A Glimpse of Skegness: Past vs Present 1964-2024

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A Glimpse of Skegness: Past vs Present 1964-2024

This film was a 8mm Cine Films Digitised with a Winait Film Scanner.

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This film is in 2 parts showing Skegness from 1964 and in 2024.

Both parts show the same locations and you will have to decide which year you prefer.

The film begins with 2 ladies walking towards the Clock Tower along the Tower Esplanade, followed by a view of the Gardens on the corner of the Tower Esplanade and Grand Parade and lots of people are sat on deckchairs overlooking the gardens. The Clock Tower overlooks these gardens in the background.
Then a view of part of the Pleasure beach which is adjacent to the Pier on Grand Parade. This Art Deco frontage looks magnificent. Follies on Parade were appearing at the Pier Theatre at the time. Then it is onto Lumley Road and several vehicles can be seen with the Clock Tower in the distance. Then it is back to Grand Parade showing a family walking past the Sun Castle and flower beds. A Renault Dauphine and Austin A35 van pass by. A view of the Sun Castle with 2 ladies and a Gent walking towards the Grand Parade. The Gent does something you rarely see these days! Then we are taken to the Boating Lake near to the Tower Esplanade. A few people are rowing the boats before some are then stored on the edge of the lake. The Natureland Sea Sanctuary (small sea life zoo and rescue centre) along Grand Parade appears next and this also included large greenhouses with all kinds of plants (not shown in this film).

Part Two of the film shows the same locations but filmed during September 2024. The Tower Esplanade is shown from both sides. The Jubilee Clock Tower appears behind the "Jolly Fisherman" - the mascot for Skegness - and eventually the Compass Gardens appear. The outdoor swimming pool has since been built. A view of these Gardens from near the Clock Tower. The Pleasure Beach with attractions comes into the view and the Pier frontage has completely changed. Lumley Road is next and is busier now than in 1964. The shop on the corner is R. Lowndes and has been in Skegness since 1920. From this position the Clock Tower cannot be seen. A change in position shows the Clock Tower just as an open-topped bus passes by.
We are back to a couple of groups of people walking past the Sun Castle but very little colour in the gardens. The Sun Castle frontage has changed since 1964. Gone are the foliage and instead we have notices.
Back to the Boating Lake accessed under the archway from Tower Esplanade. All the boats are in the centre of the lake, and most are pedalos with very few rowing boats. I think the lake is similar to how it was in 1964.
A view of the Skegness Natureland and Seal Sanctuary from the outside is shown.

The end of the film shows images taken from both parts.

I wasn't sure when Part One was filmed - but the Austin 1100 which is parked on Tower Esplanade was introduced in August 1963. The Follies on Parade leader - Jan Ramsden died in May 1965 and their name was changed in memory of him. So I think Part One was filmed during August 1964.

If anyone has more information please comment below.
And which year do you prefer - 1964 or 2024?

EDIT:
The year could in fact be 1967 or 1968. Natureland didn't open until 1965 and the two sea lions were the original pair from the opening and I believe they were called "Sonny and Cher". To the right of the Pier was a Bier Garten and that opened in 1967. Ted Dwyer ran "Follies on Parade" until the end of the 1968 season.