The Fylde village is only a 15 minute drive from the iconic seaside town, but now everything has changed
On a bright, dry afternoon in July, the village of Elswick – just a 15-minute drive from Blackpool on the Fylde coast – is quieter than you might expect, but there’s a palpable sense of tranquillity.
Only a handful of locals can be seen wandering around on an early Wednesday afternoon, with bicycles being the primary sight in the area. Many of these are cyclists taking advantage of the Lancashire Cycleway that runs through the village, but some are decorative bikes, displayed throughout the village to emphasise its importance and reputation in the sport.
Accompanying these striking structures are vibrant, blooming flowers, all part of ‘Elswick in Bloom’ as the village gears up for judgement in the esteemed Britain in Bloom, an RHS Gardening competition that sees towns, cities and villages compete in what could be the most scenic contest. However, despite these undeniable charms of Elswick, it was once renowned for something entirely different.
Bond’s ice cream, which was established in 1947, called this village home for over seven decades. It initially supplied ice cream to parlours nationwide and evolved into a shop and cafe that drew crowds of visitors annually.
The once-popular Bond’s ice cream shop in the Fylde village, a favourite pitstop for locals and tourists alike, has sadly closed its doors for good. The family-run business ceased ice cream production years ago and recently announced its permanent closure in 2022, reports Lancs Live.
The building now stands empty, reportedly set to be converted into housing. This former bustling tourist spot is now a stark reminder of the changing times, potentially deterring visitors from the village.
However, this hasn’t dampened local morale.
Sean Whitehead, who has managed the village shop for a quarter of a century, remains optimistic about Elswick’s charm. Speaking to LancsLive, Sean shared: “It’s a lovely village to live in, we’ve luckily still got two pubs and a village shop. We lost the ice cream but the addition of the village green has been a huge bonus.”
He acknowledged the impact of Bond’s closure, saying: “Obviously with Bond’s going, there’s less of a reason to come to the village because that was a bit of a pull. People through the generations have come back and come back.”
“Their grannies might have come here and their mums came there. It’s been going for a while though, they stopped making ice cream there about six years ago and then it was sold and they had all these big plans for it and that never happened. I don’t actually know who physically owns the land now. I presume they still do and they’re developing on it.”
The emphasis from a farming community to a commuter hub is noticed in Elswick, a subtle leap to the M55 providing an attractive convenience for residents yearning for a serene home life while working in bustling urban areas. Sean elaborated: “It’s a lovely village and it’s what attracted us in the first place. We have family who live up in Lytham St Annes and I never even knew this place existed, we just found it on the map.”
A cherished spot for many visiting Elswick is one of the two local pubs, The Ship at Elswick. Building boss Lee asserts that its designation dates back to its usage as cattle storage in the 18th Century, and has preserved its maritime connotations ever since.
Describing the pub’s irreplaceable part in village existence to LancsLive, Lee stated: “People travel for the Sunday Roasts. Locals are still a massive part of it though, without question. Locals can really support your pub and it’s really community orientated. Elswick is big on its Parish Council and big on horses too.”
