Posted Message

NA

Comments

Caption: South Pier Illuminated, Lowestoft

The Blackpool Illuminations began in Autumn of 1879 and were simply 8 electric lamps strung in a row. By the turn of the century, mass illuminations in seaside towns were quite popular and a tourist draw. Very few people had electric lights in their houses and the light display possible with thousands of electric light bulbs would have been exciting to see. Illuminations were also a way to encourage tourism in the dark, dead winter months. During the long summer days, they weren't effective displays, but during the long nights of winter, the lights shone bright.

This photo could have been taken much earlier than my conservative estimate of 1910 because Spashett is first recorded as taking photos in Lowestoft in 1882. I can see him digging up older photos he took and printing the images on cards when the Post Card fad took off, about 1900.