Morecambe and Heysham Lancashire – Frank Sherwin – 1935

Morecambe and Heysham poster, Lancashire poster – Frank Sherwin – 1935

Frank Sherwin was commissioned by the London Midland & Scottish Railway to create a poster promoting Morecambe and Heysham. Sherwin chose to feature the recently built super-structure swimming pool at Morecambe. It was one of the largest of the 1930s seaside lidos, measuring 396ft by 110ft and designed to fit in with the adjacent Midland Hotel. It was built to not only rival, but to outdo Blackpool’s own South Shore Swimming Coliseum. Morecambe’s impressive modernist stadium complex comprised a championship swimming course, water polo area, diving stage, artificial beach for sunbathing, three-deck promenade, two grandstands, a sun terrace, floodlights, a cafe and changing rooms.

The vintage Morecambe and Heysham poster shows a sunbather high on a terrace overlooking the outdoor pool complex. The image is a bit misleading in that the pool area looks relatively empty. In the resort’s heyday, Morecambe’s 1930s grandeur brought day trippers and holidaymakers to the resort. The swimming pool was extremely popular and, at its height, the pool is said to have welcomed 27,000 swimmers over two days. 

The poster was illustrated by the renowned poster artist Frank Sherwin as is a historical record of a how the venue looked in the 1930’s. Sadly, the decline of seaside resorts escalated as holidays to Majorca, Benidorm and Tenerife increased in popularity and the venue was demolished in 1976.

Our posters are carefully and professionally created from vintage originals. Whilst great care is taken in the production of these posters, we also try to maintain a vintage feel, so there may be small imperfections, fold marks, scuffs, tears or marks that were part of the original poster master. If these do appear they should be visible on the larger views of the item on this listing. The originals of many of the posters we offer can cost many thousands of pounds, so whilst these posters look great, especially framed and mounted on a wall, they are intended as a fun, affordable reproductions and not intended fine art prints

The 50x70cm version has been specially produced to be used in conjunction with Ikea’s 50x70cm Ribba picture frame which currently retails for around £12. So you can bag a print and frame for a great price.