FROM the days of the Industrial Revolution, the good folk of East Lancashire had a break from work during July.

In these early times, the week off was an unpaid holiday when the mills and factories were closed for maintenance.

In 1906, however, an agreement on unpaid holidays was reached which became the pattern for the wakes holidays in Lancashire mill towns.

It was implemented the following year and guaranteed 12 days annual holiday including bank holidays – this was increased to 15 days in 1915.

East Lancashire’s towns were grimy places, with smoke hanging low over buildings and cramped back to back housing, so many of the weavers and foundry workers tried to spend their leisure time in the fresh air and countryside.

The coming of the railways led to Blackpool and other west coast resorts becoming a major holiday hot spot.

Thousands and thousands of holidaymakers would leave on special trains to the seaside, often travelling in big family parties and groups of friends.

In the last quarter of the 19th Century, trips increased from day trips to full weeks away and ‘Wakes Saving’ or ‘Going-Off’ clubs became popular.

With their holiday money in hand, holidaymakers would stay in Blackpool boarding houses, often taking an extra suitcase, carrying their own food for meals – but landladies would always charge them for using the cruets, The saving clubs were a feature of the industrial north until paid holidays became a reality during the 1940s and 1950s.

For many years, the communities of East Lancashire became ghost towns, as whole streets set off for the sea, shops shut, paper and milk deliveries ground to a halt and factories lay silent.

Destinations began to expand, with packed trains and coaches, leaving for such places as Rhyl and Llandudno in North Wales, the Isle of Man, Bridlington and Scarborough, as well as Butlins and Pontins holiday camp specials.

By the 1960s, continental holidays were also growing popular, with Spain a particular favourite, as well as Majorca, which cost 50 guineas a head and Rimini in Italy.

Many extra trains and coaches were added to the timetable to cope with demand and crowds began gathering on station platforms and at coach parks from early morning.

It is estimated that 4,000 people passed through Nelson railway station on the first Saturday of the holidays in 1964, while coach firms in Colne confirmed a record weekend.

The holidays proved a busy time for the postmen, though, as thousands of holiday mail were posted to stay-at-home friends and relations.

In 1963, postmen’s rounds in Colne – there was only one delivery during the holidays – were taking twice as long and their sacks were twice as heavy as they delivered jars of clotted Devon cream to homes.