Ainsdale - the mystery of the seaside garden village
Ainsdale Station, Ainsdale, Southport, Merseyside, PR8
The Weld-Blundell family was inspired by the Cleveleys Cottage Exhibition in 1906 - see the tours also taking place for HODs - and two years later promoted a competition to build 'good, small and artistic' houses on their Ainsdale estate. Streets were laid out and a booklet was produced inviting architects and builders to take part in a 'Seaside House and Bungalow Exhibition' over the summer of 1908.
But no exhibition took place that year - so what went wrong and were any 'artistic' houses ever built? This short walk draws on the limited evidence uncovered so far to piece together some answers on a tour of the exhibition site today.
Ainsdale is now part of Southport, but historically it was more closely associated with Formby - both, along with Birkdale, owned by the Weld-Blundell family, who, by the later Victorian period, were keen to develop their landholdings.
Timings & Tours
- Sunday 21 September:
- 1400
Location & directions
Ainsdale Station, Ainsdale, Southport, Merseyside, PR8
- Directions:
- The walk starts near Ainsdale Station. Participants will be notified of the exact starting point in advance.
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking required
- Booking conditions:
- Book via Southport Townscape Heritage Project's Eventbrite - booking opens three weeks before the event.
- Booking website:
- https://southportthp.eventbrite.com
- Booking opens:
- 31 Aug 2025 09:00 AM
- Booking closes:
- 21 Sep 2025 10:00 AM
Additional information
No dogs, please, except assistance dogs. Ainsdale is on the line from Liverpool to Southport. There is free on-street parking on Sandringham Road. There are plenty of cafes in Ainsdale Village.
- Max no of people per tour:
- 16
- Est. tour duration:
- 1 hour(s) 0 minute(s)
