Donkeys

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Blackpool’s donkeys throughout the years in amazing black and white photos

Check out these beautiful pictures charting the history of the Blackpool donkeys from 1900 to the present day.

Holidaymakers riding donkeys on a busy beach in Blackpool, 1965

Holidaymakers riding donkeys on a busy beach in Blackpool, 1965 (Image: Getty)

Stunning images of the Blackpool donkeys, tell the story of this fabled seaside attraction over the past century or more.

Archivists at LancsLive have unearthed a plethora of images detailing the Blackpool donkeys, from children’s rides in the 1900s to celebrity photo opportunities with the likes of Lenny Henry and Ken Dodd in the 70s and 80s.

The tower, the seafront, the pier, the comedy shows, the magicians, the hotels.

There is so much that Blackpool is known for, so many iconic elements that attract hundreds of thousands of tourists to the resort each year.

But few attractions have stayed so true and loyal to the pure essence of Blackpool and its status as a traditional, Victorian, seaside resort, as the iconic donkeys.

Donkey rides have long been part of a tradition of Victorian seaside resorts with the their popularity becoming near universal in England during the late 1880s.

It is widely thought that the first donkey rides were enjoyed in Blackpool during the summer months of 1890.

Right at the start, it’s entirely possible that the donkey packs were joined by horses and mules, as the ‘draught horses’ of the cockling industry were the first to give rides to children.

A family preparing to take a donkey ride on Blackpool beach in 1903
A family preparing to take a donkey ride on Blackpool beach in 1903 (Image: Getty)

Over the years, the iconic donkey rides have even attracted celebrity riders who have used the iconic mules as a photo opportunity.

The Nolan sisters, Ken Dodd, and Lenny Henry have all been pictured on the backs of Blackpool’s donkeys.

Check out our amazing gallery of the Blackpool donkeys dating back to the 1900s: