Heritage gem uncovered at The Imperial

But this is the task dedicated members of Blackpool Civic Trust have set themselves after discovering a heritage gem lying forgotten in the basement of one of the town’s most historic hotels.

For more than two years volunteers have been working to uncover the hidden tiling in the former Turkish Baths at the Imperial Hotel in North Shore.

Now one room of ornate ceramics has finally been revealed, and work is well underway on the other two rooms which in their heyday were a magnet for well-to-do Victorian holidaymakers wanting to partake of the benefits of Blackpool seawater.

Sadly some of the decorative tiles are badly damaged, and only part of an intricate mosaic floors appears intact, but there are hopes the missing pieces can one day be restored.

In the meantime, the project is shining a light on an era which laid the foundation for Blackpool’s development as the country’s leading seaside resort.

In the late 19th century, bathing was becoming more and more popular, but not everyone wanted to endure the rigmarole of using a bathing hut on the beach.

Instead a complex system was introduced at many hotels, whereby seawater was pumped ashore and then piped into the baths.