From the Ruins
Our story begins in sombre circumstances, 300 years ago, with the disastrous floods of 1720. Our location, at the mouth of River Ribble, left this area brutally exposed to a vicious storm that wreaked havoc along the Lancashire coastline; the town’s modest sea defences were breached, and crops, cattle, buildings and houses were damaged or destroyed in its wake. And this East Beach fishing spot was no exception.
Windmill | Lytham Heritage Group
An Icon is Born
Originally a salt marsh, by the beginning of the 19th Century the Lytham water front had been covered – and cemented – by wind-blown sands. When the town was later developed into a holiday resort, the dunes were levelled and grassed over to create the luscious Green we have today. And in 1805, local landowners, the Clifton Family, completed construction on our next door neighbour, the iconic Lytham Windmill.
Making Waves
In 1841, an agreement was reached between the directors of the Ribble Navigation Company and the Clifton Estate for the creation of a dock and embankments at Lytham Pool – just to the east of where we sit here at Jubilee House. Work was completed less than a year later and the dock remained in use until trading ceased in the late 1800s.
Lytham dock | Lytham Heritage Group
Illustration by Carol Crossley
Victorian Roots
Originally located on Bath Street in the town centre, Custom House was used to store contraband – and other, more sinister items – that were washed up on the shore. In 1850, the building was relocated to a new, purpose built home close to the dock at the southern end of Lytham Green. It wouldn’t be the area’s last development, though…
Decay to Demolition
Originally occupied by Thomas Cookson, who collected dues owed by users of the dock, the building eventually fell into disuse. In the intervening period it was used as an art studio and then by the sea cadets before what remained of the decayed building was demolished for the erection of a brand new building on behalf of the Land Registry.
Custom House | Lytham Heritage Group
Flying Boat Factory | Lytham Heritage Group
Boats Will Fly
While the Custom House plot lay dormant, the land next door was requisitioned by the Admiralty in the midst of the First World War. Local electrical equipment maker Dick, Kerr & Co were sub-contracted to complete the construction of a new, long-range, reconnaissance ‘flying boat’ to support the war effort. Two large sheds, an apron and a slipway into the estuary were built. This led to the start of the aviation industry in the region.
The Birthplace of BAE
Assembly of the aircraft – a Fairey N4, so-called after the firm that designed and manufactured its predecessor – began in 1919, right here in Lytham, and was completed in 1921. Christened the Atalanta, at the time it was the largest flying boat in the world. During construction, Dick, Kerr & Co came together with four other engineering companies to form English Electric, one of the most significant forerunners to the modern day BAE Systems.
Lytham Heritage Group
Roger W Haworth
Lytham's New Look
Back to our building, though, and the newly constructed Birkenhead House, which opened its doors in 1961. Spanning three storeys and five separate wings, the building transformed the local landscape and stoically served the Land Registry for nearly four decades, undergoing further refurbishment in the mid-1990s.
Decline and Departure
However, following a merger between the Lytham & Warton Offices in the mid-2000s, the building became redundant. The Land Registry blamed a drop in the number of property transactions for the decision with both offices suffering redundancies as a result. Birkenhead House closed its doors for the final time in 2006.
Terry Robinson
Alex McGregor
As one Door Closes...
The distinguishable ‘LR’-emblazoned black gates at the front of the building would remain firmly shut for another six years until local business owners Helen & Damian Broughton, co-founders of the Danbro Group, decided to purchase the premises in 2012 – the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year…
The Work (Re-)Starts Here
Demolition work began shortly after, with much of the attention focused on removing the central wing, essentially transforming the structure from an E shape to a C shape. Danbro had previously operated out of commercial units on Blackpool’s Whitehills Business Park. The move to Lytham, though, would enable the firm to unite all functions under one roof.
From Rubble to Revitalisation
With the debris cleared and the prep work complete, construction work got under way in 2013. The multi-million pound restoration project is one of the biggest infrastructure developments in the town’s recent history and a significant investment into the local economy. It mirrored the impressive residential development on Lytham Quays, comprising luxury villas and large family homes.
Lytham's Rising Star
In early 2014, the new structure really began to take shape, with the addition of a new, fourth storey (pictured) being a major part of the development. Plans to build high-spec residential apartments at the rear of the building were eventually withdrawn, leaving the building’s commercial tenants with uninterrupted views of the Green, the Estuary, and beyond.
Reflecting Elegance
Interior work was completed in late summer. New features included an onsite coffee shop, canteen/café, fitness centre, conference rooms, and an expansive balcony boasting incredible, panoramic views. Extensive glass panelling and clever use of space throughout the building provides an abundance of natural light. Combined with state-of-the-art facilities, this really is a place people want to be.
The Crowned Jewel
With construction complete, the new tenants began moving into the newly refurbished building in December 2014. Paying homage to the year of its acquisition, this brand new, world-class facility was aptly named: Jubilee House. It was officially opened by Danbro’s first ever employee, Mrs Sharon Oldham, on 18th April 2015.
Room to Celebrate
To mark the occasion, a Grand Opening Ceremony was held in the building’s pièce de résistance, its unique conference room facility: The Green Room. Invitees included Danbro employees old and new – and their families, as well as the building’s new tenants and members of the local community.
Leading with Legacy
Owners Helen & Damian Broughton are both distinguished members of the local community. Helen is a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire, and they were both awarded MBEs by Her Majesty the Queen in 2016. They’ve also launched the Danbro Foundation. Based in Jubilee House, the Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation providing opportunities to those in need.
The Story Continues
Today, Jubilee House is not just home to Danbro, but dozens of other innovative, inspiring local businesses. Amidst the incredible transformation that the building has experienced in recent years, though, there remains one subtle hat tip to the old Birkenhead House days: The original (if a little spruced up) Land Registry gates from 1961 still welcome all-comers today.
