illuminating the ghosts of blackpool

 

8th February 2008

ILLUMINATING THE GHOSTS OF BLACKPOOL

The Illuminations Depot, situated on Rigby Road in the town, is an old building, comprising of offices, workshops and storage sheds which has a history of being a donkey stable prior becoming home to the famous Illuminations. Due to the nature of the work carried out there; restoring, repairing and designing the lights and tableux, staff are often in the building late at night and many have experienced what could be supernatural occurrences.

In 2005, spirit medium Derek Acorah visited the depot for his television series Derek Acorah’s Ghost Towns and experienced some paranormal activity. Now you have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the famous clairvoyant and investigate the building for yourself.

Join us on Wednesday 12th and Friday 28th March at 10pm, as we take you on a tour around the home of Blackpool’s famous Lights. Tickets, which must be booked in advance, are priced at only £10 per person and are on sale now from the Grand Theatre Box Office; call 01253 290190 or book online at www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk.

Don’t forget to bring your torch, the famous Lights won’t be switched on for these tours!

Further details available for these tours and other events available at www.supernaturalevents.co.uk.

BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS INTERESTING FACTS

• The Illuminations started with a display of 8 arc lamps back in 1879.
• The event was so innovative it even preceded Thomas Edison’s patent of the humble electric light bulb which didn’t arrive until the following year.
• In 1879 the Illuminations were described as artificial sunshine and 100,000 people came to see this first great light show
• Forty large tableaux holding more than 5,000 square metres in surface area are included in the display.
• The equipment weighs more than 711,000 kilograms which is equivalent to 350 Blackpool trams.
• Illuminations have been sold to Jeddah.
• There are over a million lamps in the display.
• There are more than 500 floodlights and spotlights.
• In 1939 the lights were erected but never switched on because of the outbreak of war.
• In the 1960's electronic controllers were pioneered in the Illuminations. Rope light or "linear light" as it was originally known was also pioneered here.
• It takes 22 weeks to erect the Illuminations.
• It takes 9 weeks to dismantle them.
• Most of the display now operates on low voltage eg. 12v and 24v.
• There are more than 100 miles of festoon strip strung between promenade poles and across the carriageway.
• Cable and wiring in the display stretches more than 200 miles.
• The Illuminations cost £2.4 million to stage.
• The equipment itself is worth about £10 million.
• In 2002 the display included a world’s first in exterior LED technology.
• In 2003 the Illuminations cut its electricity consumption by 11% using new technology.
• Wind turbines at the Solarium on New South Promenade contributed to powering the llluminations for the first time in 2004.

Ends...

Notes to Editors:

Supernatural Events is run by Grand Theatre marketing manager Stephen Mercer following the success of the theatre’s Grand Theatre Ghost Tours.

Grand Ghost Tours began on 31st October 2006 with a one-off Grand Hallowe’en Ghost Tour. Since then, tours have taken place regularly at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool Opera House, Blackpool Zoo, The Winter Gardens and future tours are now being arranged for the North Pier Theatre, Louis Tussauds Waxworks and Lytham’s Lowther Pavilion. The company also operates coach trips to other locations, such as Derby Gaol, Pendle Hill and Lancaster Castle.

Supernatural Events also presents clairvoyant evenings and other special events such as the recent exclusive An Audience with Derek Acorah, What is a Ghost? with Most Haunted’s Richard Felix (Sunday 2nd March) and the Grand Overnight Ghost Walk with Psychic Medium Ian Lawman (Friday 17th May).

For further media information, images etc, please contact Stephen Mercer on 0770 301 9356 or email stephen@supernaturalevents.co.uk.

 

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