Pleasurelands Haunted Inn is no more !!

[paul69]

Have just heard and seen that 5 30 am this morning the Original Pleasurelands Haunted Inn that we looked at getting for Dreamland has now gone as it was burnt out this morning !! .

[EAS]

Very sad news indeed - although I don't think it would have easily moved.

Ironic though that one of the reasons it wasn't razed along with everything else was that it was full of asbestos...

[Peet]

Some pictures here:

http://www.southportforums.com/forums/s ... t=50419746

It's very sad that the last remaining original Pleasureland attraction has bitten the dust.
I believe it dated back to the 1930s and was previously called the Crazy House, does anybody know any more?

[EAS]

Well, as a last ditch and with not much hope of success, we did try for listing. Some very rapid and possibly not totally accurate research as I sent to the DCMS: I'd be very grateful if anyone can add/ correct!

Crazy Cottage/ Haunted Inn 1948/9

This is a small but charming ‘walk through’ attraction, a ‘crooked house’, the idea based on the nursery rhyme:-

There was a crooked man and he walked a crooked mile,
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.
He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse.
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.

This is that house – quaint, crazy but with considerable charm and a favourite with children. Built as a leaning structure, with cartoon like design origins, it has a multi-level interior with steep and crooked steps leading between levels. There are tight, dark and sometimes low corridors running through it, which children love to explore, and features such as distorting mirrors and a small number of animated tableaux behind glass in small display areas

There is some confusion over the date on official websites; however, Mr Copnall’s research indicates that it was constructed over the winter period 1948/9, and opened for the new season in 1949. Southport Council carried out a great deal of refurbishment and remodeling of the park in 1948/9, in readiness for the return of holidaymakers post-war.
The building was refurbished in 1980 and refurbished and re-themed in 1988 as the Haunted Inn, with the tableaux featuring scenes such as a skeleton in a rocking chair, but basically this is the same simple crooked house attraction as before, and remains largely as it was built for the park re-opening post war.

I have been informed by a former employee of Pleasureland who once worked at the admission booth that he can recall, when the cost of admission was 8p, taking over a thousand pounds in one day from those wishing to enjoy the attraction.

These attractions became popular with site owners as they are compact and very low maintenance. In addition, they are attractive site features, with their fairytale looks, reminiscent of Disney cartoons, and when originally built that at Pleasureland must have been a very novel feature indeed, amongst the rides and sideshows. It is an interesting example too of an attraction designed to appeal mainly to children. As the tastes of children have changed, it is useful to note that the small amount of ‘theming’ has changed to that of horror and haunting, however tame that may be in reality.

Other ‘crooked house’ attractions with similar features still exist at Southend, Dymchurch and Blackgang Chine (Isle of Wight). However, that at Pleasureland is the oldest, Southend’s dating from 1950 and the two others later still. A travelling version of the theme is still popular today and toured by operators such as Slater’s, and the theme of exploration continues in modern children’s adventure playgrounds and play facilities.

Nov 2006

A site search will bring past posts on this.

[porterm]

Yes - all very sad, but unfortunately not entirely surprising in these times we live in. I had to post a reply to the Southport Forums; some great pictures there of the attraction pre-fire, especially in the recent snow I thought.

Rather ironic I feel whilst Southport is hosting the Amusement Park History conference in April this year.

Martin

PS I hope the old Abdullah's Dilemma building is still ok at Pleasureland

[mrjimlowe]

The Abdullah's Dilemma building is in a vulnerable area and contained the Haunted Swing, (another classic ride) and a Hall Of Mirrors. Not sure what is planned for them.

[EAS]

Planned to be removed for Dreamland eventually I think...

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

Chalking up arson to "the times" seems a little defeatist. I just can't see how any part of it is the least bit acceptable under any condition.
People's boredom or financial situation shouldn't be an excuse for destruction.

If some punk is p***ed off, they need to get off their duff and go back to school or if they must burn something, burn their mom's car, or themselves and put the rest of us out of their misery.

The whole Pleasureland thing was a terrible disaster.

[kevinashe]

the building was looking good and in use when the park was open,we did try to save as much of the historical structures as possible but all we got was the two fingers first from sefton council and second from english heritage

[EAS]

... and an administrative shambles from the DCMS...

[kevinashe]

got to agree,another historic fair structure has gone thanks to short sightedness of the council and eh ,and to think al the emails and phone calls we all did and we didnt save anything (except what dreamland took).PS heres todays very sad pictures of demolition of the attraction courtesy of southport gb
http://www.southportforums.com/forums/s ... d=50419970