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LANCASTER LEISURE PARK - A 32 YEAR CHRONICLE
Lancaster Leisure Park celebrates its 40th birthday next year, so what is its history.
1968 - Proposals for the development of pottery factory with visitor facilities are submitted by the Yorkshire company, Hornsea Pottery Ltd owned by brothers, Desmond & Chris Rawson. They thank "Lancaster Corporation" for their "supreme effort" in ironing out difficulties.
April 1973 - Work begins on the multi million pound factory
September 1974 - The kilns at the new factory are lit "The culmination of several years of striving and planning"
April 1976 - Hornsea Pottery, Lancaster opens to the public. "Visitors will be pouring in their thousands every day." The park's leaflet boasts, "There's always something new at Hornsea Pottery!"
Easter 1977 - 25,000 people visit the attraction over Easter week.
1980 - Three quarters of a million visitors head for Hornsea, Lancaster in one year.
November 1981 - Despite impressive visitor numbers, trouble is brewing - 1981 sees the beginning of a spate of redundancies starting with the publicity manager! The recession is blamed.
December 1983 - The company benefits from a £3.4 million cash injection which safeguards 200 jobs, but consortium Destion Ltd takes over many assets in return.
February 1984 - 100 workers including the Managing Director, Gordon Baker are made redundant. Ten days later Gordon Baker himself makes a £2 million bid for the firm which is now under threat of closure. The bid is successful.
November 1984 - A further £3 million cash injection creates 90 jobs. In another £2 million deal the park is taken over by the Steinberg Group. The North West Tourist Board & The Department of Industry are asked for money.
1986 - The English Tourist Board turn down funds request. Nonetheless significant investments are made to the park's attractions for the first time in 4 years. A giant alpine slide (the largest in England) a Wild West adventure playground, clothing retailing & a model village attraction are all added to the site.
June 1987 - The failure of two Hornsea pottery ranges leads to 30 job losses.
July 1987 - Weeks after the company is taken over by Peter Black Holdings of Keighley, the factory closes completely and 90 further jobs are lost.
March 1988 - The site is bought by Stoke based Ceramic Tableware Marketing. Stan Barnes is to be Managing Director. 4,000 families visit over Easter (Almost double the previous year). The new owners estimate that 1.5 million visitors will be attracted to the site within 5 years. Mr Barnes promises "A good, high class, family day out."
November 1988 - Stan Barnes outlines developments for site including restoring & expanding the rare breeds farm. The plans involve the creation of 40 jobs. A new name for the park is announced - Lancaster Leisure Park.
July 1989 - Stan Barnes takes over sole ownership of Lancaster Leisure Park
October 1989 - Keith Stevenson takes over as Park Manager.
December 1990 - First stages of the planned redevelopment are announced by Stan Barnes. They include retailing by Peter Black's The Factory Shop chain. Development of a £500,000 golf centre is postponed.
August 1990 - Preston entrepreneur, Allan Blackburn opens his GB Antiques Centre at Lancaster Leisure Park. The centre was intended to operate as Sunday antiques fair, but it is so popular, it is soon opening daily.
1995 - On the untimely death of Stan Barnes, his widow Catherine takes over ownership of Lancaster Leisure Park.
April 1998 - Allan Blackburn buys the Lancaster Leisure Park lease. Specific plans are not outlined, but he promises, "I intend to develop Lancaster Leisure park by encouraging a complementing blend of leisure facilities"
March 2002 - Plans to develop the 41 acre site are unveiled. The private sector funded development will cost almost £10 million, create up to 250 jobs and is the biggest & most exciting development Lancaster has ever seen .
Today - The Leisure Park is home to The Factory Shop, The Magic Castle, Timeless Tea Room, Redwood Garden Centre and children's rides, as well as GB Antiques Centre, which is now the largest antique and furniture centre in the North West.
