in February 1927, shows workmen engaged in dismantling the huge Sheltacade in which various popular amusements were located, while at the rear two intrepid gentlemen are seen taking to pieces the Great Flight.

The figure on the right arm of the structure is Mr Tom Burrows, manager for Skegness Enterprises Ltd., who were sub-tenants of a section of “Pleasureland”.
The miniature railway on the beach, which belongs to the same company, is also to disappear. Huge piles of broken concrete, timber, etc., show the gigantic nature of the demolition work and “flitting” operations. The value of the structures involved runs unto several thousands of pounds, and the departure of “Pleasureland” represents a loss in income by the Council of over £5,600 per annum.

As is generally known, the entire frontage of “Pleasureland” is not affected by the agreement in respect of the Park, in so far as the development of the latter has progressed to date, and Messrs. Thompsons’ Patent Gravity Switchback Railway Co., Ltd., the lessees, still retain certain powers which prevent the erection of amusement devices costing over a certain figure within a specified area.
The large section of the beach concerned will certainly present a very unfamiliar sight to the thousands of old visitors and excursionists to the resort during the coming season.

1958 Skegness local news

Going . . . going … wait for it . . . bump !

That’s another landmark gone!

—not one that Hitler knocked about a bit, but it’s a ruin now.

This wartime observation post at Jackson’s Corner, Ingoldmells, was demolished on Saturday by Messrs. Greetham, Skegness.

During the war an adjacent gun and searchlight battery were controlled from the post.